BigWinners

Ok, I said nothing to belittle Wise, but I don't think we will need luck to beat Wse.
 
I was not underestimating them whatsoever, I mentioned they scare us the most, but we should be favored and if Union plays a solid game, they win. And say what you want, Mullins, a a sophomore, is not as good as Collier, and no one on the outside for Wise is as good as McClung. I tried to be civil, but if you wanna start a bash fest, Ill gladly join in.
 
Union faces the best TE in the region every day in practice, I think they can prepare for a good TE in England.

Have to say that the Bears are good enough that luck is not a factor.  They win because they are talented, well coached, and play with a lot of heart.  They have a great fanbase also.  There is a reason they win the close games and it's not luck,  at least not 90% of the time.

They also had nothing to gain by playing the likes of Sullivan central, sullivan east,sullivan north,sullivan south and volunteer for years

I previously saw some BHC articles about some of the Union kids earlier in this season...so I googled  and here are a couple;
'Spears, Noaks connection shines for Bears'  Gregory/BHC 9/19/15
 
'For QB's, defenses and recruiters, Union's Mitchell is one big target'  Gregory/BHC  9/24/15
 
You can google and read the articles from the BHC
 

Well, based on their points scored.  Riverview should win this game by the score of 5 to 4

Im scared that all this talk about how good Union is will go to the kids' heads and they will slip up against a team they should beat like GC, Wise or Lee.
 
If Union does win out, I believe the road to the state title would have to go thru Big Stone, so I don't know about having to go on the road, but if we slip up this week or at Wise/Lee or against Letcher, it will make things very interesting and make a Union/Richlands rematch happen way sooner than I would want.
 
Richlands scares the everloving shit out of me, I would much rather draw a team like Glenvar or Giles in the third round than Richlands. I think Union can slow down the Giles single-wing and I dont know if Glenvar has the athletes to compete outside with Union, but I know Richlands does and they have the extra motivation of revenge.
Union has that edge on Glenvar, losing a tough game to them last year that Union could have won, so if a matchup with them comes to fruition then Union has the motivation factor
 
Union's season comes down to the next four games. Gate City Friday, then at Lee/Wise then Letcher. If Union goes 4-0, they will smash Eastside and Battle. 

Whatever Richmond and Tidewater want...

Abingdon would add a TON of points for the Blues, as a Union fan I hope Richlands wins because that just adds more points for us. I would favor Richlands IMO

I sure hope we make it to at least #3 but that may be wishful thinking. Still six games to go and some things going our way.
 
1- Union goes 10-0
2- Richlands goes 9-1 ( with two games that will be tough....Bluefield and Abingdon)
3- Appomattox goes 9-1
4- Giles goes 9-1
5- Glenvar goes 10-0

Let’s break this down. 
  Unions remaining schedule is: Gate City BYE @ Lee @ Central Eastside @ Letcher Co. Central, KY John Battle   Richlands: Virginia @ Bluefield @ Tazewell Grundy Abingdon @ Lebanon BYE   Glenvar: Covington BYE Giles @ Auburn East Mont. @ Radford Floyd Co.    Giles: @ Graham Galax @ Glenvar Radford Floyd @ East Mont.  @ Auburn   Appomattox: William Campbell Gretna Dan River @ Altavista Nelson County @ Chatham Amherst County   Unions potential upset games are, IMO, Gate City and @ Lee (I’m sure the Lee players remember last years game). I don’t see Union losing. So let’s put Union at 10-0.    Richlands potential upset games are @ Bluefield and Abingdon. If Richlands wins both of those (I believe we will) and BHS and AHS go 9-1, that is some major points for us. This puts Richlands at 9-1.   Glenvar has potential upsets with Giles and @ Redford. I think Glenvar will lose one of these, leaving them at 9-1.   Giles has a tough 4 game stretch here with @ Graham, Galax, @ Glenvar, and Redford. I see Giles losing AT LEAST 2 of these four. I’ll put them at 8-2.    Appomattox has @ Atavist and Amherst that could be slip up games. I see Appomattox finishing at 9-1.    That leaves Union at 10-0. Richlands, Glenvar, and Appo at 9-1. And Giles at 8-2.    It all comes to points at that point.    But I see the top 5 at the end of the year being: Union Appomattox Richlands Glenvar Giles   
I could be wrong, but this is how I see it playing out. This also clears the way for a Richlands/Union rematch in the state final if both teams make it that far. 

Union has actually played two 2A schools (Richlands and Ridgeview), one 1A (Burton) and one 4A (Crockett). Their power points ranking is likely being hurt most by Crockett who has one win, to date.
 
