SWVAFB

Talk about 2 teams that have over came adversity, Northwood and Marion both have managed to hold things together with a combined 11-1 record this year. Marion's one loss was to NW. Hats off to both teams for sticking together during tough times, and espically to the coaching staffs for their leadership and coaching. This shows that young student athletes can over come adversity with the right leadership and direction from wise coaches. Best of luck in the post season. Not bad guys, not bad at all! Be sure to take care of business Friday night NW. It's one game at a time. Great job guys.

Good luck Panthers. Play well and smart. Everyone in Smyth Co are pulling for you! You're are small school with a big heart, and it appears you guys are on a mission. God Speed !

Since Blankenship is out, I am going with the Canes. Marion has a lot of weapons offensively, not just Wagoner. Their defense is suspect at times, but they can score quick. Ball control is the key for both teams. It is hard for me to pull against the Dwags, because I used to live there years ago. Good luck to both teams!

If Blankenship plays , it will be a close game, maybe going to Tazewell. If he does not play, the " weak ole Hogo " team from Marion probably will win. Everyone was bashing the Hogo several weeks ago, but thing looks a little different now boys.It ain't over til its over and several Hogo teams are looking better each week.

Northwood took Chilhowie behind the wood shed Friday night. Northwood was the best team, better prepared, and better coached. The big Olinger back was injured in the 2nd half. I hope he is OK. He is a horse for NW. As for Chilhowie, enough about a tough schedule. B. S. Chilhowie fans are getting restless with Robinson.Chilhowie is a top football program in SWVA, but their record is below .500 since Robinson took over....8-9. Participation is down, and frustration is growing. After last year, fans thought things were back to the level of old hard nose Chilhowie football. But this year has been very disappointing to say the least. Looks like Chilhowie will be hard pressed to make the playoffs this year. The program appears to be headed south. Just my thoughts.

If I am not mistaken, the 100+ mailboxes were destroyed on or about Aug 14-15. Rumors began on social media shortly afterwards, and social media also suggested some football players were involved. As I said earlier, as I read, the ones who committed the felonies began to tell on each other, as teenagers often do. The fact of the matter is, "does the punishment fit the crime", period? To destroy one mail box is a federal offense. To destroy 100+ mail boxes is unconceivable to me, especially without those involved being punished by the court system and the school system, with more than a slap on the wrist. Full restitution of the mailboxes to the owner(s) is in order in all cases such as this. When something of this nature takes place and involves our schools student athletes, we as citizens and tax payers expect prompt and just decisions to be made on the matters at hand from the school officials. If I am not mistaken, back in the spring, some baseball players were suspended a game or two for bullying an African American fellow player. In other words, this is not Marion's first rodeo in dealing with suspending athletes for actions unbecoming to the school and the community. I would think that our federal authorities are involved in this case, and I have confidence that justice will prevail in the end.

Bulldog, that is what everyone is wondering, and trying to fit the pieces together. All I know is what I read on some other boards. That is the Canes had about 6 players suspended after the Chilhowie game and before the NW game. Apparently, back in Aug. over 100 mail boxes were destroyed. Some people began talking about it, and apparently some of the ones who did it told on each other. Everything has been hush-hush until after the Chilhowie game, which raised even more questions with some people as to the timing of " what did you know, and when did you know it" especially with the school officials. Marion's entrance into the Hogo has not been as smooth as they hoped. Doesn't sound good.

What is going on with the Canes? Suspensions? Possible felonies? Possible cover-ups? Questions are flowing like crazy all over the county.

This is a truly sad situation for high school athletics. Here you have a large school that was not used to winning for decades, and the school brought in a new coach and that won some games, and went to the payoffs. Heck, in Virginia, just about every school goes to the playoffs now. The coach resigns, and another new coach was hired. The kids and staff worked their butts off all summer I bet, but lost their first game to a neighbor school. The parents wants the new coach's head, because its all his fault because they got the sh&t beat out of them. The principal,who obliviously has no back bone, sides with the parents and hires back the previous coach, and his assistant. The parents get what they want. This situation is pitiful because it shows no character on part the principal or the parents. Not wishing JBS any bad luck, but I hope you guys go 0-10! Winning is not everything. If I was an assistant coach under the old coach that was kicked out, it would tell them where to shove it! Just my 2 cents worth!

