TTownTigers

I think it's Union by 10-14 points.  Union 24, Marion 10 or 14ish.  Union is solid up front, and the FBSer in Mitchell accounts for 10 pts, be it a kick off return, long rushing touchdown, or pick six, or a QB hurry up causing a fumble and pick 6, as of right now, it's 10-0 Union with Mitchell and playing at BSG before the game even starts.   I don't think it's a blowout, but I think it's something resembling the Union vs Richlands first matchup in regular season in which Union doesn't blow them out by any means, but they control the game from start to finish and it's never in doubt.  The major concern with Union in my opinion....and I know, some of you Union fans don't want to hear it because I'm a Gate City guy, but........Travis is a bit conservative offensively.  His primary learning sources were legendary Turner style football at Appy and Beamer style offense at Tech.  Back in the day, those worked by the way and both were awesome.  But, I still think Turner needs to turn the dogs lose offensively.  Open up the offense, it's 2017 and you have better talent than most.  With that written, before some of you old P. Valley folks respond, I'm saying Turner is not just good, but among the top 3 coaches from Pearisburg, VA to the TN/Kentucky border in Virginia, but.......he has still an area where he can improve (like all coaches and people), and the area of concern with Union in my opinion is the downfield passing game.  I'm not talking about the pass that comes when Union is up 14-0 from running the ball and everyone is in the box and Mitchell throws the ball to a WR that is wide open when 9 guys are in the box stopping the run.  I'm talking about on 3rd and 7 when you have to throw and the defense knows it.  That downfield passing game or lack of it is concerning. It was enough to keep Richlands in the football game a couple of days ago.

Classy bunch and speaks to the Coaching Staff/Turner. I'm rooting for the Bears to kick arse this coming weekend through the finals and will be rooting them on.  If the Bears lose, I will cheer on the SWVA team that wins Region D, and that hasn't changed with me.  If the Bears win a title, it would have been a good year in High School Football for me other than the Gate winning one, and of course, we were't anywhere on the planet to getting close, but I ALWAYS root for SWVA teams, regardless of rivals, former rivals, etc, and regardless of some smack talking between rival fans.  To the Union fans out there, or more specific, the P. Valley faithful, I do respect the ole Vikings contrary to what you may believe.  

Not about PV beating GC or GC beating PV.  It's about the following schools, Gate City, Graham, Radford, Giles, Blacksburg at one point, Martinsville, Jefferson Forest, Rustburg, Park-View Sterling, Courtland, Tabb, Southampton, James Monroe.  It's about THEM schools, and I repeat, if you are AA in 1982 or 1985, you can forget it.  Martinsville and Blacksburg would have crushed you, and if you somehow win, you get Courtland which was 28 points better.  In 1989, you ain't getting out of the Region as Graham would have blasted you in 1989, and Graham and Rustburg would have done the same in 1990.  You keep focusing on SWVA and "if we can beat GC, then we must have been able to go ahead and win the title."  Like I wrote, take GC off the list and look at the other schools above.  These teams aren't Madison County and Central-Lunenberg.  I agree with you, numbers don't lie, and back then, single A ball (prior to 1985ish) or Div 2 (big- single A ball 1986ish) was exactly that, and there was a big difference in quality of teams between that level and the next level up.

I'm not so sure Richlands is better up front than Marion. As a matter of fact, I think Marion is the best team up front that Union has played until this point. The dude at Marion may also be the best coach in SWVA AA ball. I'm not saying he's the absolute best, but he's up there among the best. Marion is a very well coached football team. 

I would love to see Chilhowie or Narrows bring home a title, but 1A may be worse than 2A regarding 1 team and separation.  Riverheads is likely 35 points better than the next closest 1A team this year, at least by 28 points.  They are more likely to win it (even more) compared to Appomattox.  If a team like Chilhowie were to run into Riverheads, the clock-keeper needs to get ready in the early 3rd qtr.  It would be that bad, but it's not just Chilhowie.  Follow their scores, as it doesn't matter if it's one of the fast teams from the coast like Essex or Sussex in the semi's or a team back this way in the finals, it's not going to be close.  

