FBDevotee

This Friday night, Bullitt Park in Big Stone Gap will host the Union vs Burton football game and will also host a celebration for the 1989 VHSL division 2 football champion Powell Valley Vikings. Last Friday during the Union vs North game, Riggs Stadium hosted a similar celebration for the 1989 VHSL division 1 football champion Appalachia Bulldogs. It's nice to see those teams appreciated by today's fans - and the early success of this season's Union Bears certainly honors that football heritage.

I feel very strongly that Union is a better team this year than last - for several reasons but most importantly the extra year for the coaches to work through the consolidation issues. The Bears have the raw materials to be very good - but they are fairly young with only three seniors starting on offense. Things to look for are the balance of the Bears running attack - not only the three backs but the Bears can run well behind both sides of the o-line. Even though they do not pass much, the balance of the running attack has kept all their opponents playing honest defenses. The play of the young linemen has really been my favorite part of the season so far - of course the Bears like to run behind the two seniors; Tackle Morelock (310lbs) and Guard Cole (225lbs) but Soph Tackle Falin (250lbs) and Jr Tight End Barker (235lbs) have gotten the Bears many hard fought first downs. All the backs block really well. I've seen Gavin Meade play several times already and he has a powerful and effective running style that is really unstoppable for most area highschool teams plus the experienced QB helps the Wave's chances for a title repeat - I think the key for any team will be to contain Meade. Last year the Bears were unable to contain him in the second half and that is why the Wave won the game. Union has seen quality competition this year and so I don't think the Green Wave will shock them but I also agree with a previous poster that Clintwood is much more sure of themselves this year than they were at this time last season & I think they are also a better team. It makes this game very difficult to predict. I suspect turnovers and penalities will ultimately decide the outcome but I think the Bears will have to wait until next year to beat the Wave. Clintwood 28 Union 14

Union had a 20 point lead in last year's game against Clintwood. The Green Wave never gave up and played really hard in the second half - but without the three big Bear turnovers, the Wave would not have pulled off the come back. At all levels - pro, college, and highschool - most big come backs in football are fueled by turnovers. The final score was Clintwood 30 and Union 26. As with all Bear Games last season, it was exciting right till the end!

The Bears rushed for 430 yards last Friday night while defeating Lee High but I suspect it says more about the Generals being young and weak than it does about the Bears chances to move the ball against Richlands. But as a Union fan it was certainly nice to see two different running backs go over 100 yards rushing in the same game (Davis and McCray) - that did not include senior back Ben Baugh, who @ 6'1" 200 lbs is the Bears' most dependable blue collar runner. (I think Ben had 80+ yards.) I'm hopeful that Union can get a few first downs by using a mixture of backs and a combination of mis-direction running plays to keep the ball away from Richlands - so that the game will at least be close. Union did outplay Gate City during the pre-season scrimmage so maybe they can do a bit better than the Blue Devils - I'm going to predict that Richlands wins the game 31 to 14. Like last year, the Bears don't have a lot of speed but they have a depth. If they avoid turnovers they will probably be in most games.

I think the new QB, Tanner Hall, for Union is going to be a really good player - he's 5'10" 180 lbs, left handed, and a much better runner than football fans in the Gap have seen at QB in a long time. His passing game is limited at present but will develop!

The Bears performed much as might be expected in the scrimmage against Tennessee High. Vikings outplayed Bears but the veteren running backs did fine and the linebackers played well for Union. Young line struggled to protect sophmore QB. Tennessee ran the hurry up spread offense effectively during the scrimmage on the artificial turf at UVA WISE and scored several times on pass plays - but after first two exchanges of plays, the score would have been 1 touchdown to 1 touchdown. The final score was probably 4 TDs to 1 TD Tennessee High favor but it's hard to say just when first teams were in and out. Tennesse High much more together with extra week of practice. Union fans can expect a similar season as last year - with a good ground game and probably some close contests.

