**Due to the incoming weather for Friday. The JV/ Varsity Football Scrimmage has been moved From Friday, Aug. 21 to Thursday Aug. 20 at 6 p.m.
The James River football team will host Nelson County in the final scrimmage of the preseason for both teams this Friday night. The scrimmage is scheduled for 6 p.m. in Springwood and there is no charge.
River coach Jack Baker is quite familiar with the Nelson program. He was the head coach there for three years before returning to his alma mater, James River High School, for the 2025 season. Both teams were 5-5 and made the playoffs last year, but that won’t be a factor Friday as both Baker and Governors’ coach Ben Butler will be sizing up their troops for when the real games begin on August 28.
The Knights were also home last Friday, scrimmaging Craig County and Rockbridge County. Craig runs a single wing offense, something River probably won’t see in any regular season game this year. However, Baker feels it’s still a great benefit to his team as the Rockets are physical and expecting to have a big season.
“It was very worthwhile,” he said. “They make you play football on the line of scrimmage, and that’s very important. I thought we competed very well.”
After Friday’s scrimmage the Knights will open the regular season with two more home games, on August 28 with Auburn and September 4 with Blacksburg. They won’t play a scrimmage or game on the road until they head to Buena Vista on September 11 to play Parry McCluer.
