Bearcat Dad

Sorry man, I have to disagree. That is not an illegal block. I know 2 VHSL referees personally, and I sent them the very link that Union_Fan provided. Both confirmed that it does not fall under a "blindside" or "crack back" block that governing bodies of high school football across the country are trying to eliminate. I'm not being a smart-ass or trying to start something. I'm repeating the words of two officials. It was a physical play that had a bad outcome for Mullins. If the officials had told me it was illegal, I would have gladly apologized to Jonah58.

You are correct.

Ok. I don't make it a habit of going back and forth with an ITG(internet tough guy) and I'm not starting now. The camera doesn't lie, pal. We've went from, in your words, a blindsided block, to a helmet to helmet block. Helmet to helmet hits happen face to face, ALL the time in football. You don't know me enough to know my bias. Enjoy your sour grapes. Good day!

I know about the rule change. He was hit from the front, plain as day. None of us know if he saw it coming. Our receiver came back up field to make the block. It's not even comparable to a crack back that slot receivers try to make on LBs. Those are the hits that the Powers That Be are trying to eliminate. I really do hate that the young man was injured. I don't want to see ANY kid get injured. I know the kid who made the block very well. He's a good kid who is a hard-nosed football player. He made a good block. We will just have to agree to disagree on whether the block was illegal. Edit: Going back and watching the film a 3rd time, I saw that Mullins didn't even go down! He braced himself with his hand, on the ground. How do we know that the injury didn't come from that? Over the years I've seen a number of football players break their collarbone when a hand, elbow, or shoulder hits the ground awkwardly. I will continue to pray for him, regardless.

C'mon man. I've seen the film. It was not illegal. Without that block, Mullins makes the tackle. I really do hate it for the kid. He's a hell of a competitor. The block was vicious, but in no way whatsoever was it illegal. If you or anyone else has access to Hudl, it is play #115. It's a good football play with a horrible result for Mullins.

I hate to hear that. He is a heck of a player. I've watched film of our game against them and I can't figure out where it happened. He was in the game late, I guess the camera just doesn't pick up where it happened. I hope for a speedy recovery for him. EDIT: I went back and watched film again. While he is playing safety with 7:53 left to go in the game, he takes a vicious block downfield, on the Cats final touchdown. That must be where it happened as that is the last time he is on the field.

My take on the game tonight was that Central's O-Line came to play! The VHS defense spent A LOT of time on the field tonight because Wise refused to punt. I didn't keep count but I swear it seemed like Wise went for it on 4th down 7 or 8 times and converted quite a few of them. The Mullins kid is a ballplayer. VHS just made too many plays for Wise to keep pace. Good luck to WC the rest of the way.

Pretty close! Good guess.

Sometimes it's good to be lucky! Lol

Abingdon Blacksburg FC Giles Gretna JSB VHS Boone Lee Union Glenvar Marion Galax Hurley Northwood Castlewood TW PH UVA Oklahoma St WVU VT Clemson Tennessee USC Carolina KC New England LA GB Chilhowie-39

I would still call it a rivalry. They have played over 80 times. Definitely more heated in baseball because of the amount of success each has had over the last couple of decades. Football seems to have gone in cycles during that time. One school kinda goes on a streak for a while, then it's the other's turn.

From what I've seen on RV, they are much improved from last year. I'm feeling a close score at halftime turns into a 3 score win for the Bears. Even without Turner, Union is still the SWVA measuring stick because of 82 and the defensive front 7. Union 38 RV 17

Richlands is another program that I have great respect for, but the other team is loaded. I could be wrong but I don't think this one is close. 42-10

Tazewell has a bright future, but Marion is strong presently. Marion 42 Tazewell 14

I have great respect for the GC football program, but this one is going to be ugly. Boone is the best team in their conference, and GC is as down as they have been in a long time. Tennessee side dominance continues over Virginia. Boone 56 GC 14

Battle is a good team. I can see them winning 7 games this year. I think this one is over early. JSB 42 Lebanon 12

