Blue Cannonball

Great research — Another UVA grad really maxing out that ‘Southern Ivy’ education. Ha! 
 
You missed WR Peele, Navy commit and though CJ is going to Coastal, he had ACC offers that he left on the table. Either way, my only real ‘argument’ is that the original assessment on the status of 757 youth sports (offered by sixcat) is a little dated...not entirely inaccurate. 
 
As we’ve discussed relative to SWVA, talent is cyclical and yes, the 2020 757 class wasn’t loaded, but there are still lots of big time players in tidewater. We have seen a couple guys get pulled to IMG or other football factories, but for the sake of VA football, I hope that’s a quick trend...
 
It’s funny to me that guys sitting behind keyboards in SWVA doing research on 24/7 and VB Mustangs website can offer such informed opinions. 

Mayo?   Only if its Dukes Mayo...

ODU is out recruiting VT in the 757, big time. 
 
It could be a flawed assumption as I’ve never really looked hard at it, but I always attributed much of Tech’s success in the 90’s to the 757 talent pool...before it was really discovered by powerhouse programs. 

I did my best to find them all. If I missed one let me know. Only goes back to 1920. Undefeated AND untied.
Virginia--------------------------------------------------------------
Graham    1958    10-0    Burrhead Bradley
Saltville    1930     8-0    Ray Buchanan
                 1934     9-0    Leonard Mauck
                 1935     9-0    Leonard Mauck
                 1953     9-0    Jessee James
                 1954     9-0    Jessee James
                 1966    10-0    Harry Johnson
Richlands    1992    14-0    Dennis Vaught
                    2006    14-0    Greg Mance
Virginia High    1933    11-0    Pidney Porterfield
Appalachia    1932     9-0    Don Fletcher
                      1941     9-0    Billy Hicks
                      1966    10-0    Jim Riggs
                      1969    10-0    Jim Riggs
                      1971    13-0    Jim Riggs
Powell Valley    1990    14-0    Phil Robbins
                         1995    14-0    Phil Robbins
                         1997    14-0    Phil Robbins
                         1998    14-0    Phil Robbins
Castlewood    1965     9-0    Tommy Fletcher
Clintwood    1962    10-0    Ralph Cummins
                    1975    13-0    Ralph Cummins
                    1978    13-0    Ralph Cummins
Coeburn        1938     9-0    Bill Bowman
Dublin           1958    10-0    Gene Crookshank
Garden         1959     8-0    P. L. Williams
Gate City      1965    10-0    Harry Fry
                     1967    10-0    Harry Fry
                     1970    13-0    Harry Fry
                     1974    13-0    Harry Fry
                     2003    14-0    Nick Colobro
George Wythe    1947    11-0    Les Parson
Giles        1980    14-0    Steve Ragsdale
                1993    14-0    Steve Ragsdale
                2013    15-0    Jeff Williams
Glade Spring    1958     8-0    Roy Miller
J. I. Burton    1972    13-0    James Dotson
J. J. Kelly     1944     6-0    Verlin Gilliam
                    1956     9-0    Gothard Bays
Narrows        1938     7-0    Harry Ragsdale
                      1939    10-0    Harry Ragsdale
                      1960     9-0    Harry Ragsdale
                      1961     9-0    Harry Ragsdale
                      1962     9-0    Harry Ragsdale
Pulaski          1951    11-0    Vic Kreiter
Rich Valley    1943     7-0    Leon Noel
Radford        1971    13-0    Norman Lineburg
                     1972    13-0    Norman Lineburg
West Virginia--------------------------------------------------------------------
Bluefield    1940     9-0    Bill Dole
                  1959    11-0    Merrill Gainer
                  1960    10-0    Merrill Gainer
                  1962    11-0    Merrill Gainer
                  1965    11-0    Merrill Gainer
                  1967    11-0    Merrill Gainer
                  1968     9-0    John Chmara
                  1997    14-0    Fred Simon
                  2004    14-0    Fred Simon
                  2007    13-0    Fred Simon
                  2017    14-0    Fred Simon    
Princeton    1943     8-0    Lee Patton
Big Creek    1932     9-0    Tubby Law
                    1934    11-0    Tubby Law
                    1955     9-0    Merrill Gainer
                    1957    10-0    Merrill Gainer
Athens        1928     7-0    Joe Vachon
Northfork    1973    12-0    John Brandt
Gary           1950    10-0    Bob Goosens
                   1970    11-0    Sid Cure
Welch         1963    10-0    Tony Colobro    
Union          1938     8-0    Haskell Shumate (six man)
                    1941     8-0    Rufus Houchins (six man)
                    1963    10-0    Leonard Houchins
Peterstown    1948    10-0    Tom Ballard (six man)
                      1950     8-0    Tom Ballard (six man)
                      1991    14-0    Donnie Jackson

Lee got beat by Heritage in the D4 semis on a late FG that year also  I think they went on to win the next week over Tabb maybe but I couldn't swear to it.   Very close to all 4 state champs in A and AA coming within a 3 western most counties in VA.

