Great City

Yep. Cold, wet, and muddy will not help the ball carriers. Neither will having a cast on an arm. But, both teams will have to deal with the conditions. I think turnovers again will be key. I also don't expect GC to have a ton of trouble moving the ball on the ground. If we can hold on to the ball, I think we win by a couple of touchdowns. I also think we can throw the ball on Battle if needed. The weather may influence that however. Looking into the crystal ball (OK, just making this up), I see Battle running back a couple of kicks to keep this game close. I also see GC missing at least two extra points. I also see GC giving up at least one long TD pass when a defender falls in the mud. If GC has 0 turnovers, I'm guessing GC 33 Battle 20. If GC has 2 turnovers, I'm guessing GC 19 Battle 14. If GC has 3+ turnovers, I'm guessing Battle 28 GC 12. BTW, congratulations to the volleyball teams at GC and Battle for both making the Final Four in Richmond next week. I thought GC would make it there next year (they have no seniors on the team), but didn't think they would get this far this year.

Just remember, nobody gave GC much of a chance against Gretna three years ago. GC controlled the ball and won the game.

Well, that is not good about the Herron kid. I was told that he will play, but he does still have a slight limp. I guess it would make sense to keep him out this week, and just hope for the best. Looks like a 60% chance of rain at kickoff. I would HOPE that a wet field would favor GC. Who knows?

GC wins the final set. GC will advance and play Battle (for the sixth time this year) on Saturday in the Region Finals. Both teams advance to the Final Four next weekend. Congratulations to GC and Battle. Half of the Final Four coming from our little neck of the world.

James River wins fourth set 25-20. Tied at two sets each.

GC wins third set 25-20. GC up 2 sets to 1.

James River wins second set 25-21.

GC wins first set 25-19.

I believe GC will have RB Herron back. The kid was averaging over 9 yards a rush, and over 40 yards a punt return before he was injured. Not sure if he will be at 100%. GC will still have 3-4 starters out, but all teams do at this time of the year. You just got to dance with what you bring. As a GC fan, this rematch scares me. It is easy to see the GC kids being a little over confident. This will be a good measuring stick for the Battle coaches. Will they be able to design a defensive game plan to stop the GC rushing attack that honestly they could not even slow down the last time these two teams played?

Congratulations Battle. John Battle wins in three sets over Glenvar. 26-24, 25-23, don't know the score of the third set. I guess that qualifies Battle for the final four next week. Gate City taking on James River next.

Gate City is playing better, and having more success. Part of this is because the younger players on the team have grown up some, and are playing better. The freshman QB is making better decisions, and the line on both sides of the ball is playing better. Play calling has also improved. It seemed like early in the year we were trying to run many different plays out of many different formations. The last few weeks we have gone to a more simple game plan. No doubt those formations/plays are still available, but stick to what is working. Kick coverage has gotten better. Still not great, but better. it was killing us early in the year. Part of this is that the competition earlier in the year was pretty tough. No offense to the teams GC has played recently, but OVERALL, VA High, Lee, Battle, and Wise Central are not as tough as Richlands, Sullivan South, Bluefield, and Union. (Not that it would have mattered with Bluefield, but we dealt wtih some player suspensions during that span.) ALL teams deal with multiple injuries this time of year. No way around it. A couple of weeks ago our 4th string tailback was forced to get some carries due to injuries. Our starting tailback missed some time, but now is back...........with a cast on his arm. We have a RB (who is averaging over 9 yards a carry and 46 yards a punt return) who looks like he will be out again this week. Again, ALL teams are going through this right now. You just have to put your healthiest kids on the field and hope for the best. Another semi-down year for GC, but I have been impressed with the way the team has improved. Thought we would be lucky to win 4 games this year. Real happy I was wrong about that.

Lee will be a very tough game for Battle. Lee has a good sized offensive line and can run the ball.

