PV2VT

Well to the point of being a coach at a small school compared to bigger schools and wins Vs loses let's look at the history books of swva football.  Coach Tom Turner for the Appalachia bulldogs was a 300 plus win coach with multiple state titles and probably never had half the talent on his sideline compared to the teams he faced.  Tom could take a hand full of boys from little coal camps and play Iron Man football and beat schools like gate city,  Powell Valley,  etc. And in years that teams like gate city and Powell Valley beat appy it was seldom a blow out.  If a coach like Tom Turner had the talent that rolled through Powell Valley and gate city he would have won 10 or state championships in my humble opinion.  I've seen mid 90s appy teams with 30 kids that could kick the crap out of just about any team today due to there sheer toughness and coach Tom turners ability to fire em up. 

Looking at the stat sheet above I see one thing that stands out to me. Union's defense is tough. Among common opponents Union's d allowed less yards rushing with an avg of 143.75 ypg compared to Graham's 171.75 ypg. Passing yards against is in Union's favor with 62 ypg and Graham has 87 ypg. First downs allowed is in Union's favor too with 8.5 fdpg vs 14.25 fdpg for Graham. Offensively Union holds an edge in everything but passing yards per game and first downs (I contribute the first downs to Union playing on a short field in most situations in these games). First downs per game Union averaged 12 Graham 16.25. Rushing Yards averaged Union 265.25 Graham 248.75. Rushing attempts averaged per game Union 36 Graham 34.75. Rushing yards averaged per attempt Union 7.36 Graham 7.15. Average passing yards per game Union 41.5 Graham 104.5. Points averaged per game Union 41 Graham 36.75.
It looks like to me it will be a well matched up game with Union holding a slight edge in all but 2 stats among common opponents. With home field advantage I say my Bears win by a touchdown late in the 4th quarter.

I agree that Union has high expectations but if not for the new Defensive Coordinator Union wouldn't be where they are. Since the formation of Union defense has been our weakness and now it is our strength. That's why I say Rhodes instead of Turner

Rhodes (if I am spelling that right) D Coordinator for Union. If it weren't for the Bears D they wouldn't be where they are today. Union's D has led the charge through a transition from a spread o to a wildcat/wing t o. They wouldn't be undefeated if it weren't for that tough a$$ d.

Rhodes (if I am spelling that right) D Coordinator for Union. If it weren't for the Bears D they wouldn't be where they are today. Union's D has led the charge through a transition from a spread o to a wildcat/wing t o. They wouldn't be undefeated if it weren't for that tough a$$ d.

Rhodes (if I am spelling that right) D Coordinator for Union. If it weren't for the Bears D they wouldn't be where they are today. Union's D has led the charge through a transition from a spread o to a wildcat/wing t o. They wouldn't be undefeated if it weren't for that tough a$$ d.

That has been said every week.  Union hasn't seen an o like we have.  Union can't defend the pass. Union isn't ready for our running back.  Union can't keep up with our speed.  Don't get me wrong, Graham is a very balanced team but Union has faced a running back just as good (Ford from Marion)  and a QB just as good (Letcher Co kid,  John Battle kid,  Marion kid) all of whom we have kept out of the end zone and intercepted. Union is battle tested just like Graham.  The difference is Unions defense. I sat at the game last night and a man behind me was talking with his wife.  He was throwing out coaching terms and so on in a central VA accent, figured he was scouting the game for someone from regions a or b.  Either way,  he said that Unions defense is by far the best he has seen anywhere in 2A. He was truly impressed with how we contained Marion's backs.  By the third quarter he was saying watch Marion start passing and get back in the game.  Union had a pick and plenty of hurries causing incompletions and a sack or two.  By the fourth quarter he told his buddy "this may be unions year to win.  I did not expect to such a dominate game.  I thought Marion would have kept it close". Union has faced an o like Graham but it's been over three or four different teams,  never all together on one team but I promise Graham hasn't faced a d like union. 

I'm not a t formation fan all.  I've always believed in the I formation but union is running the t/wildcat better and better each game.  Since week 2 we haven't passed the ball much at all and every team has stacked the box with 8 or more and we have handled each and every one of them with our multiple play makers. I promise u Graham is the only team in region d that can give us a good game but Union is tougher than anyone wants to admit.  That guy behind me last night from central VA was bad mouthing us at the start of the game and by the end he was staying that union is by far the best team he had seen this year and has the best shot to win state of any team in swva.  In my humble opinion region d will win state. Graham may win Saturday but I promise the bears will be the best team they will face this season

Letcher Co qb is just as good. Marion's qb is right behind grahams qb.  John battles qb had probably one of the best set of legs for scrambling in region d. Graham is no joke but no Richlands d is not as good as unions.  It's probably the closest to ours talent wise but not better. Bluefields d I have not seen in person to make a judgment call on.  Everyone wants to say Richlands held union to 13 which they did.  Guys that's a rivalry game and we know how rivalry games go.  They are very seldom a blow out.  I talked about that last week.  Marion fans saying Richlands held y'all to 13. Look at last night and the rest of the season and see what union has done to everyone besides Richlands.  We hammer them. I'm not saying we will hammer Graham but I promise this.  It's hard for grahams offense to score when they don't have the ball.  Union is playing ball control offense and shut down d.  If union can keep the ball away from Graham and stop Graham on at least two drives (which is very reasonable)  then union wins. 

