SwvaOG

Stupid play call for Union. Take the points! Unless you don't have a field-goal kicker.

I would argue Union. They have the stronger run game and RV depends on the pass much more.

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A lot better than bad teams. And they lost key starters playing that soft schedule. Didn’t even come through it healthy. Double whammy!

Ridgeview needs to drop Burton and pick up a 3A Kentucky team or grab Bluefield again. Grundy and Burton on the schedule is killing them. I agree with adding VHS but it should have been to replace Burton.

When RV wins this game it is because they out-athlete Union at key positions. It was true in 2018 (Adkins, Sproles, Sexton, etc.) and it was true in 2022 (Beavers, Hill, O'Quinn, Counts). If talent is even or favors Union, Union wins and I don't expect this year to be different. Until something changes you can almost always count on Union OL > RV's. But RV always plays Union tough and usually fields a scrappy defense and I think Grant is a good DC, with his strength being the front seven. Unless something has changed, the DBs aren't coached up very well and Union can exploit that......if they get tired of running the ball.

You are correct. Some just have more than others and it manifests in different ways and the M7 has varied versions of it. Take Central...we've discussed it here already but I've experienced it from the staff, assistants, volunteers, coaches, etc. more than the dang fans. It's almost like it is coordinated at all levels..lol. I figured that it was mostly their love of looking down on those "redneck" Wolfpack fans. But, as I talked to other fans...Union, Tazewell, Richlands for example, they all said the same thing. Trenton Adkins told me after a RV/Central win in which they "held" him to less than 300 yards rushing that he had never been cussed more in his life and called some inappropriate names.......and RV won by 20+ points. Richlands people said that during Mance's last game, in the playoffs at Central, was the worse sportsmanship they had ever seen. That is saying a lot as that program has played a lot of teams around the state. Now, RV fans are rowdy and will argue every....damn....call...on the field. They are famous for pissing refs off and feeling like "the refs are always against us." But, I honestly can say they definitely aren't snooty or look down on anyone. And RV has its own issues but I feel like they are often labeled as too rowdy when the other fans aren't much better. There are local politics here but I'll be damned if I can figure out why some families have influence and others don't. It doesn't seem to be financially based.....but there are very questionable player utilization at RV that I just can't square. Union has their own issues as well. I hate to say it, and it's not really represented by our Union fans on here, but they often carry themselves like they invented football and the other team should be honored to be on the field with them. If you beat them, it was an anomaly. I think the Sproles LB for RV said it best before the big RV/Union game in 2018.....They think they are the only physical team around but they are gonna find out Friday night on the ridge that we are going to knock them in the teeth. I think Graham pushing them back the last several years is actually good for Union......keep that fire lit. If you can out-Union Union you will get in their heads for sure. But, Union has earned the right to some arrogance as they have the the track record of performance for over 30 years. I guess that is why Central irks some of us so much because they haven't really earned the right to act like that in regards to football. I was actually surprised to learn that they haven't won a Mountain 7 title in football. Gate City is what you get if you cross RV and Union. I've never had a negative experience with Lee or Battle and I'm sure everyone just assumes Abingdon is in a higher tax bracket that the rest of us. Lol.

I heard they were busted flat in Baton Rouge, though. Might have been waitin' on a train.

Central's earned hatred really stems from previous years. Their super class of '22 and the fans earned a fair bit of that. There was a lot of trash talked and their fans rushed the RV field after their upset playoff win in '19. I was on the field with my son and their fans and parents were doing some serious trash talking that almost led to a few scuffles. When RV repaid the favor in '21 with thei upset playoff win at Central they deployed several Karens to stand around the field and keep RV fans from going on the field. I told one of them that I was going to walk out on the field and give my son a big ole hug and high-five and she yelled for the cops and literally said "You need to arrest him". I shit you not. I told the young officer that I was not breaking any laws he just smiled and nodded, and I walked out to see my son with several other parents. I agree that the fan base does act like it is above and better than their rivals...especially RV who is known to have their fair share of rowdy fans. I think there is an impression that things are rigged for certain families over there and that McAmis isn't always fair and impartial. The nepotism can't be denied. I think there is much less animosity toward them now which is definitely due in part to being so down in football. I, for one, miss those heated and hate filled RV/Central football matchups.

