BigWinners

Boooooo that’s way too nice weather for December in SWVA. The Park was fantastic on Saturday, the absolute best weather for football I’ve ever seen but it was a tick warm. 60* is just too damn warm, y’all NRV boys pulling out all the stops to advance. Well played lol.

Now that’s a dope idea. As much as I’d always have an excuse to skip the Appalachia throwback night, the sky blue and red night would be awesome. The Union colors are closer to Appalachia anyway, the blue is way darker. Orange is pretty neutral compared to gold or red but the blue shade def closer to that dingy blue Appalachia had lol. But you would have to leave out certain numbers, all the numbers retired from Appalachia and the numbers retired from PV.

Anyone know the weather forecast? That could be the x-factor. If it’s cold as shit with rain flyin around, Graham will win and make it seem easy. Trying to catch that football when it’s hard as concrete in 20* weather while it’s slick? Hard pass.

I’m hearing it’ll likely be 2, Bostic. Son of a coach and super athletic. I’m not sure I wouldn’t let Hall start and keep Bostic at WR where he’s so dangerous, take some lumps next year and then be primed to go in 2025 but I dunno.

But is 5 heathy? He had to go out on the goal line Saturday and that sequence could have lost Graham the game by not scoring. He took a HARD lick for sure im not doubting the kid at all, but he’s gotta be 100% bc right now he’s 95% of the Graham offense.

I mean I can’t counter any of that, you aren’t wrong. Except on the PI call but we won’t relitigate that lolol. I thought one of the Union playmakers had his worst game in a Bear uniform Saturday. I’m not gonna throw any kid under the bus individually but he was lackadaisical at times, avoiding contact at times and just plain out of position at times. He could have totally changed the game four separate times with just effort and it just didn’t happen. They’re all young so I’m sure it’ll get corrected but for guys like Rey and the other dogs out there giving it every ounce they got (Chandler was busting his butt every play as well, the other Andersons are high effort kids, several others) it was undoubtedly extremely frustrating.

Appalachia hasn’t produced a champion in any manner since 1997. Union won a 2D title on the road in 2021 and at home in 2017. Those aren’t championships?

I was all in on the Radford bus as recently as this week. I thought Clark would shake off the bad game and come out firing and either 2D team was gonna be in a shootout. im not so sure anymore. I didn’t fully appreciate how healthy Clemens is, how much Graham has gotten stronger at the point of attack over this season and how this is a Graham team that is mentally tough. The environment they’ll walk into next week won’t be anything like what they saw yesterday. Im not jumping off the Bobcat bus just yet but I’m asking the driver to start slowing down. Graham won a close, physical game on the road and showed elite focus. They can do it again. I think it might be Clark’s year to shine but if Radford can’t tackle within four yards of the LOS, they’re Leavin the field with a l o s s.

If Union had 11 Reyshawns, they’d never lose and it wouldn’t be competitive. It’d be laughers every single week. That kid is a dog, in the best possible way. His brothers are too but he’s something special.

After time to chill and gather my thoughts, here’s what I think (I know all y’all just waiting to hear my final take as you guys respect me sooo much): First off hats off to Graham, Tony Palmer and the Graham staff for an excellent job of preparing thru the week. They knew how to attack Union, where Union would attack back and had his team mentally prepared for four full quarters of war. Union was also very well prepared and knew they had the advantage in a few areas and consistently exploited them as well and were prepared for a full four quarter battle. But Graham found out early Clemens was ready to rock. Before the play from the 1, I don’t believe any other offensive player for Graham had a touch. The QBs job consisted of saying hut and getting out of the way. Graham realized Union was seeing Clemens (from now on 5 to save me time lol) for the first time full strength this season and was not ready to consistently get him on the ground, so they said here Travis, here’s what we gonna do, stop it. Union could not do it and that’s the ballgame. Graham almost let the moment get to them and fumble away a golden opportunity. The first and goal ending up outside of FG range was wild and could have put lesser teams in a blender. Union had their chance to really step on Grahams neck and couldn’t do it. 4th and 3 from the three and get turned away while up three. A score there and possibly a conversion and now Graham maybe thinks they can’t just run 5 and have to go somewhere else who would undoubtedly be less effective. But with the stop, Graham regained control and never looked back. Union played a fantastic game for most of the game. A couple untimely penalties and a few mistakes like burning time outs but other than that, the offense was almost mechanical in its efficiency. The defense, well not as much lol. But I can’t fault the Union D as much as 5 and the Graham OL deserve credit. They didn’t allow Union to swarm 5 before he got going and that was the difference. If Union was getting off blocks and meeting 5 before he builds up any speed at the LOS, Union wins and likely by two scores like the first game. But the Graham OL deserves a whales share of credit, 5s individual effort was insane but the big boys up front gave him just enough room to take off. On the flip side, Grahams DL and LBs better hit the film room this week. If Reyshawn can make you squirm, Clark can melt you. The Graham DL at times got pushed around just like the Union group and it allowed the Bears to just eat clock and march. But they made a couple huge stops the Bears couldn’t get and that proved to be the difference. now, the officials. It evened out, by the end. A lot of the Graham calls were procedural and not opinion calls like the false starts. The holding hurt both teams, the targeting hurt both teams, so I don’t believe either team really got an advantage in the end. A big targeting in the first half that was iffy went the other way in the second. A holding call stalls Graham and then the same happens to Union. Some are sure Bunch committed PI in the end zone, I was on that end. Take the names off the jersey and it’s still not a flag I think. Both plays Bunch had great position and didn’t hit the WR in any real way before the ball. The better team won by executing when it matters, like Roberts standing in and delivering two STRIKES late in the fourth to seal it. Union couldn’t get off the field and Graham escaped with a hard fought win. I hate to see Reyshawn Anderson lose. That kid is so tough, so talented and such a gamer. Without him Union loses by 21+. He is a leader and has improved a ton as a passer to go along with elite athleticism and grit that you can’t teach.

