parsons

You are better at writing fantasy than George R. Martin and J. R. R. Tolkien combined.

Richlands has some spare timeouts if anybody needs one …🧐

Error On the Safe Side.  We have 8 teams making the playoffs which is far to many in my opinion, but one positive thing about it when trying to find one is.......we error on the safe side.  This means, we are allowing some to make the playoffs that probably shouldn't be in the playoffs, but we allow that to happen in order to prevent from realizing or capturing a Blacksburg or Appalachia (5-5's) that goes on to win a state title, or some 6-4 teams that have done it as well.  It's kind of like our court system, we make the standard for criminal cases beyond a reasonable doubt and we accept and allow that some who are guilty will go free, but we do try to minimize a conviction of the innocent.
I favor 5 or 6 teams max, not 8, but here's the thing.  We put to much emotion in the word "PLAYOFFS."  It's not some weekend long conference or 2 week event for most of the teams.  It's a 2.5 hour event and it's over.  They play one extra game, 4 quarters, on the road, and the season usually ends there.  Not a big deal if we take the emotion out of the word playoffs and don't lend the word so much power.  For example with Giles....I could call it "playoffs," or I could use the statement, "we play one extra game to get ready for next season."  Clearly, one of those 2 has a lot less "emotion bite."

Who cares if teams that have undeserving records make the playoffs. It's about the kids not the adults. I'd rather have too many than someone deserving not get in. In 96 Graham finished 7-3 with losses to Bluefield Grundy, and Gate City(combined 29-1).  A 9-0 Magna Vista team lost to an ordinary Bassett team on the final week of the season getting Bassett in and leaving Graham at home. Graham wouldve blasted both Bassett and Magna Vista in the playoffs. That sucked way worse than watching an extra round of playoffs.

They deserve just as much as a team with a winning record/better seed making bank on points due to playing decent smaller schools with winning records.  Kids are guaranteed one more week to play a game, that most will never play again so enjoy one more show and appreciate it.  Hell I wish they could do the plus-one again like the covid year so those non-qualifiers could play one last time.  Put yourself in their shoes.  JSB/Mar/TW/Eastside/etc. for example get a chance to call someone and more than likely to get an evenly matched game for a final would probably be the most excitement they've had all season after taking a bunch on the chin.  
Strictly on the competitive side of things, make it top 4 so it means a lot more to do well the entire season.

Greatest game was probably in 2015 when Richlands came to Appomattox for the 3rd game in the playoffs. 
Even for most of the game then Richalnds scored on a long pass and then again to go up by 14 with about 7+ minutes to go in the 4th.   Appo converted a 4th down scored, scored again to tie the gameand send it to OT.  
In OT Richlands got the ball first and Javon Scruggs intercepted a pass in the endzone.  Raiders score a TD on a play around the left side putting the ball over the pylon on the way out of bounds.   Raiders win in OT 27-21  
 
Other great games.  
2017 game at Union. This game decided who would play in Salem.
AWESOME atmosphere!!!!!!  Appo went up 20-0 in the first half and then help off the charging Bears to win the game 23-20 I believe.
 
2017 State Championship Game vs R.E. LEE
The Raiders played from behind most of this game and had two key injuries early that took these players out of the game.  The Riaders hung tough and Javon Scruggs found a away to keep us in the game and then take the lead with just a few minutes remaining to win 38-34.
 
2016 District game at Dan River 
Dan River refused to move the game and we played in a hurricane (can't remember which one) they knew that a soaking wet field was the only way to slow down the Raiders.  We won this game by 2 points.
 
2019  Graham comes to Appomattox
Score wasn't overly close but you knew at any moment either team could make a move.  Raider's win 28-13
 
2020 State Championship:  Raiders have to go the lower seeded Stuarts Draft teams home field.
This game was always led by the Raiders but Draft simply would not go away.   It was fought until the final minute.  Raider win 48-41
 
I feel very fortunate to have had a son in each of these games (sideline or on the field when older).  It was an AWESOME experience with the Raiders from 2015-2020.  I have 6 state rings in my house.  My oldest won 15,16,17  and my youngest won 17,19,20.  Raiders went 77-5 over those years, What a ride it was!
 
 
 

Nice game by Collin Adkins who had 98 receiving yards in the game for the Blues

BDT had him completing 17-19 for 219 yds.  Harsh critic. Lol

You guys need to clean up your acts!!!
Stop calling out people NOW!!!
Stop with the racial accusations NOW!!!
Act like adults or I’m shutting this whole thing down!!

