BigWinners

The chop block was bad, really bad. That should be ejection-worthy, because its likely ended Barnett's season in football and basketball. Glenvar is a very good team, but the way they played was not the sportsmanship I would hope from a defending state champion.

It will be a cold day in Hell before I ever admit to liking that god awful color. Such an ugly, abhorrent color. Hell, if I have a red-headed child, he is being adopted, no orange in my house damnit I'm not serious, no need for the posters who don't realize its a joke to get upset.

Ugh amen to that, I ABHOR listening to football announcers who clearly don't understand the game. A zone blitz is not running Cover 2 with the three man line and one blitzing LB/DB, I HATE that. The 'zone blitz' is having defensive linemen drop back into shallow zones and blitz linebackers and cover guys. A zone blitz is more complex than simple zone coverage with a blitzer. Dick LeBeau was the master of the zone blitz, the big defensive tackles had to be able to drop in coverage around the first down marker while letting guys like Kevin Greene, Greg Lloyd, James Harrison, Troy Polamalu blitz.

Yeah its no secret he hurt himself Friday night, anyone watching that game that had saw previous Union games knows he is really not 100%. He's as tough as a two dollar steak, if his legs are working, he will try and walk out there to play but if he can do more damage and hurt himself, I hope he doesn't attempt to play. He is integral to the Union team, especially on defense as he is a very good, talented, athletic, dominant DT with a mean streak, but I don't want to see any kid get hurt badly out there. I don't know the extent of his injury, I truly have no idea, its not my business and I have no inside information about it, I just hope it works out for the best. Everyone knows how hard all of these kids work, and if he can't go, his teammates will surely have some extra incentive to perform knowing how much he wants to be out there. #50 at 50% is better than most kids at 100%, but I don't want to see any kid suffer any serious injury or further complicate any existing injuries.

High school football doesnt put out injury reports for the game, I think not letting a team be aware of something like that is in your best interest. If 50 is going to hurt himself further playing, he should sit. Future health means more than playing in one game, and he is a sophomore. Unless he is physically unable to walk out there and try,he will try and play, but the doctors and coaches should really watch and keep an eye and not let him hurt himself.

I hate making predictions, I always feel like picking against the team I want to win is sort of bad mojo, so no Union pick here. Richlands by 4 Abingdon by 1 (more hopeful than predictive on this one really) JIB by 6 (they either played their worst possible game ever to open the season, or 1A is super bad, I tend to think JIB is better than the team I saw in the opener) Radford by 10

Cmon, Dan Mullen is not leaving MSU for VT, that is silly. MSU as a program is ahead of VT at this point and Mullen is a hot commodity, he could have coached at Florida if he wanted. VTs a good job, not a great job, but with three SEC schools that have won division titles in the past five years having openings, I could see Tech having to poach a coach from a small school and hope he is Hugh Freeze. Guys like Tom Herman (hearing South Carolina), Miles, Cristobal (hearing Miami), are all lining up, it always comes down to money for most of those guys. How much is VT willing to spend? I honestly don't know.

I loved the idea of Lonesome Pine High, that would have been awesome. But I don't hate Union, its the best of the new school names. The Bears, meh, its alright I guess, but let's be honest: there aren't that many Bears around here. The Lonesome Pine High Buccaneers would have been neat, but I guess since that was the old Big Stone name it was out of the question. I hate orange, so I wish the color scheme was different, I like Ridgeview's a lot, it looks really good on the field.

Les Miles could be available, he would be one helluva hire for Tech If nothing else, Tech would be entertaining.

This is the first year I can remember Union (or PV) participating in the Arby's. Union should be pretty decent once all the football kids get into basketball mode, but it will likely not be pretty in the Arby's. GC should be loaded, they will be very good again this year.

Appalachia, pronounce it right damnit. Apple-at-cha, but Appa-la-shun or whatever the hell people like to say.

Stripes is right, if Cousins has taken an official visit, its against NCAA rules. He might have been on campus and visited the staff, but what is declared an official visit can only be taken during a senior season, even if its the first day of an athlete's senior year.

