Radford… The Bobcats will travel to Wytheville Saturday afternoon to take on the Group 1A number one seed – Western Division – George Wythe Maroons. They have won 11 consecutive victories, with their only loss coming at the hands of Radford back on August 28, 55-27.

Brandon Harner, who’s in his second season, coaches the Maroons. He has a record of 20-5 at the helm of the Maroons. Quarterback Deacon Beamer leads them offensively. Rashad Wells, Tyler Hardin and Holden Tolley are the running backs that see the most action. Stephen Fox and Dylan Anderson anchor their offensive line. On defense linebackers Robert Watson, Hardin and Wells lead the Maroons. Beamer, Tolley and Markell Moss will lead the secondary.

Radford head coach Matthew Saunders said, “Both teams are zero and zero. They have improved and have a lot of weapons. They are much better than back in August. We know that. Offensively, they like to run the jet, rocket and fullback trap. They will flare the ball out to their running backs and use unbalanced line.” Coach then added, “Defensively, they like the 4-2-5 scheme. They will play man to man but will use some zone in the secondary. They will bring more people on the line of scrimmage and from different positions. Their QB Beamer is more comfortable in what they want to do and both their lines have improved.”

Radford came through the Honaker game last week in good health. They will start Shawn Reed at center. Wes Parcell and Brett Armentrout get the nod at guards. The tackle will be Nick Ridpath and Hunter O’Brien. Marcus Finley is the starting quarterback and Heth Grant the running back. The slots and wide receivers will be DJ Baylor, Dontae Billings, Mitch White and Nathan Dobos.

Markell Thompson, Michael Vick and Elijah Duncan will see some time on offense as well.

Defensively the Bobcats will go with Ridpath, Thompson and Bradley Davis on the line. The linebackers will be Grant, Vick, Parcell, Armentrout and White. Their secondary will consist of Dobos, Finley and Baylor. Roman Benet, Dale Stanley, Reed, Billings and O’Brien will get action on the defense as well.

These two teams always seem to bring the best out in each other. It’s a been a good rivalry as they’ve gone at each other over the years.

In another paper after last Friday night’s win over Bland Co., the Wythe players and coaches said, “This is what they have been wanting, to play Radford again.” Saturday afternoon that chance will come. Coach Harner was quoted as saying, ”We wanted Radford to win every one of their games, and we wanted to get back at them again. Our kids are ready. We saw how the playoffs were going to be aligned. All of us – the coaches and players – wanted that.”

Radford is averaging just less than 41 points a game, and the Maroons are averaging 40. The Bobcats are giving up just under 15 a game, while the Maroons are giving up just under 19.

Revenge, retribution and wanting a return to Wytheville are what the Maroons are wanting after that 55-27 loss to Radford in August. The Bobcats will show up for this Saturday’s state quarterfinal game. Will the Maroons get their revenge? Will Radford march on to the state semi-finals? It should be a good game and a very large crowd is expected.

The game at George Wythe is slated to kickoff at 2 pm.