Union holds a 10-5 edge in the series. Before Gate City swept the Bears in 2022, Union had won the previous eight contests.
There was a few close ones in that 8 game stretch. In 2015 Gate City was up on Union 27-13 and on the verge of going up 34-13 in the 3rd quarter. A Gate City turnover (may have been on downs or just a turnover) brought some life back to Union. Union came from behind and won 34-27.
In 2016 Gate City had Union 21-13 at half time and Union won 33-28.
In 2019 in the playoffs Gate City led Union much of the game like 19-13 and Union won 20-19.
I told a few people last season that Gate City was overdue for a win against Union and it wouldn’t surprise me if they did. They did.
I think it’s close for the first half and then Union starts to wear them down.
I can see Union dropping within 4-5 years. COVID is one of the things that hurt the population in Wise County. The main problem is loss of jobs. You have Red Onion and Wallens Ridge for the prisons. Plus I think there’s some sort of facility in the Coeburn area.
The school district will have another budget crisis and probably cut staff.
Then you have Sykes as a major employer in Wise County as they have been for many years. They are also probably the worst employer in Wise County but that’s another can of worms I won’t open.
I have heard talk about a nuclear sort of plant or something (not a reactor I don’t think) being planned for Wise County but there are risks and benefits of that.
Based on what I glanced at, Graham had a couple of misses in the late 2000s, but has the longest 2A streak tied with Union in our coverage area. Graham missed in 2010, and hasn't missed since. Union started football in 2011 which is when Grahams streak started. If Union and PV are considered the same, then I think Union/PV goes back to 1991 which is by far the longest.
In 1A, it's G. Wythe 2006 for the coverage area. I glanced at fourseasons. Someone would need to take a serious look to be sure.
Gotta consider Appalachia too. Appalachia missed from 08-10.
Powell Valley had a playoff streak from 1992-2010.
From 08-10, though, PV had gone so far downhill that their playoff appearances were just merely appearances. 5-5 in each of those seasons and they lost in the first round each season.
I could be wrong but wasn’t it a little worse than smack talk that was the issue. Can’t remember the exact details
I forgot about that part. The threat.
It was a stupid move on the players’ parts that were involved. I think a lot will agree. Illustrates my point that there should be consequences for actions and most incidents like this should require no less than an apology by the offenders and no more than a game’s suspension. The latter was the consequence for 10 players.
But this is Gate City’s thread.
Just completely outplay any Kentucky team. Leave no doubt that you are the better team. In that case the bad calls shouldn’t necessarily do you in.
In Kentucky if the game and score are close enough then you can bet that the refs will try to swing it in favor of the home team and you lose on a bogus call.
People act shocked when these type of things happen. I don’t know why. These things have always happened, There just weren’t cell phones and social media. Teenagers brains haven’t fully developed and they’re dumb. It seems every season some team has players that post something dumb on social media. I dare say the stunt that got some Graham player’s suspensions last year is the reason Tazewell County has a stricter cell phone policy this year.
Actions do have consequences (I know you didn’t say otherwise).
I remember in 1997, Powell Valley vs Appalachia. Both were 9-0. That game was circled on everyone’s calendars since the season prior. Powell Valley won 20-14. So PV got the 10-0 and Appy 9-1.
Well after the game that night there was a few PV players who made a tape in the locker room, smoking victory cigars and they were talking some smack about some Appalachia players.
All the Appalachia people acted shocked and such. It blew up. A lot of people didn’t realize that some Appalachia players sent Julius Jones a similar video the year before that and nothing was said. 🤷♂️
Both teams’ players had been doing stuff similar to that for ages. I think PV had some players suspended for the first playoff game. That didn’t make a difference anyway as PV made short work of Coeburn.
Stuff like that has gone on for ages and it will continue.
In my opinion, there’s no room for behavior like that and there should be some sort of consequence. No less than an apology made by the offenders and no more than half to a full game suspension.
I don’t really know how good Middlesboro is this year.
I know they have fielded some great teams.
Gate City I would say can beat Middlesboro at home. Away? Gate City will be down 14-0 as soon as they get off the bus. The refs in Kentucky, especially Middlesboro, are extremely biased.
Lee High having all sorts of trouble getting ANYTHING going on offense. Their lone first down was on opening drive and it was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Union.
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Gate City @ Union
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The 3rd quarter was…..interesting.
Back and forth turnovers. Gotta clean that up.