Liam McPoyle

Return per Twitter I saw

Doing a little light reading on Thanksgiving. Dennis Vaught had an interesting career.
 
Won a state championship at Lexington in 1989. 
 
Resigned in 1990 from PH-Roanoke for racial slurs during a halftime speech.
 
Suspended for multiple seasons in 1992 for using illegal cleats in a state semifinal. I didn’t realize until reading this, Vaught tried to use the same cleats in the state final but got caught during pre-game. 
Fired in 1996 for intentionally injuring multiple players from Grundy. 
 
Billy Haun from the top rope “Richlands is not a place to raise a family…”
Im not offering an opinion one way or another. Just a very interesting read. 
 
https://wegottodosomething.com/2018/08/16/wild-wild-southwest/

Vaught was indeed brought in to be "coach in waiting."  Although I don't know that there was a specific timeframe implied, I was told that the next Richlands head coach had been hired the day that Vaught was announced as THS assistant.  Superintendent Frank Cosby had come to Tazewell County from Salem and still maintained relationships in the Roanoke Valley.  Guessing/betting that was the connection.
I had a lot of respect for what Billy Haun did in Richlands (still do).  But it was apparently never more than a temporary stop for him (alluded elsewhere in this thread in an article linked by sixcat).  My impression is that he wasn't necessarily forced out but the leadership in school administration knew that his departure was somewhat inevitable. 
Vaught's availability just happened to be pretty convenient -- and there was also some chatter then about him deserving a second chance after things blew up for him at PH-Roanoke.  Unfortunately the personal grudge that certain Roanoke media members developed against Vaught followed him and nobody knew just how vindictive those guys could be until the sordid events of 1992.

Between gang members in Hopewell and drunken rednecks in Independence, spectators are never truly safe.

Between gang members in Hopewell and drunken rednecks in Independence, spectators are never truly safe.

VHSL REGIONAL FINALS SCHEDULE WITH CALPREPS PROJECTIONS
 
CLASS 1 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Altavista at Sussex Central ,7:00pm
Sussex Central 31 Altavista 27
-Sussex Central with a 60% chance to win
 
CLASS 1 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Northumberland at Essex , 1:00pm
Essex 44 Northumberland 27
-Essex with an 87% chance to win
 
Galax  at George Wythe , 1:00pm
Galax 22 George Wythe 21
-Galax with a 53% to win
 
Rye Cove at Honaker , 1:00pm 
Honaker 35 Rye Cove 21
-Honaker with an 81% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 2 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Amelia County at Poquoson , 7:00pm  
Poquoson 35 Amelia County 3
-Poquoson with a 98% chance to win
 
Glenvar at Radford , 7:00pm 
Radford 38  Glenvar 21
-Radford with an 87% chance to win
 
Riverheads at Central-Woodstock, 7:00pm
Riverheads 21 Central-Woodstock 19
-Riverheads with a 57% chance to win
 
CLASS 2 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Graham at Union, 2:00pm 
Graham 21 Union 20
-Graham with a 53% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 3 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Armstrong/Kennedy at Brentsville District 7:00pm 
Brentsville District 28  Armstrong/Kennedy 13
-Brentsville District with an 84% chance to win
 
William Byrd at Magna Vista, 7:00pm
William Byrd 28 Magna Vista 21
-William Byrd with a 65% chance to win
 
Turner Ashby at Liberty Christian, 7:00pm
Liberty Christian 42 Turner Ashby 17
-Liberty Christian with a 95% chance to win
 
CLASS 3 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Lafayette vs. Heritage-Newport News at Warhill, 1:00pm
Lafayette 28 Heritage-NN 14
-Lafayette with an 81% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 4 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
EC Glass at Salem , 7:00pm
Salem 40  EC Glass 14
-Salem with a 95% to win
 
John Champe at Tuscarora, 1:00pm 
Tuscarora 31 John Champe 30
-Tuscarora with a 53% chance to win
 
CLASS 4 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Phoebus vs. Warhill at Darling Stadium (Hampton, VA), 12:00pm
Phoebus 34 Warhill 26
-Phoebus with a 72% chance to win
 
