GoBearsGo

Relax guy... you'll get at least two conference wins over us.  Lol.

I watched Eastside/Union tonight. Pleasantly surprised with Eastside. They have two kids with some height and one of them with some size. Both look young but once they figure out their footwork down low they will be dominant. Decent guard play by Eastside too. In the 1st half they were stroking the 3 point line. Only thing, not sure Eastside scored in the 3rd quarter? Regardless good win for Eastside. 
 
As for Union... geez. Talent is there to do some damage but they just dont click. They looked like they were going through the motions. I question Moore at times with some decisions but then again that is why they pay me the big bucks to be a keyboard coach!
 
As for ole Dicky V's top 5 for 2A basketball... I leave it unchanged. I have not seen JB or Richlands. Will update accordingly Saturday night. 
 
As for 1A:
1-Raddy
2-GW
3-Eastside
4-Chilhowie
5-Honaker

In it's prime, Appalachia had some really good talent. Late 90's, as mentioned before Travis Turner and Travis Clark were possibly one of the best QB/RB duos this area has seen. Mid 90's had some great ones too. Larry Huff probably tops that list and may have been one of the best all around athletes to come thru AHS. Chris Mabe was a heck of LB. Harold Bowman was as good of a lineman as you would find. Early 90's had Kris Clark at RB and Radio Stuart at FB, they were a tough duo. The '89 state champion team had Shane Gibson at RB that carried the ball a ton. That was a special time at AHS, every team was solid top to bottom. None were really "superstars", they just all knew there role and showed up and did the work.

Hey,  I am one Blues fan that will not take up arms against you because you, as everyone else, has a right to their opinion,  and also I don't think most of the Richlands fans are under any illusions as to how good Appo is.  We played them there last year and got a first hand view of how good they are/can be and the fact they have basically the same team back and those same players would be 1 year older, stronger and probably even faster,  I think we have a pretty good idea of what we have waiting on us..........IF we get past this next game,  that has to be our focus right now.
Stuarts Draft is next  and will be a tough game,  but I think we have a pretty good shot at getting past them.  But we have seen in the past that at this point in the playoffs everyone has earned their right to be here and has a chance to win their game.  The Blues will have to play their best and stay focused on this week's game or they could find themselves home and not having a chance to play Appo again.
I'll take my chances with a Mance coached team any day and he always gives us a least a chance to beat any body at any time.
 The Blues seem to be peaking at the right time,  I just hope they don't get ahead of themselves and look past this week's game,  I don't think Mance will let that happen,  but they are still high school kids and you just never know.
Congrats to Union and Graham on fantastic seasons,  both of you have a lot to be proud of, and I look forward to our games against both great programs next year !  

Appomattox is the best football team, top to bottom, I have seen in a very long time. Union didn't play their best, but IMO if they do, they still get beat by 3 td's. Union had success on the first two drives from the T but once they got down by two scores and went to the spread Appo was just way to much on defense. Way to strong and fast all over the field. Defensive line was big and physical, linebackers were smart and athletic and DB's were fast and covered everything. Offensively, Union's defense had nothing for them from the opening drive. It wasn't a bad scheme, bad coaching, or bad plays.. Appo just came at you from all directions and we couldn't answer. I agree with a post above, I wouldn't count out the East teams by any means but I don't see anyone beating Appomattox. Sorry Richlands fans, don't take up arms against me (see what I did there.. I visited the Appo Court House yesterday so I'm in character) but Appo has way to much speed, size, coaching, you name it.. Just my thoughts... Another great season for our Bears, a lot of schools would give anything to have this type of success. Getting beat by a better team is nothing to hang you head about.

Regardless thank you so much, it makes keeping up with the games much easier. I'm eternally grateful.

The account belongs to the Kingsport Times News and their SportsLive program. But yes, I and another guy manage the account. I've been on since the KTN started the program 6 years ago and the other guy has probably been on 5.

Thanks for the compliment on our KTN SportsLive Twitter feed! As one of two that "man" that account, we really appreciate it! Both of us take pride in keeping fans updated of all sports and activities. Of course, football has the bigger following, especially this time of year.

