tiger2001

Webb being left out of this convo is pretty bad as well. Richlands wins head to head vs Tazewell with Webb catching the long td and rushing for one. . . Put up over 650 yards of offense vs Ridgeview in the 3 head to head matches in the 6 month span. Take him off the field and Ridgeview wins easily. Take beavers off the field and it’s a close game either way. Wasn’t used as a Wr in last 3 games of season at all, and rushed for over 500 yards in those three games. I would argue his presence was as big and game planning around what position he was lined at was no less than anyone on the list. Bradshaw is by far biggest game changer , beavers and Harris best pure receivers. Webb , with his rushing and return yards may be the most versatile. After watching all these teams play multiple times . The argument for any of these players could last forever. All are very gifted and worthy of their accolades. Tazewell was smart to get the ball to Harris and his catches were not all dink and dunk. He is a physical receiver with great hands. Beavers was as clutch as anyone and also has great hands. Great news is that some of these guys get to add to their resume next year.

Coach Akers is the short order cook at the Applebee’s in bluefield , so that explains things ..........

For the record. I’m a fan of both meadows and Bradshaw. . The thread was about POY but I agree that their focus is on winning. . Actually I’m a fan of all the good players in Swva. Several good players on the field during these playoffs. Lomax , Thomas , Jenkins , Webb , beavers , Harris, blevins , as well as the above mentioned players are rare. And your always gonna leave someone deserving off the short list but those players have been exceptional. To have this many athletes in one season had been fun to watch. I haven’t went back to the thread of the person who wasn’t impressed with meadows but geez. How can you not. I’ve watched him probably 10 times and he always dominated his position. I can’t recall a more dominant lineman in the region in a long time.

No one argued in the last thread that meadows wasn’t the best player in the region. Argument was he may not win the mvp. I would argue that if Lomax didn’t dress this year , that union may have lost 2/3 more games. If beavers Doesn't dress I’m not sure if they don’t loose 1/2 games. Webb and Jenkins the same for their teams. If meadows Doesn't play this season , I’m not so sure that the g men , wouldn’t still be undefeated. No argument about who is best prospect , etc. Meadows has the best accolades, and upside. My only disagreement about it being a lock , was that someone like Bradshaw affects the game in more ways than meadows. Period. Kicking game , occasional jet sweeps and the deep ball. Also underrated at saving touchdowns. Webb had 3 returns in the spring (3) in one game that were busted out past the 50 with one man to beat (Bradshaw) and he made all three stops or at least angled him out of bounds. Meadows wasn’t on the field. If one of those, much less 2 or 3 get returned. Different ballgame. Meadows very well may win award. And it would be deserved. I just said as a DC , Bradshaw keeps you up at night a little later. Mix that with his effect on a game on special teams. Oh. And someone said last year that “ if Bradshaw was dressed vs union in the playoffs , that the last play wouldn’t have taken place. ? I was there and would agree . So he isnt bad on D either. Brody may be in the top 2/3 lineman in while state. Once again. No knock on him. He is great. But several of these local players are rivals 3 star. , under Armor all Americans , ranked nationally etc. Brody has the best ceiling of all of them and has racked up the highest accolades , etc. Just didn’t want Giles to act like I was ignorant to consider Bradshaw as my pick. It wasn’t to argue. If Bradshaw automatically affects the game when he breaks the huddle and he does. . It should put him in contention. .

I honestly can’t believe we’re having this conversation. Turner is a top level coach at any high school in the region. Maybe even the state. If everyone knows what play he is running , every single snap , then a whole bunch of coaches need to be fired in the region for never stopping him. Example. The va high coach did a remarkable job this season getting those kids playing back to a respectable level. They had talent all over the field . Had a first quarter lead on union in the playoffs. Then the i Turner some how ran the same play over and over and beat them by 20plus points. He didn’t panic and continued to get the ball to Lomax with the expectations that he would wear them down and they couldn’t tackle Lomax late in the game. It worked. It’s worked for a long time. And like I said. Let’s fire the idiot coaches who loose to him since he is so vanilla. Those guys , who he beats 70 percent of the time are the ones needing fired ........

100 percent that you should pull your starters once the other team does. Even after a 2 or 3 quarter butt kicking. That is an unwritten rule that good coaches still abide by. Nothing worse than a coach letting his starters pad their stats , after they’ve laid down vs another teams starters. Most good players don’t want to score vs another teams subs anyway.

Turner is one of the very best coaches in the region. Period. They’ve gotten beat by some really good ( better teams ) in the playoffs. The season changed a little when you lost a couple players to injury. Doesn't take much in 2a football to have a huge impact. We love the spread here in tornado land. Still do. I cringed the last two weeks of the season watching us go heavy set and run up the middle literally every play. But , We played our best football of the season. It was as easy as getting the ball to our best player 20+ times. Ridgeview didn’t play bad like people thought. Va high didn’t either. We just dumbed it down because our offense Was so pour all season long and as a result we stopped going 3 and out 10 times a game. You just thumped va high last week behind Lomaxs 400 yards. If you were in a more open offense , things like 3 and outs will prevent you from letting Lomax have the 30 touches he needed for you all to pull away. Relax. Union is a tough out each year , play well and are well respected around the state. Be careful what you wish for.

