The troops are dwindling.
At least the troops consisting of the two unbeaten teams that now remain after week-4 of the “Big-11” high school football season.
Lord Botetourt and North Cross stayed unblemished after both rolled up big wins Friday night, while Patrick Henry lost for the first time to fall from the perfect ranks.
Here’s a look at how all eleven of our teams fared.
Lord Botetourt-77 Fort Defiance-0
The Cavaliers made it four wins in a row with a blowout win over the Indians. Botetourt raced out to a 49-0 halftime lead and never looked back in the decisive road win. It was the second straight week Botetourt posted 77 points on the scoreboard, matching their offensive effort against Bassett the week before. Ty Maust scored twice on the ground and Preston Martin and Grayson Bond each added 2 TD runs, while Garrison Mayo scored on a punt return, fumble return and 57-yard pass reception to add three TDs for Botetourt.
North Cross-65 Nansemond-Suffolk-42
The Raiders improved to 4-0 with the help of a 30 point third quarter as North Cross won on the road in eastern Virginia. In a game that saw both teams combine for sixteen touchdowns, North Cross got a measure of revenge against the Saints after two losses to Nansemond-Suffolk in 2015, the last one eliminating the Raiders from postseason play. The Raiders were led by quarterback Miles Lowman’s five TD passes, 435 passing yards, a 2-point conversion toss and two TD runs of his own in the North Cross barrage.
Albemarle-20 Patrick Henry-17
It was like deja vu all over again as the Patrick Henry Patriots saw a late lead get away in the loss to the Patriots squad from Crozet. A year after Albemarle scored late in the game to knock off PH 22-21 at Albemarle, the visitors pulled off the same trick at Merrill Gainer Field for the stunner that handed Patrick Henry its first loss. PH was up 17-7 with just under 8 minutes remaining when Albemarle pulled out a touchdown run of 69 yards, followed by a 74-yard aerial scoring bomb that proved to be the winner.
E.C.Glass-30 William Fleming-27
William Fleming spotted the visiting E.C. Glass Hilltoppers a 27-7 lead in the third quarter before rallying to tie things up at 27 with just over six minutes left in the fourth. The game appeared ready to head to overtime when Fleming came up short on a fake punt in their own territory late in the game. Glass used the opportunity to drive to the Fleming 5-yard line where Ben McCarthy split the uprights from the far-right hash mark on the 22-yard field goal with one second left on the clock.
Salem-54 Northside-20
Salem raced out to a 45-0 halftime lead at Salem Stadium and it was more than enough to send the Vikings to their third loss of the season. Salem, dominating after an overtime win against William Byrd the past week, was led by De’Angelo Ramsey’s four touchdowns, three on the ground complimented by one in the air. Northside rebounded to win the second half 20-9, but it was too little, too late against the explosive Spartans.
William Byrd-21 Magna Vista-7
William Byrd’s swarming defense held Magna Vista scoreless until the final minute of the fourth quarter as the Terriers rebounded from last week’s overtime loss to Salem to pick up their third win in four tries this season. Byrd led 14-0 at halftime and workhorse Larry Basham scored his second touchdown of the game on a 78-yard run early in the fourth quarter to give the Terriers the cushion they would ride the rest of the way against the two-time defending Group 3A state champions.
Alleghany-42 Cave Spring-28
Alleghany led 22-14 at the halftime break and 36-14 after three quarters as the Mountaineers held off Cave Spring in Low Moor. After Alleghany stretched its lead to 42-14 in the final frame, Cave Spring scored twice on touchdown hookups from quarterback Jacob Knight to Cameron Caldwell from 24 and 27 yards in the fourth, but the rally fell short as Cave Spring fell to 1-3 on the season.
Hidden Valley-61 Liberty (Bedford)-21
Hidden Valley picked up its first win of the season as the Titans used a 35-7 halftime advantage before pulling away against the Minutemen in Bedford. Navy recruit Ryan Mitchell continued his receiving onslaught, gathering in a pair of touchdown catches for Hidden Valley. Mitchell also scored on a 65-yard kickoff return, while Hidden Valley running back Cason Bennett and Titan quarterback Jonah Fitzgerald each scored twice on the ground that rounded out the Hidden Valley offensive prowess.
Roanoke Catholic-55 Auburn-22
Catholic led 28-14 at the break and added another 27 points in the second half as the Celtics dominated the Eagles at Vinyard Park. Roanoke Catholic was led by Jemel Tyree who scored three touchdowns via the running game and a fourth on a 88-yard kickoff return to open the second half, as the Celtics picked up their third straight win after a loss to North Cross in week-one.
Glenvar-47 Grayson County-0
Glenvar opened a 27-0 lead at halftime and tacked on three more touchdowns after the break to throttle Grayson County in West Salem. Jack Leonard scored three times on the ground and quarterback Jacob Mullins added three more rushing TDs for the Highlanders as Glenvar evened its record at 2-2.
Bill Turner