Nice win for Union.  Congrats to the Bears on a great win.  Those close types of wins can get a team very motivated.  I wouldn't want to be Marion.  I know Marion is pretty good, but they are about to run into a buzzsaw.

The Rest of Virginia 2A Scores Tonight and Who They Match Up With Next Week
Region C
Glenvar (1) 38-0 over Dan River (8)
Giles (3) beat Fort Chiswell (6) 35-13
Appomattox (2) beat Martinsville (7) 49-23
Floyd County (4) beat Gretna (5) 35-12
Next Week, Glenvar hosts Floyd County and Appomattox hosts Giles as all 4 top seeds remain
Region B
Clarke County (1) beat Strasburg (8) 63-20
RE Lee Staunton (3) beat George Mason (6) 49-21
Luray (4) beat East Rockingham (5) 29-13
Central Woodstock (2) beat Buffalo Gap (7) 42-14
Next Week, Clarke County hosts Luray and Central Woodstock hosts RE Lee as all 4 top seeds remain
Region A
Goochland (1) beat Brunswick (8) 42-8
Amelia County (5) beat Nottoway (4) 18-15
Poquoson (2) beat Bruton (6) 62-0
Greensville (3) beat King William (6) 40-12
Next week, Goochland hosts Amelia County and Poquoson hosts Greensville. This region, along with Region D's Marion and Grayson, are the only non-top 4 seeds to have a winner, as both Marion (5) and Amelia County (5) beat their respective 4 seeds. The biggest 2A upset going by numbers-seeding only, is in SWVA in Region D as the 3 seed lost to the 6 seed with Ridgeview/Grayson.
 
 

Told ya

Watch for Mitchell to make a big play.  Bigtime D1 players often make game changing games in these situations.  Richlands better be careful.

Not over yet dude, lots of football left, but I hope the Blues win it.  Richlands needs to stay run.  I still don't like the 2 passes of 3 downs.  Kill the clock and play d

It shows both.  Bottom line is this...........a coach will coach his or her way to eventual success or the coach will coach his or her way to lack of success, IF....again....IF.....one more time....IF enough time is given to get a valid statistical sample.  3 years, in my opinion, is enough for a High School Coach to show improvement and show signs of "turning it around" or "getting worse."  I believe this and I've always said on this board that every High School Coach should get 3 years.  That includes Akers.  I also think he will have another year at Gate City and this will be the year that makes him or breaks him (2018).  The talent is down some, and if he turns it around, he will stay, but if he does not turn it around, he will be gone.  In my opinion, he does not turn it around and is gone about 12 months from this posting. 
Understand this one key component that makes it tough in SWVA.  A Head Coach does not get to pick his assistants 100%.  When I write 100%, I mean.....he doesn't say I want A, B, C, and D, and these folks will be PAID.  This means, he would need a spot for Coach A who is an English Teacher, or Coach B who is a Phy Ed Teacher, or Coach C who is a Biology-Science Teacher, and the school board simply accommodates or fills the spot for 3 or so assistants and pays them.  This is not just SWVA, but for most of the country.  At larger schools, especially in the South, the above actually happens.  Therefore, if the Head Coach wants his assistants (Coaches A, B, C, and D) there is a high likelihood that only Coach A gets a job and is paid at the school, and the rest would have to be volunteer.  Well, with the economy in SWVA, how many can afford to commit their time and not get paid?  It's the same across most of the country, unless its the South, or it's a huge school and football power such as in Texas or larger cities in the US that has boosters that will simply give 50K per year to the "unpaid assistants."
What is my point with all of the above?  In SWVA or any small school, you really, really, really, really, better have a Head Coach like the man in Richlands that knows what he is doing and can "coach up" his assistants, and the importance of hiring the right guy truly means a huge difference in success (outcomes) compared to the other local-small schools in which you compete.

