PREP FOOTBALL: Super 7 and Predictions
By BHC Sports Desk
Published: September 24, 2010
Team Record
1. Richlands (4) 4-0
2. Tennessee High 4-0
3. Clintwood 4-0
4. J.I. Burton 3-0
5. Gate City 3-1
6. Grundy 4-0
7. J.J. Kelly 4-0
First-place votes in parenthesis.
Greeneville at No. 2 Tennessee High
Last meeting: Tennessee High 38, Greeneville 17 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Greeneville, Tenn.)
The Greene Devils (4-0) have rolled through the early portion of their schedule and are ranked No. 1 in the state at the 4A level. Tennessee High (4-0) moved up to fifth in the 5A poll with its impressive victory last week over previously unbeaten 6A squad Science Hill. ... The hero of the Science Hill game, Carlos Howard, who made a magnificent catch on the go-ahead drive for the Vikings, also showed off his pass-catching skills last year against Greeneville, snagging two TD catches. ... Greeneville has won at least 10 games in each of the past three seasons. Tennessee High has a streak of winning at least eight games each year dating back to 2000. ... The Greene Devils knocked Tennessee High out of the 2008 playoffs with a 30-23 win and have ended the Vikings’ season three times since 1998.
Prediction: Greeneville 28, Tennessee High 25
Lebanon at No. 3 Clintwood
Last meeting: Lebanon 17, Clintwood 7 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Lebanon, Va.)
Clintwood has cruised to its 4-0 start by averaging 41 points per game. … Balance has been the buzzword for Clintwood. Four Greenwave players have rushed for more than 160 yards, with Gavan Meade (43 carries, 440 yards) leading the way. Meanwhile, six different receivers have hauled in passes. … Lebanon continues to struggle without injured quarterback Nick Smith. The Pioneers have won the last two meetings against Clintwood, but tonight will be a different story.
Prediction: Clintwood 33, Lebanon 18
Powell Valley at No. 4 J.I. Burton
Last meeting: Powell Valley 12, J.I. Burton 6 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Big Stone Gap, Va.)
The Phil Robbins retirement tour continues tonight in Norton. The veteran Vikings coach is 2-2 in his final season as the Vikings’ head coach and his team is coming off losses to Richlands and Harlan County (Ky.). … Powell Valleymust improve in the passing game as the Vikings have amassed just 224 passing yards and one touchdown through four games. It won’t get any easier against the Burton secondary of Timmy Goins, Riley Maggard and Andy Short. … Burton is coming off a bye week and the Raiders have had plenty of time to prepare for PV. That could make Robbins’ final trip to Lawson-Fitchko Stadium a forgettable one.
Prediction: J.I. Burton 20, Powell Valley 10
Appalachia at No. 5 Gate City
Last meeting: Gate City 42, Appalachia 8 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Appalachia , Va.)
After being held to 80 yards in a 31-0 loss to Richlands to open the season, Gate City has averaged 39 points en route to three straight wins. … As expected, relentless senior Joseph Vaughn has led the charge. Vaughn rushed for 214 yards against Sullivan South and has scored seven touchdowns. … It will be homecoming at Legion Field where GC has won 86 percent of its games since 1966. … Cody Carter and Tyler Barker are the players to watch forAppalachia, which rushed for 241 yards last week against Rye Cove. Quarterback Forrest Stuart supplies the passing threat. ... GC rushed for 265 yards against the Bulldogs last season, as Vaughn churned out 149.
Prediction: Gate City 42, Appalachia 0
--- The Rest ---
Southwest District
Abingdon at Tazewell
Last meeting: Tazewell 33, Abingdon 21 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Abingdon, Va.)
After allowing 25 points per game last season, Abingdon continues to show dramatic improvement on defense. The Falcons held Richlands to 76 yards rushing last week behind sophomore Trevis Lightfoot (6-2, 180), senior linebacker Kevin Canter and senior lineman Shaine Fannon (6-0, 230). … Junior Caleb Widner is a playmaker on offense, while senior quarterback Jake Hess has thrown for 438 yards. … With just four seniors, Tazewell has one of the most youthful lineups in the area. The Bulldogs allow 37 points per game, but feature some big hitters in Michal Moore, junior tackle Brad Bowles and two-time All-SWD pick Shaquille McDonald. … Behind the passing of Hess, AHS led Tazewell 21-14 after three quarters last year. Current Richland’s quarterback Cody Lockhart for Tazewell made the difference with 360 total yards in offense.
Prediction: Abingdon 28, Tazewell 0
Graham at Marion
Last meeting: Marion 41, Graham 20 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Bluefield, Va.)
