TTownTigers

Then my friend was correct. Up and until about 1994 or even 1995, Tazewell led the all time series with both schools. Graham has 18 more wins and I guess going back to 1994, you figure that is 22 times met and a couple Tazewell winning once in the playoffs over Graham in what I remember was an upset, and so you get about 22-24 appearances in the last 22 years and figure Graham has 20 of the 22, so yes, at about 1994 (mid 90s) Tazewell still had the all time series lead with both Graham and Richlands.

Tazewell was a powerhouse long before the 80s. They were good in the 1950s, and very, very good in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. The dropped off in the early 90s and haven't been the same since about 25 years. I am not sure what the All Time Series is now with Richlands and Graham, but up until about 1994, even with the Richlands title of 1992 and Grahams title in the 60s and late 80s, Tazewell's led the All Time Series against both schools if I am not mistaken. Again, that is up until about 1994. A friend of mine from Tazewell's told me this a few years ago. So, I am saying, Tazewell was once good and good for a long time...up until the early to mid 90s.

Blacksburg plays a touch schedule including Salem on it of course, but even with Salem, Blacksburg will likely not face a better offense in Giles than any team it plays all season. Salem will be right up there of course because you can bet, they have a smooth QB that can throw it well, and Salem is usually very well balanced running and throwing. Having played Giles, Blacksburg likely has already faced its toughest offense in all 10 regular season games other than Salem. By the way, Salem will have an equally potent defense to go with that offense.

I'm a touch partial, but trying to be honestly objective, I think Gate City wins the football game. Gate City's losses in my opinion are Richlands, Union, and either Daniel Boone or Ridgeview {River Ridge :-)}. I still think the Gate is a 7-3 football team. Abingdon and Daniel Boone and Ridgeview will all be very, very close games. I think Gate City gets 2 of these 3, and of course, Union like Richlands, will just be to much, but hopefully the rivalry part of that game can keep it close and maybe make something happen.

I think the perception of Blacksburg by some is that they have speedy Beck and a good line and block well and let him bust lose and TD! That perception likely should be, a very balanced offensive team that has the best QB Richlands will face all year and they can pass it as good or better than they run the ball. I believe they had more passing yards against Giles than they did rushing yards. For Richlands To Win: Long, long, and longer sustained drives on the ground eating up 6 and 7 minutes per possession with no fumbles or giveaways and scoring in the redzone, not kicking field goals, but finishing. Then, they need 3 Blacksburg turnovers. If this happens, Richlands can and will win. I think Blacksburg is to much though. They can score from the air in a hurry, and as quick as they can on the ground with Beck. Mance really needs to consider old school Richlands football in this game and limiting the passing game if possible. If Richlands has 2nd and 5, do not throw the ball. Force Blacksburg to stop the run. Never count out Mance and Richlands and those Richlands lineman. They are as physical as they come and Blacksburg simply is Not going to best or get the better or Richlands up front. It's just not going to happen. It may be neutral and a 50-50 even split, but up front, Richlands is always at or near the top. Final: Blacksburg 35, Richlands 21

Blacksburg will be introduced on its home field to Classification 4 football on Sep 22 when Salem comes to town. Blacksburg is the real deal, but I can assure you, Salem "ain't sceered."

WOW!. That's a lot of yards, and it tells me Giles is dangerous. 222 yards on the defending Div 3 state champions is a crazy good effort. Giles could actually go 9-1, even with the Blacksburg loss. Well, of course they "could", but seriously, there is a very good chance of Giles going 9-1. I just can't see Glenvar or Graham beating them.

Lake Taylor is a beast and Dinwiddie is one heck of a program, but Salem, really Salem? No need to even go further. ALWAYS the real deal and when they are in your bracket, you worry!

How on earth was the score 48-14 and there was only a 41 total yard difference? Right off the bat, one thinks about the turnover margin. What was the turnover difference? Did Blacksburg score quickly and Giles have some 40-50 yard offensive possessions that didn't end in scores, etc?

