#BBN

A big thanks to @trublue , @VHSLhelper, and others for faithfully posting scores.

Prayers for this young man. Hope everything goes well and he gets to finish out the season. Good luck the rest of the way.

Houseright has made a big difference in the Rye Cove Defense. At this time last year Rye Cove has not even been in ballgames, and this year they have been in a couple ballgames that could of went in their favor. I’d love to see Houseright take over the Rye Cove program and bring a few more in to help him and I believe with a few boys Rye Cove has returning they could be a 4-6 and 5-5 possibly 6-5 in the next two years.

Houseright has made a big difference in the Rye Cove Defense. At this time last year Rye Cove has not even been in ballgames, and this year they have been in a couple ballgames that could of went in their favor. I’d love to see Houseright take over the Rye Cove program and bring a few more in to help him and I believe with a few boys Rye Cove has returning they could be a 4-6 and 5-5 possibly 6-5 in the next two years.

According to the NFHS, targeting is defined as the act of taking aim and INTIATING contact to an opponent ABOVE the shoulders with the helmet, forearm, hand, fist, elbow, or shoulders. If it fits in this box IT IS TARGETING.
That is the guideline we are given. Personally as an official, since there is no ejection rule in HS, I would rather err on the side of caution and make a targeting call on a bang bang play than keep it in my pocket. I am trying to recall if we are instructed as an association at the high school level to do this as a mechanic, but in my college association, if you're not sure, call it anyway and the video will sort it out before next Saturday.19 times out of 20, if it's a targeting call, we get it right. These actions are not football moves but, attempts to injure and maim. You, me or anybody else out there does not know a player intent when making a hit, so whether it was on purpose or not is irrelevant. I am all for a player overpowering another one and showing his ability, but not at the expense of another player's long term health and wellness if we can prevent it. It is football and things do happen that we will never be able to ultimately prevent. As officials, we are charged with protecting the players and managing a very fast paced, physical and emotional game while and upholding the rules provided to us, in that order.
Now for your specific example, I have seen ball carriers lower their head and shoulders my entire life. I have seen the running styles also evolve over the years to avoid contact instead of "running through someone". Here is my philosophy though, if I can identify the main ball carriers for a team and watch how they run, I can see their tendencies. Do they avoid contact? If they initiate, are they trying to extend the play, or punish the defender? What part of their body are they leading with? All of those draw my eye to keep a closer eye on a particular player. Some plays are more obvious than others, and will happen right in your lap. I like many other officials I have spoken with are having a tough time reprogramming our brains and eyes on what would have been just a hard nosed play 10 years ago to what is now a foul. If I see a kid running with his head down and not commit a foul on that particular play, I do some preventive officiating and speak with the kid and the coach during the dead ball period to try to avoid him even risking injury, much less the foul itself.
It is going to take years and cycles of kids to adapt to the new rules by players, coaches teaching the game and officials who are in a position to teach and apply the rules correctly. The game of football is under attack by the United States of the Offended to change our ways and make the game safer by removing the types of hits that lead to long term head trauma, and we must do it to preserve the game we all love so much.

My opinion is this. The way to get rid of these kind of hits is to give everyone a single bar facemask, a mouthpiece and a pair of eye goggles.  Most of us grew up playing tackle football in our yard or the local field. We played without any pads or helmet at all. We would sometimes get a busted lip and cuts and scratches. That doesn't make us tougher but we did learn to tackle without lowering our head and exposing our face and head. Players today rarely play pick up football with friends in their yard or the local field. It is all organized with pads and helmets thus they never learn how to play the game without a helmet on and therefore the helmet becomes part of their tackling habit.

Houseright has made a phenomenal difference with the RC defense.  He also brings enthusiasm to their entire program and that is what the kids need.  Kids need structrue, discipline, accountablity, enthusiasm, and a HC that not only cares about just winning, but about building a solid program that will help draw more kids out to play FB!  This is what every FB program needs!  I hope the powers that be have taken notice of how much he has helped the RC program when it comes time to place a new HC at GC.  

Polier is a heck of a football player, no matter who he is playing for you have to love his intensity and what he brings to the game!!! Good luck to both teams and may all stay healthy!!!

