WHO: Greenbrier East at James Monroe (season opener for both teams)
WHERE: H.E. Comer Jr. Sports Complex in Lindside
WHEN: Friday, August 28 at 7:00 PM
LAST MEETING: Greenbrier East defeated James Monroe 29-14 in Fairlea in 2025
The border rivals of 219 meet early this season with the game being the season opener for the Greenbrier East Spartans and the James Monroe Mavricks.
Last year’s Halloween night victory for East has the momentum on the Spartans side, but this matchup can also be called “the game of the unknown,” partly because it’s a new season and neither has played a game yet, and also because both teams lost a lot of production from a year ago.
Both the Spartans and Mavericks lost key players from last year’s teams with Greenbrier East losing 18 seniors including several who are now on college rosters. The Mavericks will be without last year’s quarterback Ryan Mann who graduated, and honorable mention all-stater Kadyn Hines who ended his football career after his junior season. Hines is heading to WVU next season to play for the Mountaineer baseball team and for now, his focus is on the diamond. Also, Brock Parker–who had 89 yards rushing against East last season–graduated and is now at Concord.
So, What do We Know?
Well, not a lot. Again, it’s the first game and no one knows what is going to happen or how certain newcomers will react once the Friday night lights come on for real.
But we do know the starting quarterbacks for each squad. Greenbrier East will go with sophomore Sam Gabbert. Gabbert isn’t very big, but he is smart, mobile, and knows his job early on will be to manage games and limit turnovers. Senior Jayden Miller will step in for the Mavericks after playing receiver last season, but he has big game experience and can handle certain situations. According to the rumor mill straight from head coach John Mustain’s mouth, sophomore Bentley McCroskey may also see some snaps under center.
Key Players for Greenbrier East:
Braylen Godfrey
Austin Whitt
Keshawn Bland
John Trout
DP Seams
Danny Butler
Call this a shot in the dark list. There are probably some names left off that will have a huge impact on the outcome of this game but are in the wait-and-see-mode on that.
Godfrey and Bland are expected to take this team as far as they can go, but there is some young unproven talent that could pop out of nowhere. Seams made some key plays last season as a ninth grader and Whitt runs hard and is listed as the starting running back. He may not be AJ Godfrey quite yet, but he is a hard-nosed player. Butler has played a lot of snaps over the last couple years while Trout is a strong player that will start at right tackle and on the D-line.
Prediction:
I don’t like making predictions, especially on season openers. Last season, I took this feature away because it made me look completely inept and if I pick the Spartans to lose, I get more grief than… well, whoever gets a lot of grief. Anyway, another shot in the dark here in the form of a score prediction and I promise these will be closer and better over the next several weeks. I think this one on paper, is the definition of a toss-up. Let’s get this season started!
Greenbrier East- 20
James Monroe- 19
Confidence Level: 1= I’ve never even heard of these schools to 10= I’ve never lost, ever. Not an argument, not a bet, nothing!
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