TaterHater

Now that the hardware has been handed out, I say coach Palmer should get the award. He won the region with an undefeated team and persevered even with the loss of his father during the playoffs.

Any radio coverage for this game?

I thought in Wise County your address dictates what school you go to?

This was what Travis said: “Give Graham credit. They outcoached us and were more prepared and I didn’t do a very good job of getting our guys ready to play today,” Union coach Travis Turner said. “This one falls on me. We’ve got to go back to work and get in the weight room.” Give Palmer a HUGE amount of credit..........the man had his team ready to play even during a week were he lost his father! R.I.P Butch Palmer

So yes, formation changes were one issue that you can see. They have ran 4 and 5 man fronts before against running teams, so they do have players capable of doing do. Setting up to defend the pass would be appropriate if the opposing offense is passing the ball but that was not the case. Also on known passing downs to not dial up a blitz of some kind is not very helpful. If you watch film; for the most part MLBs on pass plays are not rushing nor are they covering receivers...they are just setting there 5 yards off the line of scrimmage looking lost. There was a point early in the game were Union had a chance to get Graham off the field. It was something like 3rd and 4 near the Graham 40. The defense was basically setup all zone, there was absolutely no pressure on the QB and he had all day to throw; instead he waited till most of the DB's were down field and took off with a run to the sideline and made it across the 50. You could tell after that play the defense lost momentum, and in HS football momentum is BIG. IMO that was when the game changed and it was all down hill from that point on. Had the DC brought pressure, I think they would have been able to contain the QB or at least caused him to make a decision while more defenders were in the vicinity to make a tackle. IMO the DC is just too conservative with the calls. Setting back in a zone defense and getting hammered trying to prevent the big play vs adjusting against to the 5, 7, to 10 yard plays they were getting killed with. Also, against several teams this year and last they were getting killed by the same play ran continuously. I've said it a bunch of times but Abingdon lined up in the I formation and ran lead 7... 4 and 5 times IN A ROW on multiple drives and not once did he move someone in place to counter.

I think most Union fans knew what the outcome would be. The fault lies with the effort that was given on the DC part to at least try an adjustment.

You asked for seasons were Phil could have done better but he didn't because of the Offense or his play calling and I gave them to you. 1983 was his first year at PV but not as a coach 1993 was lost due to the inadequate offensive scheme and special teams. The PV defense in the Haysi game dominated the whole game. It was not a dig at TJ........What offense did PV run from 1983 to 1992.......the I formation....1993 he runs a double wing......low and behold 1994 PV is running the I again. He changed his offense when he didn't need to. Right Bishop wasn't recruited like Jones .....but he was a dang good back who rushed for 1440 yrds the previous season and was on the All State team. Yes Phil was a good coach.....but I don't think Barry Jones got the recognition for helping get those wins. Maybe it was coincidence that after Barry left no more state titles were won.

1st. 1983 he was handed a state champion team with a seinor named 40 Jackson. He laid an egg in the playoffs vs Parry McCluer. 2nd. 1986 the defending state champs had an undefeated season got blown out by Garden a team they should have beat. 3rd. 1993 got beat in the mud bowl at Haysi in region D championship because he refused to run the I formation, opting instead to run a motion centric double wing to placate Thomas Jones a sophomore who didn't like being behind an all-state senior at running back.

Seeing the photos vs live it does look different. Regardless it was pretty dang amazing. It changed the game for RV.

Every team that beat Union ran a limited offense. They didn't need to because the DC never adjusted nor did he anticipate what was coming. Abingdon for example ran lead 7 on multiple drives 4 and 5 times in a row. Central ran the counter left and right all night long. All they had to do was find 1 or 2 plays that worked and run them till they won. Like I have said before, they won't get that courtesy from RV. They are good at making adjustments.

Correct #13 Hill took the ball off of the finger tips of the Central corner. Had he not the defender probably would have had the interception.

I want to say that was on 4th down and 10, in the 3rd quarter, it didn't go through the defenders hands, Hill took it out of his hands mid-air.....it was awesome!

Yap ole Phil took all the credit.....all the way to the hall of fame. But he wouldn't have had the teams he had in the non-Thomas/Julius years if it hadn't been for the defenses those teams had. From personal experience as a player, Phil lost more chances at state titles due to his offensive schemes and ego.

And that there is the reason PV lost their mojo. It was never Phil Robbins it was Barry Jones.....where did Barry go after PV? Gate City?....How did GC do from 2000 till he left there? Travis Turner needs to find his Barry Jones....defense wins championships!

PV played for a state title in 2004 and lost a close game to Manassas Park. Question what was coach Jones' last year at PV?

I had service there and my phone is on the AT&T/GSM network

Anyone remember the Lowered Expectations skits from MADtv? Man those were funny.....some Union fans could benefit from the laugh.

Park on the visitor side near the student athletic building if you can. On the map it's called the Bluefield Auditorium..... The hill on that side is less steep, also there are 5 or more handicap parking spaces at that gate.

Sounds like a topic to bring up with the Wise County school board.

Who will you replace them with? Is it required that coaches also be teachers at a school?

Got a feeling the underdog wins this one.

No need to replace the HBC. They definitely need to make some changes.

Congrats to Rv. The defense did a great job adjusting and taking away Central's run game.

No worries guys...Union picked up a new bus driver from the Tour of Destruction!

Calm before the storm.....looking forward to a hard fought, injury free game tonight! Good luck to both teams! Central -- 21 Ridgeview -- 20