On the 71 yard TD he basically disappears and came out fifty yards down the field. He’s a special player.

4th and 3 at the 3 and getting stopped was the game ender. Union couldn’t stop Clemens but Graham couldn’t really stop Anderson either. Bears had their chance to create some distance that they sorely needed and couldn’t do it. Graham made their big plays count, Clemens gonna need some ice tomorrow tho. Kid touched the ball on almost every single Graham play. He’s a monster.

No he did not. The collar did not bring down Clements.

Graham has made the big play when it counted. Clemens best player on field and it shows. Unstoppable. they also just lost the right to bitch and moan about calls after that targeting call with no contact above the shoulders.

I also had a fantastic look, def no PI on either play. Both times Bunch was in great position and didn’t impede the WR while he was making a play. That one was clean. I can’t comment on all the holding calls, some prob legit some not. But Graham let the momentum get in their heads there. Clements? Hurt? Or just a breather?

Yeah Union NEVER gets holding calls lolol they get 3-4 a game every game. You can fuss about some penalties but not Union and holding. They get called for it a lot.

That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen.

Having a healthy Clements might just make a little difference. Maybe just a little bit lol damn he’s been electric so far

I don’t think Tazwell is bad and they’ve only lost to very very good teams. But what’s their best win? The really good team they beat to prove they were truly a top tier team? RV wasn’t very good by the time they played. I think they are on the same plane as GC this year. Capable of beating decent teams, could knock off a big name on the right day but just a step behind the top of the region.

BEAUTIFUL day for football boys. just hope it’s 2017 and not 2018. I’ll be at the Park if anyone wants to say hi. I’m wearing a big yellow hoodie, I’m hard to miss I’m bout 6’4 lol

Gotcha. It is wild Grayson js somehow 1A but Riverheads and Graham are 2A.

They beat Glenvar by 30 at Glenvar. If Glenvar is indeed a tough opponent, they’ve beaten them twice by a combined 38 points, at home and on the road. I think the Glenvar staff is very good and knew exactly how to slow down Radford after seeing them first hand. The 2D team won’t have that in their favor. Union was in a one score game w Tazwell well into the second half and the Dogs aren’t great. Good teams win in winning time and Radford has done it two weeks in a row. When you have a QB that can literally take over a game and make up for any mistakes, that gives you an edge against teams without that. If the 2D team is that much better at rhe LOS and can physically put Radford down (like Union did v Tazwell and Graham v GC), then they’ll win. If it’s close at the end, I’m probably taking the electric QB.

You’re right, they were in a fight for sure. My point was just that with Clark, if you don’t put some distance on the scoreboard he’s gonna make plays and if they’re close, they’ll snatch the W bc he’s so dang good. I think you gotta be able to have him play from behind and under pressure or he’s gonna burn ya.

It was a close game but did you ever really feel Radford was losing? I didn’t but I could be the outlier. I always felt they were gonna hit a couple huge plays and Appo couldn’t do anything to match. tonight was different, Glenvar didn’t give them breathing room until the end and even then it bit them. My single biggest rationale is this: would I bet on Clark having three INTs and not being explosive and dynamic again? I won’t but that’s maybe a suckers bet. The 2D winner should have success running the ball but can they convert all their chances and not make mistakes? Both teams are super talented but both are penalty prone and Union stinks on special teams and those can be absolute season Enders this time of year. If you wanna run the ball and 2nd and 4 turns to 2nd and 14, drive over. With Clark, 2nd and 4 or 2nd and 14, doesn’t matter as much. maybe I’m way off, that’s entirely possible. I just think people putting too much stock in a great Glenvar showing (and not enough in the absolute domination by CCC and RHS).

I dunno man, beating Amelia by 40 isn’t quite like going to CW and absolutely embarrassing them. I hope you’re right but I don’t see it. Mistake free football is tough to overcome.