Ridgeview would be next level if they had reversed the homestand (currently stares directly into the sun) and moved the stadium closer to the field. An underrated aspect of RIchlands is that the visiting team has to do that long walk from the back side of the middle school and across the street and they (when times were good) got to take in a packed and vocal home stands with 3-5K people in it hollerin'. I thought that was awesome. My freshman year there, IIRC, we entered the field by walking under and and through the home side. That was pretty cool because you were in with the crowd. Abingdon does this now but doesn't have the same effect it did back then. I enjoyed playing at fields that were close to the stands or allowed fans down right on the field.....like Lebanon, Tazewell....I like playing at VHS as well.

I never watched a high school game at either, watched some little league, but I do see the appeal and "charm" of Cummins stadium. I'm sure the Haysi fans will boil over this but I just didn't see that in the Tigers' field and stadium although I do love how most of the old stadiums had the stands/fans so close to the field.

I can't remember but are we back to 1-8 seeds regardless of district or they doing the 1-4 from each district and cross seed them?

RIverheads is what you get if 2019-2021 Central Warriors were 1A.

I really don't know on this one. I feel like it is truly a toss up game and there doesn't seem to be a lot of those anymore. I think VHS has the athletes to defend Tazewell's passing attack. I'm going to go with VHS 27-21

Lord, good thing Ridgeview is a new stadium. I could only imagine if the games were played at Ralph Cummins stadium and not over at Sandlick. Lol.

What do you think those "Back-to-School" fund raisers/drives for Backpacks for Kids are really about? My theory is that they were having one of those fund-raisers and the drop off point happened to be where the Union coaching meeting was.......and Bam!....magic was created.

I didn't do a defensive analysis for RV. This is pretty easy. I don't think RV can stop the rushing attack. I think they will sell out to, and may have some flashes of success, but in frustration will lose coverage and give up some big plays on the backend. This is the game where they will miss Counts' sideline to sideline tackles from the SS position, Hill and Hartsock were very solid LBs against the run and they had Beavers to erase any Union WR threat or possible deep play. O'Quinn is a good defensive player (absolute stupidity to not play him last year) but I think they should play him at SS if they have any hope of containing the run game. That leaves three first year starting DBs to cover Union's WRs.....advantage Union. Throw in a very capable rushing QB in Anderson and Union will be too much to handle. In my opinion, Anderson and Honeycut were the only two to pressure RV's defense last year. Bottom line, Union has more athletes this year than last year and RV has less. That's about a 14-point difference. Coaching/preparation/home field is another 7-point advantage to Union. Of course, like I said...turnovers, injuries and/or crucial penalties can always swing a game. Union 27-13 NOTE: If I'm Turner, I'm having one of the 27 assistants track the following and let me know if it doesn't happen: Chandler gets 15-20 carries, Anderson gets 8-10 carries (designed draws, etc); I'm moving Anderson out of the pocket on some flood concepts to one side at least 5 times; take 3-5 deep shots to your best deep threat and at least one or two "trick plays" I personally think Union can run a HELLUVA flea flicker. My only concern about Union is that they REALLY REALLY want to run the ball on you....sometimes to their own harm. Be unpredictable and I'd script the first 15 plays. USE YOUR WEAPONS AND USE THEM ANYWHERE ON THE FIELD!!!!!!! If I was OC in Big Stone ya'll would run my butt outta town because I would be AGGRESSIVE in my play calling. Handin' out heart attacks weekly until I got booted. 😅

Did you watch the RV/VHS game? RV is good for a couple of these a game.

I tracked their tendencies last year and they ran the ball on 1st down 87% of the time and up the middle on first down 69% of the time. The average for 1st down runs between the tackles was 2.7 YPC. Now, on the 1st down runs that were around the edge, they averaged 5.7 YPC. They gained an average of 9.7 yards on first down throws to INCLUDE INCOMPLETIONS! But they just refused to do it. And this was with a starting WR corp that was 6'1", 6'2" and 6'3" and two of those kids playing college ball now. Their play calling and lack of self analysis it maddening! RV wants to run with power but isn't committed or coached to do it. To be successful, you have to know yourself and your strengths and weaknesses.