Hey @Grapeape, take some notes from @Jason, who seems to be actively taking interest in the betterment of his community. Good job, Jason!

Prayers and thoughts to this young mans family and the community of Chilhowie. We all ask why and question the Lord, but it was well said above in that the Lord knows why and knows best. 

Matthew Gibson #52 from Rye Cove unofficially had 21 tackles tonight in the loss to Castlewood. Great game, it’s just rough on these smaller schools that have very few numbers and about every kid on the team is on the field for the full 48 minutes.

The muskets fired again. 
28 all in Ewing 
6:06 left in the 4th.
And the kickoff contained, which has been a problem

My senior year in 02, we ran the T, Power I, split backs, far and near sets, spread........we had many different formations we could go to with many different options in the backfield and at wide receiver.
Having many different formations is a plus, but like the above comment said, the smash mouth football seems to take teams deeper in the playoffs. It’s definitely two different styles of football.

I don’t like the new playoff system, but it allows us to see some matchups that you would not normally see under the old format. VH$L is all about the money, and to me it’s ridiculous how much money they make off of football season each year!!!
Richlands plays a very tough schedule, and like mentioned above come playoff time, year in and year out they are one of the top notch teams in 2A. You never can count out a Mance coaches team.

Congrats to the Pack!!!! Very impressive team. Like the above comment, the defense was so fast to the ball and took away the running game to the outside. Line play was huge in this game and Ridgeview won it on both sides of the ball. Ridgeview has a very balanced attack. Was impressed with Adkins, he’s going to be something special. QB and other RB was very impressive as well.
I agree the passing game needs to be used more, but you have to have receivers that are going to buy into it and run good crisp routes every time the ball is snapped, instead of jogging off the ball for 5 yards because they know it’s not coming their way. That definitely doesn’t help any in the passing game. Makes it very hard on a QB when all you have is one place to throw the ball, because no other receiver is running a hard route.
Great atmosphere and beautiful campus and place to watch a football game.
Hats off to Ridgeview and Good Luck the rest of the way!!!

Congrats to the Pack!!!! Very impressive team. Like the above comment, the defense was so fast to the ball and took away the running game to the outside. Line play was huge in this game and Ridgeview won it on both sides of the ball. Ridgeview has a very balanced attack. Was impressed with Adkins, he’s going to be something special. QB and other RB was very impressive as well.
I agree the passing game needs to be used more, but you have to have receivers that are going to buy into it and run good crisp routes every time the ball is snapped, instead of jogging off the ball for 5 yards because they know it’s not coming their way. That definitely doesn’t help any in the passing game. Makes it very hard on a QB when all you have is one place to throw the ball, because no other receiver is running a hard route.
Great atmosphere and beautiful campus and place to watch a football game.
Hats off to Ridgeview and Good Luck the rest of the way!!!

Won't have to go to Kentucky.  Just hire Steve Honaker's crew.

https://wcyb.com/news/local/tennessee-db-garrett-jackson-gives-his-shoes-to-homeless-man-on-knoxville-strip
Ran across this article on WCYB, and just thought it was to good not to share. Not a UT fan, but definitely have respect for this young man on the Volunteer football team.

https://wcyb.com/news/local/tennessee-db-garrett-jackson-gives-his-shoes-to-homeless-man-on-knoxville-strip
Ran across this article on WCYB, and just thought it was to good not to share. Not a UT fan, but definitely have respect for this young man on the Volunteer football team.

https://wcyb.com/news/local/tennessee-db-garrett-jackson-gives-his-shoes-to-homeless-man-on-knoxville-strip
Ran across this article on WCYB, and just thought it was to good not to share. Not a UT fan, but definitely have respect for this young man on the Volunteer football team.

Deserved a "woah"! 🙂

Gonna be a great game, that will be decided in the trenches I believe. O-line and D-line play will be crucial. Can’t wait to watch this game.
Bears - 24
Wolfpack - 21

The arm strength really sticks out. Some people at the game tonight who hadn’t seen him play let out a collective, “woah” when he started slinging the ball around. 

One of the best kept secrets.. 

Agreed Union_Fan #2 QB threw the ball very well. Very well balanced attack. Should make for an interesting ballgame next week!!! Go Bears!!!