CzarYakov

And if you fumble my football, I will break my foot off in your John Brown hind parts, then! You will run a mile! 
Perfection! 
Let's go to work... 
(Congrats to everyone who understood the reference.)

God, what a fantastic post. I love hearing about the history that haunts over old Ernie. The legacy and pride of the games played there. Amazing. 
I won't argue that football now a days is less hard nosed, but I will argue talent and safety when it comes to the sport today. A lot of people might use the word "sissy" to describe, but the sport now a days is more skill passed than ever before and less about battling in the trenches, knocking yourself out for that one extra yard. Back in the day, you could see, like you say, a full back run an entire game. But now, you have skill players in the middle of an offense that make it almost unmanageable to do. However, I would love to see it go back to a time like that... Safety first though. No one wants to see an 16 year old kid out there being carted off because he suffered his fifth concussion of the game because the coach and doctor told him to just "suck it up." 

Love it. Tazewell County, the town of Richlands in general, starting to become boring capital of the world, unless you like the same four bands at the same four spots in town every week. But that's town talk... We talk football round here... 
Union comes to play this week Richlands shows that they might have some tricks, but last week was a bit of a lucky win. Not a lot but luck was on their side. Union 28 to Richlands 7.

Love it. Tazewell County, the town of Richlands in general, starting to become boring capital of the world, unless you like the same four bands at the same four spots in town every week. But that's town talk... We talk football round here... 
Union comes to play this week Richlands shows that they might have some tricks, but last week was a bit of a lucky win. Not a lot but luck was on their side. Union 28 to Richlands 7.

Love it. Tazewell County, the town of Richlands in general, starting to become boring capital of the world, unless you like the same four bands at the same four spots in town every week. But that's town talk... We talk football round here... 
Union comes to play this week Richlands shows that they might have some tricks, but last week was a bit of a lucky win. Not a lot but luck was on their side. Union 28 to Richlands 7.

I smell upset... I do.

Tazewell has the ability and the speed to be a menace to anyone that they play this year, so I will say it is tight, but they pull the upset here. If not here, Tazewell pulls an upset somewhere on the schedule this year.

I smell upset... I do.

Tazewell has the ability and the speed to be a menace to anyone that they play this year, so I will say it is tight, but they pull the upset here. If not here, Tazewell pulls an upset somewhere on the schedule this year.

Ouch... 

Speaking objectively as a Richlands fan, Central beat both us and the refs tonight. The refs seemed like they wanted Richlands to win. Now, we had one or two calls on us that were iffy, but Central had 5 to 10 that were just mindbogglingly bad. Non pass interference calls, a both ways unsportsmanlike when only one player seemed to be throwing shots and mouthing, and several holding calls. However, Central is the better team here, do they beat Ridgeview? It would be nice to see, but Central is not as good as they looked tonight against us, I THINK. You could see from the start that going fast against Central was tearing them up, they could not play against quick play calling and getting right back to the line after the play was done. But, we immediately stopped it, slowed down, right when it was working or had a massive turnover, and I think that is because our kids were flustered when doing it.  

But to call Simmons one of the top five quarterbacks in the region... Not even close to a top five. Good kid, hard working player, and smart but not close to one of the best. He has zero accuracy at times, panics, and he would rather tuck and run instead of finding someone to pass too. It would help a lot though if you had speed at your receiver position to get open. A lot of his mistakes have been continuous throughout the year. The offensive line did not help him much this season though. It felt like they were overpowered a lot this year. Central's QB was amazing and could make a play out of anything, but give the devil his due, the defense was there to play, but got winded from being out on the field way too long and way too often. The running game was not gonna work against this team, look at their offense, they practice against that every day, you can't beat that. 

Just a few opinions, but all in all, this is one of the rougher "decent" seasons I have ever been through with Mance and the Blues.  Glad its over, we will see what next year holds for us. 

I do understand that the Central QB had less yards than Simmons. But, he looked much, much quicker, smarter, and well balanced in this match. And you have to look at who most of his yards have come against. Most of his passes, the receiver had to catch up with, as they were never right on the money or close. Webb is good, don't get me wrong, but when you over extended the one bright spot, who else are you going too? Webb is great, but we don't have another receiver that is consistent to that degree, even if it is just an screen route, that Simmons has hit consistently against a good defensive back field. Simmons is not a top five quarterback, he had Webb to make him look better, but he is not where near the top five. Could it be to his play or his core around him? That is up for debate.

