No more high school football in 2012 on Fridays this year following tonight’s games across the state.
 This has to be the best weather I’ve seen in 35 years of running around Southwest and Central Virginia football fields.
 Next week, the games move to Saturday. Timesland will have at least one state semifinalist: the winner of tonight’s game between Salem and Christiansburg.
 Who else will still be standing?

REGION IV DIVISION 4
CHRISTIANSBURG (8-4) at SALEM (11-0)
Today, 7:30 p.m.
    Coaches: Christiansburg (Tim Cromer), Salem (Stephen Magenbauer).
    Last week: Christiansburg won 31-6 at Hidden Valley. Salem defeated Pulaski County 17-14 at home.
    Playoff history: CHRISTIANSBURG – Has won the last three regional titles … Lost to Briar Woods 28-27 in 2011 Division 4 state final … Has made playoffs 15 times with 14-14 overall record … Made first playoff appearance in 1981. SALEM – Owns six state titles including back-to-back Division 4 crowns in 2004-05 in Magenbauer’s first two years … Most recent regional title was 2007 … Lost to Magna Vista 36-35 in OT last year in region semifinal … Has made playoffs 25 times with 48-18 overall record and 12 region titles.
    Statistics: CHRISTIANSBURG – WB Joey Augustin (180-1,303 rushing, 21 TDs), RB De’Quan Green-Gause (170-1,263, 18 TDs), PK Jake Hamley (48 of 49 PATs, 3 of 6 FGs), LB Calvin Graham (91 solos, 4 sacks), LB Seth Wills (94 solos). SALEM – RB Devante Payne (147-627, 8 rushing TDs), RB Arius McConnell (100-495, 6 TDs), QB Matt Hill (106-161, 1,409 yards, 14 TDs, 4 INTs), WR Chad Fisher (55-840, 8 TDs, 6 defensive INTs).
    Quick kicks: Salem defeated Christiansburg 14-13 in Salem Stadium on Oct. 19 as Payne ran for 107 yards … Payne returned last week from a knee injury he suffered against Hidden Valley … Since 2004, Christiansburg has beaten Salem more times (4) than any other team … Cromer is 4-5 all-time vs. Magenbauer including a 13-0 playoff win in 2009 … Magenbauer’s record at Salem is 96-15 … Christiansburg’s other losses were to Pulaski County (17-14), Hidden Valley (28-0) and Cave Spring (37-24) … Augustin started five games at QB before being moved back to halfback. 
    Next week: The winner plays at home against either Amherst County or Heritage.
    Prediction: Salem 24, Christiansburg 21.

REGION III DIVISION 3
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY (9-2) at BROOKVILLE (11-0)
Today, 7 p.m.
    Coaches: Rockbridge County (Jason White), Brookville (Jeff Woody).
    Last week: Rockbridge County defeated Liberty 52-40 at home. Brookville defeated Northside 29-7 at home.
    Playoff history: ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY – Lost to Brookville 19-14 in Region III semifinal last year … Has made playoffs eight times since school opened in 1992 … Won Region II title and reached Division 3 final in 2006, losing 29-28 to Richlands … Has 5-7 overall playoff record. BROOKVILLE – Won 2011 Division 3 state title 34-33 over James Monroe … Captured Division 3 state crown in 1999 … Lost state finals in 1973, 1988, 1996 and 2008 … Reached four other state semifinals … Has made playoffs 26 times with 35-23 overall record.
    Statistics: ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY – QB Porter Abell (218-1,664 rushing, 24 TDs, 42-91 passing, 955 yards, 7 TDs, 3 INTs), WR Colton Wilson (22-442, 3 TDs, 4 defensive INTs), WR Cameron Wood 13-413, 3 TDs, 31.8 per catch), LB Adam Doll-Hennis (85 solos 5 sacks). BROOKVILLE – QB Kendall BeCraft (149-244 passing, 2,587 yards, 32 TDs, 4 INTs), RB Hilson Atkins (92-736 rushing, 11 TDs), 35-692 receiving, 9 TDs), RB Anthony Calloway (74-696 rushing, 9 TDs, 23-538 receiving, 5 TDs, WR Ben Hogg (47-731, 5 TDs).
    Quick kicks: Rockbridge is 1-1 vs. Seminole District teams this year, losing 35-21 at Amherst County in September before defeating Liberty … Wildcats’ other loss was to Lord Botetourt (16-14) … Abell, a Richmond recruit, broke Rockbridge’s single-season rushing mark of 1,575 set by Bruce Cooper in 1999 … PK Miles Bent came off soccer field to kick for Wildcats and has made 44 of 45 PATs and four field goals … BeCraft ranks No. 3 in VHSL career passing yards (9,034) and No. 3 in career TD passes (101) … Brookville has a 25-game win streak dating to 2010 state semifinal loss to Richlands.
    Next week: The winner plays at home against either Cave Spring or Tunstall.
    Prediction: Brookville 35, Rockbridge County 14.

