FBDevotee

When Union went to the modified T formation in the second half, they were able to run the ball successfully against Ridgeview. Inserting the big tight end (88) at 6'2" 260 plus three backs gave them a significant size advantage. On one drive, Keith Chandler carried the ball 14 times. Ridgeview, and every fan there, knew what play was coming, but the Wolfpack just could not stop it. It reminded me of a famous Ewell Blackwell statement. (Ewell Blackwell was a Cincinnati Reds pitcher from 1942 until 1952 who threw only one pitch - a split finger fast ball.) When a reported ask Ewell how he could be so successful in the Major Leagues using only a single pitch (he pitched a no-hitter in 1947 and led the league in strikeouts) he replied "...they know what's coming, but they've only got a half second to do anything about it"!

Abingdon & Union has become one of the more exciting and tightly contested SWVA high school football conference games each season since the Mountain Seven was formed. This fall it shouldn't be any different. Union's offense has improved as the year has went along - the Bears only start two seniors and the young players have really grown - especially QB Bostic. On defense, the Bears have several impressive players but I really like their two ends Anderson and Kennedy - both are 6'3" tall and weigh over 200 lbs; both are quick and strong.

After watching the three performances of junior quarterback Kam Bostic, I think this season's edition of Union's football team is actually a bit better than last year. The offensive line is big and experienced and playing very well, RB Keith Chandler continues to get stronger and faster, and the Bear defense (that returned 7 starters from last year's 11-2 squad) is a really good VHSL 2A defense. I think the Bears might be able to keep the game close. I wouldn't bet on Union or pick Union to beat Science Hill in Johnson City but it may turn out to be an exciting game.

I have very high expectations for Union again this season but I was still surprised how well the defense played last night. I felt sure that Lee would score some points as the senior QB to senior receiver combination is high quality for the Generals plus I thought the young defensive backs for Union would make some mistakes. 47 to 0 was unexpected. Some one had previously posted on this forum that Union DB's sophomore Jones and freshman Maddox are the real deal. I already knew that DB's junior Bunch and junior Bostic were good. This was a fine start for the 2024 season for the Union Bears because I believe Lee High plus the two teams Union scrimmaged, Elizabethton and Eastside, may have winning records at the end of the year.

Youth and inexperience might cancel out size and skill; but unless Union has a lot of penalties and turnovers, I think they retain the Bucket. In the preseason against Elizabethton and Eastside, the new quarterback Cam Bostic played very well. I believe the offensive line is really good, Keith Chandler is a top notch running back, and the two big receivers, Anderson at 6'3" 200 lbs and Bunch at 6'1" 190 lbs will be a challenge for Lee High's defensive backs. I hope Lee High can block because Union's defensive line lived in the Cyclone and Spartan backfield. As a football fan, I prefer a close exciting game but I suspect Union wins by several touchdowns.

I attended the Eastside at Union benefit game. I think Eastside is going to have a good team and a winning record this season; but I suspect they were disappointed with the showing against Union. Union's line is very big and very deep - it makes it tough on teams with a smaller roster both in numbers and size. Eastside had a couple of big/tall lineman but they had to play on both offense and defense. Union's two starting defensive tackles, senior Miller (220 lbs) and soph Stacy (260 lbs) just played defense. Even after a few series, I felt like fatigue started to play a role for the Spartans. The Bears are going to have a good season and I think they will be able to match up with every team on their schedule. They are loaded with young talent and will be fun to watch. Inexperience might cost them a game or two but I don't think they lack size, speed, or effort.

Number 10 is junior Camden Wharton, 6'3" 190, IMO he is an ascending star. Number 24 is junior Josh Guerrant, 6'1" 190 and Union Bear fans are very familiar with the family name Guerrant. I don't know if they'll start as middle linebackers but I suspect opponents will be accustomed to those names by the ends of their last two seasons. The Bears have a very strong junior class and a very strong freshman class.

Number 5 for Union is freshman running back Kaden Dillman (5'10" 225 lbs). I think he will be an important contributor for the Bears this season even though he is a only a freshman. He is both quick and strong. Several other freshman of note, who may see some playing time, are Elijah Lomax (5'10" 180 lbs) Matt Polier (6'2" 200 lbs) and the Potter twins Quinton and Abe. I doubt the Bears can top last season's impressive gridiron record of 11-2 and a district championship, but I believe football fans in Appalachia and Big Stone Gap are in for another exciting season.

Union's offensive line may be the team's strongest asset - four returned from last year and the boys are big 290,285,280,260, & 255 and experienced. RB Keith Chandler should have a few holes to run through.

The Union High School will dress 55 or so on their varsity football squad in 2024. The Bears have plenty of depth at nearly every position. I suspect having a new starting quarterback will be the limiting factor for success -several good athletes vying for the position but none very experienced.

Union High School football season 2024 will be very similar to season 2023; the Bears will challenge for the district title and challenge for the regional title. They return 8 who started on offense last year to build around and have a terrific group of young new-comers. Last year's JV team lost only one game - to Elizabethton, @ Elizabethton, by 1 point. Depth will not be a problem; but some of the experienced big guys may have to play both ways early in the season. Last year only one lineman pulled regular double duty. They will have a new quarterback and a younger defense but I believe a safe prediction is an 8-2 regular season record and a trip back to make another playoff run. (With the loss of Huff, only 6 defensive players are returning, but they did not lose all defensive linemen, as outstanding starting defensive end Carlos Anderson does return!)