Hey Union fans just want to extend an apology to you for not believing in you ( I was right for 98.7% of the game) but I was still wrong in the end. Good Luck against Appomattox. I don't know who does the tweets for you guys on sportslive on the KTN twitter feed but they are great. If anyone who knows the guy or gal who does that tell them thank you!

I think about everything has been said or seen regarding this game, so I'll just add a couple of tidbits.
 
Union's O and D line won this game. Pure and simple. DR's speed was able to get to the edges a few times, but they only ran into their own lineman's backs when they tried to run between the tackles.
 
The DR folks couldn't have been more polite, respectful and gracious. I give them tons of credit for that.

Don't be misled thinking DR was a dirty football team. They were one of the better teams I have seen and played a great game. The injury to Stidham was nothing that they did. It was one of the better HS football games I have seen (including the Union/Richlands series). The officiating was pretty good with the exception of 2 questionable PI calls that extended DR drives but those happen in every game. Defense won this game for Union IMO. Great win for our program!

Definitely the game of the week in SWVA in my opinion.. Being a home game will help Lee but I think VA High may have a little to much speed on offense and Lee is a little one dimensional so I'm taking VA High in a close one, maybe a high scoring close one. From the way it looks it could very well be "win or go home".

Union's Austin Falin (2015) is starting at LG for E&H

My opinion of this being the best Richlands that I've seen, is just that, an opinion. Sure the O-line struggled a little and JLA wasn't as sharp but keep in mind it's game 2. A big part of my opinion is based on the fact that not many, if any, high school teams have the DB's to cover #15 AND #11 along with the other weapons. If Richlands can figure out any type of run game they will be tough to compete with. Our DB's did a fair job of coverage but good coverage can be beat by a good athlete, just like #15 did to us on Friday. I see both teams getting better as the season progresses. Union's D Friday night made me a believer again!!

Hands down one of the best high school football games I've witnessed. Here's my take away points...IMO this Richlands team is the best I have seen them have, with a little cleanup against the run I think they could make a deep run. #15 had an amazing game, several balls he caught were not very well thrown but he made plays. The catch on the last TD in regulation was not something you see in high school football. I have to give my Bears a lot of credit. After the first series the D made good adjustments and really showed the potential they have. The offense showing the versatility to go to the double tight T will make the remainder of the schedule take notice. And finally, James Mitchell is special. Plain and simple... I don't think anyone can deny that. Great matchup, wouldn't surprise me if these two meet down the road this season.

Hands down one of the best high school football games I've witnessed. Here's my take away points...IMO this Richlands team is the best I have seen them have, with a little cleanup against the run I think they could make a deep run. #15 had an amazing game, several balls he caught were not very well thrown but he made plays. The catch on the last TD in regulation was not something you see in high school football. I have to give my Bears a lot of credit. After the first series the D made good adjustments and really showed the potential they have. The offense showing the versatility to go to the double tight T will make the remainder of the schedule take notice. And finally, James Mitchell is special. Plain and simple... I don't think anyone can deny that. Great matchup, wouldn't surprise me if these two meet down the road this season.

My first post of the year and I gotta start off by saying how refreshing it is to read a thread and not see the typical "You suck, we are awesome, this happened 10 years ago..blah blah blah" that sometimes comes with a big game like this. So kudos to all you guys (or gals..)!  I'm in agreement with all that's been said. This game will probably be the biggest regular season game (other than maybe Richlands v. Abingdon) this season as far as hype. I'm a Union "homer" so of course I'll be pulling for the Bears and I really think they have a shot. They are a very different team than last season, but not in bad ways. Our pass D worries me a little. Offensively we are good, not as explosive as last year but we have several weapons, other than Mitchell.
 
Here's a few things I'm looking forward to: 1-Can Union's D shape up and cover a pass? 2-Will Union's run game be as effective as it "should" be? and 3- I'm looking forward to seeing JLA throw the football. I told some football friends when he was a sophomore that he had the best arm I had seen since Travis Turner.
 
All in all, hoping for a well played, safe football game. Both teams have potential for another great regular season and a deep run.

