PackDadx4

Hypothetical scenario here… Next year RV returns a ton of talent on the girls side. Mind you with all Dickenson County kids. Let’s say they advance to the state championship only to face a glorified AAU all star team for a once in a lifetime opportunity to win a state title. Let’s say they lose by 20-30 to John Marshall. What are we saying to kids that remained loyal to their home school, put in countless hours of work and get beat because of the VHSL allowing this to take place? Even on the boys side VH makes it to the championship only to get whipped. Sure maybe they would’ve lost to the second place team but we will never know because we allowed JM to do what they’re doing. Central may be able to beat JM girls this year but losing the pieces they do I don’t foresee them being able to repeat that even if Central girls brings in the best players in SWVA. D1 talent or being able to draw from 1.1 million isn’t the same as an all district kid in SWVA! No where does it make sense that they’re allowed to compete in 2A. If they repeat it in other sports SWVA 2A teams will be nothing other than sacrificial lambs. Our only hope is to put pressure on our VHSL representatives to make an attempt to address the situation moving forward.

I assume our representatives are not doing anything about this and if not has there been any push to change this?

G-men-49 GC-7 G-men are in playoff form and will roll. This one will be over before half.

Rumor I had been told was true. Dogs blew them out! Since Union RV outscored 131-32 I believe. Injuries derailed a good team and it started early in the year. RV coaching staff has to find a way to get their best player more comfortable by giving him cleaner options in the passing game. Next year will be interesting! Good luck to Tazewell but I think their season ends next week. Union is as physical as Graham.

G-men name the score! This one is over before the end of the first quarter!

I’m hopeful for a RV win but if what I have heard is true it may not be in the cards for them. Just too many injuries at key positions to overcome. Even if they survive this round their season will end the following week. Going with my head I’ll say the dogs pull off the win and it may not be close. If ALL RV starters are there I’ll say RV by 14.

This one will be over well before half. G-men big 50+ to whatever the backups allow Lee to have.

Hurt making a tackle.

Not making excuses for RV’s performance at all. #17 is playing on a bad ankle (occurred in the Union game). Flu/COVID has taken a huge toll since the Union game with multiple kids being out almost the entire week of practice. Play calling has been suspect under this coaching staff and injuries have taken a lot of production off the field since the first game of the season. Bye week couldn’t have came at a better time for RV. Also physically Union took a lot out of them. Abingdon is very physical and huge. I don’t know what to make of them though. Are they the team that lost to Battle or are they a 3A school that over powered a good RV team? I think Union wins but it will be an old fashioned slobber knocker. Probably will remind some of the old LPD glory days of 3 yards and a cloud of dust. I’ll say Union 34 Abingdon 28.

Sad news at the Ridge as it appears Hackney for RV goes down with a severe lower leg injury was stretched off the field.

I expect a running clock in the second half. Union by 30+.

In Region D it’s Graham. Unless the RB is out for an extended period of time then this region will run into a buzzsaw by the time playoffs comes around. So the SWD is as expected theirs to lose. In the M7 it’s Unions to lose. Game with RV will be a very physical game with emotions running high. RV and GC are solid and will be a tough out for anyone other than Graham. Side note but the Baker kid for RV in the slot is a nightmare for teams to stop. He’s fast, small and shifty with the ball. Just don’t see anyone being able to stand to the smashing style the G-men will bring when it matters.

Letcher Central looked pretty solid. RV didn’t look sharp. Had moments where they looked decent. Certainly a lot of room for improvement but a significant drop off from where they’ve been. They have some playmakers but they just lost so much last year that I don’t think they can overcome. The running back is a bowling ball. Not a speedy game breaker but just a throw back physical back. QB is solid as expected. Can the offensive line protect the QB or punch holes for the backs? That’s the question. Defensively, LB play is solid. Probably the best defensive group. The rest of the defense is really inexperienced. Again they just lost so much last year that a lot of these kids are seeing real action for the first time. I can see the floor being 5-5 and the ceiling being 8-2.

Two things can be true at this time. Obviously injuries can derail a season but in my opinion these are the two. 1-Graham is that good. Whether it’s coaching, talent or development they’re that much ahead of everyone else in this region. The remainder of the SWD is playing for 2nd. I’m fairly confident that you could take the underclassmen of Graham and finish 2nd. 2-M7 will offer no competition this year. Union is the districts best team providing they stay healthy. I see them playing Union twice and the second occasion being in Bluefield for the regional title. That game will be a similar if not worse result as the regional championship last year.

Graham will easily win this district and region. Their first game will probably be the only competitive game until half-state. They are simply too physical for any 2A teams west of Roanoke.