Final. GC 32 Battle 20. Was a fairly close game as most predicted. I don't think GC punted all night. Either scored or turned the ball over. Two GC turnovers in the red zone kept this game closer. Battle dropped some passes that would have helped them. I think GC leads the all-time series with Battle 31-2.

Final. Gate City 32 John Battle 20. GC leads the all-time series with Battle 31-2. (Not 100% sure about this. An announcer said it tonight.)

GC 32 Battle 20. 2 minutes left.

GC 32 John Battle 14 5:12 left in the game.

GC 26 John Battle 14 9:16 left in the game.

End of third quarter. GC 20 John Battle 7

Halftime. Gate City 20 John Battle 7.

The Hicks kid should play. I don't know if he will still have the cast on his arm. If so, not sure how effective he can be. I saw Caleb Herron (starting tailback) last night at the GC - Wise Central volleyball game. He was on crutches and had a brace on his lower leg. Doesn't look good for him. We were down to giving our 4th string tailback carries last week. Looks like he will get some carries tonight as well.

"My dear old grandpa used to also say, "Never try to teach a pig to sing. You'll just get frustrated and annoy the pig"." Is that another belittlilng comment? Your Grandpa must be having a fit. "Making comments that cannot be proven in anyway (i.e. "if we played your schedule, we would have a better record") are condescending and generally meant to be an insult to the team to which they were directed." Not sure if you are trying to twist my words, or if you really believe what you are typing. If you will go back and read my post, I said I would GUESS that GC would have the same record as Battle if we had played their schedule. Never stated it as a fact. Just my opinion. According to your Granny, it is OK for me to say what I feel. Right? "Making comments that cannot be proven in anyway (i.e. "if we played your schedule, we would have a better record") are condescending........" Would comments about an entire fan base fall into that category? I'm pretty sure those type of comments couldn't be proven. If they can't be proven, then using your logic, they would also be condescending, and thus belittling. You should have listened more to your Grandpa. "You know what they say about making assumptions?" Is that anything like assuming an entire fan base is bad because of the actions of a few fans? Or, that someone is a typical (derogatory) fan of particular school? I think that is more of an example of ignorance. " I dislike Gate City mainly because of the attitudes of many of their fans." So essentially, you dislike the fans who act like jerks, and not the entire fan base? Right? Good to hear. I agree with you. I also dislike the fans from all schools who act like jerks. Great to know we are on the same page. "I do, however, respect their programs/players" Just when I start thinking I understand you, you pull a comment like this out of your hat. Which is it? Do you dislike everything GC, or only dislike the fans who act like jerks? If it is the former, I think you have some issues. If it is the latter, I agree with you. "Yes, I use the term "typical Gate City fan" as a derogatory description." Belittling? Look out Grandpa. " I do not lump ALL Gate City fans into that category" Glad to hear that you at least think there are some "good" GC fans. I actually found it hard to believe that you disliked ALL GC fans. But, if you don't lump all fans in that category, how can you use the term "typical GC fan"? I'm beginning to believe that you don't know what you think. "I'll close with one thing my granny said often (though I think she borrowed it from Dr. Seuss): Be who you are and say what you feel......" Your Grandpa and Granny must have had some serious conversations. So, it is OK for me to say what I feel..........unless you disagree with it? Apparently we are just going to have to disagree and move on. I sincerely hope you don't judge an entire community, or fan base, based on the actions of a few individuals. I don't plan on making the trip to Battle tomorrow. I hope both teams play error free ball, and that there are no injuries

