Leaderboard

Virginia High 38-21

I can assure that Bluefield's players talk way too much trash too and it isn't because the coaches approve. It is what kids see and copy. Coach Palmer does not approve either and tries to prevent it but you have social media to deal with these days and it is hard to keep young men from doing what they want.

I will go with Bluefield 24, Graham 21. I think this game is a lower scoring game and think Graham will have much more total yards, but I have to go with Bluefield (haven't seen them this year though) over Graham (seen them at GC) because of coaching. I'm not trying to be offensive here and apologize if offending anyone when writing this, but I am not sold a bit on Graham's coaching. I see a team with great talent, but also a team that loves to talk trash to the opponents which was witnessed at GC and I saw it last year against Richlands in the playoffs. This shows lack of class in my opinion and this is a direct reflection of the Head Coach who allows it. Last year, I recall folks talking about Graham trash talking and taunting opponents before coming onto the field and I didn't believe it until seeing them play Richlands in the playoffs. It's one thing if it happens a couple of times with only a few players and the coach gets on them, etc, but this seems like something the coach is well aware of because it's gone on longer than just a few times. It is actually being allowed and supported by the coaching staff. This falls into the category of lack of mental toughness and concentration. Graham had the same self inflicted issues in the scrimmage against GC with snap issues, unforced turnovers, personal fouls, etc. Lack of mental toughness will cost Graham at least 2 losses this year. When Graham gets into a contest where the overall talent and skill level of the opponent is close, the mental toughness issue will often tip the scales in favor of the opponent. This is why I'm picking Bluefield. The Bluefield Coach has been around a long time and he's had great success. He wouldn't be there this long if he were not a very good coach. I can assure you that Coach Fry always had teams that were mentally tough and so did Coach Carlock who was another legend in double A ball in Virginia. They were classy men and their teams had a sharp mental focus. I just don't see the mental toughness with the Graham team of this year or last year and I think that coaching is directly responsible for this. I'm just calling it like I see it. When watching Appo against Richlands in the finals, I saw two very mentally tough teams. Appo was not just super talented, but man oh man, they were sharp and detail oriented which stems from their Coaching. In Graham, I am sensing a team with great talent that won last year, and will win this year with that talent, but in 50-50 games where the opponent is close in talent and skill, this issue could cost Graham.

VHS by 30+.

I predicted that first!

Union-87 Burton- -14

Not that I'm being condescending but anything and I mean anything would be a better defense than last year... Just curious for anybody that may be a statistical nerd, how many times did Tazewell force a punt last season? I remember it was a rare occurence

Union should win by as much as they want, Ridgeview's starters did about what they wanted in the 1st half of the scrimmage scoring on 3 of there 1st 4 possessions Burton did not really move the ball all that much until subs started getting more playing time at which point Burton looked to be the better team . Not knocking RV who I think will be an improved team this season but if Union is a legit Contender in the region this season Burton would have had to have had a much better showing to think that the score would be close past the 1st qtr

That's why I said "could be" and not "would be" hahaha. The 2015 defense was no snub, either.

Strangely enough, most of the points I've seen have come from explosive passing plays. I'm not saying this team is anywhere near as explosive as last year's team, but I have been happy with the big play potential as shown in the scrimmages.

What I'm curious to is what should we be looking for out of both teams. I know Tazewell is young and small in numbers. Don't know much about V High. I ask for the same every year, let's see growth and stability as the season progresses. This coach and players coming up have the capability of being something really good. I know plenty will say it's just a matter of time until this coach leaves but I ask those that make the comments, how much do you really know about the internal situations? The parts that never really come to light. I have a window in to part of it but not all. Time for everyone to rise up and get behind the Dogs and let's see it get back to the glory years again! As far as prediction, I do believe that V High gets this one. I think there is the possibility to keep it close early but then the depth and youth factor will takeover. I'm not going to predict a score but I will say I think (hope) that it is within 21 pts.

Out for the year. On the bright side, Richlands has what I believe to be their greatest kicker ever. Thursday night he was constantly kicking the ball into the endzone on kickoffs, and he also made a 47 or 48 yard field goal with distance to spare.

My entire point is that there is a smart way and a stupid way to use statistics, and you don't do a thing in the world to refute that. In fact, quite the contrary...

Paul Johnson has won an ACC title and played for 3 more by smartly using statistics...

Statistics fully support what Wells tried to do last year. The only problem is, statistics doesn't account for the severe risk for little reward of that strategy.

Tazewell is very young this year. Better defense from last year but O-Line is small. They could go anywhere from 0-10 to 4-6. These Freshmen and Sophomores are very talented and smart. Next few years could be looking up for the Dawgs!!