It shows both.  Bottom line is this...........a coach will coach his or her way to eventual success or the coach will coach his or her way to lack of success, IF....again....IF.....one more time....IF enough time is given to get a valid statistical sample.  3 years, in my opinion, is enough for a High School Coach to show improvement and show signs of "turning it around" or "getting worse."  I believe this and I've always said on this board that every High School Coach should get 3 years.  That includes Akers.  I also think he will have another year at Gate City and this will be the year that makes him or breaks him (2018).  The talent is down some, and if he turns it around, he will stay, but if he does not turn it around, he will be gone.  In my opinion, he does not turn it around and is gone about 12 months from this posting. 
Understand this one key component that makes it tough in SWVA.  A Head Coach does not get to pick his assistants 100%.  When I write 100%, I mean.....he doesn't say I want A, B, C, and D, and these folks will be PAID.  This means, he would need a spot for Coach A who is an English Teacher, or Coach B who is a Phy Ed Teacher, or Coach C who is a Biology-Science Teacher, and the school board simply accommodates or fills the spot for 3 or so assistants and pays them.  This is not just SWVA, but for most of the country.  At larger schools, especially in the South, the above actually happens.  Therefore, if the Head Coach wants his assistants (Coaches A, B, C, and D) there is a high likelihood that only Coach A gets a job and is paid at the school, and the rest would have to be volunteer.  Well, with the economy in SWVA, how many can afford to commit their time and not get paid?  It's the same across most of the country, unless its the South, or it's a huge school and football power such as in Texas or larger cities in the US that has boosters that will simply give 50K per year to the "unpaid assistants."
What is my point with all of the above?  In SWVA or any small school, you really, really, really, really, better have a Head Coach like the man in Richlands that knows what he is doing and can "coach up" his assistants, and the importance of hiring the right guy truly means a huge difference in success (outcomes) compared to the other local-small schools in which you compete.

1. Giles 
2. Union 
3. Bluefield
4. Graham 
5. Marion 
6. Ridgeview 
7. Pulaski
8. Virginia
9. Grayson County
10. Chilhowie 

I'm going to go ahead and pick against the Bears......against Appomattox in game 4.  Giles may pull something off against Appomattox in that region, but it's unlikely.  Union is going to likely face that brick-wall and run into Appomattox.  The outcome will be the same as last year with the Bears in defeat, but it won't be a 40 something to zilch thrashing, but it will be an easy respectable win for Appomattox, even if it's at Big Stone Gap.  Against Richlands, I think the Bears beat em up pretty good.

I'm going to go ahead and pick against the Bears......against Appomattox in game 4.  Giles may pull something off against Appomattox in that region, but it's unlikely.  Union is going to likely face that brick-wall and run into Appomattox.  The outcome will be the same as last year with the Bears in defeat, but it won't be a 40 something to zilch thrashing, but it will be an easy respectable win for Appomattox, even if it's at Big Stone Gap.  Against Richlands, I think the Bears beat em up pretty good.

I might have worked with you.  I was in Appy for 4 years of my young life.  Love it over there.  

That I will do.  I've read much about Saltville and had ancestors fight in that battle during the Civil War.  Also, I'm still partial to the old Shakers of Saltville which no longer exists of course, but I still pay attention to Northwood because we had a special coach down this way that put in some time up at Worthy High many, many moons ago.

I'm dead serious.  I don't know what the he** he's talking about when he said he played there.  I'm assuming it's near Williamsburg/Richmond/Jamestown.  I know the movie.

I might have worked with you.  I was in Appy for 4 years of my young life.  Love it over there.  

I certainly don't like the sound of that.  

Very nice.  Even if you are biased on the matter, so am I as a GC fan.  I respect your post.  I never argued state titles and titles certainly are worthy of any discussion as at least one of the formulas for a great program.  No argument with you on titles.  

True that.  We are hurting pretty good this year.  Lee should be able to run and throw it on us at will, and we will have trouble moving it for sure.  Hopefully, we can get some first downs and takeaways and kill the clock enough to keep it respectable.  At this point, I would just like to see us making it a game by half-time.  

