jarhead24219

this is a funny story, but true. several years ago Powell Valley retired Thomas Jones' jersey, on of the speaker was no other than PHIL ROBBINS, he went on and on about all the things THOMAS JONES had done while in high school and while at the UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA and being a first round draft choice. ROBBINS told THOMAS had done all these things before age 19, he then said just think THOMAS if you would have went to GATE CITY  you would now be a SENIOR!!!LIKE HIM OR NOT THATS SOME FUNNY STUFF THERE.

this is a funny story, but true. several years ago Powell Valley retired Thomas Jones' jersey, on of the speaker was no other than PHIL ROBBINS, he went on and on about all the things THOMAS JONES had done while in high school and while at the UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA and being a first round draft choice. ROBBINS told THOMAS had done all these things before age 19, he then said just think THOMAS if you would have went to GATE CITY  you would now be a SENIOR!!!LIKE HIM OR NOT THATS SOME FUNNY STUFF THERE.

It's been happening for a long time.  The basketball staff tried to convince my mother to allow my brother to be held back in 7th and again in 8th grade.  My mother refused to allow it and he graduated at 17 and played college basketball.
 
Steven Peoples also graduated high school at 17.  It has been my experience, the younger kids who grow up having to compete against the older kids are the ones who develop more.  That may not be true across the board for other areas but every kid I know who graduated at 19 didn't become the college star their coaches, administrators and parents thought they would become. 

I'm glad I wasn't in Richlands Friday night. Sounds like there was a whole lot of shooting going on down there!!

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!!

I think most honest RHS fans would agree that this team is not the best team or most balanced we have had in this series  and as much as I would like to disagree with you.........I can't on most points.   We can't run the ball right now and the O-line especially on the left side needs to get better.  JLA is a fantastic QB,  but he does get a little  "happy feet" when he either gets hit or is rushed,  but he has one of the best arms I have seen in a while and usually makes pinpoint type of throws when he does have time..............with all that being said,  they also have a lot of potential and at times  that would shine through and at others ( especially 1st half,  for 2 weeks in a row ) they haven't looked as good as we had hoped.
But I was extremely proud of how the D showed so much heart last night.  At times Union just imposed their will in the power running game and our D would bend,  but would make a key stop when they had too.  Our LB's are very young and inexperienced and will get better,  and we don't have the size on the line or linebackers that we have had in the past,  but this bunch plays with heart and that showed last night !
I feel a game like this does nothing but help both teams grow and I expect both to get better as the season progresses.
 Mitchell is just a fantastic player and everything I thought he would be and can't imagine how good he will be by the end of the season and especially next year !  And what can I say about Scotty Ball,  just a tremendous athlete with the best hands I have seen in a very long time !  He always makes BIG plays at big times !  
I know one of the Union fans ( Union's hammer )  mentioned something about the calls not going their way,  I know we felt the same way at times, BUT,  that happens every game where both teams feel calls didn't go their way.  I also believe that Union's hammer is not blaming the refs and was just making an observation and stating what he felt,  but because he mentioned it,  I just wanted to say that at times both sides probably felt that way.  I think the fact that there is no mention of the refs or calls until post 143 shows that the refs did a pretty good job out there. 
I have so much respect for the Union program and their fans,  they brought a LARGE contingent of fans and were loud and fantastic all night ! I hope this series continues for many years to come and can't wait for the day when GC is back to their rightful place and the series between these 3 schools will all be like the ones we have seen between the Bears and the Tornado's !
Sorry about the long winded post,  just had a lot to say.....lol
These games are just fantastic !
Good luck again Union and hope to see you again in the playoffs !

This area has always pulled for one another as the other teams go on, I know that the union fans were pulling for the blues against appo, and they pulled for appo. after they lost to Clarke county.back in the day of the lpd,our coaches refused to give game films to the other regions because they wanted the championship back in this area,heck tom turner scouted for powell valley several times after the bulldogs were out of it.i think both travis turner and the regions coaches are well liked and respected, they put fine young men on the field that someday will make fine citizens.both programs always show class, no cheap shots, a great game to watch...oh to be 17 again and to be able to suit up again.i will be there Friday night cheering for the bears, I told the boys to go down Bullet Park and take some of that burmuda with them, rub it on their pants, and maybe some of the magic will go with them. john luke I hope you throw for 4000 yrds, starting the third week of the season, just not Friday.

