The Lord Botetourt football team will host Northside Friday night as the Cavaliers attempt to finish the season strong and improve their position for the Region 3D playoffs. The Cavaliers defeated William Fleming last Friday night in Daleville, 42-7, to improve to 3-4 and move up to seventh in the Virginia High School League rankings.
The win was the second in a row for the Cavaliers, who are 2-0 in the Blue Ridge District with three district games remaining. This is a big game Friday as Northside is one spot behind LB in the rankings in eighth place with a 2-4 record.
The Vikings will be tougher than their record indicates, as standout quarterback Sidney Webb is back after missing some early games with an injury. In addition, the Vikings will be well rested after their game with Staunton River last Friday was postponed due to COVID concerns at the Moneta school.
This has been a great rivalry over the years. Northside had won four straight meetings before Harless took over at LB in 2012. Since then the Cavaliers have won six of 10 meetings, including playoff wins in 2018 and ’19. In 2018 the Vikings won the regular season game but LB gained revenge in the playoffs.
The two did not meet in the spring as Northside played just four games due to COVID. It’s no secret these two teams just don’t like each other, and that goes from the top down.
“It’s a big game, but all the games are big at this point,” said Harless.
Last Friday in Daleville the Cavaliers had their best showing of the season against a solid Fleming team, holding the Colonels to 117 overall yards. Meanwhile, the Cavs rushed for 355 yards, including 280 yards on 27 carries by Jakari Nicely, who found the end zone on runs of three, 15, seven and five yards and also scored on a two-point conversion. Bryce Harrison had a seven-yard TD run to put some icing on the cake in the fourth quarter.
Senior Bryson Harvey added two field goals for the Cavaliers. He nailed a 42-yarder in the second quarter, then put one through from 53 yards in the third period for a new school record. Trey Rice, who is now kicking at VMI, had the previous school record of 50 yards.
The LB jayvees also won last week to remain undefeated on the season.