Here's my opinion on the Tazewell County teams Richlands: Best: 10-0 Worst: 5-5 Expectation: 7-3 Believe it or not, I'm not taking being facetious when I say 5-5. RHS should have the best lineplay in the area but graduated basically every skill position. That inexperience could hurt, especially in the early part of the season. I don't see them dropping the game against Gate City but @Union, Byrd, Blacksburg, @Bluefield, & Graham all have the potential to beat the Blues. But in the end I think they'll end up only dropping 2/3 out of the 5. But hey, at the same time I know Mance could take them to 10 wins. Graham: Best: 10-0 Worst: 5-5 Expectation: 8-2 I think Graham has a favorable schedule that they could possibly run the table. They get Giles at home and they're farthest away game will be at Marion. Richlands on the road, of course, will be the toughest test but I wouldn't overlook Bluefield, Giles, Princeton, & Marion. I've yet to hear the extent of Jaz. Reed's injury which will play a big role in wins/losses but with Taymon & Cam Allen they still have the weapons to score against most. I've read some hype on VAPreps that this team may be better than last years team and I don't agree, but like I said, the schedule is favorable. Tazewell: Best: 5-5 Worst: 0-10 Expectation: 2-8 The Dawgs are few in numbers, but the talent is there. The problem is that the talent is mostly 14/15 year olds. In a few years if they can stay the course with this new coach I think they'll be alright but there's going to be some growing pains in 2017. Tazewell as a community is usually pretty good about supporting the team with high expectations, at least early in the season. I feel like the 5 away games to begin the season are really going to hurt the town. If they're 0-5 after those games not as many people are going to want to come through the gate.. But that's a separate issue. Riverview, Hurley, & Lebanon could be games I could see them maybe pulling out. Grundy, Fort Chiswell, & Virginia High could be 1 or 2 more wins if they really surprise us all.

I hate to say it, because I have all the respect in the world for Gate City, but I see no more than 4 wins in that schedule. I think Abingdon and Ridgeview are L's, and you may be underrating Marion and Central this year.

I'd take the under

Ok, this is what I think--revelatory, nope, but hope for this young team, yes. The Dawgs with their football program the last few years, have faced more adversity than all other local programs combined. They are young, they are few, but if they combine their determination with commitment over the next few years, they can bounce back. I know several wonderful people from T-Town and I think they rank right up there with the best of our local communities. Are there some fans and vocalists who have contributed in this downward spiral, certainly, but I am reminded of the scripture "he who is without blame cast the first stone." Do we want to be "stone throwers" to this young team, or be honorable and say "out of ashes these young pups can grow into awesome Dawgs." This is what I hope for this team, and I believe it can happen with time.

No joke! It's been a little over 30 years since Galax and GW were in the same district. If everyone behaves like responsible adults, I think it will turn into one of the best rivalries in VHSL regardless of sport.

Sounds like the little guys invited to the party from the MED held up well. Nice! Side note: It's going to take some getting used to saying we're from the MED lol

My take was. As someone posted in this thread, I echoed the same thing after seeing the first scrimmage and that is...we have to run and go back old school like a 3/yds in a cloud of dust team,, and supplement that with short-quick efficient passes. I believe our lineplay was better than Grahams. I think the sizes were similar. They weren't bigger than us and we weren't bigger than them, but our OL is very good and better than it has been. We were at least on the field with Graham and moved the ball on the ground. I think we are no worse than 7-3. As for Graham, very talented, and explosive plays are part of the game. The 70s and 80s have came and gone, and a team that doesn't move it consistently, but the explodes for a 40 yd run with speed is part of the game. That score counts just like driving the field and running the ball for 5-6 yds a play for 15 plays, and then scoring. We did pretty good with Grahams speed. No question, Graham did some major self inflicted damage. One thing I noticed is something different than all the years under Carlock and that was the lack of discipline. I think Graham has major mental toughness issues with late hits, trash talking and such that alwayst equates to lack of mental toughness in tight situations. This is also reflective of the Coaching Staff. I know nothing of Grahams coach other than folks telling me enthusiasm is up. If Graham would stop the trash talking and jawwing during plays, the miscues and fumbled snaps and formation woes will fix itself. Morality or Character and mental toughness go hand in hand. You can't have jawwing at the opponent and stupid personal fouls and be without offensive miscues. Their coaching staff needs to fix that quick, and if they are allowing it, then again, the consequences are always self destructive and it will lead to offensive miscues, concentration issues and will cost them in the playoffs. The Graham team I watched was nowhere in the same league regarding mental toughness under those old Glynn Carlock teams. That's my take on Graham. The potential is there for greatness, but with their current state of mental toughness( if this is how they usually play) then they will not get past round 3 in the playoffs. Finally, the Graham QB is athletic, but he is not very accurate. For GC, we also had miscues, but some of that as helped/forced by Graham. We are a 7-3 team at worst in my opinion. We have to run it and control clock and keep offenses off the field. That was a little effective toniht against a very explosive team. I love our lineplay and technique on both sides of the line. I think we will be fine. Our only sure loss is Richlands. Wait and see, we will play right with Union.

i can see honaker going 7-3 with losses coming from GW, Burton, and Ridgeview. then again who knows

Are all Gate City fans this bipolar? You'll be OK. You're rebuilding.

Can we please not bring politics to this forum. Lets talk football. I've only been waiting 8 months to get back to talking football and it's much needed relief.