Nice post.
I think that the way this series has gone over the last few years has caused both teams and fan bases to have a lot of respect for the other !  They both seem so closely matched every year with both teams being athletic and well coached and they know how much work it takes to get to where both of these programs are and have been for several years.............that being said,  they both want to beat each sooooo badly,  kinda like 2 bullies squaring off against each other to see who is the tough guy,  so far Union has had the best of the last 3 matchups with classic games that have come down to the final play,  which if you think about it is really amazing that that could happen 3 times in a row.
This game would not surprise me if it came down to the final play or at least the final couple of minutes of the final qtr.........again,  only this time with a little different outcome.....at least as far as us Blues fans are concerned...lol.
My Aunt & Uncle usually come in every Oct. to visit my mother and stay for a week,  but this year they changed it up and decided to come in this week due in large part so he could come and see this game !
I can't wait for Friday,  it's games like this that make Friday nights so great.
I hope that the experience of JLA and the O will help us win this game,  but I would not be surprised if Union is able to pull out another win.
Good luck to the Union team and fans and please have a safe trip to Ernie and hope you enjoy your visit.............just hope you don't enjoy it too much...lol ! 

My first post of the year and I gotta start off by saying how refreshing it is to read a thread and not see the typical "You suck, we are awesome, this happened 10 years ago..blah blah blah" that sometimes comes with a big game like this. So kudos to all you guys (or gals..)!  I'm in agreement with all that's been said. This game will probably be the biggest regular season game (other than maybe Richlands v. Abingdon) this season as far as hype. I'm a Union "homer" so of course I'll be pulling for the Bears and I really think they have a shot. They are a very different team than last season, but not in bad ways. Our pass D worries me a little. Offensively we are good, not as explosive as last year but we have several weapons, other than Mitchell.
 
Here's a few things I'm looking forward to: 1-Can Union's D shape up and cover a pass? 2-Will Union's run game be as effective as it "should" be? and 3- I'm looking forward to seeing JLA throw the football. I told some football friends when he was a sophomore that he had the best arm I had seen since Travis Turner.
 
All in all, hoping for a well played, safe football game. Both teams have potential for another great regular season and a deep run.

My first post of the year and I gotta start off by saying how refreshing it is to read a thread and not see the typical "You suck, we are awesome, this happened 10 years ago..blah blah blah" that sometimes comes with a big game like this. So kudos to all you guys (or gals..)!  I'm in agreement with all that's been said. This game will probably be the biggest regular season game (other than maybe Richlands v. Abingdon) this season as far as hype. I'm a Union "homer" so of course I'll be pulling for the Bears and I really think they have a shot. They are a very different team than last season, but not in bad ways. Our pass D worries me a little. Offensively we are good, not as explosive as last year but we have several weapons, other than Mitchell.
 
Here's a few things I'm looking forward to: 1-Can Union's D shape up and cover a pass? 2-Will Union's run game be as effective as it "should" be? and 3- I'm looking forward to seeing JLA throw the football. I told some football friends when he was a sophomore that he had the best arm I had seen since Travis Turner.
 
All in all, hoping for a well played, safe football game. Both teams have potential for another great regular season and a deep run.

I agree that I thought we may see more kids getting an opportunity to play at the next level and I'm sure we will in the coming weeks. The D1 level for a kid from our end of the state is rare. Having went through the recruiting process last year, kids from here in most cases don't have the exposure not to mention the size/speed for that level. They are great 1A/2A football players and can play at the D2, D3 or NAIA level but D1 is a whole other level. With that said, I agree that after seeing Asbury and Sturgill play QB they will be D1 level next season.

And this my friends is why I've all but quit posting on these boards.. It always turns into "my team's better than yours, your team sucks, my team will win, mine is bigger than yours!" Just don't get why there can't be civil debate on HS sports. Fact of the matter is they are teenagers, anybody can beat anybody on a given night.

Well, that seals it!  Cancel the 2016-17 season, send all trophies to Big Stone Gap...

Agreed Ryan.. We have then during the week also starting at 4pm in most cases. Just makes for a long evening on uncomfortable bleachers! I'm not a fan at all of having JV and V in different gyms at the same time. At Ridgeview I missed the girls varsity game because it was played at the same time as boys JV.

We call them "quads" at Richlands and we play them all in a row. We do it during the week sometimes, starting the JV Girls at 4pm and going from there. I like that better than having the JV games in a different gym.