Their offense should be even stronger now, with adding #2 from his MLB spot to giving him more carries on O. They still won't be on Union's level, but he definitely adds a new dimension, offensively. If you go back and watch film of the benefit game, he is the one who absolutely stonewalled Zirkle in a one on one matchup on 3rd and short. The only carry I remember him having in that game, was on a 3rd and short, where he barrelled over the blitzing LB for a 4 or 5 yd gain to convert. May have been the Cats' longest run of the night lol. He may have had one other where Stidham broke thru and swallowed him for no gain, but I can't remember if that was his carry or not. From what I've been told, the coaching staff has always believed that he was the best option at RB, but with his responsibility on D, and playing on all of the special teams units, they limited his carries in the first couple of games, to give him a break. He and our QB were the only backs that we had last week, against Tn. High, that could match their athleticism. We have another RB who is a lightning fast soccer player who does great on the edge but doesn't really break many tackles. His Hudl says he's 6'0 200lbs. He runs violently, and I've been told that he's a workout warrior in the weight room. I do know that he's a good kid and that he has a couple of FCS visits lined up.

1. Bluefield 2. Graham 3. Giles 4. Union (hate to drop them bc they are a very solid team, but the Turner injury hurts their Offense, big time) 5. Richlands

I played against the 93 team at Appalachia, to open the season my Freshman year. Not a fun welcome to Varsity football. I also played against the 93, 94, 95, and 96 Gate City teams. GC had the better stars during that time, but the 93 Appalachia team was the best "team" that I ever played against.

I love Jamie at QB, he just needs to clean the turnover issue up. He fumbled at the VHS 8 yd line at Union on the first series of the game, and has subsequently thrown 2 INTs in each game against Tazewell, JSB, and Tn. High. 7 turnovers in 3 and a half games is not a good number. He will be fine though. He is a good athlete, who's learning the QB position.

The Cats were a couple plays short of beating Tn. High last week. They outgained, won time of possession, and were frankly more physical than Tn. High. Those things almost never happen in that rivalry. It's really no fluke that they went to Big Stone and played Union tough. I know that Union is the better team, but most VHS teams in the last 2+ decades would be down 30 or more at the half to this years' Union team. I believe they have made a huge upgrade to their offense by giving their defensive captain some serious carries in the backfield. He has started generating some interest from a few schools at the next level. He destroyed Tn. High's defense with his downhill running style. He only received a carry or two against Union, and I think only one against Tazewell. He's usually used for short yardage, but if you watch his Hudl, he had a chance to show his above average speed to go along with his power. From what I understand, he will be included more on the offense from this point on. Cats bounce back with a big win. Cats 42 WC 13

Pulaski FC Battle Wise South Lee Union Grayson Grundy Marion Tazewell VHS Bland Carroll Narrows Honaker Hurley Castlewood Eastside Hancock Chilhowie Tennessee Louisville WV Indiana VT Nebraska Clemson Georgia Ohio St. USC Arizona Oakland LA Green Bay NYG Giles - 62

I definitely understand that, as I have been around this rivalry for a long time and was actually fortunate enough to be a part of a win in my first year as a starter during my Sophomore year. I'm just going by how well I know this group of Bearcats, and Vikings for that matter, and the fact that all the ingredients are there for the chance for a win. Rarely do I expect VHS to be competitive in this game, much less win. I would not be surprised if THS wins but I do believe that this is one of those rare years where VHS actually has more talent.

It's no secret that Tn. High has a big advantage in the overall series of one of the oldest rivalries in the country(even got a shout-out from the College Game Day crew during the Battle at Bristol pre-game show), but they have fallen on hard times lately. VHS had numerous opportunities to win this game at the Castle last year but after throwing 4 first half interceptions and 5 total turnovers for the game, THS got the win in a sloppy game by both teams. When these 2 teams played at the JV level 2 years ago, it was a one point game with a blocked extra point being the difference. I said that night, that VHS would win this game in 2 years when these lineups make up the Varsity squads. I'm sticking to that. VHS gets the upset win. VHS - 27 THS - 21 Thoughts?

Lol...I sure do miss getting to play GC, nowadays. With our conference realignment of a couple years ago, we are missing out on decades old rivalries. Even though GC has dominated the football rivalry, VHS usually returns the favor in baseball