That right there is pretty classy Union Football. No doubt about it, that's a class act thing to do brother.

Narrows fans and Giles fans, I know it seems simple and I guess it is, but.....evidently it's not because many, many people still make that mistake, and they don't make that mistake with most other schools. There are few teams that have the name of the High School as the same name of the County, yet they have another High School in that county. Most other schools that have the name of the county are the only school in that county, so lets face it, some of that responsibility rests in the county of Giles. You kind of bring it on yourself, at least a little bit.

What do you Giles fans think of this years' Blacksburg team compared to last year's Richlands team, if you seen Richlands last year? Richlands, like always, is very, very solid again and they are brutal up front, but they are just a notch down from what they were last year and I think Richlands fans would tell you that They certainly have the young men that are talented and they will certainly be much better by season't end, but I just don't think they are as good as last years' team. Do you think this year's Blacksburg team is as good or would match up with Richlands of last year? I know it's hard to compare from a year apart, but I'm curious because I haven't seen BBurg this year, but have heard great things of course.

I may make the trip up to Richlands when Blacksburg comes to down. I want to see that one. I would like to see the Union game, but my team needs a win first and want to see that happen before going anywhere else. I am curious to know how the Green kid did for Giles tonight. Did he catch any balls or make many tackles? Also, I have to give a shout out to number 44 from Richlands. That kid has a serious motor on him at linebacker and he brings a whopping load of anger when he hits the RB. I was impressed with him, but also our linebackers looked pretty good also. The score may not show it, but we laid some serious licks on Richlands tonight.

I thought Bluefield looked pretty good defensively, but you could tell in the second half at least, that the Bluefield Coach was trying his best to kill clock with the run and limit Graham's possessions. Graham simply has no down field passing game. They can only try vertical side line routes and the kid at QB simply can't get the ball from point A to point B. Also, Graham's coaching staff seems to realize his inaccuracy and they seemed to have little to know plays called in the passing game that utilizes the middle of the field out of fear of the inaccuracy of the QB. Bluefield knew this. They played run and a vertical-sideline passing defense, and that is exactly what Richlands and Giles will do. If Graham makes the switch at QB, it completely opens up the middle of the field in the passing game not just 5 yards, but 15-20 yards off the ball and they became a dangerous offense and team. There is just no way that any coach could set down, watch that tape (of the second half) and say to themselves, lets not give another kid a few reps at QB. That's not a knock on number 10 either, because he is a dangerous, dangerous athlete that seems like he can house it, but to do that, he needs to house it with somebody else touching the ball first at the snap, and him touching the ball second. It's incredible to me from watching them at GC and in the second half of the Bluefield game that their coach simply can't see that, or doesn't choose to see it, or whatever the case is.

I think our pass routes at GC are ok. We are running some short routes and trying to get a short, quick, efficient passing game to support our run dominant offense, but I have to credit Richlands for the coverage. Our kids tried, but they just literally don't have the footspeed to get open very well, With that written, man oh man, the Dye kid from Richlands is freaking scary good. He is just so strong and physical to handle one on one, and without doubling him or having some help, he's in the dam* backfield within a half of a second from the snap of the ball. I believe this kid in his senior year is equally as good defensive as the Lowe kid last year. Lowe was a big and fast and strong dude, but I'm telling you, the Dye kid is equally as good from what I saw. He's a man among boys and Union, you better have a hoss on this guy because he looks even bigger and stronger than last year, and he even looks more explosive. I can see him creating major problems for any team he faces, and as a matter of fact, just run the ball opposite of where that dude is. He hand tackled one of our running backs in the first quarter with.....well, literally one hand, and our RB had a pretty good burst of steam up when Dye got the hand on him.