Union's boy's basketball team is collectively very quick and experienced. They are off to a good start which will build up their confidence. Lack of height may be a limiting factor but Charles Barkley said "rebounding and defense are all about desire" and, I think Wes Unseld said, rebounding is 25% tall but 75% gall.

I certainly underestimated the 2023 Union Bears with my early season prediction of an 8 and 4 final record for them at at this point in the year. But I based that prognostication on the difficult schedule they were facing and the large number of starters who were sophomores. But in hindsight the 2023 Bears were a team that was probably closer to a 12-0 team than an 8-4 team. The sophomores played great all year, the defense was really good, and Ray Anderson had an exceptional year at quarterback. I am not going to predict how much farther they will go; but I am convinced, at this point, they have the talent to win three more games. But any deep run in the VHSL playoffs usually requires a lucky bounce or two!

I believe both teams will play hard, and play inspired, in an attempt to send their seniors out with a win. The game could be entertaining but I suspect Union is likely too strong this season. I do plan to attend and I think the atmosphere will be great again this week at Bullitt Park. It really is a special place full of football history. There are so many gridiron traditions in the Gap that I enjoy; the smell of the well groomed grass turf in November, the sight of coaches bringing the team onto the field barely in time for kickoff, the taste of very best band booster popcorn in SWVA, the sound of the Union fight song, and the feel of another Bears victory!

Union has continued to improve quite a bit each week, maybe more than is typical during a high school football season. They've improved, in large part, because they are a very young team. Union always starts five sophomores, and often play six sophomores on defense. But I think Abingdon will be a real test for them. I hope having two weeks to heal and prepare will help the Bears. I look for QB Anderson to have a another good game as he's come into his own. He has thrown very accurately of late - completing 14 of 15 passes in the Bears' last game. The Bears have a stellar stable of receivers.

Although the outstanding assemblage of skill players the Bears have this season - Anderson, Huff, Lowery, Chandler, Bunch, Bostic - make the sport's headlines & highlights, I think the four senior interior defensive players are the core of Union's team success. They impressed me in the very first game and have played exceptionally well every week. I predict LOS will be the deciding factor in this week's match up with the Wolfpack; but I'm certain there will be another packed house at Bullitt Park to witness another fine SWVA football clash!

I meant to type "exceptional" not exception in my last posting. Let me add that I'm certain the only title Coach Turner and his team are currently discussing is the M7 championship. The Wolfpack, Warriors, Falcons, and Trojans will all have a big say in that conversation!

I would offer the old football aphorism that offense wins games and defense wins championships. Union posting a shut out against a good Blue Devil team is a very favorable result. I believe the Bears started six sophomores on defense this past Friday; and if those young players continue to improve they could be a really exception unit come November!

In games last season the Blue Devils finished strong. I give the coaches credit for preparing their team for four quarters. Younger players tend to wear out sooner and the Bears were young last campaign; seemed real tuckered out in the last minutes of both contests with Gate City. I do think that could be a factor again this year in some Union matchups - including this week's game. As example, for anyone who saw the Science Hill game, It really looked like the Bears could match their speed but the Hill Toppers did eventually wear down Union.

The fun thing for fans about rivalries is the teams' current records and recent performances are often not very accurate barometers for predicting results. I think both Union and Gate City will be correctly preparing for this game to be a really tough pad popper; and I believe it's likely to be a close one. Remember that Gate City has won the last two match ups and both teams have a lot of the same personnel. Union's offense used 7 sophomores on the field at the same time last week and, although these young kids are very talented, they are more prone to make mistakes and more prone to fatigue than more mature, more experienced, players. If Gate City can wear the Bears down, I think they can win - but they can't let Union get a big lead. The Bears have a sleuth of skill players. I think it will be an enjoyable game and another big game atmosphere at fabled Bullitt Park!

The Bears continue to play well and continue to improve. The victory at Bluefield does make me cautiously question my pre-season prediction of a 8 - 4 season for Union in 2023 but I'm still not altering that early season post. Both Ridgeview and Gate City present very difficult upcoming games for the Bears plus other M7 contests; but if the sophomores continue to get better, a 10 win season is possible!

Bullitt Park opened in 1935 and Michell stadium in 1936 - these venues and their spectators have been witness to countless great football games and countless great football players. I believe this Friday night will add to both lists!

The game was wonderful to attend and watch! The atmosphere was as exciting as anticipated with a big raucous, sometimes cacophonic, Union crowd. Science Hill brought a large band, a good crowd, and an enormous team. The Bears played very well, but ultimately the linemen wore down. The Hill Toppers could shuttle some big bodies in and out, and although Union's offensive line can boast three over 260 pounds, they still looked undersized against their out of state opposition and, as mentioned, at different times I believe both starting tackles left the game with injuries. The Bears linemen played with really hard and can be really proud. I will admit that in the early forth quarter, with the score 13 to 6 and Union's offense on the field, I said to someone beside me that the Bears have a chance to win!

Bullitt Park can accommodate around 5000, so space should be available to all who decide to attend tonight's big game, but many of the long time fans want to get their exact traditional lucky spots. There is certainly a mystic about the field; and no one here in the Gap, whether superstitious or not, wants to be accused of disrupting the mojo!

BTW - Bear fans are already in line at Bullitt Park!