Pretty sure that was ‘97, if not, it was ‘95. We beat PV at the park in ‘96. 
 
Even as a true blue GC guy, I can agree with you about that ‘97 PV - Appy game. Those teams were loaded. 3 State Champions that year with GC, PV, and Appy...PV can claim they won it in three divisions since they beat us and Appy. 
 
I’ve always said you could’ve taken the best from those teams, put them together, and they could’ve beat Hampton in AAA.

Pretty sure that was ‘97, if not, it was ‘95. We beat PV at the park in ‘96. 
 
Even as a true blue GC guy, I can agree with you about that ‘97 PV - Appy game. Those teams were loaded. 3 State Champions that year with GC, PV, and Appy...PV can claim they won it in three divisions since they beat us and Appy. 
 
I’ve always said you could’ve taken the best from those teams, put them together, and they could’ve beat Hampton in AAA.

I worked this game.  It stands out in my mind for many reasons, a couple I wont talk about out of respect for a few people who were associated but not guilty of some things that took place around that game.  I was kind of thinking Haysi ended up winning in OT though on a FG, or FG sent it to OT.  The waggle with the backside TE drag I believe was what was eating Haysi up.  That being said, when JJK recovered the onside all I thought was BI should ride Sproles for 3 yards on the FB trap each time  The first run or two was that, but the second or third play was a sweep to Crabtree I believe it was that got poked out of his pocket and Haysi recovered with 20 or so seconds to go and about 40 yards to go.  It seemed to me the onside went deeper than intended so field position was still on Haysi's side.  It was a game that ranked in the top 10 or so that I worked.
 
For me, games that I have seen or played in:
Clintwood @ Honaker 1999 D2 Region D Finals  Hamilton vs Miller.  Seems like Clintwood sat in a Cover 3 all day with cushion for the outside receivers.  Honaker seemed to be able to get 5 yards at a time when they just ran the outside hitch, but didnt go to it too often as Clintwood was content to sit there and Honaker pounded the middle some with traps out of the shotgun.  Hamilton was spent by the 4th quarter and I was about 100% guessing each Clintwood play late in the game, even Hamilton being subbed back in after asking out for the final play in regulation being a HB pass.  
JJK @ Rye Cove 1999   JJK was riding a win over JIB for the first time in awhile and jumped out ahead of RC pretty well at the half. RC kept pounding away  and tied it up just before the end of regulation.  JJK got the ball first in OT and scored but was stopped on their 2 PT conversion.  RC scored maybe on 4th down and then ran the Power I off tackle to win on the conversion.
Rye Cove @ Thomas Walker 1997.  TW was 6-1 I believe at the time.  We were 1-5 after losing by 4 to open the season vs Hurley in a game that started on Friday at Hurley and ended Monday at Honaker (Testers SR year where they were D2 runners up).  1 to Northwood at home.  Was up at Coeburn at the half I believe before getting beat, an awful game where Castlewood dominated us and lost 14-12 at Holston.  Down 14-0 in the 4th TW punts and the ball rolls to the 6.  A cheap shot happens with no call and our HC Mike Wampler loses it.  A timeout is taken and he speaks to us in the end zone where heckling is a polite way to put it. He told us to shut them up and take it 97 yards.  1 play, 1-24 FB trap is called and 97 yards later we are going for 2 which is no good.  We intercept TW around midfield and score again and complete the 2 pt conversion with around 2 minutes left.   TW drives to the 15 or so where we all thought we had recovered a fumble when Brent Mullins killed the TB in the backfield.  Instead TW ball 4th down and the make a FG with 15  seconds left.  We got to midfield with no timeouts but a completion down inbounds and a spike a half second to late ended it.   RC had 1 SR that year who only played special teams.  We went on to beat Ervinton the next week 46-6 who made the playoffs after St. Paul beat us 12-6 in OT and then we upset Twin Springs 32-15 to knock them out of the playoffs.  It was a crazy year of almost for the Cove.
Jefferson Forest @ Gate City 1997.  The duck kick that flew just far and high enough to propel GC to the finals.  Crazy good game.
Radford @ Gate City 2003 I think it was.  I think the half and half on that Sunday won around $1300.  I wasn't expecting it to be a great game but Radford gave a GC game all they wanted and more.
 
 

I hope we’re finished with McAmis. Not for fear of losing, but for fear of hearing him cry over another phantom call. 

And Chris Peters and Tony MacDonald.  I cant remember how much Tony played for that team though.  He is an overlooked freak athlete to come out of GC as well.

End of an era.  Hopefully they stick the “post-legend hire” better than Gate City and Graham.

