SHADY SPRING- Greenbrier East (0-5) will travel to Shady Spring (2-3) on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff against a Tigers team that enters the game with a 2-3 record. Shady Spring opened the season with a 47-15 win over St. Albans, then dropped games to Lincoln County and Pikeview before edging Oak Hill, 22-15. The Tigers are coming off a 28-18 loss to Westside. Through five games, they have scored 95 points and allowed 97.
Shady Spring is led by first-year head coach Chris Vicars, with senior Myles Clark at quarterback. Senior Blake Snodgrass made an early impact in the season opener, rushing for 90 yards and three touchdowns while also forcing a fumble in the win over St. Albans.
The Tigers emphasized improving their physicality and defensive pressure entering the season, with Vicars stressing the importance of stopping the run.
The Spartans have had better days recently after taking a 54-7 loss to Winfield last week. East, who is known for playing games anywhere but Spartan Stadium, will need to have just one more road effort before the last four games of the season take place at that friendly home confine.
Quarterback Sam Gabbert made his return to the field last week after missing a game and a half with a concussion, but he left the Winfield game early as well and at the time of this writing, his status for this week is unknown. The Spartans offense has been struggling mightily–mainly with consistency–although Gabbert did find Braylen Godfrey for a 29-yard score last week. Peyton Ervin has been a consistent runner over the last three weeks, and Jet Whitworth can provide a highlight when given the chance.
East’s biggest issue on defense has been limiting their opponents on the ground. Shady is a capable running team and it will be the Spartans’ first order of business to slow it down.
Last week in their loss to Westside, the Tigers allowed 342 total yards to Renegade quarterback Bradyn Waldron. So, there are holes to exploit in their defensive unit.
Greenbrier East will look to meet that challenge on the road Friday night as the Spartans aim to put together a strong performance against the Tigers.
Prediction:
This is a game the Spartans can win. They are due for some good luck and still have a lot of motivation to get that first W. The Tigers aren’t the world beaters they have sometimes been in the past, but they do have some talent capable of holding their own. A couple years ago, the Spartans went to Shady as a struggling football team with their biggest weakness being the offensive line. Well, that night the o-line dominated in the trenches and the Spartans pulled off one of the more unlikely wins in the state that night. I’m going out on a limb and say they find that magic this Friday and get their first win of 2026.
Greenbrier East- 22
Shady Spring- 21