Union has adequated, but not exceptional, team speed. Certainly nothing like the speed that the Powell Valley and Appalachia teams of the 1990s contained. Lack of speed was really the weakness for last year's team. I don't see any young speedsters on the roster for the fall - and that will again limit success. But I do agree that they'll likely find replacement linemen from a really deep squad. Looking at last year's roster of lettermen, they may have several inexperienced, but big, tackles they can choose from to beef up the line. I will not list names but - here are some impressive dimensions; 6'3" 310 lbs, 6'3" 275 lbs, 6'1" 300 lbs, 6'0" 280 lbs, and 6'3" 250 lbs. The center returns from last year and it appears that the Bears have a long list of players in that typical guard size - 200 lbs to 230 lbs. Because of consolidation, raw materials are plentiful for Coach Turner. I think the team may be one more year away from a championship type unit.

Union finished last regular season 5-5 but every game, win or lose, was very exciting and close; record could have just as easily been 8-2 or 2-8. The Bears units that suited up at the end of last year for rookie head coach Travis Turner returns 6 on defense and 5 on offense - so they'll have some continuity. Strong point: the two running backs return, a year older and stronger, and the entire linebacking corps returns, a year wiser and bigger. Weak points: only one starting offensive lineman returns. I think players fun to watch this season for the Bears could be underclassmen including Mekyah Davis (5'10" 190 lbs), Zack Barker (6' 4" 220 lbs), and Austin Falin (6' 1" 240 lbs).

It was another great highschool football season here in SWVA's coalfields! Clintwood's state championship was the highlight - and I'm very happy for the Green Wave players and fans. I feel fortunate to have watched the Wave play during the season. Like Gate City last season, and all the Single A state champions from our region in the past, Clintwood has proven that football in the coalfields is as good as it gets in Virginia. It does all of our area teams proud when one brings back a title trophy. Way to go Green Wave!

TO UNIONFAN - I don't agree with, nor understand, your assessment of the Bears' game by game performances, but I do hope the Bears can win some more games before this season comes to a close. I think the play of the Bears has been amazingly consistent throughout the year; and they may have played their hardest & best in two games that they lost - to Richlands and Sullivan North. All games, win or lose, have been very very tight. When Union hosted JIB, the Bears' record was 3-5 & the Raiders' record was 7-1. I believe had the two teams swapped schedules at the beginning of the season, the records prior to their match-up would have been exactly reversed. Who you play is always 50% of the factors that decide the games' outcomes and your team's record. I like to give credit to opponents when they play a great game - sometimes both teams play great but one has to lose. If coach Turner keeps the Bears playing the way they've played this regular season, they'll make most Union fans proud during the playoffs - 1 game or 5 games!

I have watched Gate City play twice this year and I have watched Clintwood play once. Both teams are solid. Gate City does rely more on mis-direction & execution in their running game while Clintwood has two powerful running backs. Both defensive units are good. It is a hard game to pick but I'll say Clintwood 20 Gate City 14.

I hope the Bears can close out the season with a win against Thomas Walker and I do think the Bears will present a threat to a higher seeded host in the new playoff format.

The Raiders & Bears treated the fans at Bullitt Park to another hard fought & exciting game last Friday night. Keeping an amazing streak of close games for Union going, the contest entered the 4th quarter with JIB ahead 20 to 14 (I think the 4th quarters of the previous five Bear games have started with scores 14 to 7, 21 to 20, 22 to 21, 13 to 12, and 21 to 14!) The Bears prevailed by scoring two TDs in the final period for the victory; 26 to 20. I thought Union's size and depth wore JIB down, and much like the Lee High game earlier in the season for the Bears, the Raiders and Generals appeared to be faster & more athletic but the Bears were big, strong, and, most importantly, deep. I've questioned Coach Turner's playing two platoons and so many different kids - and I'm not sure that at any point in the season he's put his eleven best football players on the turf at one time - but his approach did work out against Burton. I think the Raiders, like the Generals, just ran out of gas. This is no comment on effort, because JIB and Lee never quit trying they just seemed exhausted. I'll add that last week I saw a little of that in Gate City as the Bears spotted the Devils three TDs also - only to catch up and push them to their limit as well. Just a note of interest - the Bears won without three seniors who have played key roles for the team and I think that was also possible because of team depth. For the first time this year, the offensive unit had more underclassmen than seniors.