Appomattox has played two 3A schools (Rustburg and Heritage) and one 2A (Buckingham County).
 
Both have beaten two 3-win teams. For Union, they beat a 1A and 2A with three wins. For Appomattox, their 3-win teams come from 2A and 3A. That's likely the difference right now.

AA rankings per VaPreps:
 
 

  Team City Record 1 Glenvar Salem 4-0    The Highlanders hold down the top spot with their 21-0 win over Grayson County   2 Giles Pearisburg 3-0   The Spartans stay on track with a 42-6 win over Narrows that keeps them on Glenvar's tail   3 Union Big Stone Gap 4-0   The Bears continued playing great football topping Ridgeview 42-12 on Friday night   4 Richlands Richlands 3-1   The Blue Tornado scored another win topping Central-Wise 47-4 to hold their spot   5 Appomattox County Appomattox 3-0   Off on a bye, the Raiders will host William Campbell on Friday night   6 Clarke County School Berryville 2-1   The Eagles blasted 4A Handley 42-7 to maintain their hold on the #6 spot   7 Buckingham County Buckingham 2-1   It's a two-spot jump up for the Knights following their 40-8 win over Nottoway   8 Lee Jonesville 2-1   The Generals climbed two spots after smashing Eastside 57-13 last week   9 Buffalo Gap Swoope 3-0   The Bison remained undefeated and debuted in the rankings after scoring a 36-0 shutout over Gate City   10 Stuarts Draft Stuarts Draft 2-1   The Cougars moved to 2-1 on the season with a 42-21 win over Broadway earning them an appearance in the rankings
 

Like Razor,  I too believe that GC may be better than their record shows.  They have played a tough schedule........especially for a team that lost what it did from last year,  and the tough schedule continues this week.  I have a lot of respect for both of these great programs,  but Union is just too good this year.  They are so well balanced, tough, and well coached and it will take a special team to beat them.
Gate City will continue to grow and get better because of the tough schedule and will be a tough out by the end of the season and should be a battle tested team and a team to look out for next year,   but this year is Union time !
 
35 to 14  Union

You are a better man than I am GMan, I would have either said something to the parent or shoved his ass around, there is no reason at all to act like that towards kids that age. 
 
 
My dad was never easy on me, but it was never that bad.

Some parents need to learn they are 5-7 years old and playing a GAME. This isn't the NFL. It isn't college or high school ball. He is supposed to be out there having fun and that's ALL that matters at this stage. Someone should punch that guy in the throat. 

I really believe Gate City is a much better team than people give them credit. Are they as good as last year? No.
We are much better than last year and Bluefield is a very good team also. Abingdon has there best team in many years.
 
That being said.... Union is the best team in the West right now in my opinion. They are great in all phases of the game and are dealing with many injuries and still getting the job done.like I said after our game with them....#7 Gavin is the best all around player I have seen since Devon Johnson. I know that's a big assertion but its my opinion. The young man can do it all with size, strength, speed and plays very physical both ways.The scary thing about Union is......Gavin is just one of about six guys on that team that fits that mold. Very impressive to have that many weapons of that talent level.
 
I think Gate City makes it respectable but Union just has to many weapons. Union wins it pretty easy by the end of the third quarter if not sooner.
 
Union-45
Gate City-21

I wouldn't cry to bad if someone else beat Union in the playoffs. LOL. Just like I'm sure Union fans wouldn't boycott the Championship Game if someone beat Richlands before we got to them. But what a great game that would be.

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=13667888&ex_cid=sportscenterFB&sf13111120=1
 
Welp, time to round up the recruiting team and head out to Cali.