This area has always pulled for one another as the other teams go on, I know that the union fans were pulling for the blues against appo, and they pulled for appo. after they lost to Clarke county.back in the day of the lpd,our coaches refused to give game films to the other regions because they wanted the championship back in this area,heck tom turner scouted for powell valley several times after the bulldogs were out of it.i think both travis turner and the regions coaches are well liked and respected, they put fine young men on the field that someday will make fine citizens.both programs always show class, no cheap shots, a great game to watch...oh to be 17 again and to be able to suit up again.i will be there Friday night cheering for the bears, I told the boys to go down Bullet Park and take some of that burmuda with them, rub it on their pants, and maybe some of the magic will go with them. john luke I hope you throw for 4000 yrds, starting the third week of the season, just not Friday.

Yes Mitchell from Union is a good D1 prospect that Virginia Tech will be able to mold that big body into what they want him to be. 
 
The Jones Brothers, Heath Miller, the Barber brothers(Roanoke area), Mike Compton, Devon Johnson, Bradshaw, and a few others. They were true D1 athletes. Devon Johnson for example was top of the line around here, if you speak to him now you will see how humble Marshall has made him. He will tell you the difference from High School to College. From D2/3 to D1. Sure he could of went to Emory, Wise, Ferrum, ETSU, and etc and just run the show as running back. His first 2 years at Marshall he wasnt even on the list for Tailback, they said he was to slow and now agile enough. But with his big body they put him at line backer which he also did not start. So what did he do, he hit the weights and the track and became faster and dropped some weight. Im not saying its not possible, but Its all about work ethic like you said and how much heart you have and how bad you want it. Like a great speaker once said, "You have to want to be successful just as bad as you want to breathe." 
 
well Mike Compton went on a academic scholarship and grew like a mad man during his first 2 years at WVU until he was awarded a athletic scholarship but that's besides the point.

THOMAS JONES HEARD THE SAME THINGS,HE IS A BIG FISH IN A SMALL POUND, HE WILL NEVER SEE THE FIELD, SAME WAS HEARD ABOUT HIS BROTHER WHEN HE WENT TO N. DAME.THESE KIDS HAVE SHOWED THAT THEY ARE WINNERS WITH GREAT WORK ETHICS,THE BLUES HAVE HAD PLAYER GO ON TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND DONE GREAT, I DARE SAY IF D. JOHNSON WOULD HAVE BEEN HEALTHY HE WOULD NOT ONLY HAVE MADE THE ROSTER AT CAROLINA , HE WOULD START.
 WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THESE ARE HIGHSCHOOL KIDS, THEY WILL GROW INTO THE YOUNG MEN JUST LIKE THE ONES PLAYING IN COLLEGE. I HOPE JLA GOES TO TECH OR VA OR TENN. I WILL BE BRAGGING THAT I SAW HIM PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL. HE MAY NOT BE MICHAEL VICK, BUT HELL MICHAEL VICK DIDNT LOOK THAT WAY IN HS EITHER.THE KID FROM GRAHAM IS A BEAST, AND YES VA HE WILL BE PLAYING FOR A D-1  SCHOOL, ALONG WITH MITCHELL.

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 ! 

I'm a union faithful an my be bias but why does it look like richlands wins on paper? Seems like they match up to a T to me. The blues have a nasty QB an that probably puts them a little better on paper. But it just paper just my thoughts.

new here ,but I have observed this board for years. One thing I know that never changes,both Union and Richlands are very well coached(except the D at Clarke county game was very in-prepared.Both Union and Richlands had bad nights last week but I would expect both teams to bring their A-game Friday. I would expect balls to be sailing all over the place for Richlands and a lot of the fullhouse backfield for Union,dont be surprised to see MITCHELL lining up as d-end to chase down your q-back with a dime package in the secondary.i know that opens up the run but I guess you have to pick your poison right. I have seen some great games between UNION and RICHLANDS ,and I expect the same Friday night....oh yeah better watch Owens number 17 from Union he is a playmaker, kinda like Noaks was last year