ThomasDenton

I'd like to see Richlands play a TN team like TN High or DB. And I'd like to see Gate City play those two TN teams. And call me crazy, but I'd actually like to see Battle play TN High again (if nothing just to see us play bigger teams, we made a big step picking up Burton, but I'd like to see us drop Holston and PH and play bigger teams).

I'm embarassed to call myself an Irish fan right now. Should have won that game, but they played so sloppy and just couldn't keep the ball. Maybe they'll have another sub par season highlighted by some late season upset like they've done here recently. I think that's one of the reasons they continue to get ranked every year, because it sure isn't because of the way they play.

I was in the 7th grade at Wallace Middle School in Bristol when the attacks happened. The principal got on the intercom and told the teachers not to turn on the news or tell the students what was going on. Kids were getting called out of class left and right for their parents to pick them up (they'd read names off a list 20 long at a time). There were a couple of teachers that turned on the news and let their students know what was going on, but still no one knew all the details, just that we'd been attacked. I got out early when my mom picked me up and she told me what the news was saying. I think I watched the news at home nonstop for a whole week to see what was happening. I just felt like some bad dream or something, especially when they showed the footage of the planes hitting and the towers coming down. It was just like watching a Hollywood movie or something, just didn't seem real at the time.

Chilhowie edges Abingdon, 7-0 By: Allen Gregory Published: September 10, 2011 CHILHOWIE, Va. -- Buddy Brooks saw it coming. With 10:55 left in the second quarter, the lanky Chilhowie sophomore charged from his defensive end spot to intercept a pass. Seconds later, he was mobbed by joyous teammates in the end zone. It turned out to be a scrapbook moment for Brooks and disaster for the Abingdon Falcons. Behind the 58-yard interception return, the Warriors blanked AHS 7-0. “The quarterback dropped back to pass and I saw the running back coming out to my side,†Brooks said. “I just jumped up, got the ball and took off.†The non-district game was a defensive slugfest, as both teams searched for a flow on offense. Chilhowie (2-1) lost three fumbles, including a giveaway at the AHS 1-yard line midway through the final quarter. Entering the season, veteran Chilhowie coach Larry Russell was concerned with how his young team would respond to such adversity. Junior linebacker Bryan Vance, senior lineman Jacob Shuler (6-0, 250) and versatile senior Brett Johnson all delivered big defensive plays Friday. But a sophomore played the hero role. “That was a beautiful play by Buddy,†Russell said. “He read the running back and made a great catch. Buddy got an interception just like that earlier this season. He’s a tall, raw-boned boy and a just good ball player.†The Warriors needed a big play as AHS held the Chilhowie rushing game to 106 yards. The normally prolific Johnson managed just 53 yards on 16 carries. He scored 33 touchdowns last season. “Give Abingdon credit, they’re a lot more physical than I’ve seen them in the past,†Russell said. “This came down to a hard-nosed Friday night ballgame.†AHS coach John Bowles felt his defenders deserved more of a reward for their hustle. “I’m proud of our defense, but we just made too many mistakes on offense to even give ourselves a chance at times,†Bowles said. After years of relying on the pass with prolific quarterbacks such as Jake Hess and Adam Henderson, the Falcons (1-2) are scrambling to make a transition to a more power-based attack. AHS has completed just five passes for 43 yards in three games. “It’s kind to easy to see that we’re struggling with the passing game,†Bowles said. “Right now, we’re going to have to get 3-4 yards at a time, and hopefully we can continue to play real good defense. “We’re real proud of our boys on both sides of the ball. They kept scrapping and fighting and clawing to just try to get a victory. We just got to find the right mix. We’re getting closer.†AHS senior Caleb Widner, who began the season at quarterback, once again worked overtime as he rushed for 123 yards on 32 attempts. Widner actually carried ball on the first eight plays of the game, but the Warrior defense remained stingy. AHS was also hurt by eight penalties. “My defensive coordinator (Jeff Robinson) loves those goose eggs,†said Russell, referring to the shutout. “We gave [Abingdon] the ball so many times, but our guys played their hearts out.†Senior Aaron Conley contributed 58 yards rushing and solid defense for the Warriors. “We’ve got a lot of inexperience and all our linemen except one are off the junior varsity, but our seven seniors are leading us,†said Russell, who used a variety of offensive sets. “It’s a work-in-progress, but the guys are coming on.†The Falcons had a drive stopped at the Chilhowie one-yard line in the second quarter. Senior Dakota Fields (5-8, 210) and junior fullback Grayson Toler helped key the AHS running attack with crisp blocks, while junior free safety Justin Vance, sophomore Hunter Norris and senior Matt Nash played well on defense. Widner recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass for AHS. As for the game-changing interception by Brooks, the Abingdon coach gave the Chilhowie sophomore credit for his instincts and talent. Brooks jumped high in the air and caught the ball in his hands like a receiver. “That was just a good play,†Bowles said. Brooks said it was just a matter of preparation. ‘‘I could see the pass coming, so I just read it,†Brooks said. “It’s pretty cool that the game came down to a defensive play. That’s real exciting.†The Falcons drove to the Chilhowie 38-yard line with 1:31 left in the game before Conley ended the suspense with an interception. Abingdon 0 0 0 0-0 Chilhowie 0 7 0 0-7 Scoring Summary C-Brooks 58 interception return (Farris kick) Team Stats First Downs: A 12, C 16; Rushes-Yards: A 43-142, C 30-106; Passing Yards: A 14, C 86; Comp.-Att.-Int.: A 1-10-1, C 6-14-1; Penalties-Yards: A 8-70, C 7-80; Fumbles-Lost: A 0-0, C 3-3; Punts-Average: A 3-34, C 1-34.