I couldn't believe the lack of screens with the speed Graham has. Also, it was noticeable how number 10 knew in confidence he couldn't throw the ball. He had several plays where he just tucked it an ran because he couldn't make the reads, and he didn't have the confidence to release the ball. I would take a lineman, snap him the ball at QB, and have him throw the ball quickly to number 10 or number 5 on quick hitches or bubble screens nearly every play. 5 and 10 need to be catching and touching the ball with that speed with number 4 throwing the ball to them, and he's a pretty good athlete himself defensively by what I saw. I think he could be a threat to tuck it run also.

Well, the Gate just couldn't get it done. We get out midway in 3rd and watched the Bluefield and Graham game on a laptop. As for Gate City, our lineplay is better, but with our style of play, it has to be perfect and near turnover free, or we lose. The decision to pass early in the game after running down the field was boneheaded, but it wouldn't have mattered. Richlands was better, but Richlands is not as explosive as last year. Richlands is solid and physical, but not quite as explosive as last year. I just hope we can get back to our winning ways at GC. It's going to take time and patience I guess. It sickens me to see these losses, but I stand by my prediction. I still think we are 7-3. We still had flashes in the Richlands game and credit Richlands for whipping us, but the 27-6 score in my opinion was worse than the contest. It felt more like a 21-6 type score or 20-6 type score, but no question, Richlands controlled it and they were in no position to "lose" the game at any point. The Blues are going 8-2 though. They are getting 2 losses at least this year. Blacksburg is obviously the real deal and the state title run wasn't a fluke, it was just the start. Bluefield and Union and Graham will be nailbiters for Richlands. As for Graham and Bluefield, I kind of echoed this in one thread about Graham and I will echo it again. A major problem exists their with offensive coaching. They just don't know what they are doing, period. I would love for GC to have those athletes. I noticed it at GC. Where are their hitches, their flanker screens, their bubble screens, and noticeable again when watching their second half against Bluefield. Equally important, the Graham Head Coach is directly responsible for that loss. I echoed this earlier in a thread that the difference would be the Coach of Bluefield besting the Coach of Graham,and it was noticeable at Legion Field when number 4 was not the starting QB and number 10 was. Number 10 may be the best athlete or at least top 5 athletes in SWVA and if he were at flanker/WR, it would be noticeable. He is also the worst passing High School QB in SWVA. He can't make reads and he can't make a ten yard throw, but he could certainly take one to the house if receiving a 10 yard in route. Their is no way possible the Graham coaching staff could not have that many practices and see that number 4 is clearly the QB, and number 10 is the WR. That decision (coaching) cost Graham the football game, and again, those little things like the taunting and discipline stuff, those little things always show in the form of lack of concentration with the fumble late on the goal line, but Graham looked better from the half I seen and it shouldn't have been that close if Graham had any offensive coaching. The staff had to be either blind or just flat out crazy not to have 10 at WR/Flanker and 4 at QB after having 3 weeks of practice and scrimmages leading up until the Bluefield game This tells me, the decision made by the coach are shaky, and it will show when the switch is made and the difference is seen in Graham's play this year. When that happens, the Bluefield loss will really sting Graham fans because they know they surely gave the game away. I still don't know if it would matter because it appears Graham doesn't know how to use it's athletes. I predicted Bluefield by 3 at 24-21 and wasn't far off. I apologize to Graham fans if my comments are offensive. I am just calling it like I see it, but you have a major x's and o's coaching issue offensively, and it not only starts with the lack of getting your athletes the ball in space by using screens, but also by a major position change needed with 4 and 10 that was noticeable even at GC. As for Giles and BBurg. I think many will count Giles out because of this and that's a mistake. I didn't listen to or see any of this game, but only the score updates on my cell at E. Hicks. Giles handled a very good Bluefield team and they are the real deal and yes, they have the ability to handle Graham in regular season and Richlands, Union, Graham in the playoffs. Not saying they will, but they are right their with Richlands, Union and Graham. They ran into an absolutely nasty opponent that isn't the Blacksburg of 10 years ago with the 5-6 or 4-6 season. Blacksburg is big up front, physical, and not just Beck at RB. They have major loads of talent in front of Beck blocking for him and a coach that knows how to utilize speed in open space. Blacksburg will likely repeat as state champion and this time, the record will be much better in regular season. But at for Giles, never count this bunch out. I would like to think GC could make a run in the playoffs, but we just aren't there yet on the level of Richlands, Union, and Graham, or Giles in SWVA.

