LongTimeSWVAFan

I'd be shocked if Richlands was very good. The two best teams in far SWVA are Gate City and Union. Union drilled Richlands last year and the Bears return everybody off that team. The Blues do get the benfit of playing in a horrible conference that neither GC or Union will get.

Yes. I've seen multiple Central and Union games this year. I try to catch everybody I can and with them being two of the better teams locally, I've watched them closely.

I'm not a Central supporter, just call it like I see it.

With football seemingly over, how good will GC be in hoops? McClung-Barnes-Ervin should form a formidable threesome that can beat anybody not named Martinsville in 2A west.

Dalton Mullins hands down. Luke Owens should win Coach of the Year too. No reason for Central not to win both, literally a play away from going undefeated in the league after being picked near the bottom.

Somebody told me Letcher has been hit with numerous injuries?

Look for Central to make serious noise in the playoffs. Tonight should give them a home game and given the wind, it could make any opponent one dimensional.

Why can't you give Central any credit? They always play Union tough even when the Bears are supposed to be so much better. Happens in every sport, except baseball, Central just wins in that.

Graham? Which leaves seven non-league games and gives Richlands the ability to pad points by playing high level teams out of district. The schools in the mountain district should raise a major stink over this. There wouldn't be a single sport the SWD would be better in.

Like I said, just pencil Richlands and Va in. These other teams will battle tooth and nail to get in.

How much tougher can that district get? Richlands and Va. High are getting a cake walk. This is a joke if true, the league already has three of the top girl's basketball programs in the state, two of the top football programs, two of the top volleyball programs, a basketball team that has advanced to regional play every year for as long as I can remember, a solid track program, and a consolidated school that has the richest baseball program in the state. That's absurd, especially if they go back to regional play in all sports, meaning only two teams would advance in everything but football (it'd be hard to get more than two in football).

If Appomattox falls the last week of the season (which I'm hoping for) we could have some unbelievable round three games. Appomattox at Union and Richlands at Glenvar.

If Central doesn't win big, they have major issues. I expect Central in a blowout.

Unchained, what does Central lose off this year's team? Any JV kids that can help next year? I really think they are one offensive weapon away from being really good.

How's the talent level for Ridgeview in the younger ages? How's the JV doing?

If Abingdon beats Richlands, Richlands will fall to six, four through six are very tight. Union's best bracket involes this in my opinion.

A Richlands win Friday would be huge. They could move up to third, Abingdon will end up being worth 38 points.

Ridgeview will win out and go to the playoffs with a ton of momentum. To me, the interesting thing will be how much they throw it down the stretch. To beat good teams they have to be able to pass, they did it against GC but struggled to throw it against Central and Union.

Worst place to watch a high school football game that I've seen. Like you said the distance is too far, whoever the architech was on this must have never seen a football stadium before. They need to put in new bleachers and add bleachers and they need to be elevated. The sightlines are pitiful.

I've now seen Union three times (GC, Richlands and Central) and Central twice (Grundy and Union). Union amazes me, they looked like the Patriots on offense against Richlands and like a jv team on defense. Against GC, I never felt like they were emotionally invested in the game and honestly got lucky to win and last night their defense looked like the 85 Bears (minus two plays). Very bizzare play calling at the goal line last night, Union should have won that game by 4-5 touchdowns. Moving forward Central is going to have to diversife its offense. Mullins can be THE MAN but he can't be the only man, that doesn't fly against good teams. The Warriors program is moving in the right direction, if they don't get a stupid personal foul penalty when they had the ball at the 5 yard line they may be in a position to tie the game late. Central's defense is stout up the middle but they lack overall team speed, I can see how Richlands gashed them. It'll be fun to watch what Owens does with that program moving forward, anybody close to the program know if they have talent coming up through the system? If Union ever puts it all together (defense like last night and offense like against Richlands) watch out. They may need a couple of those games in the playoffs, they have to be encouraged by their defense the last two weeks, they've allowed eight total points, two while the offense was the on the field. With Eastside next week, the defense should take a ton of momentum to Letcher Co. (who I think is the last team on the schedule that can beat them). Any chance these two play in the playoffs? That would be fun to watch.

Pretty rough draw for Richlands if it stays as is. A first round date with Gretna before facing Giles then Appomattox and finally a trip to whoever is the highest team left in the east before they even get to the state final. A Glenvar - Graham meeting in round one wouldn't be easy for the defending state champions.

Thoughts? This has become a pretty good rivalry recently in all sports. Hatred from both sides. Union has more overall team talent but it's at Central and the Warriors always seem to play the Bears tougher than many think. Central gave the game away last year at Union, so don't be shocked if the district trophy ends up at Central High.

Seems to me Union is in the driver's seat for the 1 seed but may have Richlands as the four if Appo and the Giles vs Glenvar winner goes undefeated. Crazy how good the west is. Union fans will likely root for Abingdon in effort to avoid the Blues.

Union's remaining opponents have already won 15 games, Appomattox's remaining opponents have won 11. Does the 4A opponent vs. the 3A make up that much? I thought it was just two points?

Not a math guru but looking at the remaining games, Union should be the #1 seed if they win out. Central-Lee-Letcher games are huge points games for them. Nobody else has three big points games left. Plus they've got Richlands and John I. Burton getting them points every single week.