Abingdon lost 7-0 right? Can't remember the score exactly. I'd like to know details about this one too.

Saw on the CMD board that Graham won't be playing next Friday's game against Harlan Co. Something about his achilles tendon, but it must not be bad, just sitting him out so he doesn't get seriously hurt. I don't blame them. HC will be a beast to play and it would be great if they had him out there, but why risk it? Anyone else heard about this?

Oh, ok. Yeah, I'm pretty sure TS scored on us in the first half of that game, so Battle hasn't allowed a TD in 2 1/2 games, lol.

Twin Springs scored a TD on Battle in game 1 didn't they? The final of that game was 36-7.

You definitely must not be at Virginia Highlands Community College then if the teachers frown upon those words. Also, yonder isn't just an Appalachia thing, read a little Shakespeare and you'll see.

IMO Union will definitely win and it won't be close. Then again, this is high school football and I have been wrong before.

We just like to get on your nerves VHSLhelper, lol. But seriously, am I right?

Isn't the cutoff for D1/D2 475 or something like that? If Grundy has less than that, then they are D1.

I always get the two confused, lol. I didn't know HC was a consolidated school. When was the school formed exactly?

Don't remember the exact score, but in the late 80s John Battle shut out GC with a pretty big score (thinking JSB scored 40 or more, but I don't remember). That same year though, GC shut out Battle in the playoffs 26-0 to get revenge.

We also beat Gate City in the late '80s and Tennessee High in '79 (last year they played us, my dad was on that JSB team....you know, since we're talking about daddy's glory days and all, lol).

I know Honaker played at Battle last year and they are scheduled to play there again this year, but does anyone know if Honaker is Battle's homecoming game? It's the second to last game of the season (we play Lebanon for senior night the next week) so it would be a really late homecoming, which I don't think anyone around here is used to. The only other options on the schedule for homecoming is Holston (which I don't see because that's next week), Abingdon (which is in the middle of the season, but I just don't see us playing them for homecoming), or Honaker in the second to last week (I seriously doubt we'd play Lebanon for homecoming since it's our senior night and the last regular season game).

I know it doesn't mean much right now since it's the beginning of the season, but going into week 3 WE'RE #1 IN THE CMD!!! lol. I'm saying Battle beats PH, Holston, and maybe Honaker to at least make it 5-5 this season. Really don't know what the other games will be like (we also have to play Lebanon, GC, and Lee for district and JI Burton and Abingdon for the rest). I'm hoping we do much better than 5-5, but worst case that's the least we should go IMO.

John Battle beat Virginia High 21-6. Someone said on here earlier that the game was really one-sided with the refs and 3 TD's were called back on VHS, but it was only 2 TD's and I don't think the Trojans really needed any help the way they were playing, especially after halftime. Trojan defense owned the game and their offense sputtered the first half, but completely turned it around after halftime. #3 for VHS took a beating, but he's a tough athlete and just kept going. VHS's young O-line really hurt them, especially in the second half. VHS could only get a couple of field goals while Battle got their momentum going and scored some TD's along with one safety. Great game for the Trojans for their very first Clinch Mountain District victory!

We've got so many new people around now (parents, players, coaches, etc.) that I think the politics will change finally. As long as he doesn't do anything illegal or decide to leave for whatever reason, I think he'll be here for a long time.

Maybe Coach Wright is finally the coach Battle needs to turn the program around so that we can get the rivalry back on track. I can't wait until Friday!

Battle's helmets are the same as last year, so you're good there.

That made my day deuceswild, but you forgot Chilhowie.

I can't believe Battle dropped so much. Didn't they have somewhere around 650 last year or the year before?

Can't believe I'm saying this, but I wish VHS the best of luck. They have a great coach now who knows the school since he was there before and from the sound of it he doesn't put up with any crap. That's just what they need over there and I hope Coach Wright will do the same here at JSB. As for Bradley, he has simply wasted all that talent he has and it's a shame. Hope he turns his attitude around in the future.

I also heard he played in the jamboree (and some said he was moved to runningback) but my brother went to the jamboree and said he didn't see him. Don't know if he was in it or not. If he did quit, how many times does this make of him joining a team and quitting (last season he worked out with Battle and was going to join, but quit and went back to VHS when Witten told him he wouldn't be starting right away and would have to work his way up).