Union_Fan

Didn't Bluefield have several players out due to suspensions against Richlands last year? I'm sure that made a difference in the way Bluefield played, both mentally and physically.

I have a lot of respect for the Lee team.. The biggest negative I see to them getting respect is their strength of schedule. They were great last year and their record showed it. But when you open with TW, Lebanon and Burton you aren't going to earn much respect this early. Especially with the schedules that GC, Richlands, and Union open with. I like seeing Lee being in the mix, it makes the Mountain District and Conference 40 one of the best around IMO.

I know it was close, but just the fact that they beat Pikeville says a lot. Pikeville looked great against Letcher. RV may be in for a long night, but I'll be rooting for them nonetheless.

I could be overestimating VA High or underestimating TN High, but I think this will be a closer and more competitive game than many think.

SWVA vs NET, I think were all Union fans this week!

My wife and I got a chuckle out of that. If I didn't know better I would have thought I wrote that myself. I think a lot of kids do too much celebrating these days, Union included. 
 
I couldn't help but laugh at how the Union student section left the bleachers and ran down to the flag pole end of the field for the OT session, and then ran to the scoreboard end because they thought the field flipped on Union's turn. Then ran back to the flag side again when they realized it didn't.
 
They didn't have a clue how OT works, but they were just happy to be there and make some noise.
 
What it would be to be young again!

I have no idea about how good DC is except for what I have just read here,  but after Friday,  I know a lot about Union,  and I know they have size, speed, an offense that can both run and throw, a opportunistic defense,  good coaching, a great fanbase,  and their kids play with a lot of heart !  So I will take that combination anytime !  Playing a school that is over twice your size is daunting,  just the size of the school SHOULD mean they have a much bigger pool of athletes to choose from,  but I think this Union team will be fine.  They will have one of their best playmakers back which will make them even more dangerous so I think the Bears will come out with the win..........35 to 17.
My only concern would possibly be a little bit of a hangover from playing such a big and physical game this past friday,  but I think their coach will do a good job of getting them ready.
I just hope you guys come out of it healthy with no major injuries !  Good luck Bears,  make us proud and rep SWVA !

I have one more comment about this game, I know you guys are tired of hearing from me. Am I just to old school or was there alot of celebrating mostly from Richlands. After almost every play there was a dance off going on, I know the players on the field did alot more dancing and fist pumping and chest bumping and so on than the cheerleaders did LOL. When I played the coach said if you score act like you've been their before. Back in my day the coach would have took you out and then Dad would have came down on the sideline and jerked a knot in my rearend. Union saved their celebrating until after the game as it should be. When you make a great play and then hurt yourself or get a cramp from all that bull crap It makes you look pretty silly. So am I just behind times or what? I know I prefer to actually talk to a real person on the phone instead of text and I don't post my bathroom habits on facebook but jeez I'm just 40 not 90, has it really changed that much?

I hate that some of you guys had a bad experience with some cops and fans. It does happen at places. A Richlands teenager called my wife a bi*** last year after the game as we were walking to our cars. I didn't judge Richlands by him, and it won't stop me from going up there next year.
 
I had a nice after game conversation with a couple of guys from Richlands that were parked near me last night. It was a hyped up game and sometimes emotions get the better of people. Richlands/Union has been a series of very close and competitive games. I just hope that it doesn't turn into a "heated" rivalry where everybody hates each other.

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.

Heard some of the same stuff at Union from BOTH Appy and PV folks. People expected a state championship the first year. Both programs had been run into the ground before consolidation.People were calling for Turner's head the first year. It has taken time to build that program.
 
This is the first year that ALL players are 100% Union students (last year still had a few players that were 8th grade Appy high students or 8th grade PV football). So, there are no kids left that played football the PV way or the Appy way. It is now the UNION way. I believe that makes a difference.
 
Depending on how the season goes for Ridgeview the fan complaints may get better or worse, but as ALL students become 100% Ridgeview students it will be better.

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.

Richlands at Union Photo Gallery -- 655 images

I hope not. I DO NOT want to see them again this year. I just want to take the win and go home(or stay home in this case). This was such a hard fought and evenly matched game. Absolutely amazing. For the 5th year in a row decided in the final minute 30 (I think). Third year in a row decided on the final play.
 
Hat goes off to Richlands. It started a little chippy, but I saw a lot of sportsmanship on both sides. A TON of respect between these programs and their fans. Sometimes you really do wish that this was still like T-Ball in that you could tell all the players on both teams it was tie.

Congrats Union, keep your heads up Blues! Played a heck of a game. Two great teams with a lot of talent!

Congratulations Union!Hard fought game.

Boy-o-boy what a football game we witnessed! Congrats to both teams on a well played game. I don't know that I have ever see two more evenly matched teams. The rest of Virginia 2A better take notice!!

I understand and almost appreciate your hatred of Phil Robbins and Powell Valley, but you do realize that Union is NOT Powell Valley, right?

Go to the Little League fields on the left of the stadium. Sometimes it fills up a little slower than the right side. There's an exit over there as well. Also, on Shawnee ave. Short walk from the park. Just face the red light so you can get out easier.

If you take the first BSG exit (#2) you can go by the new Union High building. It's not Ridgeview, but definitely better than the old PV building. And unless you get caught by a train, it's really not any longer distance to the stadium. It's 35 mph vs 5 red lights. Pick your poison I guess.

The rumors are everywhere just like always. The first post on here about it didn't come from a Union poster. Once it's out it's out. Confirming a missing player, for whatever reason,isn't going to make a difference in the game. I would be VERY surprised if Coach Mance would devise his whole game plan based on what is posted on a forum anyway, true or not.
 
With that being said my only concern would be to avoid mentioning names and deeds. I don't want to see any player run down regardless of past transgressions. They're just kids and kids make mistakes. Sometimes the same ones over and over. Heck, I knew a guy that had 8 car accidents before he graduated high school.
 
The game will turn out the way it is supposed to. If we lose and meet Richlands again then that will just be another weapon they won't be prepared for.

Depending on the offensive formations run, there could be anywhere from 4 to 6 playing both ways. No doubt this missing player will have an impact. More on offense than defense IMO. I don't think it will make a difference in the outcome unless it is a single score where people would say if ________ had been playing that wouldn't have happened. Guess that's always possible.

That ref comment wasn't funny we still have to play Bluefield at Bluefield. lol. Can I get an amen?

I wanted to get up there, but just couldn't make it, so I guess it was someone else. I'll be at Bullet Park Friday though, but I won't be moving as fast as the guy in the video! :)

We will truly find out come December.