Varina at King George , 1:00pm 
Varina 24 King George 21
-Varina with a 58% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 5 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Indian River at Green Run, 7:00pm 
Green Run 26 Indian River 21  
-Green Run with a 61% chance to win
 
William Fleming at Matoaca, 6:00pm 
Matoaca 21 William Fleming 14
-Motoaca with a 65% chance to win
 
Briar Woods at Stone Bridge, 1:00pm
Stone Bridge 31 Briar Woods 19
-Stone Bridge with a 77% chance to win
 
CLASS 5 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Maury vs. Warwick at ODU, 7:00pm 
Maury 31 Warwick 28
Maury with a 58% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 6 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Manchester at Highland Springs, 1:30pm 
Highland Springs 35 Manchester 21
-Highland Springs with an 81% chance to win
 
CLASS 6 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Battlefield at Freedom-Woodbridge, 3:00pm 
Freedom-Woodbridge 41 Battlefield 28
-Freedom-Woodbridge with an 80% chance to win
 
Fairfax at Lake Braddock , 1:00pm 
Lake Braddock 34 Fairfax 22
-Lake Braddock with a 77% chance to win
 
Westfield at James Madison-Vienna, 1:00pm 
James Madison-Vienna 24 Westfield 17  
-James Madison-Vienna with a 65% chance to win

And it’s smart enough to know we’ll miss a extra point 

VHSL REGIONAL FINALS SCHEDULE WITH CALPREPS PROJECTIONS
 
CLASS 1 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Altavista at Sussex Central ,7:00pm
Sussex Central 31 Altavista 27
-Sussex Central with a 60% chance to win
 
CLASS 1 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Northumberland at Essex , 1:00pm
Essex 44 Northumberland 27
-Essex with an 87% chance to win
 
Galax  at George Wythe , 1:00pm
Galax 22 George Wythe 21
-Galax with a 53% to win
 
Rye Cove at Honaker , 1:00pm 
Honaker 35 Rye Cove 21
-Honaker with an 81% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 2 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Amelia County at Poquoson , 7:00pm  
Poquoson 35 Amelia County 3
-Poquoson with a 98% chance to win
 
Glenvar at Radford , 7:00pm 
Radford 38  Glenvar 21
-Radford with an 87% chance to win
 
Riverheads at Central-Woodstock, 7:00pm
Riverheads 21 Central-Woodstock 19
-Riverheads with a 57% chance to win
 
CLASS 2 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Graham at Union, 2:00pm 
Graham 21 Union 20
-Graham with a 53% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 3 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Armstrong/Kennedy at Brentsville District 7:00pm 
Brentsville District 28  Armstrong/Kennedy 13
-Brentsville District with an 84% chance to win
 
William Byrd at Magna Vista, 7:00pm
William Byrd 28 Magna Vista 21
-William Byrd with a 65% chance to win
 
Turner Ashby at Liberty Christian, 7:00pm
Liberty Christian 42 Turner Ashby 17
-Liberty Christian with a 95% chance to win
 
CLASS 3 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Lafayette vs. Heritage-Newport News at Warhill, 1:00pm
Lafayette 28 Heritage-NN 14
-Lafayette with an 81% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 4 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
EC Glass at Salem , 7:00pm
Salem 40  EC Glass 14
-Salem with a 95% to win
 
John Champe at Tuscarora, 1:00pm 
Tuscarora 31 John Champe 30
-Tuscarora with a 53% chance to win
 
CLASS 4 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Phoebus vs. Warhill at Darling Stadium (Hampton, VA), 12:00pm
Phoebus 34 Warhill 26
-Phoebus with a 72% chance to win
 
Varina at King George , 1:00pm 
Varina 24 King George 21
-Varina with a 58% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 5 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Indian River at Green Run, 7:00pm 
Green Run 26 Indian River 21  
-Green Run with a 61% chance to win
 
William Fleming at Matoaca, 6:00pm 
Matoaca 21 William Fleming 14
-Motoaca with a 65% chance to win
 
