Richlands was awful in 1980, so that's no threat. Giles slam-danced Richlands in 2013 en route to that title, so there's another one answered. As for the other 4 seasons, it's so difficult to determine because the ONLY common opponent between those 4 seasons was a non-descript Lebanon team in 2006, which Richlands massacred (69-6) and Giles also throttled (48-13). Richlands was probably better in 1992, 2005, and 2006. Giles was probably better in 1993. You could probably flip the 2005 title if Richlands played in D2 instead of D3, but that's about all, IMO.
Disagree on 1993. Richlands scrimmaged @ Giles before the 1993 regular season and physically punished them. Richlands finished 7-3 on the season and was ineligible for the playoffs, would have made a deep, deep run. That being said, on my point about state titles, if Richlands had competed in Division 2 in 1993 (assuming eligibility) and 2005, the count would be Richlands 4 titles, Giles 2. BTW, I believe Thad Wells was the QB on the 2005 team.
Yeah since we are down I'd say the outcome would be different than a 34 point beatdown that wasn't even that close...but at the end of the day we will still have 4 titles to your 1 title plus the cleat fiasco year where you won one also.
And funny you are first I've heard saying a change was needed there...you worshiped mance until he decided to go to SC...great coach and great guy and the only reason I ever rooted for Richlands
I would wager given the level of competition in which Giles' initial titles were won, if Richlands was then in the same classification, Giles would not have 4 titles and Richlands would have more than 2. Seems like you may want to lay off the sauce for a while...anyone on this site that reads my posts knows very well that I have never worshiped Greg Mance. That is laughable and shows that you have no damn idea what you are talking about. And trust me when I tell you...no one in Richlands is sad that you are no longer a Richlands fan. Don't go away mad...just go away.
He planning to do that idiotic onside kick Everytime they score? He ditched that ignorant idea once he ran into Salem
If my memory is correct, he made the appropriate changes on special teams and began keeping his best players on the field, which led to a state title. I think he will do just fine here. Changes have been needed at Richlands for a couple of years, I am glad Thad is home and hope he stays a while. I hope he catches fire and eventually runs into Giles in the playoffs, should have a little different result than that quagmire a couple of years ago.
DV was brilliant, period. As a person, not a rock star, but he was an excellent coach and he could take his and best yours, and he could take yours and best his. Theres a difference in making racial slurs (which is 100 percent wrong) and being a racist. I think one poster is implying the latter. I played golf with Dennis and Phil Rogers. Of the countless times he played with Phil, I hoped he wasn't "racist," lol. Dennis had a temper, but he wasn't a racist. Dennis was similar to Paul Wheeler. Both vicious competitors and brilliant coaches, but both had issues with their administrators wherever they went. Paul even had issues at Lafayette with administration and Dennis even at Lexington and P.Henry long before Richlands. But, both could flat out coach.
There are many faults people have. That includes Harry Fry, Glenn Carlock, and Gainer. There are some negatives and positives all of them had, even in their personal lives, they were far from perfect. Oversll though, much more good than bad.
Excellent post! I was thinking along the same lines with other coaches you mentioned. Hard to muster the effort to respond to other posters when you know you can't change their minds. People have their opinions, which they are certainly entitled to. Vaught obviously wasn't perfect, but, he would rather eat shoe leather than lose. I can personally say that I never heard any racial slurs from Vaught. But I have seen him melt players and coaches down.
A couple of years ago, I recall seeing an article about Harry Fry. Fry was pictured on the sideline during a game while smoking. I thought, boy..how times have changed. One thing about Vaught...he was a winner. He took Lexington and Richlands to state titles when neither school had won a championship.
You should give Vaught full credit. He's also spewed more racial slurs than most coaches.
At least you spelled his name right. Other than your trash comment, you didn't argue with his football knowledge. I would dare to say from Lexington to PH-Roanoke to Tazewell to Richlands, 99% of the players that played for him would fight you, at the drop of the hat over him. He didn't care what your last name was or how much money your family had, the best played. I count myself lucky that I had the opportunity to be around him.