Team                             Record
1. Union (5)                     3-0
2. Tennessee High          3-1
3. Richlands                    2-1
4. Abingdon                    3-0
5. Sullivan East              3-0
6. Honaker                     3-0
7. George Wythe           2-1
Others receiving votes: Wise County Central, Virginia High
Ridgeview at No. 1 Union Last meeting: First meeting
After opening the season with a 52-6 thumping of J.I. Burton, Union has posted two straight wild victories over Richlands and David Crockett. Last week at Crockett, the Bears accumulated 250 total yards en route to a 41-32 win. Creative quarterback Bryce Spears passed for 79 yards and two scores while senior Devan Summers powered for 107 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries. … Ridgeview also began the season in style, scoring 52 points in the first quarter against Jenkins but has since has sputtered on offense en route to consecutive losses. … The Wolfpack has been hampered by the absence of 6-foot-3 senior Guage Hill, who is sidelined with a serious knee injury. … With a roster full of athletes and hitters, Union is a fun team to watch. But the sight of Union fans sprinting to their seats once the Bullitt Park gates open at 5:30 p.m. may be the most impressive sight of the night.
Prediction: Union 42, Ridgeview 14
Daniel Boone at No. 2 Tennessee High Last meeting: Tennessee High 41, Daniel Boone 6 (Oct. 17, 2014, in Gray, Tenn.)
The season-opening loss to Dobyns-Bennett is already ancient history for a Tennessee High team on a tear. Since the blowout setback to D-B, the Vikings (3-1, 1-0) have won three straight and put up at least 30 points in each win. … Boone (0-3, 0-0) doesn’t have a bad loss on the books – its opponents this year are a combined 8-2 and the Trailblazers have lost by margins of seven, two and 14 points – but it’s still been a trying stretch for the crew from Gray. Boone has lost eight of nine dating back to last season with the lone win – a 2014 season-ending triumph over fierce rival David Crockett – marred by a postgame brawl the left both teams ineligible for postseason play this year. … The Trailblazers and Vikings have each played Sullivan South this season. Boone fell 21-14 to the Rebels, while Tennessee High picked up a 34-21 win. … You don’t have to tell the Vikings to look out tonight – a shocking postseason loss to the Trailblazers in 2009 is still the game-that-must-not-be-named around the Stone Castle – but Tennessee High’s closest geographical rival in the new Mountain East Conference is winless this season for reason.
Prediction: Tennessee High 34, Daniel Boone 7
No. 3 Richlands at Wise County Central Last meeting: First meeting
In between losing a 3 hour, 14 minute heartbreaker at Union, Richlands has outscored traditional powers Gate City and Graham by a combined margin of 91-14. Both of those games were played with a running clock over the entire second half. … Five players have caught TD passes from improving junior quarterback John-Luke Asbury while senior running back Nick Blankenship and sophomore lineman Neal Carini (6-1, 240) key a ground game that averages 154 yards. … The Central offense has also been potent behind durable quarterback Dalton Mullins. The son of Central assistant Jason Mullins, Dalton has accumulated 676 total yards while scoring eight times … The Warriors generate 413 total yards last week against Letcher County Central, Kentucky, but dropped a 44-43 overtime thriller.
Prediction: Richlands 42, Wise Central Country Central 14
Blacksburg at No. 4 Abingdon Last meeting: Abingdon 28, Blacksburg 6 (1992)
Abingdon has compiled video-game worthy stats through three games behind a rapid-fire spread offense. The Falcons average 296 yards passing, 222 yards rushing and 47 points per game. … Junior linebacker Carter Counts (31 tackles), junior defensive back Max Yates (21 tackles) and senior lineman Justin Fannon (17 tackles) lead the AHS defense. … Blacksburg is coached by former Richlands quarterback and Virginia High assistant Thad Wells. For the past four decades, the Bruins were guided by Dave Crist. … Wells inherited 15 returning starters from a 6-5 team, including 6-foot-3, 232-pound third-year quarterback Isaac Johnston. … Blacksburg picked for seventh in the River Ridge District, defeated Bassett 44-6 on Sept. 4 after opening the season with a 49-21 loss at Giles. … This will be an offensive chess match between clever coaches.
Prediction: Abingdon 35, Blacksburg 14
Greeneville at No. 5 Sullivan East Last meeting: Greeneville 49, Sullivan East 12 (Nov. 9, 2007, in Greeneville, Tenn.)
The test has arrived for Sullivan East. After putting together three dominant efforts to start the season – outscoring Johnson County, Unicoi County and Grainger by a combined count of 91-8 – the Patriots (3-0, 1-0) welcome the powerhouse Greeneville program to the Patriot Pasture for a key Northeastern Conference clash. … While East’s defense has been impressive, the Greene Devils (3-1, 1-0) have excelled on offense this season. Greeneville is averaging 31.8 points per game despite managing only a field goal in its lone defeat, a 28-3 loss to Morristown West. … Desmond Dabbs has already rushed for 545 yards and six touchdowns this season for the Greene Devils, while quarterback Cade Ballard has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 494 yards and six scores. … If East can even keep this one close, the Patriots should be a true contender to earn only the second playoff win in school history later this fall. A win tonight for the Patriots would be a landmark triumph.
Prediction: Greeneville 35, Sullivan East 14
No. 6 Honaker at Holston Last meeting: Holston 31, Honaker 17 (Oct. 13, 1989 in Honaker, Va.)
After losing 20 seniors from a team that went 13-1 and reached the state semifinals, Honaker has continued to hum. The Tigers are 3-0 and have posted wins over Lebanon (28-7), Castlewood (35-7) and Eastside (47-13). … Holston has lost its three games by scores of 36-20, 28-14 and 14-7. … Last week’s seven-point loss to John Battle was frustrating for the Cavaliers, but Branson Thomas (five tackles, two sacks), Brady Snead (two tackles for a loss) and Elijah Collie (five tackles) played well on the defensive side of the ball. … Look for Honaker to run its regular-season win streak to 14 games.
Prediction: Honaker 48, Holston 14
No. 7 George Wythe at Galax Last meeting: Galax 51, George Wythe 20 (Nov. 15, 2013 in Wytheville, Va.)
This clash between playoff regulars is one of the marquee games in Southwest Virginia this evening. … The Maroons and Maroon Tide both have run-first mentalities. Galax’s Charles Harris has rushed for more than 200 yards in each of his team’s three games, while GW’s Rashad Wells is averaging 137.4 rushing yards per contest. … George Wythe is averaging 48.4 points per game and also has some stars on special teams. Deacon Beamer is averaging 41.3 yards on eight punts, while Markell Moss is averaging 60.3 yards on three kick returns. … Current Virginia Tech freshman Steven Peoples rushed for 319 yards and scored five touchdowns in the last meeting between these rivals, helping Galax beat the Maroons in a 2013 first-round playoff game. Don’t be surprised if Harris and/or Wells have a similar output tonight.
Prediction: Galax 41, George Wythe 31
 