Yeah to a point Central has some really good players and fans.  If they only  had a Coach 

Clown show.

Clown show.

Strongly disagree. The kids may miss tackles / blocks, give up a reception, etc., but they are always in position to make the play. They are playing with effort when they are clearly out of gas, & when you combine those things it reflects great coaching. GC was down two speedsters (#12 & #2) and two lineman (#70 & #61) Friday night; that’s insurmountable with our depth. Also keep in mind that 3 of the teams GC has played included generational / D1 talents. Abingdon got away with one; South & RV we’re flat out better teams. GC will continue to improve (Coaching) & will be fine. 

I havent seen either team play yet, but i was shown some video of GATE CITY big back, all i can say is lookout anyone under 190 lbs, he is going to hurt you when you try to stop him. RIDGEVIEW better rotate its d line out to keep them fresh, he is very quick 5-25 yards and he runs low, he seeks contact . Also GATE CITY D ,looks very good up front and the giant FB plays inside , and likes to hit, as well as the DAVIDSON kid, I see a low type score as long as there are few turnovers. Mothers you might want to stay home because there are going to be some LICKS THROWN, and a few kids sore on SATURDAY MORNING.GOOD luck to both teams

They had 46 last year which is usually the norm, so the numbers weren't low. Any school that goes 1-9 for 2 straight seasons will see a drop off in participation. This is the smallest number of kids I've seen GC have in 47 years of watching them, but after it's all over they may have the biggest heart of any team I've watched. They're not back yet, but I feel the foundation is being put down.

At Richlands they do. Go ask the nearly 100 midget league players what they want and they’ll tell you to play for Richlands when they get older. It matters here. I’m sure it matters at plenty of places with the tradition that GC has as well. 

Yeah some people just don’t understand. That’s why PV, Appy, and GC have (had) the championships they do. Pride and tradition means everything. 

That’s the difference between Gate City and everyone else. 

He doesn’t speak for Union. Please understand that. Those kids have been raised by PV and Appy parents who were born with a football and still have that mentality to this day.  History means everything to these kids. They want to make their community proud. 

It will be interesting to see what the Devil's can do against Abingdon. I think it's close, but have Abingdon winning at home. Abingdon better be good up front and get ready for the "Cahoon" because that's a rough running back. 
Also, I just ain't feeling it. As much punches, straight rights, uppercuts and head butts the GC fans and program have taken on here, and only a couple of quick congrats in one or two single posts? Na brothers, that's a bit weak. It's crowtime. I'm a GMen diehard, and credit to GC fans on here for playing it pretty cool and not lashing out or talking smack with the win. It's a pretty good sign if a non GC fan has to serve the crow. Are you kidding me? Statements something to the effect of, "it will take 10-15 years to get GC back on track." LMAO. 
I think a few of you know who you are. Show some sack folks. They deserve a bit more than a quick, "congrats on your win." They took far to many punches for that quick of a comment. I think you know who you are. I'm sure the Abingdon guy is on pens and needles this week with the "love" he's showed for GC on here. 
On a serious note, a huge congrats to Jeremy (a good friend of mine), and for the kids, the fans, and that town. One more crow type thing. If GC has turned it around and they knock off Abingdon or Union and bust out at 6-4 this year, for the ones who hammered them on the coaching thing, and arguing it didn't matter who the coach was, you can't win there? For those people, you are going to be absolutely crow stuffed and tasting tennis shoe rubber for a while, if, and that's a big if, but if Houseright turns the thing around in one season.
If the Devil's are 6-4, did they magically find talent this year that wasn't supposed to be there for a decade. Surely, it can't be the new coach, right? Devil fans, I suspect you guys are going to be rooted against, whether open or in secret, for the rest of the year, and especially in games against Abingdon and Union. Why? Crow tastes terrible man. You can't even season it up or deep fry it to make it taste good. It's gonna be a fun ride. If GC beats Abingdon and Richlands beats Union, there's gonna be some serious nervousness setting in down that way, lol.

I think folks are taking too much from the Hurley scrimmage. They flat hit Tennessee High in the mouth the week before and Richlands the week after. I'm not saying they're world beaters and I haven't even seen them in person yet. All I'll say is this bunch has confidence now, and still a huge chip on their shoulder. The town of Gate City has been starvin to death for a team that'll bust their hind ends for 48 minutes. I look for Legion Field to be rock'n and roll'n Friday night. Abingdon may win by 28 Friday night, but they could also run into a buzzsaw. Keep in mind, GC played them solid for the first half last year at Abingdon.

I knew the final score & was still a nervous wreck watching the tape. All I know is that I’m officially out of the prediction business. 
Anyway, the week 1 win probably increased week 2 attendance by 2500 or so. Legion Field will be rocking for the Falcons. 

It's amazing what having a coach that gives a darn and loves the players will do....