biggamesjames

Playing at the cliff is always tough when Hurley has a good football team...they have a distinct homefield advantage that alot of other teams don't have and especially with them coming in undefeated it will be a test for Haysi no doubt. I don't think the loss of Jake Colley has been nearly as big a factor as most people thought it would....Colley was overrated big time as a QB but we miss him in the defensive backfield along with the loss of Sperow, Lyall and Stanley off last years team. This years team has responded well like I thought they would. About the onside kicks Hurley should have been prepared for that because Haysi DOES NOT ever kick the ball deep...they do that against every team they play so if Hurley didn't recover them its their own fault for now watching any film and not being prepared.

I'm not going to say Hurley hasn't played anybody...they have played the teams on their schedule and some of those teams are pretty good ball clubs...they have played well so give them credit. Hurley has a good ball team but the question is have they played anyone as good as Haysi yet? I think that question will be answered Friday night and I believe the answer will be: NO.

[ QUOTE ] I sure hope Haysi isn't underestimating Honaker because they beat Clintwood and Clintwood killed Grundy! [/ QUOTE ] I don't think there is any chance of that happening after last years game...neither of these two teams should ever underestimate each other.

just for the way they acted about the whole "10th game" thing...no other reason. [/ QUOTE ] how did they act about the whole "10th game" thing?

I did get to know Clint a little and he was a good guy...they went 9-1 his Sr year and made a trip to the playoffs. He was an all purpose type back and yes, if you talk about strictly punting, he might be at the very top of the list in BDD history.

Totally agree with Matt Jessee as well, he should have been mentioned. Its easy to get him confused with his brother because I think they wore the same number 44. The "ghost" you are referring to was Paul Davis from Castlewood and yes he was a dominant back but I didn't mention him #1 because he played in the CVD and #2 it was in the 70's and I was just going back 20 years

I agree with you about David Davis tweeder...the reason I didn't include him was I was going with the past 20 years only because most people on here don't know a whole lot if you go any further than that.

I saw the thread about SWD RB's in the last 20 years so how bout the same for BDD? Here's my take: 5. Scotty Cox, Honaker: Dangerous open field runner, more grace than power. 4. Benny Burrell, St. Paul: Yes St. Pie was in the BDD during his career...sadly he drowned years ago in an accident at Holston lake. 3. Tyler Patrick, Honaker: Another dangerous open field runner with a long stride, probably would have broken Burrell's records had he not transferred to Honaker. 2. Blaine Hackney, Haysi: The all time leading rusher at the school and 2 time all-state selection. 1. Greg Tester, Hurley: Compact frame and quickness made him scary for opposing defenses. Others worthy of mention: Johnny Johnson, Honaker...I'm pretty sure he holds most rushing records at Honaker and would have been 3rd on my list had the Tigers been in the BDD during his career. Johnny McGlothlin, Garden...Hard nosed old school runner. Tito Mock, Haysi...big and powerful like a mini tank. Tim Hackney, Haysi...possessed the break away ability his brother lacked...hampered by Single Wing offense as a SR. Britt Coleman, Twin Valley...Best back they've had. Rodney Staten, Honaker...Nice power with decent speed. Tony Jessee, Honaker...Hampered by injuries, could have been better. Clint Roberts, Pocy...could do a little of everything.

I doubt Clintwood will beat Grundy but anything could happen.

Sounds like fortunes have been improving in the last 5 or 6 years against both Lebanon and Haysi.

[ QUOTE ] I never like to talk about the Haysi/Honaker games or the Lebanon/Honaker games much. Two biggest games of the year and predictions and message board ramblings never come close to the actual games! 4 times in the past 20 years, its probably a few more than that. [/ QUOTE ] Lets see...Honaker won in '88 then not again until '99 and also won in '00, '02, and '04...so ok I stand corrected Honaker has 5 wins in the past 20 years against Haysi. Sorry for shorting them one there. How have they done historically against Lebanon?

Haysi will be losing alot of talent to graduation this year also...so maybe it will be Hurley or Twin Valley's turn in 06?

Interesting you mentioned Tazewell and Va High as being tough games and possible losses but did not mention a road game at Haysi, a team that has a decent amount of starters returning and a team that Honaker has only beaten like 4 times in the past 20 years and only 1 of those on the road.

Honaker or Haysi WILL win the BDD this year.

Who do you think Honaker's 2 losses will come to?

I don't know about 10 but I can give you 5 of the top skill position players: 5. Andrew Bostic, QB Honaker - Quick and also dangerous kick returner. 4. Derrick Davis, GW- Not seen him play, just going from what I heard. 3. Caleb Jennings, Richlands - Undersized but exciting. 2. Ryan Jones, LB/RB Haysi - Can be dominant, when motivated. 1. Garon Marcum, RB Grundy - Some hype but mostly substance.

