The Craig County football team saw their best season since 2010 come to an end last Friday with a loss to Grayson County in Independence. The Blue Devils beat the Rockets 42-0 in the first round of the Virginia High School League Region 1C playoffs.
With the win Grayson, the region’s third seed, advances to the region semifinals this Friday against second seeded George Wythe for a game in Wytheville. The other semifinal is an “all Pioneer District” game as fourth seeded Narrows travels to Hot Springs to take on undefeated, and top seeded, Bath County.
The Rockets saw their season come to an end with a 6-5 record. It was their best record since Craig finished 6-5 in 2010 and just the second times Craig has had a winning season since 2005. Coach Jim Fisher feels next year’s team will be even better.
“Next season has the potential to be better,” said Fisher. “(Carter) Calfee returns and there are several other really good backs as well. Isaiah Nichols is going to be a beast and Noah Paxton is going to run over some opponents. Dreydin Smith ran for well over 200 yards in the last JV game and will also be in the backfield mix.
Not only did the varsity have a winning season but the jayvees finished 4-1 and was just six inches away from going 5-0.
“All of the offensive linemen are underclassmen,” said Fisher. “We lose three offensive starters and four or five defensive starters. We have a really solid 10th grade class and an outstanding freshmen group. The freshman class has everything. . .a bunch of big linemen, running backs, receivers and a couple of kids that throw the ball really well. The proverbial cupboard is loaded.”
This was the 54th season of high school football in New Castle and all that time there has never been two winning seasons in a row. Fisher aims to break that streak next year.
“I believe the next three seasons, at least, that may change,” he said.
Jimmy has coached for the past four years and has a record of 12-25. In the six years before he took over the team was 7-53 under two head coaches, including back-to-back winless seasons. Fisher, a Craig native and New Castle High School graduate, has done a terrific job building a competitive program and a positive culture.
“I have not made a decision on if I will return in 2025,” he said. “I promised to coach two to four years and this is year four. I do plan on attacking everything; the weight room, fundraising, recruiting, staff, etc, as if I will be here but I probably won’t make a decision until early Spring.”