Bearcat Bob..... " noticed that you did not address these in your rather long and detailed response. If you are going to "go there", you have to go all the way" I'll make you a deal. I'll address them if you answer the questions I asked you. Deal? I'll assume you are a pretty stand up guy and will answer my questions. They are located in post #30. "Opposing fans understandably learn to dislike losing to GC"... I hope I don't ruffle your feathers too much here, but what i tried to explain is that GENERALLY Gate City has a good football team. A lot of area teams are used to losing to GC more than they are used to beating GC. I believe this contributes to a lot of fans not particularly caring for GC fans. (Again, I am NOT talking about or defending the fans who are jerks and don't behave appropriately. ALL schools have those fans. I don't agree with their behaviors no matter what school they cheer for). *Please see Jethro's comments below for an example of this. GC's non-common opponents are a combined 27-10. A little more impressive than Battle's opponents at 16-12. Even if you take Sullivan South's 8-0 record out of the mix, GC's opponents would still be 19-10"... Not really sure why you have a problem with these FACTS. Unless my math is wrong, which is always a possibility, these are just pure, hard facts. Hard to argue with facts. Strength of schedule is always used in the BCS. It is also used by the VHSL. Should both of those organizations stop using, or talking about, strength of schedule. I would GUESS that GC would have Battle's record, even with all the injuries/turmoil, if they had played Battle's schedule Not really sure why you don't like this comment. Notice how I used the word "GUESS"? I didn't say that it was true. I simply gave my GUESS. You are more than welcome to make your own GUESS. I may not agree with it, but that is OK. Bearcat Bob...you said "My dear old grandpa used to tell me not to put much stock in people who felt it necessary to brag on themselves or who belittle others." You also said....."I don't care for Gate City fans very much. Nothing against the players but some of those fans are insufferable." & "The more you try to prove your not a "typical Blue Devil", the more the typical you seem." Really sounds like you are belittling an entire group of fans. Not sure what your dear old Grandpa would think of that. Also sounds like you are trying to belittle me with the "typical Blue Devil" comment. Helpful hint: It is NEVER a smart idea to judge an entire group/race of people based on the actions of a small minority of that group. SWVAOUTDOORS..... "When the Sullivan South students did what they did I actually thought it was cool. Really hoping it sparks a very good friendly border rivalry." You know.....I also thought it was an OK thing to do.....as long as all the students kept their cool. It seems like the kids from both schools yelled and screamed a lot (the South kids got to scream a lot more), but there were no altercations. JETHRO..... "I wish Gate City fans would sit on their "HOME SIDE" no sense when there is plenty room over there. The rednecks sit on the away side cause their own fans don't want them embarrassing them over there". The "home side" is for season ticket holders (except for the section reserved for the band). GC fans without season tickets sit on one end of the "visitor's side". Not a bad problem to have if you have so many fans they need to use both sides of the stadium. "I can't stand gc. Of course I will pull for battle. gc always beat me in my time in school. I hold a grudge." Kind of supports what I was trying to say. If a fan is used to losing to GC, they are going to not like the GC fans. I understand not caring for the fans who are acting like jerks. But as Jethro pointed out, he can't stand the entire town of Gate City because of "always" losing to GC. "If hating Gate City was a job, I would be the CEO!!!!!!" HaHaHa. Got to admit. This is funny.