Its worth noting that both QBs were playing in their first huge game. Spears is a first year QB, but has the advantage of playing the last two years. Both QBs had to be tested under fire, Spears had an advantage of being older and playing at the varsity level but he is a first year QB as well Pretty amazing that two first year QBs put on such a show in that game, it was the finest high school game I've saw since 97 at the Park when PV and Appalachia played and were both undefeated and going on to win state titles. (AHS was A Div 1, PV was A Div 2, GC was AA Div 1 but the third best team in SWVA with both PV and AHS beating them lol)

I dont either, Richlands has just as many quality kids as any team around. I believe the turnovers were the factor. People still kind of look eerily about the Union win because it was by one point in OT as somehow an indication that Union is not as good as Richlands is and was lucky to win (No Richlands posters have said it, you guys are all class, but I hear it a lot from other schools, mainly people from Wise), and yes Asbury did throw a couple picks, but Richlands also had one KR TD and another long return to like the Union 10. Its not as if Union was not able to move the ball and put up points and (occassionally lol) stop Richlands. My point is, Richlands did not beat itself, Union beat them. Whether it can happen again who knows, two very evenly matched teams that would probably split 5/5 in 10 games, but Union won outright. None of that means jack shit against Glenvar lol. A year can change a lot, but a much less effective Union team gave Glenvar all they could handle on the road and lost by 10 after committing eight turnovers. If that number is just five, Union would have been right in it in the end. It was 12-9 when Union was driving before the last turnover, its not as if Glenvar steamrolled Union and the Bears are much better this year *but I am sure Glenvar is as well*. Glenvar has not seen an offense as diverse and capable of Union, that much I know. There is no 2A team out there with a QB capable of making laser throws, lobbing deep balls, escaping the pocket or taking off for an 80 yard TD run (he played DB last year, the speed is there), three legit runners (Summers, Bishop, and Fannon), a big, physical TE with soft hands and a mean streak, and three legit, elite playmaking WRs. You can post all the 40 times you want, but I guarantee Noaks is as fast as anyone on the field. He ran down Cousins and knocked the fumble loose that really turned the tide, and he caught him from behind. Gavin is 6'4 and is capable of beating anyone deep, but if you put your best cover DB on him, Mitchell, 6'5, will either run you over on a bubble screen or beat you deep. Union needs to get more diverse in the passing game tho, it can't be just bubble screens, bootlegs and fly routes. With four guys capable of making plays, run more option routes, and more slants. If Glenvar is getting quick pressure, that means the screen game and the bubble game will be there early and set up the fake bubble go route. I will be rooting for Union, I believe we can win, but I also believe Glenvar can win and could easily come to the park and emerge with a victory. It wont be easy for either team, but I do believe Union is more battle tested, having played Richlands, Crockett and Graham already. Radford and Giles are good, but Union's opponents had a slightly better combined record and GC brings down the Union average but I guarantee that they are better than most 6-4 teams.

In all seriousness, as someone with a background in sports journalism and a more than capable writer, if anyone knows if any opportunities I would gladly appreciate any work if anyone knew of any possible need for a writer.

I thought Christmas was usually ham as well? Christmas ham is something I think I've heard a ton of times, could be wrong.

Any post with Ron Swanson wins automatically.

dont believe he has to act Ryan lol

Glenvar has not given up more than 15 points in any game, but Union has only scored less than 34 points once. Something's gotta give there

Agreed totally. We need to go vertical way more often, our receivers are too dangerous to stick to bubble screens.

Itd be awesome to see an all SWVA state final, Id have to make the trip to Salem if it happens. And Im being a bit selfish, if Union wins, we get to host the 2A East team lol The West winner will win it all, the best team in the East lost last night so whoever makes it out of the ruggest West, will win it. I truly believe any of the four teams left can win it all. Every team is VERY good. This is probably the best year I've seen in terms of having so many good 2A teams.

Some stats from last night: Cousins had 139 yards on 20 carries and a TD. Bryce Spears threw for 147 yard and 5 TD. Rushing yards: Graham: 38-208 Union: 32-166 Passing: Graham: 9-18-0, 157 yards Union: 12-18-0, 147 yards Total: Graham: 362 Union: 312 Scoring plays: U-Barnett 5 yard TD pass from Spears (PATfailed) G-Allen 12 yd TD pass from Workman (PATgood) 2nd Q: U-Cameron Fannon 11 yard TD run (2pt good) 3rd Q: G-Cousins 3 yd TD run (PAT good) U-Mitchell 4 yd TD catch (PAT good) G-Booker 43 yd pass from Workman (PAT good) U-Summers 2yd TD run (XPTgood) 4th Q: U-Noaks 9 yd TD catch U-Noaks 5 yd TD catch U-Barnett 8 yd TD catch

Go Blue!!! I want an all-SWVA Final!

Union does not drop back in a lot of seven step drops, so hopefully that plus Spears running ability will limit the pass rush.

Union does have multiple talented receivers, five different receivers have caught TD passes, and we have four legit threats to score at any time in the passing game. Our WRs are big as well, one is 6'3, the other 6'5, and the TE is 6'4. Noaks is smaller, but is electric and can score from anywhere on the field. Union's defense is pretty good, but not elite. The offense is very good tho, I would be surprised if Union is held to less than 15 points unless Union has a ton of turnovers Should be a slugfest! Union had success running the ball against Richlands, especially in the second half, is the Glenvar defense better than Richlands?