Eersfan

Thanks

Looking for youth tournaments in SWVA, East Tennessee or KY

Big Creek played a home and home with Musselman in 79 and 80

Graham has fed off a weak SWD for years. They’re down and they’ve played a decent schedule so far but not a killer one. If Richlands, Marion and Va high can really improve while playing 1A schools , one of them might knock the G Men off.

I agree after seeing WVVA slow the play down , it was definitely a block in the back . Even if it wasn’t targeting

I don’t think that you can count out Graham just yet. Turner and Meadows are returning standouts. Throw in Connor Roberts, Zach Blevins, Jimir Blevins and a few contributing players, they have something to build on. If Tazewell is going to take that step forward, they have to beat Graham and Richlands. Losing by a combined 80 plus points to your rivals shows that even with all their talent they don’t believe they can win. And beating 1A teams may fluff up your record a little but it won’t carry you through the playoffs. Richlands may struggle next year especially with a tough schedule. But they may surprise too. I think Wise and Ridgeview will be front runners, with a nod going to Wise.

Coverage was blown when the DB’s were having to come up on the run. I’d say Appo ran for close to 200 yards. Even with a limping QB.

Appo outplayed them today. Well coached Raider team that over come their penalties and turnovers. Graham has a fast QB and a great WR corp but their lack of discipline was their undoing. The fake PAT was obvious when the holder kneeled inside the 5 to take the snap but no one was alert. Joey Dales made some big plays on offense and with his foot today. Appo had 2 90 yard TD drives on Graham even when Dales pinned them deep. The kid has put that defense in a position to look good and today they let him down.

Appo has historically not been a 2nd half team . If Graham can correct some things they can win it in one half. If not for the speed of their WR’s and Lawing being hurt, they could be down 4 scores right now

Injuries are also another result of a tough schedule. In Union’s defense , their schedule was much tougher after the first meeting.

Saint Tony? For not running up the score? Does that sainthood carry over to the offseason? 😂😂😂

The SWD is weak and Graham has benefited greatly from it just like Richlands did earlier in the decade. The Mtn 7 is stronger as a conference because they develop talent from within and compete even if they don’t put a dream team together and dominate. The SWD is unbalanced due to the fact that there’s not enough talent to go around for more than 1 team to load up with.

That goes to show how weak the SWD will be if no one else can develop talent but Graham.

Hype is an easy commodity to come by nowadays.

I can see testing paid or scholarship student athletes. But unless you’re looking for PED’s in High School , it’s really a fruitless endeavor. As long as testing isn’t school wide, it’s not gonna curb vaping, smoking or drugs. It’s just gonna deter kids from playing multiple sports or any sport at all for fear of being ridiculed by those non athletes who are free to do as they please. Having a testing policy for athletes is beneficial possibly for the sake of liability insurance , maybe schools that test get a discounted rate. I’ve always believed that student athletes should be held to a higher standard but the kids that are really deep into drug activity aren’t your multi sport athletes, it’s those kids with too much free time and no fear of having to pee in a cup. Test all the kids and you won’t see as many 1 sport athletes getting in trouble in the offseason. Their habits might change when they fear losing playing time next year for partying during the offseason.

Princeton is an easy 9 points for them. There are no bonus points like in WV. Princeton provides AAA points with A talent on the field. Tazewell and Graham have benefited from playing them. Bluefield , who relies on bonus points, has been screwed by playing Princeton because the Tigers only win is against a AA Oak Hill. Which gives Beaver 0 bonus points. And the loss to LB gives them 0 points. A loss in the WVSSAC is way more costly than in the VHSL.

Not having Justice hurt some I’m sure. And playing injured will definitely limit a players mobility. But that defense has underperformed considering the athletes they have. I don’t think Richlands is an offensive juggernaut but they have momentum and confidence now. How well they cover Graham’s speed at WR and at QB will be what decides the game. And it still may not be enough. Graham 21-17

He was on the front page of BDT with Polier on Saturday

Kastner played against Union, I’m pretty sure

It’s not above any team in the area to be involved in thuggish behavior. I’d like to think Princeton’s coach doesn’t promote it. I thought I’d heard that he had kids transfer out last year because he came down hard on them for that sort of behavior.

Offensive strategy should be based on personnel. You have to create mismatches and put the defense at a disadvantage. Graham has speed and size at receiver and a speedy QB. When your QB is a run threat , you can run deep routes and open up running lanes for him. If you wanna make the running game click , you need variety. Go under center every now and then. LB’s get an easy read from the shotgun, especially if they get a quick read on the guards at the snap. Union made the T work and work well , it’s not outdated football it’s smart football. Spread teams aren’t better coached , they rely on having more speed. That’s why when teams with slower skill players try it and can’t stretch the field, the run game suffers.

2 teams with the ground n pound philosophy. GC has played well on the road. But I think home field is worth 2 TDS and Union might have a couple more playmakers. 34-20 Bears

You’re right Ol Dawg, that’s what makes HS football and sports in general great. Back in my day , I loved to play different opponents at their place. It was always nice to see other school’s culture, facilities , etc. There were fields that looked like they hosted a truck pull on Thursday night and some with grass like a putting green. Either way it was something that stood out to me as a player and gives me and my teammates something to talk crap about in our old age. I guarantee you that with Graham being the home team next year for the Graham -Beaver game, Bluefield fans could have a couple thousand air horns and it would just blend in with the other crowd noise. And no one would care. If the other fans air horns are too noisy , it’s only because our fans aren’t cheering enough to drown them out.

I totally agree. It’s a part of the game. I watched an NFL game last year and have been to HS games when fans have had a referees whistle. That’s something that can interfere with the game. The stands at Mitchell are so far from the center of the field that I doubt players notice the horn much.