"These types of comments are all too common with many Gate City supporters. True statement? Maybe, sure." Not trying to argue. Just wondering which of my statements you quoted may NOT be true. If they are true, what is wrong with saying them? "Appropriate? I guess." Again, just wondering why they would NOT be appropriate. I didn't call out fans from any specific school. i actually said EVERY school has fans who are jerks. I would guess that most people on this board would agree with that. Why would my thoughts/comments not be appropriate for a public forum? "Annoying? Yes." OK. I'll give you this one. I am sure they are annoying. "Why? Because it happens all the time. This is EXACTLY the point I was trying to make. The GC fans get on your nerves more than the fans from other schools because generally GC has a good football team. The fans from other schools generally have to listen to GC fans cheering a winning team. I completely understand how this gets old., and how GC fans may bother you more than other fants. "I doubt you even see why these comments are irksome." Just the opposite. I think I totally understand why these comments are irksome. * To be clear, I am NOT talking about the fans who really are jerks, the fans who try to start trouble, or the fans who generally show a lack of respect for the other school or their fans. ALL schools have these type of fans. To think or say otherwise is simply naive. "At the Bball game they were yelling at our cheerleaders" I would never defend that type of action. None of the "fans" I have ever been with have done anything like that. "at the Fball game @ Haysi they were sitting on our side" I don't have a problem with this. I ASSUME there were no, or very few, seats on the other side. I mentioned Sullivan South earlier. At the GC - Sullivan South game this year at GC, the South student section came to the game WAY early to get seats in GC's student section. The stadium was almost empty. They could of had any seats they wanted. They brought a big sign and hung it on the stadium. They cheered, yelled, and chanted the whole game. South kicked our tails all over the field, and we had to listen to the fans. Annoying? Of course. Options? Deal with it, have a better team, or don't play them. BTW, there were no incidents between the students or fans. "My biggest issue with GC fans in general is alot of them are very loud/proud when the team is good but now that they arent those "fans" are very quiet. They arent really fans, just loudmouths." I agree. I don't particularly care for the fans who just jump on the bandwagon when their team is winning. But you have got to realize that ALL fans talk more when their team is winning. I was on this board last year and said GC had the worst team I had EVER seen at GC. Predicted they would win two ames.......they did. I guessed they would win four games this year. I hope I underestimated them this year. "But there are jerks everywhere" BINGO!

Being a GC fan, I'm not real sure how to take the "I don't care for Gate City fans very much" type comments. :) Bearcat Bob...you do go on to say that "some of those fans are insufferable". I would GUESS that "some" of the fans for ALL schools are pretty insufferable. Having attended my fair share of high school events the last 30+ years, I can pretty much guarantee it. I do understand the animosity toward GC football fans. GC has been pretty good in football for many, many years. (I wonder how GC ranks as far as winningest programs in VA? I hope someone looks that up and posts it.) Opposing fans understandably learn to dislike losing to GC. Just saying. (I do know how you feel. The Sullivan South fans are pretty loud. Sullivan South has been destroying GC. They are currently the 4th ranked 4A team in Tennessee.) BTW, every other fan for GC does NOT have a cow bell. I would guess there were less than 10 cow bells at the GC - Lee game. Those that bring the bells just lke to use them. Anyway.......back to the game. I agree with the people who have said this game will come down to turnovers and big plays. Have not seen Battle play this year. I do know that GC played them toe-to-toe last year. This year's GC team is better than last year's team. This year's Battle team is not as good as last year's team (from what I have read.) But again, turnovers and big plays will decide this one. Injuries continue to kill GC. I'm not sure if Herron will play this week. Leg injury against Lee. He was averaging over 40 yards a punt return (according to the Kingsport Times News.) He had also inherited the starting tailback and starting defensive back jobs due to injuries. GC was forced to use the 4th string tailback some against Lee last week. RB Hicks (the opening game starter at tailback) should play. He played some last week........with a cast on his arm. Makes holding on to the ball and catching passes a little more difficult. GC had a defensive starter go down last week with a separated shoulder and separated elbow. A look at common opponents: Battle beat Abingdon by 16, Virginia High by 15, and Lebanon by 16. GC beat Abingdon by 21, Virginia High by 12, and Lebanon by 19. Based on common opponents, it looks like the teams should be pretty evenly matched. Battle has a much better overall record. Looks like it is due to strenght of schedule. A look at the record of the non-common opponents. Battle's opponents have a 16-12 record. Almost half of those wins belong to Honaker (7 wins). Take Honaker's wins away, and the Battle opponents are only 9-12. Of course Battle played Honaker well. GC's non-common opponents are a combined 27-10. A little more impressive than Battle's opponents at 16-12. Even if you take Sullivan South's 8-0 record out of the mix, GC's opponents would still be 19-10. I would GUESS that GC would have Battle's record, even with all the injuries/turmoil, if they had played Battle's schedule. Oh well, you still have to line up and play the game. Hope it is a good one.

GC wins 37-25. "Hang a hundred on them"..my a$$. Great win for a team that has been dealing with a bunch of issues the last few weeks.