It’s unusual for a team to have a bye so early in the season, but River coach Tim Jennings didn’t mind after an opening season loss to Buffalo Gap. The Knights were a little banged up, and Jennings had two weeks to fix some things after watching the film.
“Normally, it wouldn’t be ideal, but I don’t think it could have come at a better time,” he said. “We had a couple of injuries and some cramping, and the week off was a welcome thing.”
Jennings is a graduate of Parry McCluer, and this is always a big game for him. He knows many of the people in the Buena Vista area. In two years as head coach, he’s split games with the Fightin’ Blues, winning 6-0 in 2019 but falling 27-14 in the final game of the abbreviated spring season.
While River’s coach is a graduate of Parry McCluer, Blues’ coach Jack Baker is a James River High graduate. Baker played for the Knights, where he was a football and track standout. After graduating from VMI, he served as an assistant football coach for the Keydets, then went on to coach high school football at Alleghany and Rustburg before taking the job at Parry McCluer in May. His father, John Baker, coached the James River football team from 1964 until 1973.
The Blues are off to a rough start. After losing their opener to Rockbridge, 14-6, they were shut out by Riverheads last week, 49-0.