Everyone already talking about Graham and Union, but Tazewell may come in there with the Lee Corso...

Speaking objectively as a Richlands fan, Central beat both us and the refs tonight. The refs seemed like they wanted Richlands to win. Now, we had one or two calls on us that were iffy, but Central had 5 to 10 that were just mindbogglingly bad. Non pass interference calls, a both ways unsportsmanlike when only one player seemed to be throwing shots and mouthing, and several holding calls. However, Central is the better team here, do they beat Ridgeview? It would be nice to see, but Central is not as good as they looked tonight against us, I THINK. You could see from the start that going fast against Central was tearing them up, they could not play against quick play calling and getting right back to the line after the play was done. But, we immediately stopped it, slowed down, right when it was working or had a massive turnover, and I think that is because our kids were flustered when doing it.  

But to call Simmons one of the top five quarterbacks in the region... Not even close to a top five. Good kid, hard working player, and smart but not close to one of the best. He has zero accuracy at times, panics, and he would rather tuck and run instead of finding someone to pass too. It would help a lot though if you had speed at your receiver position to get open. A lot of his mistakes have been continuous throughout the year. The offensive line did not help him much this season though. It felt like they were overpowered a lot this year. Central's QB was amazing and could make a play out of anything, but give the devil his due, the defense was there to play, but got winded from being out on the field way too long and way too often. The running game was not gonna work against this team, look at their offense, they practice against that every day, you can't beat that. 

Just a few opinions, but all in all, this is one of the rougher "decent" seasons I have ever been through with Mance and the Blues.  Glad its over, we will see what next year holds for us. 

Everyone already talking about Graham and Union, but Tazewell may come in there with the Lee Corso...

As a Richlands fan, I second this... We have a headache at quarterback and a mess at receiver. Sage Webb was a bright spot, but he was worn out by the end of that ball game. Gate City came out and executed a flawless game plan. Gate City is something special and so is big number 45. That boy can fall for at the line of scrimmage and still get eight yards at a time. Richlands was just outcoached, outplayed, and to be frank, more than likely came in over looking this team. This game doesn't give me a lot of hope for the season.

Clueless Richlands fan... Tend to talk to a few of them around these parts. 

Honestly, from a Richlands fan perspective, I love the rivalry between Richlands and Tazewell, but last year and this year are the closest (in my mind) that Tazewell has come in during this "streak" to beating Richlands since '08. Could Tazewell run over Richlands like Bluefield or Blacksburg? I don't think so... But, could they play with them and win by less than seven? Very, very possible. I like the prediction of Richlands 34 to 21, but keep Tazewell on under-bulldog upset watch.

Honestly, from a Richlands fan perspective, I love the rivalry between Richlands and Tazewell, but last year and this year are the closest (in my mind) that Tazewell has come in during this "streak" to beating Richlands since '08. Could Tazewell run over Richlands like Bluefield or Blacksburg? I don't think so... But, could they play with them and win by less than seven? Very, very possible. I like the prediction of Richlands 34 to 21, but keep Tazewell on under-bulldog upset watch.

If Lee loses then GC goes to #11 and Lee falls to #12. I truly believe that Lee/Va High is a complete toss-up, but Va High should have lots of fans this week as it benefits everyone except Lee and Ridgeview for a Bearcat victory.

Feels like John Luke was looking one of two ways tonight. Either the defenses way or Howies and neither was good. Why run in two minute drill when you gotta score? Lotta questionable stuff both ways.

Feels like John Luke was looking one of two ways tonight. Either the defenses way or Howies and neither was good. Why run in two minute drill when you gotta score? Lotta questionable stuff both ways.

Listening to Richlands is about the same way, they can get right homerish when they want too.

Galax pulls it out.
 
Giles 15
Galax 17
 
Final

I don't know, think I would take the half lit field and loss over having to go to the town of Tazewell twice in one year. :P
 
Good job, Bulldogs, gonna be interesting season for the Dogs.