REGION IV DIVISION 3
CAVE SPRING (7-5) at TUNSTALL (7-3)
Today, 7 p.m.
    Coaches: Cave Spring (Tim Fulton), Tunstall (Buddy Brown).
    Last week: Cave Spring won 31-6 at Richlands. Tunstall defeated Marion 49-28 at home.
    Playoff history: CAVE SPRING – Reached Group AAA playoffs five times, winning its only AAA game in 1978 … Won region titles in 2009 and 2011, losing to eventual state champions both years … Has made playoffs 11 times with 9-10 overall record. TUNSTALL – Made playoffs for the first time in 1991, losing 44-6 to Salem in Region III Division 4 … Made back-to-back Region IV finals in 1998-99 … Lost to Richlands 58-7 last year in regional semifinal … Has made playoffs 10 times with 4-9 overall record.
    Statistics: CAVE SPRING – Connor Baker (168-247 passing, 1,999 yards, 20 TDs, 6 INTs), RB James Jackson (178-875, 6 TDs), WR Jack Woody (49-758, 9 TDs), WR Jon Evans (49-655, 6 TDs, 4 defensive INTs), TE Jordan Bryant (36-428, 5 TDs, 86 solo tackles, 17 TFLs). TUNSTALL – QB Chris Buckner (92-153, 1377 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTs), RB Jacob Barnette (201-1,050, 9 TDs), WB Evan Huffman (69-373 rushing, 9 TDs, 25-320 receiving, 5 TDs, 6 defensive INTs), WR Damien Wilson (22-326, 3 TDs).
    Quick kicks: Cave Spring’s losses were to William Byrd (27-24), Northside (24-7), Lord Botetourt (22-17), Salem (28-21) and Hidden Valley (21-12) … Tunstall’s baseball field is named after Bryant’s grandfather, Jack Bryant, a former Tunstall coach … Knights have emphasized the pass, but Jackson ran for 213 yards last week against Richlands … Tunstall played just nine regular-season games … Trojans finished in three-way tie with Bassett and Magna Vista for the Piedmont District title … Tunstall has lost to Rustburg (42-34), Gretna (17-14) and Magna Vista (22-16) … Huffman scored six TDs last week.
    Next week: The winner plays on the road against either Brookville or Rockbridge County. 
    Prediction: Cave Spring 27, Tunstall 20.

