BigWinners

Convenient turf is, but football is meant to be on grass, green grass. Hate Bermuda even though it's a little tougher and heals quickly. 

Fair enough but the Radford defense doesn’t really stand out to me. Clark can score in bunches but I just don’t see that much speed other than him. My opinion is that it will be close until they break  the Bobcats O-line, then the 3 interceptions that was thrown last week become 2 pick 6’s and the party is on. I could be dead wrong and Radford could come out and put a decent whooping on the G-men. My gut tells me that’s not the case though. As the immortal Rick Flair said “to be the man, you have to beat the man”. Graham is the man until otherwise notified……. 
 
To be clear all 4 teams left have played their tails off and are more than deserving of being in this position. Being critical of a team doesn’t take away from their accomplishments. Like boxing, matchups make fights. I feel like Graham and Radford are miles faster than Riverheads and Poquoson. But with all due respect to both teams out west I feel both east teams are more disciplined and are less prone to penalties. What does that mean, hell I don’t know but it’s fun to guess…..

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. 

As some of you know, I live in south Florida and take in a ton of games (28 this season) due to games on Thursdays and Fridays because of shared stadiums and referee shortages. This year, I saw 32 different teams, and while all but 5 of those teams would solidly thump or mercy rule Graham and Union, there are NONE of those teams who play with the passion those kids played with today, and there is NO place down there that is in the same universe in terms of game atmosphere as what I saw today. I wish I had a video of it to show those people. 

On Anderson, kid is tough as nails! He gave 110% every play and fought for every extra yard. He was by far Union's best player on the field! Clark is obviously an exemplary QB and quick as lightning but I'm not sure he's got the "toughness" of Anderson. I wish the young man all the best! He's an athlete & a half! 

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. 

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. 

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. 

We burn our timeouts like that every week.  They’ll bring the play in from the sideline with 12 seconds on the play clock and still have to go to the huddle line up and snap the ball it’s been like that for years 

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

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. 

Not on the last Clements TD run but the one before that I think the refs missed a hold and I’m a Graham fan. Two very good teams who have potential to win state and it sucks someone has to lose. 

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. 

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

Not really lol. I was referring to Grayson making three appeals and threatening a lawsuit before the Executive Committee let them stay in class 1A with the small schools. If they can't win 1A then no they definitely can't win 2A. Just making reference to their little temper tandom lol. They expected to run would thru 1A but it didn't happen. Their enrollment is actually larger than Riverheads.

You think they’d have a better shot against Radford or Appo or Glenvar? Not sure I agree lol

Radford didn’t look great today but they were also playing their district rivals who have one of the best coaches in the state in a rematch. I know Graham and Union fans now think it’ll be a cake walk against Radford but let’s look back at how bad Union looked against Ridgeview and Graham against Virginia High and GC. Anything can happen, especially now this late in the season 

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). 

*Germans

Not really, I never felt like Appo had a legit chance to win after the first quarter. They had no answers for Clark. This game I thought was much much tighter and Radford was very lucky to escape. Glenvar should have won the game but fell apart when it came to crunch time. That’s a positive for Radford tho, having to win it at the end, fighting back against a deficit, etc. could really get them focused for next week. 

Guys it’s one game and it was a rematch. I wouldn’t bet against Clark having a fireball game after the nail biter tonight. But the 2D winner now sees some cracks, running the ball should be there for either team. 
 
not sure it’ll matter tho, Riverheads is an absolute machine and CCC is the best player in 2A. I’m converted. I was sure Clark was the most dangerous player and Radford wouldn’t be stopped. I was wrong. Riverheads is not gonna be stopped and CCC is the most dangerous player. 

Riverheads man, nasty. I thought 2A be different but nope. 

*Germans