I agree meadows changes a game. But Bradshaw , Webb , beavers , change a game just as much. IMO , way more . When Graham , Richlands play for example. Your not kicking to Bradshaw or Webb. Webb had had a true double , in their last three matchups. You also don’t throw on their receivers when they are in man coverage . Therefore Bradshaw , who you can’t punt/ kick too. You don’t throw on , and you must double him and he is on the best team ( record wise ) . Webb has way more effect on a game than beavers or Jenkins. Not saying he or Bradshaw is way better than those guys but they do more even when they aren’t touching the ball than those others . . Coaches know Brody meadows is the best lineman prospect in a long time and they have to game plan around him and they should. I’m a meadows fan. I think he is legit . But when they get to Bradshaw , the game planning takes a little longer. He has double the effect on a game as does meadows. If you double Bradshaw all night , don’t kick toward him , and he can play d and chase down anything that may bust loose ? He is the mvp.

I think Bradshaw is region player of year. Bradshaw, Meadows , or the QB. G-men offense has been better than expected. Beavers , Harris , Webb , Lomax , Thomas , Jenkins would be on my short list of candidates. . Head to head should count . I’ve watched all these guys play at least once this year. Beavers is legit and had big games at big times. Lomax is the best true rb around. Period. Webb had huge games vs union , va high , Ridgeview, Tazewell and led his team in rushing and receiving in about 8 out of 10 games., and is the most versatile of the group. But the Richlands record will hurt him. I think Lomax losing this round hurts his chances but he may have a shot at this award. He goes hard vs everyone on the schedule. He may be the most deserving. IMO. I would vote Bradshaw , Lomax , Webb. Not that these others guys aren’t worthy. And this is certainly debatable. But I’m not all about stats or Harris would be the guy. He is legit. A Top player in the region and will make a run next year at this award. I like what a player does vs good teams. No trash time tds , during a blowout etc. Jenkins had 1 catch for about 40 yards through 3 and a half quarters at Richlands then goes for 2 big runs after subs were made. He is great but didn’t pass the eye test the 4 times I’ve watched him play. And each time was vs an average Richlands team and once vs va high. Some of Thomas’s stats were against single A schools and put up some late in games so that’s just a slight knock on him. Still a great player. The 2 guys from the g men do it every week. Beavers , Webb , Harris , Lomax did it every week. That’s my list. One of the G men guys should get the award.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Harris Gets an offer or two in the off-season. The stats and his athleticism will give him good looks. Then it’s all about 40 times , etc. He will play somewhere.

Tech has offered some of these kids a PWO. But Many of the kids with full offers choose not to publicly announce or put on social media there PWOs in fear of other schools offering the same thing. Tech is notoriously late to offer athletes in SWVA or bypass them completely and that is a problem. Hopefully the recent success of Mitchell , Cam , chance Harris , and others will dispel some of the stereotypes around our area.

The whole holdback talk has been outdated for years. About 30 to 40 percent of high school seniors that start more than 2 years as a varsity player have held back in some manner . Some started school a year late. Some did it early on for academic reasons , and several do it primarily for sports purposes. Holding back does not lift weights for the kids , does not run wind sprints in the offseason. Holding back is a means for an athlete to develop, if they choose to do the work. You’ll never see parents of successful players ( whether they held back or not ) complain about others who do. Kids need to work harder if they are worried that another kid may take a position away. Don’t blame it on the hold back. Yes. There is a huge maturity difference in a 18/19 year old than they are a 16/17. I agree 100 percent. However. Give me the kid that works year round to get better at 17, than a 19 year old holdback that doesn’t work hard. Richlands , Graham , Tazewell and I’m sure several of the M7 teams have holdbacks on every single team that comes through. The method is not encouraged so much any more by administrators but it still goes on. Those kids that did still have to work. It’s not a magic potion to win games. It’s just an advantage, if they make the most of the so called extra year.

I think RV has a really good chance. Richlands gave beavers extra attention and Rv didn’t target him in first half. Qb settled down in second half and played really really good. Special teams seems to be an issue. Richlands recovered 3 onside kicks in the game last spring and one Friday night. Add Webb running a kickoff back vs them plus a shaky kicking game and that could hurt. It Wasn’t so much that they played bad Friday ( I thought their group of receivers and qb was as solid as I’ve seen ) but Richlands played their best game of the season. They scrapped everything they wanted to do at seasons beginning and just handed it to Webb almost 30 times. That formula worked the previous week vs va high as well. I’m sure if the blues had it to do over this season they would have went with that approach . If rv can remotely stop the run , I think they win by a couple scores. Either way it should be a good game.

Union by a lot. Va high is a weak 2a school. I’ll give them an attaboy for being Improved this year but if they have better qb play , RBs, wrs , than some of the other district teams . Then how do they loose on Turf to Richlands ? The blues 0 line is average and wasn’t blowing people off the ball. . Richlands even had over triple the penalty yards and more turnovers than va high . So really no explanation, other than they played a weak schedule. Very weak. And it’s not the ADs fault nor the kids. Just stating a fact. Some 8-2 records aren’t equal. Union will have this game over by the half. They are a playoff made team that won’t sleepwalk through this one.

Union by a lot. Richlands isn’t very good and their D has been gutted most of year. They just didn’t get great all of a sudden. Va high isn’t very good. All the track speed talk has no merit. The field at Ernie hicks was perfect Friday night. Richlands has little team speed and had little trouble with va Highs athletes. Richlands kicked deep all night and va high was content to kick it 15 yards and not let webb get even a look at the ball.