High School football returns this week with Thursday serving as opening day for practices for Virginia High School League teams. Both Lord Botetourt and James River are set to begin, hoping temperatures fall from early week days in the 90s.
Lord Botetourt will begin at 7 a.m. on Thursday and rotate between varsity and jayvee workouts. James River will go from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. this week and through Wednesday of next week. Next Thursday, August 7, is “picture day” and the team will not practice.
Both teams will have two scrimmages. LB is at Hampden-Sydney College to scrimmage New Kent High at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 9. The Cavaliers’ second scrimmage is at Emory & Henry University against Dobyns-Bennett High School on Thursday, August 14.
James River, under new coach Jack Baker, will scrimmage at Craig County on Friday, August 15, and at Nelson County on Friday, August 22. The Knights will open on the road on Friday, August 29, at Auburn.
Lord Botetourt will open the season a week before almost all schools in Virginia. The Cavs will play Rye Cove High School on Saturday evening, August 23, at Emory & Henry University. Both schools were in need of a 10th game for this year’s schedule and received permission from the VHSL to play prior to the scheduled opening date.