Marion has averaged 167 yards rushing against three non-district foes from the Hogoheegee, as Marshal Wagner and sophomore Ethan Richardson has emerged as two of the top offensive threats in the SWD. The Scarlet Hurricane allow just 103 yards rushing per game. … Three-year starter Aderrius Jackson led Graham with 230 yards rushing in last week’s wild 42-31 loss to Virginia High. … After playing one of the toughest schedules in Southwest Virginia the past two years, Graham moves to the Group A Mountain Empire District next season. … Current Chilhowie standout Brett Johnson collected 256 yards rushing and three scores for Marion in this game last season.
Prediction: Graham 28, Marion 17
Hogoheegee District
Northwood at Chilhowie
Last meeting: Chilhowie 35, Northwood 6 (Oct. 16, 2009 in Saltville, Va.)
Since a Week 2 loss to Grayson County, Chilhowie has rebounded with convincing wins over Twin Springs and Fort Chiswell. … Brett Johnson scored five touchdowns in last week’s 35-7 win over Fort Chiswell, raising his season total to 11 scores. … Daniel Ashby, Levi Gillespie and Jacob Shuler have been the top tacklers for Chilhowie’s stingy defense. That’s a bad sign for Northwood, which has managed just 14 points over four games.
Prediction: Chilhowie 48, Northwood 13
Cumberland District
Coeburn at Thomas Walker
Last meeting: Thomas Walker 12, Coeburn 6 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Coeburn, Va.)
The problems in Coeburn’s 1-3 start have been easy to pinpoint. The Blue Knights have yet to put a complete game together. … Coeburn has blown early leads in all three of its losses. The Knights led J.J. Kelly 7-0 after the first quarter last week, but collapsed by yielding 30 unanswered points. … Thomas Walker was the preseason pick to win the Cumberland District, but the Pioneers have looked anything like a champion in the season’s early stages.
Prediction: Thomas Walker 24, Coeburn 21
Rye Cove at Castlewood
Last meeting: Castlewood 14, Rye Cove 12 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Clinchport, Va.)
Castlewood was off last week and it will be interesting to see if that will hurt the momentum the Blue Devils built in starting the season 2-1. … Ryan McCall continues to settle into the quarterback position for Castlewood, while Clayton Mullins continues to lead the team’s rushing attack. … Rye Cove has struggled all season and the Eagles haven’t shown any sign of being able to stop the run. Rye Cove blew a 12-0 halftime lead in losing to Castlewood last season.
Prediction: Castlewood 22, Rye Cove 8
Twin Springs at St. Paul
Last meeting: St. Paul 20, Twin Springs 14 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Nickelsville, Va.)
Offense has been the calling card for St. Paul in its first three games. The Deacons are averaging 36.4 points per game and quarterback Trevor Hileman has been impressive. … Hileman has thrown for 547 yards and nine touchdowns, compared to just one interception. Bryce Lawson and Reid Edmonds have been his favorite targets. … Twin Springs (2-2) has been blown out in two games and has won two games handily. The Titans probably have nobody to contain Hileman and his fellow end-zone dwellers.
Prediction: St. Paul 48, Twin Springs 22
Non-district
Patrick Henry at John Battle
Last meeting: John Battle 20, Patrick Henry 18 (Sept 25, 2009 in Glade Spring, Va.)
John Battle is hoping to build off a drama-soaked 19-14 win over Honaker. … Junior quarterback Josh Blackburn has thrown for over 600 yards and six scores for the Trojans, with sophomores Cody Rogers and Brent Tipton each catching three TD passes. … Jonathan Whitesides of PH is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the area, while Andrew Groves and Aaron Fullen have big-play capability. … John Battle relied on Jeremiah Denton (105 yards rushing, two scores) to win this game in the rain last season.
Prediction: John Battle 21, Patrick Henry 7
Carroll County at Grayson County
Last meeting: Carroll County 25, Grayson County 6 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Hillsville, Va.)
After being held to 65 total yards against Christiansburg, Carroll County churned out 387 yards rushing last week against Tazewell. Seven players have scored touchdowns for the Cavaliers. …Grayson County opened the season averaging 46 points en route to wins over Alleghany, N.C., Chilhowie and Rural Retreat. The Blue Devils managed 183 yards in a 27-7 loss at unbeaten Glenvar last week. ... Xavier Rodriquez, who rushed for 66 yards against Glenvar, is the player to watch for Grayson along with quarterback Ethan Hash.
