Austrian Ben Shapiro

Really though I got called out for not knowing my geography.  Getting a little ridiculous 

If there is one thing I'm sure of......this is somehow Central's fault.

Two numerical milestones in the game for Bluefield.  
One. October 14, 1922.  On this date Bluefield played their first high school game vs Logan at Logan. They lost 7-0. October 14, 2022 will mark exactly 100 years since that date. It is true that Bluefield played a few games here and there from 1909 to 1913 but those were more like intramural teams. 
Two:  Bluefield now has 699 wins as a program. To put this in perspective NO ONE in Virginia has that many wins EXCEPT Hampton. That is right. Bluefield would be 2nd all time in wins in the state of Virginia. Only Parkersburg and Bridgeport have more wins in the state of WV.
Obviously it would be real cool for Bluefield to get their 700th win on the exact 100 year anniversary of full time high school football.

Grundy is a prime example of the separation between class 1 and 2 in our area. When facing Tazewell last week, they lose by a couple of scores (although they controlled the game for a period), but have their way with peers Honaker and GW. PH rules the roost on its Class 1 schedule, but is beaten soundly by Virginia High. Lee has also beaten Class 1 heavyweights.
If Grundy doesn’t get behind, they can play with anyone in 1D.

Tazewell squibs the ball and 4 Richlands players watch it roll dead and Tazewell falls on it. 
 
That’ll do it. 

Just about as annoying as watching Brown run 9 out of 10 plays lol

Have you watched any Graham pre-game since 2015? 

Having school pride and needing parades for beating 1-6 teams are not intrinsically linked lol. 

Based on their schedule you'd think Va High wanted to 🙂

I have a hard time figuring out why there is so much estrogen on a football message board.

61-0
58-13
69-18
65-33
Maybe you deserve it.

Good teams win, great teams cover.  💚

Sure, Tazewell is 42-53-2 in the rivalry, 22-27-2 in Tazewell and 20-26 in Richlands. There may be no objective basis that they play any worse at Ernie Hicks in this series in the last 32 games because just calling a spade a spade, the last 19 years in the series has been pretty lopsided. You could also make the notion that Tazewell finds a way to lose in this game at Bulldog Stadium in the past 19 years. But the reason for the "baseless myth" is this: recency bias. I am 26 years old and I have never seen Tazewell win this game in person. However, they have won the game four times since I have been born. Heck, they even won the last one at Ernie Hicks! The same can be said about the Virginia Tech-Virginia series in that same period. I have never in person seen UVA win in Lane Stadium. Sure, they have also coincidentally beat the Hokies four times in my life and I have only seen it once in person. You can make the notion based on recent history that UVA finds a way to lose at Lane Stadium, but in the same breath it can also be said that they find a way to lose that game in Scott Stadium. I will even take this example too. I will shout louder than anyone in America that Virginia Tech cannot win/find a way to lose at Heinz Field/Acrisure Stadium. Heinz Field opened in 2001. Virginia Tech has played there eight times since it opened. The Hokies have only won once at Heinz in 2016. This is what people remember about that match up. Tech playing at Pitt? Panthers win. No brainer. However, from 1993-2000, the Hokies played Pitt in old Pitt Stadium four times and won three of them. Pretty good numbers but no one remembers it--myself included. The Hokies hold the series advantage 11-10 and after Saturday it will be even at 11. It is recency bias for that opinion. I see your point that it may not be true that Tazewell JUST finds a way to lose this game at Ernie Hicks Stadium. Since 1990, it could be said that Tazewell has found a way to lose this game at either spot since then. I do not think it is baseless..I just think it is what people remember because it is the most recent occurrence. For all purposes, the Tazewell-Richlands rivalry is what you want the rivalry to be because looking at the 97 previous meetings for it to be within 11 games of one another, that is what you consider a rivalry. It just so happens to be one sided for the past 32 years. I just believe that is why that is the narrative. Whether you are from Tazewell, Richlands, or anywhere else in SWVA. With that said, I think Friday night's game will tell you a lot about where the programs are headed moving forward. 

Reminder that this game is for 2nd place in Tazewell County and Richlands is 1-5 and Tazewell enters at 3-3. 
this rivalry is great for the feud above as neither of these teams is winning anything worthwhile this year. 

As a complete aside, I was trying to explain this rivalry to one of my current neighbors outside the area.  Couldn't really make them understand how I could simultaneously state that I hate Tazewell but I have many lifelong friends who are THS alumni, I tend to pull for them in the postseason (unless they face Richlands), and I'd be willing to fight any outsider who makes a disparaging remark about them or the area in general.  Perhaps it is due to my heaping helping of Scots heritage.
That's enough for now.  Get back at it, Observer and.... Observer.

Not called the "Backyard Brawl" for nothing. Haha 

People really taking this thread to heart!  

Take away all of Tazewell’s losses and the Bulldogs have won every game.🙄

GW 37
Slate Creek 20

53-42-2 Richlands 

And some of them think the problem is entirely the coaches. I think as long as there is a little improvement each week no matter how much, that’s a win at this point for the Blues. It’s going to take time as in more than one season. Some folks won’t be satisfied unless a coach can give them instant “glory days” back! True fans support the program, coaches, &  players through the drought. Just my humble opinion 

Blacksburg is a country club school where kids are more into cross country, golf, soccer and what prinoun they want used. Nick Saban couldnt win there

I personally think the slow decline started with the departure of Snake in 2016. He is a mastermind of defense and part of the glue that held that program together. Richlands steadily started to go downhill even while Mance was still there. I think he knew talent level was not going to be like it had been.  It’s not to say there isn’t talent now but it’s not the same level as they enjoyed a few years back. I think Mance realized that. You know, get out while the getting is good mentality plus he likes to golf, lol. I give Tarter credit for stepping up after the disaster of Wells and staying for the boys. I hope the Blues can muster some wins this season. I think they’ll improve if parents can be supportive rather than sabotaging the team. It’s just going to take some time & patience. Outsiders perspective, others may disagree! 

Like others have said give credit to Tarter for sticking with these kids when other coaches have bailed on them and he has caught much more flak for staying than the others have for abandoning the team. There are a lot of issues with the program but Tarter imo is not one of them. 

Richlands has now scored in back to back games. Also I believe they had 3 turnovers on three straight possessions last week, last I heard only 2 tonight. 
 
lots of issues but hopefully most parents are supportive of the program rather than airing dirty laundry. If the entitlement of the moms and pops of Richlands continues then the big R will not have another winning season for a decade.