We can agree to disagree. I say Bluefield smashed second half regardless if Richlands scores and has momentum going into the half. It was one bad call, otherwise, penalties were pretty much even it seemed to me. With a 52-31 score it's hard to blame.loss on one call IMO and no disrespect intended we just see it differently.
It was actually 52-38. Two touchdown game, not a blowout.
We can agree to disagree. I say Bluefield smashed second half regardless if Richlands scores and has momentum going into the half. It was one bad call, otherwise, penalties were pretty much even it seemed to me. With a 52-31 score it's hard to blame.loss on one call IMO and no disrespect intended we just see it differently.
That was the one bad call I mentioned but it was nearly halftime maybe Richlands scored once more before half if not for that call. But Bluefield came back out at half and just smashed it. I'd say they got a very "stern" talk in that locker room. It was a great first half for Richlands. They just couldn't get it together second half. Bluefield is just really fast & strong even.with the couple injuries of key players. They've got some depth other teams don't have including Graham. I think Blues played a respectable game all things considered.
If the refs don't make that call and Richlands scores.....even if it is a field goal. The Beavers do not smash it in the second half. Like I said, I feel that was a game changing call. Momentum is part of the game, it should be decided by players and coaches, not officials. Normally not the first to say "home cookin'." But that was Sunday dinner at Granny Beavers.
I hope this bull$hit series is over after next year. I really do.
I am the last Richlands fan to complain about officiating . However, the onside kick call is probably the worst I have ever seen in a football game at any level. It was complete horseshit. Richlands had scored two consecutive touchdowns and the momentum from the recovery could have certainly propelled them to another. The call affected the game flow and most certainly the end result. It was painfully obvious the officials ran the call of the rails to halt or freeze Richlands' momentum. I would not let this crew work a youth league game. Completely despicable. I agree with Ryan, time to kill the series. This is not a knock on the Beavers or their fans, only the officials. # 54 for Bluefield was a pretty classy player.
Union had a dynamic D1 athlete in 2017 as well but fell behind in the semis and ran out of time coming back. Allen was absolutely fantastic but I'm not sure he was head and shoulders ahead of Mitchell as an athlete. QB, 100% for sure no doubt but as an athlete, Mitchell was comparable. Hard to compare different positions.
Hard to disagree with that. Mitchell was phenomenal, he was more of a throwback old school football player. When needed, he could carry his team.
For all the praise on Union's three yards and cloud of dust offense, it's produced zero state titles while Graham, running a more wide open offense, has the hardware. That's not a knock on Union at all.
Unions problems happen if they fall behind, it's tough to make up multiple scores if you lack the ability to put up points quick. 12-play, ten minute scoring drives are fantastic if you're winning or tied, but if you're down 21-7 in the second half, those drives hurt you. Union was a better team than Appomattox in 2017, but they fell behind early and ran out of time coming back. If you can run the ball consistently, great. But you have to be able to attack a defense in multiple ways unless you're so much more talented than the opposition.
If you take the quarterback of last year's Graham team.....they do not win a state title.....probably not in the finals. He was the most dynamic play-maker I saw in years. And that is the only Graham title running spread. Carlock was a wishbone man.
I’m not at all calling them De La Salle you are right that is dumb.. the whole reason I posted what I did in the first place is to make the point Richlands problem isn’t scheme Mance is one of the best in the business when it comes to take so completely changing offense is absolutely crazy and shine light on why the spread works and so many people run it. As far as your 2 questions I wasn’t comparing them and I’ve only been in the area for one of those finals appearances and IMO Appo 5 scores better than Richlands that year. They have athletes far more athletes and that makes a world of difference.
@redtiger I’ve enjoyed the conversation. I like running the ball more than most people on this board I like prefer doing it with less box players. Even if a team has 9 in the box with 2 high (which makes no since to me but whatever) you still need 9 guys to execute vs 6 with high school kids I like my chances. I guess we will just have to disagree
Appo was 5 scores better??????Richlands was up 2 touchdowns with 6 minutes left. Put down the shovel and stop digging!!!