That has been said every week.  Union hasn't seen an o like we have.  Union can't defend the pass. Union isn't ready for our running back.  Union can't keep up with our speed.  Don't get me wrong, Graham is a very balanced team but Union has faced a running back just as good (Ford from Marion)  and a QB just as good (Letcher Co kid,  John Battle kid,  Marion kid) all of whom we have kept out of the end zone and intercepted. Union is battle tested just like Graham.  The difference is Unions defense. I sat at the game last night and a man behind me was talking with his wife.  He was throwing out coaching terms and so on in a central VA accent, figured he was scouting the game for someone from regions a or b.  Either way,  he said that Unions defense is by far the best he has seen anywhere in 2A. He was truly impressed with how we contained Marion's backs.  By the third quarter he was saying watch Marion start passing and get back in the game.  Union had a pick and plenty of hurries causing incompletions and a sack or two.  By the fourth quarter he told his buddy "this may be unions year to win.  I did not expect to such a dominate game.  I thought Marion would have kept it close". Union has faced an o like Graham but it's been over three or four different teams,  never all together on one team but I promise Graham hasn't faced a d like union. 

dumb question but how is a 10 and 0 1st seed in 2A barely making the playoffs?  

Back to the original topic of this thread.  Richlands Vs Union.  For a rivalry to exist both sides need victory.  For a rivalry to grow both sides need close wins.  For a rivalry to be defined both sides need to have suffered lose.  Richlands Vs Union has become a rivalry that can be at the top of the list for any rivalry in swva.  Union rolled every team this season except Richlands. We faced them two times and both times it was a hard fought win for Union.  I give my utmost respect go every young man that strapped on a helmet for the blues this season. They came to our house with no fear in their heart and victory on their mind. They damn near grabbed the W.  Be proud blues you all are an impressive and worthy opponent.  Can't wait to meet y'all again next season on the gridiron.  
 

I stated before on this thread and I'll say it again.  Union rolls.  Despite Richlands (which is a rivalry game and that makes it unpredictable) Union has handled everyone else they played this year.  MTW we lost 5 or maybe six 6 turnovers and still won against a school twice our size. That and we have the most physical defense I've seen in years. I think Union wins by two scores

Back to the original topic of this thread.  Richlands Vs Union.  For a rivalry to exist both sides need victory.  For a rivalry to grow both sides need close wins.  For a rivalry to be defined both sides need to have suffered lose.  Richlands Vs Union has become a rivalry that can be at the top of the list for any rivalry in swva.  Union rolled every team this season except Richlands. We faced them two times and both times it was a hard fought win for Union.  I give my utmost respect go every young man that strapped on a helmet for the blues this season. They came to our house with no fear in their heart and victory on their mind. They damn near grabbed the W.  Be proud blues you all are an impressive and worthy opponent.  Can't wait to meet y'all again next season on the gridiron.  
 

Back to the original topic of this thread.  Richlands Vs Union.  For a rivalry to exist both sides need victory.  For a rivalry to grow both sides need close wins.  For a rivalry to be defined both sides need to have suffered lose.  Richlands Vs Union has become a rivalry that can be at the top of the list for any rivalry in swva.  Union rolled every team this season except Richlands. We faced them two times and both times it was a hard fought win for Union.  I give my utmost respect go every young man that strapped on a helmet for the blues this season. They came to our house with no fear in their heart and victory on their mind. They damn near grabbed the W.  Be proud blues you all are an impressive and worthy opponent.  Can't wait to meet y'all again next season on the gridiron.  
 

My first time posting on here. Just wanted to put in my thoughts for tonight. Richlands is by far one of the most solid programs southwest VA has ever had and will ever have. Year in and year out the Blues make football a way of life. Union has been a very solid program in it's short existence. We have been putting the pieces together to make a program our communities could be proud of and we are doing good at it. Tonight we will get to see what will be one of the best games played on an historic field. Bullit Park has hosted a many of good games and tonight will be no exception. I look for an old school, smack em in the mouth, pad popping, hard hitting, emotional game tonight. Ill call it like this, The blues come in fired up and ready to show that they are worthy of everyone's respect, but my bears will be the victor tonight by a score of 24 to 10 ( Most of the points coming in the late 3rd and fourth quarters).
GOOOOOOOOOOOO U!