I really think, with a few exceptions, that once the VHSL football playoffs wind down to the final 2, 3, or 4 teams in a classification each season, those teams that are left have the raw materials to win a championship. Teams that don't have those raw materials have usually been weeded out by that time. So it is very often that the "intangibles" decide the semi-finals/title games. So I do agree that some of these issues that Richlands fans are discussing are important and have made a difference in the number of state championships the Blues have brought back. I thought for sure last year's Blue Tornados would be Divison 3 champions - they had all the raw materials.

As indicated, I am predicting a Gate City win tonight but I totally dissagree with UNIONFAN's assessment of the Bears coming apart - and I'm surprised by his post. I think the Bears played a better game against Central last week than they did against Lee or Lebanon earlier in the year. The Bears rolled up 350 yards of offense and did not commit a single turnover against Central - a solid Bear performance. The reason that Central beat Union, while Lee & Lebanon did not, is that the Warriors played a great game and took advantage of their opportunities, unlike the Generals or Pioneers. An interesting side note about tough schedules - according to a friend, something will happen to Union this season that never happened to PV. For all ten games on their schedule, they never have nor never will kick the ball off to a team with a losing record at the start of the game. Because they played Lee & Lebanon early (teams that may have losing records for the year but did not have losing records at that time; 0-0 & 1-1 respectively) and are ending the season with Clintwood, North, Central, GC, JIB, and TW (already with 5 wins) this will happen. According to my friend, part of this has to do with PV's historical LPD district games at the end of the season against Pound, Wise, Burton, Appy, and in the older days, Ervington - when one or more of those teams would have losing records.

To Wave 316 - Yes, Union has really struggled with extra points and it has been a very significant factor in three losses. I see those struggles continuing against GC.

The Union Bear's performances this season have been very consistent and I anticipate another solid performance against the GC Blue Devils. The Bears' 3-4 record is as much a reflection of the quality of schedule as it is a reflection of the quality of the team. Coach Turner has done an outstanding job of meshing two teams into one. A very important factor to consider is that the young men on the Bears' roster had not played together as a unit until two months ago. We should not underestimate how valuable it is for kids to have played football together regularly in JV or peanut leagues before becoming varsity teammates. The Bears have become more than the sum of their parts as a result of Coach Turner's considered appoach. With that said, I do give GC the edge in this game, due in large part to the play of the Devil defense - which might be the best that Union has faced. Union scored three touchdowns against North & Richands, and four tds against Clintwood. I don't see the Bears putting three or four on the board against GC. I do think it will be another game that may be up for grabs in the 4th quarter but I'm going to predict the final score to be GC 21 and Union 12.

Another great highschool football game last Friday night between the Union Bears and the Central Warriors. I don't think anyone who was at the game wouldn't agree that Wise County sports fans have embraced consolidation. Central 20 and Union 18 - Oh my! I sure hope more of our local HS teams get to play their games at the UVA-Wise field. The artifical turf, the facilities, the colors, the atmoshpere, WOW! I know that Union fans have been treated to seven straight games that were very exciting & not decided until the 4th quarter and this game was right up at the top. I've enjoyed all the games, win or lose, and have cheered loudly for the Bears - but it was absolutely wonderful for me to see the former Pound players (especially the seniors) get to experience such a game. I know, I've never received more bang for the buck from my HS football game tickets then this year! I hope both the Bears and Central make the VHSL playoffs, for no other reason than I don't want this super season to come to an end too soon.

All five Union Bears games have been decided in the last period of the contest and the Bears could very well be 5-0 or 0-5 at this point in the season. Looking at the schedule, I think the Bears fans are in for more exciting games. Union has played a very solid schedule - and I noted that all five of the Bears' opponents won last night, Lee, Richlands, Lebanon, Va High, and Clintwood. The remaining teams on the schedule are Sullivan North, Wise Central, Gate City, JIB, and Thomas Walker. I think last night's game at RCS was decided by turnovers, as I'd suggested in my earlier post as a possibility. The Bears jumped out on the Green Wave because Clintwood had a couple of first quarter turnovers and the Wave come back was helped by four second half Bear turnovers. The rain made conditions ripe for turnovers but otherwise I think both teams can take positive things from the game and both teams are still in line for playoffs (& the records that I projected pre-season: Clintwood 8-2 and Union 6-4). Games that surprised me last night were Grundy beating Castlewood & Abingdon beating John Battle. Results that did not surprise me were the Richlands and JIB big wins.