The whole point of the spread offense is to spread people out. It is a lot easier to to run the football against a 5 or 6 man box that is just a fact. Richlands has the ability to go 10 personnel and run for 200 yards a game because usually have one of the best passing attacks in swva because Mance does a great job with the pass concepts and 7 on 7 in the summer. I get the old school idea of you need 2 TE and a FB in the game or you can’t run the ball because that’s what swva is use to but here is a little math for you 5 lineman + 2 TE + 2 backs + 1 QB = 10 players guess how many defensive players you have in the box... 10 and you eliminate all the fancy Q runs that you can do out of the spread to account for that last defender you can block if you have a 6 man box. I would rather take my chances with 5 guys blocking perfect than trying to block 10 people any day of the week. This is all just my opinion though I’m just a young buck that likes a fast paced wide open offense that shows the coach’s creativity instead of 3 yards and a cloud of dust of running the same 4 plays over and over and over again..
What you do not understand is mentality. 3 yards and a cloud of dust wins championships.....If we had more dust against Appo a couple years ago (21-6 lead with 6 minutes left in 4th) Richlands would have won a state title. In football, maliciousness beats creativity.....Union wore us out running four plays. That is what Turner likes...that what his father liked....beating teams up physically....making people quit...winning through attrition. From a coaching standpoint, I would rather beat you to death and make you quit...that is more satisfying...that is what you don't understand......it's not about blocking 10 people...it about whipping their ass until they backpedal every play.......
I agree 100% De La Salle won 151 games in a row running the split back veer I promise you they didn’t change their offense after that first Mance is probably the winningest active coach in the area if he thinks Richlands should be in the spread I would stand by that as a fan base and not want to change everything after a 3 point game
You cannot compare De La Salle to Richlands. That in itself is simply ridiculous....although I am sure Mance would salivate at the athletes found at such a school. Answer me this....(1) In the last twenty years, when Richlands has the "winningest" coach in the area and a program you are comparing to De La Salle, why have they (Richlands) only won one state championship. And..(2)...How have they only won one when they have found themselves in five or six title games and have only faced one team in the finals better than they were (Monticello...my opion of course...however, I will argue.)
Here's a fresh idea for ya! Get out of the Spread. You have two guys that are 6'5" or 6'6" (Whited and Cox.) Put them at TE, load the backfield with your speed, select your best five linemen (that would include Ethan Phipps) and run the damn ball. That was easy, take all the receivers off the field and make them running backs.
Turner will come out tonight in the double tight "T" and run the ball, just like Gate City. It works. Richlands needs to get away from the two platoon system and put the BEST ELEVEN on the field. He has three pretty good running backs (# 42, # 5 and # 4), no experienced quarterbacks and no dynamic play-maker at receiver (Webb is more effective taking hand offs.) The defense would benefit from extended offensive possessions. Best eleven on the field works, ask Thad Wells. Massive changes needed, Air Mance needs to turn into ground and pound.
"The offensive highlights for Richlands were created by 5-11 sophomore Sage Webb. After being hounded by the Union secondary in the first two quarters, Webb was moved to the backfield in the second half and responded with 80 yards rushing on 14 carries." (Excerpt from today's Bristol Herald Courier.)
Before the game, I thought 28-6 Union. Played out like I thought. Union wore Richlands down and blew them up at the end. To me, 26-3 is not close nor is it a moral victory. At this point, Richlands needs to slow down the game and control the clock more. They have the kids to do this, IMO. As I said before the game, Webb is more effective in the backfield....and you still have Steele and # 42.
Turner will come out tonight in the double tight "T" and run the ball, just like Gate City. It works. Richlands needs to get away from the two platoon system and put the BEST ELEVEN on the field. He has three pretty good running backs (# 42, # 5 and # 4), no experienced quarterbacks and no dynamic play-maker at receiver (Webb is more effective taking hand offs.) The defense would benefit from extended offensive possessions. Best eleven on the field works, ask Thad Wells. Massive changes needed, Air Mance needs to turn into ground and pound.
I would assume him not being there the whole season knocked him out of that.
9 hours ago, Gridiron60 said:
He performed a whole season worth in a half a season compared to a lot of other defensive players from other teams...just sayin'
Well Ryan, it appears he was there at least half a season. Next time you throw a sarcasm grenade, pull the pin. From what I saw, he was pretty damn good.
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Ronnie Davis
in SWVA Football
Posted
An ass-kickin' is an ass-kickin'.