Don’t ask why I deleted a certain post on the board, YOU ALL KNOW WHY!!!
This board is up for renewal right now and I’m not sure I want it to continue the way many of you are acting. 
If I do keep it going, there will be lots of changes. I won’t be putting up with the crap that has been going on here lately.  
 
IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH WHAT I JUST POSTED, PACK YOU BAG BECAUSE YOU’LL BE GONE…PERIOD!!!  I DON’T CARE IF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOREVER, GET OUT OF LINE ONE MORE TIME AND IT’S OVER. 
G-Man

I’m not sure I agree.  The players on this year’s team were very small the last time the team had any significant success.  Witnessing a football related celebration might motivate a few more kids into participating next year.  I don’t disapprove. 

I think this can be easily resolved by referencing an observation from a great philosopher.
"It's not a lie if you believe it."  -- Costanza

Didn't ask for one of the worst 😆
 

Fans from Richlands perceive a tie as a victory for Tazewell.😎

Not called the "Backyard Brawl" for nothing. Haha 

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

Fans from Richlands perceive a tie as a victory for Tazewell.😎

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

I’m thinking y’all might want to switch to decaf. 😂

I was at the game pulling for Richlands and can’t agree with this statement.  While I believe Richlands was the superior team that day in the mud, with or without the cleats, I’m not so confident regarding what might have occurred had they played on a dry field.  Salem was a beast that year, beating eventual AAA Division 6 champion Pulaski County.  That Richlands team squeaked by Gate City and Powell Valley, and almost lost to a mediocre Marion team in the mud.  The near loss at Marion speaks to the difference a soggy field can make.  I’ve often wondered if perhaps the Marion game spurred Vaught to buy the infamous cleats.  Anyway, we’ll never know.  Just my two cents …

To respond to Tornado99 first, Kevin Smith played a little fullback and was a starting linebacker, Kenny "Mossy" Lowe was the starting strong safety, that was more of an outside linebacker position.  Matt Deel was a tight end along with Harrison.  Brad Salyers was the "fullback" in the split back veer, he was as dangerous as Breeding.  Brad was a brilliant student and an exceptional football player and wrestler.  Now to the Czar.  I feel there are more athletes today and less what I call, "football players."  From a safety standpoint, at least in high school, I feel yesteryear was safer for players.  These spread offenses place players in positions that have defenders teeing off on them from distances that allow them to get up to speed.  As the saying goes, "speed kills."  I firmly believe these types of offenses breed injuries especially head injuries.  When you think about big hits, passes to the flats, crossing patterns or special teams is where you will find them.  A four-yard fullback dive, not so much, too many bodies.  I will concede that concussion protocols are now paramount, back then there wasn't any awareness or information available as there is today.  One more tidbit about the Marion game, Chris Harrison, who was an all-state player at linebacker and tight end, collected over 30 tackles in the Marion game as it went into multiple overtime periods.

So would anybody else in that situation

I was at the Marion game in '92. The Blues (8-0) dominated the first half until the rains turned the field at Ernie into a bog. A mediocre Marion (3-4) team then started gashing the Blues' D and even shutdown the prolific Brannon Breeding. The Canes would tie the game in regulation with Richlands ultimately winning 38-35 in 2OT.
The obsessively meticulous Vaught likely let the muddy near miss against the Canes cloud his judgement.  The '92 Blues were great, but they were not an unbeatable juggernaut.  All we can say for sure is a profoundly selfish decision robbed two great teams and communities of a fair and objective outcome.  
 

If it is, player interest will erode over time.  Everybody wants their son to play for Bobby Knight until the son becomes the next Neil Reed!
I don't know Saunders but have officiated games he was involved in while at Gretna.  Based on that experience, he's not someone I would choose to get to know.  

If you walked into your place of work today and your superior told you you sucked and proceeded to cuss you out so you would be motivated to work hard that day is that considered old school?

I’ll say this and be done. 
 
It sounds like Vaught knew what he was doing. Interpret that as you wish. But that’s just how I see it with the information I have been given. 

It’s a shame that that’s what will be talked about regarding the team but that’s the legacy. Richlands won 17-7. Not exactly a blowout, not exactly close. But a play or two from being a totally different conversation.
Take this with a grain of salt but when I lived in and around Roanoke from 2017-2021, I asked some Salem people about it. Most of them shrugged it off and said “Oh well.” So that tells me most Salem people aren’t all that concerned about it. Why should they be? They avenged that loss in 2004. They have won a total of 10 championships. 
 
I have only seen one fanbase get mad over it and it’s been the Richlands group. 
Some people need to learn to handle criticism of their teams and not get their panties in a wad over it. It’s just a game.
 
Anyway, Go Bears!