NEW CASTLE, Va. – For years, Craig County searched for a breakthrough. In 2025, the Rockets found it.
A perfect 8-0 start, ten wins overall, a Region 1C playoff victory over Bath County and the deepest postseason run in school history– a march to the region’s semifinals.
“I think it definitely lit something inside of our heads like, ‘oh we can do this’ after hitting that 10-2 and I think we mentally want to get better and win this whole thing as a team,” said Rockets linebacker and blocking back Marcus Donithan.
Now comes the hard part. No longer the surprise team, Craig County enters 2026 with high expectations.
“Just people working hard, you know, the backups from last year or people that ended up stepping up big this summer and stepping up right now during two days,” said Rockets free safety and tight end Caleb Cregger.
Head coach Jimmy Fisher says the standard has changed since the Rockets now know opponents will be ready, but so are they.
“We took a little bit of time off there at Christmas and got right back at it in January and have been going ever since, you know.” For his leadership efforts, Fisher was named our 2025 WSLS 1st and 10 Coach of the Year.
Replacing key seniors like Jerry Smith and Carter Calfee won’t be easy, two guys that both rushed for over 1,400 yards each.
“We’re stronger physically, you know, hopefully that relates to wins, like I said we got to replace those two guys, might not be as many 80-yard runs, they may all be 8-yard runs, but we’ll try and get 10 of them together,” Fisher said.
“Our running backs, they’re working hard. I feel like they’re going to be able to replace them, maybe not be as great, but with that line in front, it’ll still be amazing,” said Donithan.
But the foundation remains the same– a physical rushing attack, disciplined defense, and a close-knit roster that has learned winning isn’t something you hope for, it’s something you prepare for every day.
“D-line is hopefully a strength, you know, we’re pretty big up there and they’re all pretty strong. They’re all in the 1,000-pound club for us, and so is the linebacker behind them,you know, we’ve never had a 1,000-pounder, now we’ve got five of them,” Fisher saie.
Rather than looking back, the Rockets are focused on what’s ahead, taking the next step and proving last season wasn’t the peak– it was just the launch pad.
“Sky’s the limit, you know, we can do whatever we put our minds to, and you know, we just got to keep each other up, you know, keep the effort high,” Cregger said.
Craig County is scheduled to open the 2026 season at Galax on August 28.
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