Friday’s high school football capsule previews

Non-district

Brookville at Salem

WHERE: Salem Stadium

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Brookville 2-0, Salem 1-0.

LAST WEEK: Brookville beat Tunstall 30-7; Salem beat Lord Botetourt 42-20

FACTS: After beating Amherst, Salem’s top rival over the past four seasons, 24-21 in the season opener for both teams, the Bees look to end the Spartans’ string of domination in recent years, with Salem having won the last four meetings by a 146-38 margin, including 42-14 last year at Brookville.

Glass vs. Heritage

WHERE: City Stadium

KICKOFF: 6:30 p.m.

RECORDS: E.C. Glass 0-1; Heritage 2-0

LAST WEEK: E.C. Glass lost to Franklin County 28-20; Heritage defeated Magna Vista 53-0.

FACTS: This is the last time that city bragging rights will be the only thing on line when E.C. Glass and Heritage meet as the Hilltoppers will be moving into the Seminole District next season. The Pioneers will also be retiring the jersey of astronaut Leland Melvin at halftime. A pair of second-half turnovers cost Glass its halftime lead last week against Franklin County. Heritage dismantled Magna Vista last week after struggling against Rustburg in its first game.

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Atlantic Shores at LCA

WHERE: Liberty University’s Williams Stadium

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RADIO: 90.9-FM

RECORDS: Atlantic Shores Christian 1-1, Liberty Christian Academy 1-0.

LAST WEEK: Atlantic Shores lost to Covenant 28-26; LCA beat Dan River 47-23.

FACTS: This is LCA’s home-opener and a homecoming of sorts for Atlantic Shores second-year coach Wayne Lance, who coached the Bulldogs until 2004. LCA won last season’s matchup in Chesapeake 43-7, but the Atlantic Shores have improved, playing Covenant down to the wire last week after losing by a 50-0 count last week. “They’re an extremely athletic team and they have good size, too,” Bulldogs coach Frank Rocco said. Seahawks QB Josh Healy, who’s a college prospect, will likely miss the game with a shoulder injury, but his backup is also a very good athlete who plays point guard on the basketball team. They also feature three or four college prospects at the receiver and running back spots. “All of their skill positions are very talented,” Rocco said.

Bluestone at Appomattox

KICKOFF: 7 p.m.

RECORDS: Bluestone 1-9 in 2007; Appomattox 1-0

LAST WEEK: Bluestone did not play; Appomattox beat Buckingham 26-6

FACTS: This is the season-opener for the Barons, who lost in last year’s opener to Appomattox 56-18. The Raiders rolled in their season-opener with the Knights last week, in Ben Martin’s coaching debut, rushing for 369 yards out of their new triple-option offense despite having drives stalled by three lost fumbles. Joe Reed carried the bulk of the load, gaining 166 yards on 12 carries, with QB Kenny Scott returning to form after returning from a back injury that sidelined him for the second half of last season with 133 yards on 18 keepers.

Altavista at James River

WHERE: Buchanan

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Altavista 1-0, James River 1-1

LAST WEEK: Altavista beat Parry McCluer 31-0; James River beat Roanoke Catholic 19-12.

FACTS: James River won last season’s meeting at Altavista 7-6. The Colonels rode Jamison Robinson’s 159 yards rushing and two touchdowns to a landslide win over the Fighting Blues last week, when they racked up 345 yards of total offense with Johnny Wimbush making his first start at QB. They will seek to avenge last year’s home loss to the Knights in Buchanan.

Nelson County at Buckingham

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Nelson County 0-1, Buckingham 0-1

LAST WEEK: Nelson County lost to Madison County 28-8; Buckingham lost to Appomattox 26-6

FACTS: The Governors and Knights both look to rebound from decisive road losses. Whereas Nelson’s greatest asset is its experienced offensive line, that is a weak link for Buckingham and an area the Gov-ernors hope to exploit. Last week, Appomattox got to Knights freshman quarterback Tarian Ayers re-peatedly, with D.J. Jones’ 70-yard kickoff return for a touchdown Buckingham’s only score. Nelson got its only points on a third-quarter safety and QB M.J. Well’s 5-yard TD run.

Martinsville at Rustburg

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Martinsville 0-1; Rustburg 0-2

LAST WEEK: Martinsville lost to Gretna 44-21; Rustburg lost to Halifax 21-20.

FACTS: Rustburg lost a heartbreaker to Halifax last week when second-half turnovers cost the Red Devils a first-half lead. Martinsville led Gretna 14-0 before the Hawks went on a 44-7 run over the last three quar-ters. The Bulldogs defeated Rustburg 16-2 last season. The Red Devils have lost their two games, against the Comets and Heritage, this year by a combined total of six points and have had the lead at halftime in both games. The Red Devils need a victory to have something to show for their effort in the early going as things aren’t going to get easier as the Seminole District schedule approaches.

Magna Vista at Liberty

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Magna Vista 0-2; Liberty 1-0

LAST WEEK: Magna Vista lost to Heritage 53-0; Liberty had a bye.

FACTS: Magna Vista has been outscored by an 81-7 count in losses to William Fleming and Heritage. The Warriors went 0-10 in 2007, including a 43-6 loss to Liberty. The Minutemen looked good blitzing Western Albemarle 33-0 two weeks ago in Bedford with a newly diversified offense. 

William Byrd at Staunton River

KICKOFF: 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: William Byrd 1-0; Staunton River 0-2.

LAST WEEK: William Byrd defeated Hidden Valley 21-20; Staunton River lost to Cave Spring 28-6. 

FACTS: These two Route 24 rivals meet for the last time as non-district opponents as Staunton Rivers will leave the Seminole District for the Blue Ridge after this year. This game also features a reunion of sorts for new Golden Eagles coach Rick Witt, who was an assistant for the Terriers last year. William Byrd won last year’s matchup in Vinton 43-0.