Prediction: Carroll County 28, Grayson County 22
Harlan Independent at Lee
Last meeting: Harlan Independent 35, Lee 28 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Harlan, Ky.)
Lee has allowed 34 points per game en route to three straight non-district losses, but elusive running back Tyler Graham has managed to carve out his yards. … The Generals are coming off a 34-20 loss to Middlesboro, Ky. … Harlan, which competes in Class 1A, has allowed an average of 36 points en route to a 1-3 record. The lone win was a 33-22 decision over Lynn Camp, Ky., two weeks ago. … Harlan rushed for 281 yards against the Generals last season. That was enough to overcome a 248-yard, three touchdown effort from Graham
Prediction: Lee 24, Harlan 14
Pound at Twin Valley
Last meeting: Pound 58, Twin Valley 16 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Pound, Va.)
Pound picked up its first win in impressive last week as Tyler Mullins threw two touchdown passes and also rushed for a score in a 41-0 blowout of Jenkins (Ky.). … Twin Valley suffered a 32-20 loss to Phelps (Ky.), but got another strong performance from running back Shannon Adams, who gained 159 yards on 19 carries and scored two touchdowns. … Both these teams have a small roster and will struggle for wins this fall. However, Pound has the edge with the one-two punch of Mullins and Aaron Balthis.
Prediction: Pound 35, Twin Valley 15
Holston at Haysi
Last meeting: Holston 27, Haysi 0 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Damascus, Va.)
Holston earned its first win of the season last week at Bland as the Cavaliers collected a 14-6 victory. … Haysi is 0-3, but the Tigers have produced some positives thanks to quarterback Derrick Blair. … Holston held Haysi to just 84 yards of total offense in last year’s meeting, but the Tigers should visit the end zone regularly tonight.
Prediction: Haysi 29, Holston 20
Virginia High at Honaker
Last meeting: Virginia High 43, Honaker 8 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Bristol, Va.)
For Virginia High it continues to be the same story. The Bearcats have a prolific offense, but a shaky defense. That was evident in last week’s win over Graham, when the Bearcats put 42 points on the board but allowed 31. … Josh Jordan and Ryan Loggins have emerged as quarterback Charlieo Bradley’s top receiving targets and will make life tough on Honaker’s secondary. … Honaker has had a tough start to the season, compounded by last week’s frustrating 19-14 loss to John Battle. Life will not get any easier for veteran coach Doug Hubbard’s team tonight.
Prediction: Virginia High 45, Honaker 12
Hurley at Montcalm, W.Va.
Last meeting: Hurley 32, Montcalm 0 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Hurley, Va.)
Defense has been nonexistent for Hurley recently as the Rebels have yielded an average of 45.7 points per game over the last three contests. Turnovers have also been a problem for head coach Greg Tester’s team. … Montcalm will be the perfect antidote for struggling Hurley. Montcalm is 0-2 and the Generals have yet to score a point.
Prediction: Hurley 40, Montcalm 6
George Wythe at Giles
Last meeting: Giles 28, George Wythe 20 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Wytheville, Va.)
After nearly knocking off powerful Radford, George Wythe experienced a letdown in dropping a 17-7 loss to Floyd County last week. … The Maroons managed just 163 yards of total offense and hurt themselves with three turnovers. … Giles is 2-2 and crushed Narrows last Friday. Head coach Jeff Williams always has his team ready to play and the Spartans’ single-wing offense could put a scare in the Maroons tonight.
Prediction: George Wythe 32, Giles 22
Sullivan East at Sullivan Central
Last meeting: Sullivan East 16, Sullivan Central 0 (Sept. 25, 2009 in Bluff City, Tenn.)
Both teams are still searching for their first win under new coaches after three years of the “Nelson Bowl†when brothers Ralph and Scott Nelson helmed East and Central, respectively. ... The Patriots (0-5) are averaging only 11.4 points per game, but had their best offensive performance last week in a 41-23 loss to Johnson County. Meanwhile the Cougars (0-4), have scored only seven points in back-to-back blowout losses since putting up 37 against Virginia High in a near-miracle comeback. ... East and Central’s defenses are struggling having given up averages of 40.75 (Central) and 37 (East) points per game. The Patriots shut out Central last year but haven’t given up fewer than 26 points in 2010. ... First-year Central coach Jeff Fox is a 1983 Sullivan East grad. ... The Patriots have won five of six against Central, with the Cougars’ only win in that span coming in 2008. ... Experienced quarterback play could make the difference tonight and the Cougars have the edge in that area with reliable senior Taylor Winchell.
Prediction: Sullivan Central 35, Sullivan East 24
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