Fred Persinger II for WVMetroNews.com
Beckley (0-0) at Riverside (0-0)
As the 2017 season begins, the matchup between Beckley and Riverside is a interesting one. The two teams have built a bit of a rivarly over the last couple of years with the Warriors winning last year’s contest 19-14.
That season opening win over Beckley broke an overall 24-game losing streak for the Warriors.
This year, both teams have higher expectations as the the Flying Eagles won just one game a season ago and Riverside finished just below .500 at 4-6 overall. Both teams return a lot of players who saw a lot of action last year. Beckley brings back nine of 11 starters on both sides of the ball, while Riverside returns 10 of 11 starters on offense.
Offensively, the Flying Eagles this year feature a handful of weapons in RB Micah Hancock, WR Peyton Thomas WR Logan Cook and QB Sutton Radford. Beckley also returns some big guys up front, led by sophomores Ian Pomery and Tristian Stifler.
Three-year starting quarterback Mark Scites leads Riverside offensively as the Warriors look to make the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
It’s a pivotal matchup for Beckley, as well, in head coach Street Sarrett’s second season as matchups against Cabell Midland, George Washington, Capital, Huntington and South Charleston all loom.
Beckley and Riverside will battle Friday night at 7:30 p.m. You can hear the game on the Big Dawg 99.5 WJLS online at WJLS.com or on the iheart radio app.
Class AA No. 8 Bluefield (0-0) vs. Graham (VA) (0-0)
The biggest rival game in the two Virginia’s will take place Friday night as the Bluefield Beavers take on the Graham G-Men.
Bluefield comes into the 2017 season trying to rebound from a frustrating 2016 campaign which saw the Beavers miss out on the Class AA playoffs.
A strength for the Beavers again will be senior running back Mookie Collier who is one of the better backs and athletes in the state. The Bluefield backfield will also include senior power back Truck Edwards for head coach Fred Simon’s 32nd year at the helm with the Beavers.
Graham is coming off a very good 2016 season where the G-Men won 11 games — including a 59-34 win over Bluefield in that year’s season opener.
The annual Beaver-Graham game will once again feature over 12,000 fans at Mitchell Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday night in Bluefield.
Other Games:
James Monroe at Greenbrier East
Princeton at Buckhannon-Upshur
Fayetteville at Wyoming East
Greenbrier West at Nicholas County
Valley Fayette at Oak Hill
Lincoln County at Shady Spring
Liberty Raleigh at Westside
Montcalm at Hannan
Van at Meadow Bridge
Independence at Midland Trail
River View at Mount View
Pikeview at Summers County
Sherman at Tug Valley
Richwood at Webster County