Bullitt Park should have had more seating added 35 years ago when P.Valley started winning state titles. The city of Big Stone Gap has literally had over 1/3rd of a century to upgrade and the justification for doing so has been obvious for well.....over 1/3rd of a century. That's a poor effort on Big Stone Gap's part and its not like they have had the same city counsel members for 1/3rd of a century. They have came and gone and each of them has dropped the ball. The setting is so cool and the entire environment is so awesome other than, the volume of seats which decreases the game/event experience in what would be near perfect for a high school stadium/environment. Literally, just 1500 more seats would do the trick. Ask the Jones's for the money, raise money, do something, just 1500 more seats would make that an A+ environment.

Cole Beck is THE fastest guy in the state. I would love to see this game. This game sounds like another classic that is going down to the wire. I hope Giles wins. Another great contest later on will be Blacksburg at Richlands. That sounds like another great one. I hear Giles has some serious bigs up front on O and D. That usually is an indicator of bad outcomes for Giles opponents because it seems like when Giles is big, they aren't just big, but they can also put a hurtin on the team trying to block and tackle against them.

Talking trash is something all teams across the US have done for decades long before social media. The key difference, teams talk trash at different rates. If one jumps off a cliff, isn't it the same thing regardless? No, its not. A ten foot cliff is a huge difference from 100 feet. Also, a huge difference exists in waiting for the opponent to come out of the locker room to talk trash before the opponent comes on the field. I have never seen Bluefield do that, nor Union, nor GC, nor Richlands, nor any team in SWVA other than Graham of 2016 and guarantee you, the same thing in 2017 with Bluefield. Want to know why I haven't seen teams waiting for the opponent to come out of the locker room to talk trash? Because the coach would tell the offenders to change clothes and hit the bench. Therefore, I think the Graham coach in fact, does approve of it. Coaches certainly can control it and they do. Its the reason the overwhelming majority of teams do not exhibit this behavior, because there are consequences. Actions speak loud, especially when they are not one brief snapshot in time, but done over a long haul. Behaviors exhibited repeatedly over time means approval from those that can control that behavior.

I will go with Bluefield 24, Graham 21. I think this game is a lower scoring game and think Graham will have much more total yards, but I have to go with Bluefield (haven't seen them this year though) over Graham (seen them at GC) because of coaching. I'm not trying to be offensive here and apologize if offending anyone when writing this, but I am not sold a bit on Graham's coaching. I see a team with great talent, but also a team that loves to talk trash to the opponents which was witnessed at GC and I saw it last year against Richlands in the playoffs. This shows lack of class in my opinion and this is a direct reflection of the Head Coach who allows it. Last year, I recall folks talking about Graham trash talking and taunting opponents before coming onto the field and I didn't believe it until seeing them play Richlands in the playoffs. It's one thing if it happens a couple of times with only a few players and the coach gets on them, etc, but this seems like something the coach is well aware of because it's gone on longer than just a few times. It is actually being allowed and supported by the coaching staff. This falls into the category of lack of mental toughness and concentration. Graham had the same self inflicted issues in the scrimmage against GC with snap issues, unforced turnovers, personal fouls, etc. Lack of mental toughness will cost Graham at least 2 losses this year. When Graham gets into a contest where the overall talent and skill level of the opponent is close, the mental toughness issue will often tip the scales in favor of the opponent. This is why I'm picking Bluefield. The Bluefield Coach has been around a long time and he's had great success. He wouldn't be there this long if he were not a very good coach. I can assure you that Coach Fry always had teams that were mentally tough and so did Coach Carlock who was another legend in double A ball in Virginia. They were classy men and their teams had a sharp mental focus. I just don't see the mental toughness with the Graham team of this year or last year and I think that coaching is directly responsible for this. I'm just calling it like I see it. When watching Appo against Richlands in the finals, I saw two very mentally tough teams. Appo was not just super talented, but man oh man, they were sharp and detail oriented which stems from their Coaching. In Graham, I am sensing a team with great talent that won last year, and will win this year with that talent, but in 50-50 games where the opponent is close in talent and skill, this issue could cost Graham.