I feel Rural Retreat will finish 3rd in the Hogoheegee and would probably beat several teams on my list...the reason I didn't put them on the list was strictly on accident(brain fart)...I figure they would probably fit in somewhere just outside the top 10.

Well thats what its all about is having different opinions about different teams... Ofcourse Bluefield would have made my top 10 had I been including West Virginia but there are probably alot of other good teams in West Virginia that would have warranted consideration too so I just kept it to Virginia only. I'm a little surprised with all the confidence in Graham, but I'm just basing that on last year... and maybe Tazewell is a little better than I thought...oh well its all in fun.

The Bristol Herald always ranks the top 10 football teams in their coverage area. Who are your top 10 for SWVA? Here is mine: 10. Carrol County - SWD will be tough this year. 9. Virginia High - Favorite in a weak AA district. 8. Lebanon - Coming off a pretty good year in 04. 7. Powell Valley - No Mckinney, no Robbins, no problem? 6. Haysi - Lost Colley and Sperow but not much else. 5. George Wythe - Another 9-1 team who missed post season. 4. Honaker - Lost Patrick but have alot returning. 3. Grundy - 4.4 40 Marcum will get alot of carries. 2. Gate City - Lost a few stars but look to be strong. 1. Richlands - Favorite in VERY tough SWD. The next best 5: 11. Clintwood 12. Tazewell 13. Appalachia 14. Graham 15. JI Burton

I would hardly consider J.I. Burton a "powerhouse"...they are pretty tough for Division 1 but usually finish no better that 4th or 5th in the LPD behind GC, PV, Clintwood, and often Appalachia.

Well you must live pretty close to where I grew up...my parents live near the Buchanan County line...I almost transferred to Grundy my freshman year, talked to the coaches and everything but at that time Grundy's football program wasn't quiet up to par with Haysi's so decided to stay with the Tigers.

Sorry if I hit a sore spot dude...seems you are a little sensitive about the subject i mentioned. Didn't mean to disrespect Grundy in any way...I have relatives who played at Grundy and they are the team I always follow 2nd behind Haysi. I root for them year in year out but I just got a little perturbed at some of the over the top preposterous comments some of your fellow Grundy brethren were making...I could come back and say yeah Haysi didn't make the playoffs last year but if they were in AA Division 3 both they and Clintwood would have, but its beside the point. Anyway looks like you guys are getting a little fired up for the Haysi game this year and if so thats great!...forget Pittsburgh and West Virginia in the backyard brawl, how bout Grundy and Haysi baby! Good luck the upcoming season and I hope you guys finish 13-1 and win a state championship...but ofcourse hoping the one loss is to Haysi

"JMarcum, it seems like we didn't play to our later potential in that game. I don't think Clintwood would have held a light to us in the later games." When did Grundy reach their later potential? In first round of the playoffs against VA High? If you call getting ousted in the 1st round of the playoffs by a team that if they had they been single A Division 2 wouldn't have even made the playoffs reaching your potential?, then i think Clintwood would have been just fine.

I wasn't there and I don't know, I was just passing along what Clintwood fans said on LPD forum...they were less than impressed with Grundy and several of them commented that Grundy couldn't have beat Haysi, GC or PV.

I agree Colley is a good coach but he is usually only as good as his talent, he is gonna beat you when he has more talent but rarely does when he has less...the team Haysi had in '91 was talented enough to win it all but wasn't ready for a surprise 3 man front that Lebanon threw at them in the state playoff game, Lebanon played a prevent pass defense with 8 defensive backs to stop the pass the whole game but Haysi couldn't adjust and never got the running game going against only 3 down lineman. In '96 they had some studs studs and played well on defense most of the year but because they didn't have anyone to play QB Colley for some reason decided to try and run the single wing offense and no one on the team had a clue about it...ended up not even running plays out of it but just snapping it to Tim Hackney every time and letting him run, probably the worst job Colley ever did as a coach. They did manage to play well against Grundy that year and hold Greg Tester to like 49 yards in the regular season win against Hurley but by the 2nd time they met in the playoffs Hurley had figured out what to do against the "complicated" snap it to one guy offense Haysi was running and everyone just stayed in their zones...when the "sophisticated" plan didnt work Haysi tried to let their fullback John Salyers get in shotgun and pass but he ended up throwing about 4 int's and threw a couple more up in the stands, so that went out the window, it was ludicrous..i was never more upset with Haysi's coaching staff than in '96. That team had the talent to go 9-1 or 10-0 and beat one of the best AA teams in the state but threw it away on a completely watered down version of the single wing.