Briar Woods at Stone Bridge, 1:00pm
Stone Bridge 31 Briar Woods 19
-Stone Bridge with a 77% chance to win
 
CLASS 5 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Maury vs. Warwick at ODU, 7:00pm 
Maury 31 Warwick 28
Maury with a 58% chance to win
 
 
CLASS 6 PLAYOFFS (Friday)
Manchester at Highland Springs, 1:30pm 
Highland Springs 35 Manchester 21
-Highland Springs with an 81% chance to win
 
CLASS 6 PLAYOFFS (Saturday)
Battlefield at Freedom-Woodbridge, 3:00pm 
Freedom-Woodbridge 41 Battlefield 28
-Freedom-Woodbridge with an 80% chance to win
 
Fairfax at Lake Braddock , 1:00pm 
Lake Braddock 34 Fairfax 22
-Lake Braddock with a 77% chance to win
 
Westfield at James Madison-Vienna, 1:00pm 
James Madison-Vienna 24 Westfield 17  
-James Madison-Vienna with a 65% chance to win

Don't forget about the Union Bears polo, just like Coach Turner's. 

How could they go wrong picking anybody from Raven and/or Jewell Ridge? That's the heart and soul of Richlands football. Well I guess Big Creek too but that's beside the point.

I certainly underestimated the 2023 Union Bears with my early season prediction of an 8 and 4 final record for them at at this point in the year. But I based that prognostication on the difficult schedule they were facing and the large number of starters who were sophomores. But in hindsight the 2023 Bears were a team that was probably closer to a 12-0 team than an 8-4 team. The sophomores played great all year, the defense was really good, and Ray Anderson had an exceptional year at quarterback. I am not going to predict how much farther they will go; but I am convinced, at this point, they have the talent to win three more games. But any deep run in the VHSL playoffs usually requires a lucky bounce or two!

Union's kicking woes reminded me of a Tom Turner quote. A reporter at media day asked him if he had any kickers. He said,
“Yeah, I’ve got six of them, but none of them are worth a sh--.”

Reminds me of when William Campbell beat them 72-0 in state.  He quoted we pulled out our shotguns and they pulled out their damn machine guns.  The guy definitely had some one liners 

Union's kicking woes reminded me of a Tom Turner quote. A reporter at media day asked him if he had any kickers. He said,
“Yeah, I’ve got six of them, but none of them are worth a sh--.”

Union's kicking woes reminded me of a Tom Turner quote. A reporter at media day asked him if he had any kickers. He said,
“Yeah, I’ve got six of them, but none of them are worth a sh--.”

Union's kicking woes reminded me of a Tom Turner quote. A reporter at media day asked him if he had any kickers. He said,
“Yeah, I’ve got six of them, but none of them are worth a sh--.”

Holston losing two games on the final play
Narrows 31 Holston 30 
Per BHC Sep 2, 2023 "Hunter Owens threw a 52-yard Hail-Mary touchdown pass to Matt McGlothlin on the game’s final play as the ball was tipped by a Holston defender right into McGlothlin’s hands. Then, the Owens-to-McGlothlin tandem hooked up on the two-point conversion as the Green Wave (2-0) escaped Damascus with a win."
Chilhowie 17 Holston 14
Per BHC Nov 4, 2023 "Justin Gonzalez booted through a 29-yard field goal as time expired to give the Warriors a 17-14 win over Hogoheegee District rival Holston on Friday night and extend their season."
 

Union's kicking woes reminded me of a Tom Turner quote. A reporter at media day asked him if he had any kickers. He said,
“Yeah, I’ve got six of them, but none of them are worth a sh--.”

Union's kicking woes reminded me of a Tom Turner quote. A reporter at media day asked him if he had any kickers. He said,
“Yeah, I’ve got six of them, but none of them are worth a sh--.”

He redshirted his Covid year 🤣

Another reason I mentioned Battle was Holston beat them on a FG in OT I think. 

Phoebus vs Jamestown

+240

I give them a 1 in 8 chance.

Greg Mance playing some sport that's not football.