1. Agree
2. Agree
3. Agree
4. Not necessarily.  They had over 200 yards rushing last night.  I felt that once they got in the T formation, we couldn't stop them.  Based on that fact, last night Union won the physicality battle.
5. Agree.  Penalties and turnovers killed us.  Heard some rumbling last night from Richlands fans we didn't play a perfect game....would've won...etc...know where that is going.  The fact is good teams force mistakes.  Union is a good team.
6. Agree.
7. Adressed the physicality.  Mostly agree.  However, Union did have one of their threats out.  I imagine that they could actually be more dangerous....that is scary.
8. Agree that both teams are dangerous.  No offense but, your statement about being 10-15 points better than Union would really piss me off if I was a Union fan.  In my opinion, there is no mistake free football.  Teams that can captilize on mistakes of others are successful. 
 
Now to add expand a little.  I was very impressed with the Union's ability to get in the spread and brandish that type of fire power....wow.  Then to get in the old T formation and basically force feed the football down our defense's throat.....wow.  Great team, great coaching.  Watching the game, however, I feel that the fumble on the speed option in the late first, early second with Richlands up 7 and driving for another was a critical error.  That wasn't a forced turnover.  Poor execution, poor play call.  We are not a option based team.  If we drive and score there...could have been a different game.  I hope that a potential rematch would take place in the finals on a neutral field.  I don't think that Union relishes a re-match.  It is really hard to defeat a good team twice.  Having said that, losing early may be a disguised blessing for the Blues.  Overall it was a hell of a game.  Rare to see two team that good go head to head so early in the season.  I do hope both teams run the table until a potential rematch.

In all honesty. ....I think if you pit these teams together 10 times....you get exactly what you got last night each time! A close game that comes down to a final play with the winner being a toss up. No matter how anyone wants to slice it..... Richlands and Union pair up against one another better than any 2 teams out there right now. Late in the year Union too will be improved, so Richlands improving to the point that they are far better by the end of the year will be void in the argument if and when they play again. Both are great....both played great last....the ball just bounced Unions way again in the turnover and mistakes category. That's all you can make of it. Mistakes and turnovers would more than likely be the deciding factor in the next one as well.
 
If they play again you can bet I'll be present....I'll have a personal day saved up at work by then. Be nice to see a great game without having to be tensed up the whole time.

Aside from the INTs, the Richlands QB was flat out balling last night, he threw darts all night long. He did make a couple mistakes, but other than that, he was playing lights out.

Aside from the INTs, the Richlands QB was flat out balling last night, he threw darts all night long. He did make a couple mistakes, but other than that, he was playing lights out.

Congratulations Union!
 
I did not think that many points would be scored. It hurts to lose but you guys have a great team and I hope we meet again this year. I want get into the finger pointing it just demishes the great game we saw.
 
Talked with many Union fans and not one was rude. Everybody was great!
Good luck the rest of the season.......until we meet again.
 
Its just amazing 5 games can be decided by a GRAND total of 12 points. WOW!!!!

Richlands at Union Photo Gallery -- 655 images