SwvaOG

Puzzling clock management from RV there. Got the ball and three timeouts with almost a minute left but make no attempt to go deep, even with the best FG kicker in region. With Union leading and getting ball, I think I’d have tried for points with three timeouts. 

Truth. 11 guys doing their job and big explosive plays can come from the run. Riverheads a great historic example as well as Giles. Blockers, good athletes, 50 yard pop is less risky than the elaborate passing play which usually entails more risk.

Well, Union fans are notoriously bipolar in terms of appreciating what they have.  I’m betting they have their fair share of explosive plays that happen to be runs….Chandler rambles or Bostic keepers.  They get their passing ones as well. At the end of the day, if Chandler gets 22 yards on a counter versus an elaborately designed, and well executed, tunnel screen to an explosive WR that goes for 45….both are explosive plays. 
Too often people associate those explosive plays with only the passing game. What’s the old saying “If all eleven do their jobs correctly, every play should score.”

I am a RV fan and I, like a lot of people on this forum have been around a lot of football in my life. I tell you, this RV team is really good and very undervalued by a lot, well most, not from Dickenson County. With that being said, if RV shows up and its status quo intimidation/big game atmosphere jitters, this game will be like in season game last year with big union win. If the RV we all know shows up well coached and disciplined to the basics of the game like we all know they can be, RV will win. I just hope they are as prepared mentally as they can be. They have the talent and ability, just need to be coached up with motivation and readiness.

Excited to watch this matchup.  I’m gonna make the trip to see it live.

Actually, a Union poster or 2 said it. I just don't have time right now to scroll back. Busy week at the office.

I do expect Union to wn on Thursday. Their core has played together longer than RV. However, there is one thing that is discussed here on mst threads for years that is way overrated. That is schedule. If SOS is the number 1 determining factor as to how good a team is Richlands would have won 10 straight state titles. There is a lot more to it than just strength of schedule.

Absolutely agree.  This rushing attack is better and the RB is much better.

RV has a legit passing game that can punish a team.  They have four very capable WRs and as much team speed as any team in the region.  The difference between this crew and the previous core WR group of Hill/Beavers/Counts is drops and a diminished ability to go up and take the ball away from a DB.  This group has had some crucial drops but can and will get open and has a couple of speedsters mixed in with some big body possession types. The QB can legit sling it 45-50 yards.  Look at the deep shot TD he had against Honaker.  The ball went 50 yards. 
The defense is very good but I fear they are one more DT short of being great.  The back four is very talented and the LBs are very active. If they can find another DL body and be able to go into a Bear front situationally, they will be tough. Most of the defensive starters are Sophomores…a lot of holdbacks.  I know these kids well….they have some very physical defensive minded kids on that D.  There are some concerns about a couple of positions being undersized. 

This game has the potential to be a classic battle….but…they are kids and turnovers will play a huge part…as they always do. I wonder if this is a game where Connor Smith can play a huge part with his leg…be it a long field goal or booming 50 yard punts.

Can't believe no one has mentioned it and its probably because he didn't play defense all the time (not the smartest move by the coaches) but Trenton Adkins.  The kid was being recruited by DI Power 5 schools for RB and S.  

The RV staff did him such a disservice, both in how he was used on offense and not being on the field every snap on defense. He was the ultimate eraser, you’re not gonna get an 80 yard TD play if he’s playing center field cleaning it up. 

Can't believe no one has mentioned it and its probably because he didn't play defense all the time (not the smartest move by the coaches) but Trenton Adkins.  The kid was being recruited by DI Power 5 schools for RB and S.  

Accurate

Well, I’ll recuse myself from an actual vote for nepotistic reasons but I’ll leave you with a few stats: Beavers caught 138 passes and dropped two balls in four years for a >98% catch rate, averaged over 20 yards a catch over four years and had a ridiculous contested catch rate.  Those are what I’m most proud of. Not so proud of…lazy blocking after his sophomore year and running some sloppy routes. 
It should be noted that Harris and Beavers had to deal with very good defensive backs in their period: Bradshaw (VT/Marshall), Jenkins (W&M), Ethan Mullins (3x All State DB), Bishop from Abingdon (VMI) Carter from Abingdon (3A All VHSL), each other (both played college ball), Watkins from Graham (E&H), Counts from RV (Bluefield) and I’m sure I missed a few. In a topic such as this….opposition has to be taken into account.   
 