DIVISION 2 WEST SECTION
JOHN BATTLE (11-1) at FORT CHISWELL (11-1)
Today, 7 p.m.
    Coaches: John Battle (Steve Wright), Fort Chiswell (Stephen James).
    Last week: John Battle defeated Giles 37-14 at home. Fort Chiswell defeated Grayson County 32-28 at home.
    Playoff history: JOHN BATTLE – Made playoffs just twice in school history until going for a third time last year … Lost 55-13 to eventual state champ Gretna in 2011 first-round game … First made playoffs in 1987 … Only playoff win before last week was in 1998. FORT CHISWELL – Only Timesland team remaining that did not make playoffs last year … Reached Region C final in 2009 … Lone regional title was in 1989 … Has made playoffs eight times with 8-7 overall record.
    Statistics: JOHN BATTLE – RB Cody Rogers (123-804, 9 TDs), RB Brandon Balthis (20 for 126 against Giles), RB Carter Harlow (3 for 99 against Giles), WR Josh Matney (17-388 receiving, 7 TDs). FORT CHISWELL – QB Brett Mabry (99-160, 1,513 yards, 15 TDs, 6 INTs), RB Daniel Hamm (198-1,801, 26 TDs), PK Zane Gregory (34 of 37 PATs, 4 of 7 FGs), DL Garrison Byus (5 sacks).
    Quick kicks: The teams have not played a common opponent … John Battle won the Clinch Mountain District title, losing only a nondistrict game to Division 1 contender Honaker (20-7) … Wright coached Marion to the Region IV Division 4 title, losing to Pulaski County in a state semifinal … Trojans have given up two TDs or fewer in all 11 of their wins. Fort Chiswell has tied a school record with 11 victories … Pioneers have 10 straight wins since 28-7 loss to county rival George Wythe in August … Fort Chiswell overcame 28-18 deficit to win last week against Grayson County.
    Next week: The winner will play one of the two survivors from this week’s East Section games. 
   Prediction: John Battle 21, Fort Chiswell 13.

DIVISION 1 WEST SECTION
CLINTWOOD (11-1) at GEORGE WYTHE (11-1)
Today, 7 p.m.
    Coaches: Clintwood (Greg Mullins), George Wythe (H.S. Ingo).
    Last week: Clintwood defeated Haysi 45-0 at home. George Wythe defeated Rural Retreat 22-6 at home.
    Playoff history: CLINTWOOD – Won Group A titles in 1974, 1975 and 1978 before winning Division 1 title last year 33-28 over Galax … Lost in state finals in 1973, 2007 and 2008 … Has made playoffs 25 times with 34-20 overall record. GEORGE WYTHE – Reached 1983 Group AA final … Won 2002 Division 2 championship 26-12 over Buckingham County … Lost to Clintwood 23-13 at home in third round last year … Has made playoffs 15 times with 18-13 overall record.
    Statistics: CLINTWOOD – RB Gavan Meade (2,083 rushing yards, 38 TDs), RB Robbie Mullins (700 rushing yards, 15 TDs), QB Dylan Dahley (1,333 passing yards, 14 TDs, 3 INTs, 530 rushing yards). GEORGE WYTHE – QB Jordan Byrd (44-76, 703 yards, 8 TDs, 3 INTs), RB Dominique Crockett (118-1,125, 23 TDs), RB Trey Skeens (111-1,009, 11 TDs), P Andrew Storms (40.4 average), DB Jalen France (104 solos, 17 TFLs), DE Hardy Lester (67 solos, 13 1/2 sacks, 15 TFLs), LB Justin Snavely (27 TFLs), DL Elijah Onks (21 TFLs).
    Quick kicks: Meade’s 39 total TDs are 12 shy of VHSL single-season record of 51 set by Takeem Hedgeman of Monticello in 2007 … Clintwood lost to Eastern Montgomery in the 2010 semifinals … Former Clintwood head coach Ralph Cummins and his wife, Carolyn, made Guinness Book of Records for having seven children with same birthday in different years … Clintwood has won 11 straight since losing opener 23-17 to Hazard (Ky.) … Wythe’s loss was 28-24 to Floyd County … Maroons have won the last six Hogoheegee District titles … Five Wythe running backs have topped 1,000 yards in the last two years.
    Next week: The winner will play one of the two survivors from this week’s East Section games.
    Prediction: Clintwood 28, George Wythe 14.