I've never understood this argument that teams like Bluefield and Graham are coming out somewhat even.  On the surface of it, it looks like 50 K for Graham and 38K for Bluefield are about even since the citizens of Bluefield, WV, do pay taxes to the city of course.  But, it's actually not even and not even close and here is why....
Where does the 50K each game for Graham for a total of 250K on average per year plus the 38K for Bluefeld each game for an average of 190K per year go?  The above totals on average for the season just for the rent is about 440 thousand.  That money goes BACK into Mercer County.  Be it the City of Bluefield, WV or if not the City of Bluefield, WV, then Mercer County, WV.  The citizens of Bluefield, WV, live in Mercer County; therefore, they are still getting the benefits.  Tazewell County (Graham) is coming out definitely on the short end of the stick when one looks at it this way.  If anything, the folks in Tazewell County to include not just Graham, but Richlands and Tazewell are getting screwed over because this hurts those 2 schools funding.  Additionally, other Mercer County Schools, such as Montcalm, Pikeview, and Princeton are reaping the benefits and happy with Mitchell Stadium because those schools are getting a piece of that pie IF, and again, IF that money goes to the county.  If the money goes only to the city of Bluefield, then the more the better for the Beavers.  Either way, it's money going to Mercer County, WV..  In summary, the so called 38K paid by Graham and 50K paid by Bluefield truly aren't anything in the ballpark and not close to a true cost-benefit for each school when you look at the monetary gain for all of Mercer County because their economy is still being reinvested in, even with the 38K by Bluefield, but Tazewell County gains nothing.  It's cost effective it seems for Tazewell County/Bluefield, VA/Graham-whoever to build a stadium of their own in the long run in that they are not just hurting their own economies and funds, they are actually helping a neighboring state and county capitalize on them.
As for Union, I don't even want to talk about that screw up on behalf of Wise County, VA and Big Stone Gap.  It's a mess, and their issue shouldn't be as complex because it's at least in the same state.  Union's situation would be comparable to Bluefield's.  There's the whole Mercer County vs City of Bluefield thing I'm sure. 

We shall see about that.  I disagree some on that point.  Gate City will be back.  Lee wins this one by 17.  It should be worse, but whenever Lee sees anything remotely resembling Gate City, it pees its pants, and that right there accounts for 14 points for GC.  Final Score and somewhat alarming, 34-17 Lee.  Much of this due to the rivalry component and much of this due to the physicality of what a Union team does to opponents.  Either way, Gate City will advance on the season as "defeated" and attempts to go "Defeated" for the first time in the history of Gate City High.  I know Bluefield Researcher, Shoemeaker High went 0-10 in the early 50's, but again, since the new school was built and called "Gate City High School," we have never been 0-7 in the history of our program, so last week was a first for us.  Each and every game we lose from this point is a "first."  It's record breaking, for example, never an 0-7 start, or 0-8, or 0-9, and incredibly, we may actually be able to pull it off and for the first time, go "Defeated" at 0-10.  We have always attempted to go "Undeated," but never "Defeated."  0-10 is not an easy task and it's actually somewhat hard to do.  But hey, "lets not talk about it."

Back in the early 1950's, we had an 0-10 season, but that was prior to Gate City High, and of course, that was the old Shoemaker High and I think "old man Quillen" was the Head Coach at the time.  In 1998, the year after we won the state title, we had a 3-7 team, but it didn't start out 0-7.  If Bluefield Researcher can check or knows this, I would be interested.  I truly can't remember Gate City ever starting 0-7.  In 2015, we started out 0-6, then got a W.  Harry Fry had a couple 2-8ish type teams and maybe even a 1-9 team early in his career, but again, never started out 0-7.  The new Gate City football coach has a new "first" in Gate City football.  I'm not placing or getting into who's fault and this or that, but I'm just saying it is in fact, a new first for Gate City football.  Since Gate City High Formed (not Shoemaker) but Gate City, the program has never started 0-7, again, at least to my knowledge.