Well, I’ll recuse myself from an actual vote for nepotistic reasons but I’ll leave you with a few stats: Beavers caught 138 passes and dropped two balls in four years for a >98% catch rate, averaged over 20 yards a catch over four years and had a ridiculous contested catch rate.  Those are what I’m most proud of. Not so proud of…lazy blocking after his sophomore year and running some sloppy routes. 
It should be noted that Harris and Beavers had to deal with very good defensive backs in their period: Bradshaw (VT/Marshall), Jenkins (W&M), Ethan Mullins (3x All State DB), Bishop from Abingdon (VMI) Carter from Abingdon (3A All VHSL), each other (both played college ball), Watkins from Graham (E&H), Counts from RV (Bluefield) and I’m sure I missed a few. In a topic such as this….opposition has to be taken into account.   
 

Well, I’ll recuse myself from an actual vote for nepotistic reasons but I’ll leave you with a few stats: Beavers caught 138 passes and dropped two balls in four years for a >98% catch rate, averaged over 20 yards a catch over four years and had a ridiculous contested catch rate.  Those are what I’m most proud of. Not so proud of…lazy blocking after his sophomore year and running some sloppy routes. 
It should be noted that Harris and Beavers had to deal with very good defensive backs in their period: Bradshaw (VT/Marshall), Jenkins (W&M), Ethan Mullins (3x All State DB), Bishop from Abingdon (VMI) Carter from Abingdon (3A All VHSL), each other (both played college ball), Watkins from Graham (E&H), Counts from RV (Bluefield) and I’m sure I missed a few. In a topic such as this….opposition has to be taken into account.   
 

Richlands I think is going to cause some problems for some teams . Really happy for Coach Ronnie Davis. He’s a good coach and an even better person . 

Bold Predictions:
Graham team and board members will undersell and over-deliver......again.
Union team and board members will oversell and under-deliver.....again.  Sorry guys...but there is a trend.
SWD will be better than M7 for first time in a long, long time. 
Honaker will have an average and quite normal season with zero drama.
One of the two, Gate City or Ridgeview, will exceed expectations and push for second in M7.
Grundy, coming off a run of being a very good Region threat, struggles to win three games this year.
 

Ugghhh….lets get this game over with so we can have one fan base quiet down a bit and allow us to talk about how good GC is looking. 😂
Union 28-14

Ugghhh….lets get this game over with so we can have one fan base quiet down a bit and allow us to talk about how good GC is looking. 😂
Union 28-14

Ugghhh….lets get this game over with so we can have one fan base quiet down a bit and allow us to talk about how good GC is looking. 😂
Union 28-14

For every 100 kid advantage you figure on about 15-20 potential football players and about 3-5 really good football players. Those 3-5 likely start two-ways.....the advantage adds up quick and I'm not even talking about the depth advantage.

Yep...I've been saying this for years.  They have allowed Abingdon a great luxury...shorter travel, pick up district championships, more students, more resources, better location and can easily accommodate transfers from three schools within the county and only 10 minutes away.   Meanwhile, Holston (a mere six miles away) is starving for students and athletes and is close to not fielding a football team.  I'd force them to play up or re-district and give up 200-250 of their students.  

RV’s safeties have been cooked several times.  They got caught sniffing out the run a couple of times against Lebanon and Grundy.   I noticed several times where they were 4-5 yards deep against Grundy. They have athletes back there but their technique isn’t great except for #25.  He is solid. Additionally, they have a OLB playing one of the safety spots. I don’t understand that.  
IMHO, they play off too much on the corners...at times up to 8-9 yards. With the overall athletic ability they can and should play a little more aggressive.  I think they have the speed and athletic ability to be really, really good but they get caught with their eyes in the backfield quite a bit as, I suspect, most high school DBs do.  
This should be a good test.

Ridgeview is better in all three areas and should overwhelm the Tigers, but turnovers and inconsistent decision making of teenage boys is always a factor.
RV by 20+