09/03/2026
WEEK 2 PREVIEW - SOUTHERN GAP AT RYE COVE
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For the first time in program history, Southern Gap is hitting the road, and they couldn’t have drawn a much tougher destination for that first trip.
The Eagles enter Friday night at 1-1, following a Week 0 victory over Holston and last week’s loss to Ridgeview. Now they’ll head deep into God’s Country to take on the defending Class 1 state runner up Rye Cove War Eagles at The Nest. Rye Cove enters 1-0 and rested after a bye week. The War Eagles opened their season with an impressive 12-9 victory over Class 3 Lord Botetourt, proving right out of the gate that last year’s run was no fluke.
And you can bet The Nest will be rocking for the home opener. Southern Gap’s fanbase has already shown plenty of support for the brand new program, and I expect them to travel well. Mix that crowd with a packed house at Rye Cove and this has all the ingredients for one of the best atmospheres in Southwest Virginia on Friday night.
For Southern Gap, Carson Blankenship and Ayden Whited will be two major keys. Ridgeview was able to keep both bottled up last week, and the Eagles will need their playmakers to get rolling if they want to leave Scott County with a win.
Rye Cove has plenty of weapons of its own. Will Darnell was a force defensively against Lord Botetourt, racking up three sacks, while Tyler Shupe delivered the game winning touchdown. Then there’s Cole Barnette, one of the biggest big play threats in Southwest Virginia. Give him a little daylight and he can change a football game in a hurry.
Southern Gap wants to prove it can bounce back and pick up the first road victory in program history. Rye Cove wants to defend The Nest, move to 2-0 and keep building on the momentum that carried the War Eagles all the way to the state championship game a season ago.
📸- Eagle Images & Traci Evans
