WILDCATS FRIDAY NIGHT PREVIEW

Ledger Sports Editor

Blacksburg coach Robbie Blanton says the Thornwell wide receivers will be a formidable challenge for his defense.

That might not be a good omen.

Last week, Jonesville racked up nearly 500 yards of total offense and Jare Gault tossed four touchdown passes in a 52-0 rout of the Wildcats. There will likely be more matchup problems for the Wildcats (1-8, 1-3) in their non-region matchup with Thornwell (4-5, 2-2) tonight.

“(Thornwell’s) skill people are very good,” Blanton said. “They also have a very tall team.”

One of the tallest is 6-4 Taylor Singleton, a gifted wide receiver and the team’s leading tackler on defense.

“He’s a very good player,” Thornwell coach Walter Geary said.

Singleton leads the team in touchdown receptions but 6-1 Carlton Watts tops the team in receptions.

Sophomore quarterback Zach Templeton is also a threat, throwing for 735 yards.

Thornwell is capable of moving the ball on the ground with Zavier Priestley, who has gained 560 yards.

“We’ll use a lot of formations,” Geary said. “We run the spread, the I, the off-set.”

On defense, Thornwell has been susceptible to the big play.

“We are giving up too many big plays,” the Thornwell coach said. “We’ve played well but then we allow the other team to hit us with a big play.”

Geary said his offense needs to score because Thornwell’s defense will likely have trouble containing the Wildcats’ spread offense.

“They play five wideouts and we have to find a way to stop them,” he said. “Blacksburg looks a lot better than their record. They can pass the ball well.”

Geary also likes the Wildcats’ defense.

“They can run,” he said. “But they’ve had some bad breaks this year.”

Although the game doesn’t count in the region standings, it’s important for both teams.

“We want every win that we can get,” Geary said. “Having a 5-5 record looks a lot better than 4-6.”

Blanton said the Wildcats want to post a win on Homecoming and build momentum if they qualify for the playoffs.

“We just need to win,” he said. “We aren’t thinking about the playoffs right now. We just want to play well and get the win.”

Blanton has said the Wildcats would be assured of the region’s fourth playoff spot if Landrum beats Christ Church tonight.

The playoff picture becomes muddled if the Cavs upset the Cardinals.

“It would go to a tie-breaker and the point differential wouldn’t be good for us,” he said.

The region’s fourth seed would face highly-rated Calhoun Falls in a first-round playoff matchup.

The Wildcats will get some injured starters back for Thornwell. Linemen Cameron Duffie and Michael Martin are expected to play. Gary Gaut will also return to action after a one-game suspension for throwing a punch at a Landrum player.