I think the Union Bears are a much better team than last year's PV or Appy teams. The improvements include the performance of their O & D lines. First the return of Evan Orr has really helped. His play has been solid - he's big enough to hold his own, at 6'3" 280 lbs, and has played really smart. Although both the Vikings and Bulldogs had some holes in their young lines last year, pulling the best lineman from each team and combining them this year has made quiet a difference. In all four games so far, Union's play and depth along the line has been a factor, especially in the last quarter. But the Bears still have some growing to do. I tend to think that the Wave should be the favorite in the game this Friday but I think the Bears continue to improve enough to make it a good game. I suspect the teams are close & that turnovers may be the deciding factor. Let me be fair - if Clintwood had not lost a game by 50 points, I'd surely be picking them to easily beat Union. But I don't see how a quality team, like the Clintwood I saw last season, can lose a game by that much. So, just based on that, I've got to believe the Bears have a chance to win.

I've got to agree. All four Union Bear games have been very exciting and have entered the 4th quarter with the contests up for grabs - with three of the games decided in the final moments. Looking at the schedule for Union, I suspect many more close games but, at this point in the season, I think the Bears can get to a 6-4 or 7-3 record and maybe host a first round playoff game. I heard that Zack Barker dis-located his shoulder.

I agree that the game was closer than the final score may indicate but I thought the Pioneer coaching staff did a fine job with their team against Union last night. The game was 7-0 at halftime and just 13-0 at the end of the third. The game was close till the end and the Lebanon defensive set ups and offensive play calling gave them a real chance for a win. I'd say if the Pioneer QB had passed the ball better on a couple of critical plays, the outcome could have been different. I think it was execution of those plays instead of the play calls. I did think that both coaches called a conservative game plus the refs & their penalties did somewhat bog down the momentum of the game. But for the third week in a row, Union Bears fans have been treated to a game that was not decided until the final quarter of the contest. Thanks to the Pioneer and Bear bands for adding color and excitement to the game.

I did not think the Richlands and Union game would be much of a contest. I'm glad to admit that I was very wrong. It was an amazing highschool football game. Very much a college type atmoshpere - with big vocal crowds on both sides, pep band playing, and the game decided by a field goal in the closing moments of the game. For two weeks in a row, Union Bear fans have been treated to an absolute blast by their new football team and band. Last week they won in a nail bitter 29 to 24 and this week they lost a heart breaker 24 to 22. In both games the lead changed hands several times & from kickoff to final horn the two games were exciting. In addition, last nights game was played with a since of great respect between the teams. Richlands has wonderful fans and a great coach - and there were many sincere hugs between the opposing players after the game. I'm still shocked that the Blues ddn't win a state title last year but I do think games like the one with Union will better help Richlands prepare for the post season.

Just a note - from 1994 thru 1998 (the five seasons immediately preceeding the years you selected) Powell Valley won an amazing number of games (63) and 4 VHSL titles. It seems that the teams on your list of toughest programs may mostly be a function of time period selected. In addition, you can't have a legitimte list of our regions toughest highschool football programs excluding the Appalachia Bulldogs - winners of 6 VHSL titles - and including a couple of teams that have never won a title.

I'd watched more than a hundred Phil Robbins coached Powell Valley Vikings games before last years' match-up with Richlands - including big wins and big loses. But the game was the largest mis-match I'd ever seen. For certain, Richlands was much much better than PV on that night. The score did not reflect the mis-match. I'd witnessed the Vikings team in 1998 with Julius Jones, which I still consider our areas all-time greatest team, but I don't think they outmanned anyone on any specific night the way Richlands outmanned the Vikes last season. I was truely surprised that the Blues didn't win a state title last year. I just can't believe Richlands has dropped down enough to make this year's visit to Bullitt Park much different. I plan to attend and I hope for a contest. I don't expect one. I predict Richlands wins 42 - 13.