RV has added a wrinkle with moving Scanlon to TE. They unwisely showed this against Richlands for some inexplicable reason (they should have kept that under wraps)> He is a big target that can catch the ball and is physical. I feel that he needs 6-8 targets on play action fakes (RV doesn't do those though) and TE screens. This is a mismatch for any Union defender if handled right. The only other mismatch, if used properly, can be the slot (Baker #10) against zone coverage. I don't think the DB have or have shown good lock-in coverage other than sitting back in a zone and picking deep passes. Make these kids display coverage skills. If RV can isolate the slot on a DB particularly the S, that's an advantage. I'd be dragging #10 all the way across the formation and doing misdirection routs (pig-outs, etc.) The other wildcard for RV is O'Quinn as a runner but I think he won't be able to edge Union like he wants to do. They need to call at least 4-5 QB draws to keep the D honest. So....in summary for RV: Get Scanlon (#8, TE) 6-8 touches on TE screens and "post-up" routes. Try him at least 1-2 down the seam. Don't over target the slot (Union will be ready) but attack defensive spaces and make those DBs have to actually cover in space. Use mis-direction routes and drag him across the middle on some mesh routes. I'm also convinced, if RV's line can give them time, that the Union DBs can be had by a good two vert route or 2-move route (post corner particularly). Mix up the routes for the kid. I like him a lot on a slot fade or a corner route. O'Quin has to run 4-5 QB draws to keep things honest. I would absolutely draw up a bootleg and give him the run-pass option with the TE dragging across the formation into the bootleg side. Listen.....this still destroys NFL defenses....it will work against high school. Running game needs to be varied.....use delayed draws and some two back sets. Give Union something to think about because they haven't seen it on tape. But, other than the QB breaking contain....it will be tough sledding for the RBs. This is the game where they will miss Hackney. Unless turnovers, busted/big plays or penalties really come into play. I think Union wins this one.

The last four matchups have been fairly tight: 2018: RV 27, Union 14 2019: Union 32, RV 26 (The infamous phantom holding call on the first play of the game that wiped out a Trenton Adkins TD along with failing to receive one last play at the clock ran out when Adkins went down out of bounds with 1 second left. Hard to catch that without review though but the phantom holding call was egregious. Go watch the WCYB film). 2021: Union 28, RV 21 2022: RV 20, Union 9 NOTE: Ridgeview has started horribly the last two times they played at Union. Both times Union jumped out big and RV fought back but ran out of time. Something to keep an eye on.

I felt it was even footing until the season-ending injuries for RV. Those coupled with that infamous Big Stone Gap "homefield advantage" and I think this tips toward Union's favor. If you break it down.....RV doesn't really have a decided advantage (perhaps, kicking). I would even argue that QB is advantage to RV but not decided as some would think as Anderson is absolutely an equal runner (and faster) but not O'Quin's equal in the passing department. Rushing attack: Union Passing attack: Even, slight tilt toward RV Rushing defense: Even, tilting toward Union Passing defense: Union Special Teams: RV Coaching: Union Intangibles: Union (Look, in a big game in BSG, crucial calls are going to go Union's way, period. But, RV brings an equally loud and rowdy crowd on the road).

Nothing further to add to this post. Spot on. Has anyone watched Abingdon enough to comment on whether they have diversified their playbook/play-calling this year?

I'd like to see him get a shot. The AD/Principal need to either be enablers or get out of the way.

Thank you, Sir, for those kind words. I'm smart enough to know that I would need a lot more experience before jumping into the fray and I'm smart enough to know to surround myself with smart/talented and hungry people. I study it routinely. It is something I've thought about quite a bit but I'm not sure I'm well suited to deal with BS politics and small town personal agendas...just ain't the guy that will handle that very well. When I hear 'no' or "we can't" my first response is always going to be "why" or "why, not"? But, I'll say this, in the right spot with the right AD/community support, with a group of peers that share mutual respect and will work hard, I'd love to. It is on my life's path/career path for sure. I would only promise that I wouldn't be outworked by my competition. Side note...this actually came close to happening at another school a couple of years ago but things fell apart before the season started.