Like I wrote in the other thread. 27 to 10 or 14ish in favor of Richlands, but a game that is a contest going into the fourth. I've watching Gate City for years other than a couple here in there in the mid 2000s. The line offensively and defensively at GC is the best since the team a few years back that beat Bluefield. When you have very solid lineplay, the plus side is that you are going to be in most games (its hard for teams to pull away.) When you don't have many speedy, quick, or athletic guys at the skill positions, the down side is you are also going to be in most games (hard to pull away from people by big margins or come from behind if down.) Gate City will not face a better secondary all year long than Grahams. I've seen Unions and Richlands last year, and they may have better overall defenses than Graham's, but not a better back four. With that written, Graham supposebly returns 8 on D. The key for Gate City like any run power team with little super explosive playmakers is turnovers either way. If they get 3 from Union or Richlands, its a game deep in the fourth. If they lose 3 and give up just two long pass plays, Game over for GC. Overall, GC is better than what people think. Many people nowadays think and rationalize and make conclusions based on emotion and not always rationale thought. Speed, spread offenses, and quick scores and back flips in the end zone are good and bring out the emotional factors and thoughts of "state title chances" without even considering or looking at the lineplay. But, there is one half of the players on the field at the line of scrimmage. The line of scrimmage doesn't bring out the wow factor or emotional factor, and with today's generation, the instant conclusion so many times is "were not impressed" or a tendency to underestimate a team like GC. Great teams of course are good in all facets with athletism and bigs up front that can block. I got the Gate at 7-3. Because of our lack athletism and verticle passing game, we lose a game that maybe we shouldn't like Riverridge or S. South. Because of the solid lineplay, we win one game this year that we shouldn't like Union, Richlands, or D. Boone.

GC 7-3 in my opinion. The line is better and we played a very good Graham team and played them well running the ball. Our schedule is not quite as tough. This 2017 team would be a 6-4 or 5-5 team with last year's schedule. Our sure losses are Richlands and Union. We get a close loss to Daniel Boone. I think we beat Abingdon at home as its early in the year and Abingdon will still be working the kinks out of its new offense. S.South is down. We win it. Ridgeview over at their place will be tough. I think we pull it out. Sure or Likely wins are Battle, Marion, Central and Lee. I know Lee has talent, but until it replicates on the field, I just don't believe they beat us this year. Central will be much better, but I think we win it. I believe we are 7-3. I think that we also do not get blown out or a major beatdown, even with Union and Gate City. I believe our OL play will kill enough clock and hinder possessions of both schools keeping the game respectable and both within 20 points. 20 pts is a nice W, but it ain't a blowout. I got the first game as Richlands 27, Gate City 14.

Losses are Richlands and Union. Likely loss is Daniel Boone. Close wins over Abingdon, Ridgeview, S.South,. 2 of these 3 are at home.. Easy wins Marion, Battle, Lee, Central. I think we are 7-3 and stand by it.

I don't know about BBurg. I didn't see them last year at all. I hear Terry may also be their best player. Just going by what they did last year, there has to have been major improvement at a rate much more than most other teams to have that many losses, and then go on to win the title. Additionally, when Phoebus is one of the playoff victories, it means major improvement. But, Phoebus isn't what they once were. Should be a great contest. I hope Giles wins. It sounds like another Giles and BBurg nailbiter.