Someone needs to pass along to the Hogo coaches that the VHSL does allow defense to be played in the Hogo District. There is no ban that has been imposed on the schools regarding defense. After an embarrassing week 1, every Hogo team ( with the exception of Northwood ) played some what questionable or terrible defense. NW won and only allowed TS 8 points, which is good. Holston lost and allowed Rye Cove 72 points. PH lost to Thomas Walker, which was a shocker. GW's 21 point lose to Radford was a surprise to many. RR gave up 50 to FC and lost. And Marion won, the top 2A dog in the district, but gave up 400 yards to Chilhowie. Is the Hogo that weak this year? Look out Hogo schools, your schedules are not going to get any easier. Just some week one thoughts...

Chilhowie has won 7 out of the last 10 of this series.This appears to be a very down year for Chilhowie, based on the pre-season. CHS is big, slow, and out of shape and no one wants to take the leadership roles. This has to be Marion's year. Canes by 35.

I guess my first question is 1) Does your AD and your HC speak to each other ? and 2) Does your AD buy your HC's groceries each week? Just kidding...........That is a TOUGH schedule, and the toughest in SWVA for a small school. I guess one could say that neither Galax nor Chilhowie does not back down from good competition, Galax especially. Chilhowie plays the schools on I-81, not caring about school size, and most of the non district schools are much larger. Just a word of advice.....Be sure to do a head count when you load the buses!!!! Thanks, and best of luck to the Tide this year!

Chilhowie just may have one of the toughest schedules in SWVA for an A-1 west school. They scrimmage Honaker and Wise Central. They play Marion, JIB, Abingdon, Va High, GW, Tazewell, NW, PH, RR, and Holston. The Honaker/Chilhowie scrimmage just may be one of the best pre season games of the new year. Central at UVA WISE will be entertaining, then comes the slobbler knockers Marion and JIB. VHS will be tough also. Abingdon (3a) will be tough this year also, along with Hogo talent rich GW. The schedule may ease a little with some Hogo schools, but having to Travel to Tazewell will be no easy trip. The Bulldogs just may have the best team in SWVA this year. For a small school, Chilhowie seems to have their work cut out for them this year. Any small schools out there with a tougher schedule?

No question Coach Matlock will be missed in the Hogo. A Great football and baseball head coach for a small school in SWVA. A lot of folks who follow Hogo sports figured this was coming, just the timing was a surprise to me. Maybe he should of announced this earlier in the summer or spring, but all will work out for Holston. Best of luck to Coach Matlock in his new position at VMS, and best of luck to the Cav's this season.

I am going with Marion to win the Hogo. Marion has several excellent skill players back in Lefler, Wagner and Blevins. Marion won the 7 on 7 a few weeks back over Chilhowie. They will have to revamp their oline and defense, but with their enrollment twice the size Of the some other Hogo schools, that want be as much as a problem, as say, Holston. Don't count out GW. GW is well noted for their talent And skill players, not to mention the State Champ team a few year back. With the change in coaching staff this year, how the team responds will be interesting. Chilhowie won the Hogo last year, edging Marion in OT, and destroying GW. Chilhowie was up and down last year. They finished 7-4 , and could very well improve that record. Chilhowie will need to improve on defense, but should have a huge oline. They lost a lot in the back field, but with that college size oline, they will be OK. PH will be improved. I hear they have some good skill and have looked pretty good in pre- season 7 on 7. NW lost several skill players That will be hard to replace. Call and Olinger will lead them, along will several good linemen. RR lost a lot of seniors last year's, but with a new coach and their tradition, don't count them out of any upset. That leaves Holston. The Cavs just lost to many good players who will be hard to replace, but Coach Matlock is noted for getting the most out of his player's, and that will be the case this year players.

Just a short follow up on Plywood's take on Smyth County Schools. I believe Northwood may be in trouble enrollment wise in the next few years. They keep declining every year, with no end in site. Marion has moved students from Sugar Grove to Marion to stabilize their lose of students. Chilhowie has seen stable enrollment, thanks to very good housing sites in and around Chilhowie. A lot of folks from Marion and Saltville are building homes in the Chilhowie area. Chilhowie has about 3-4 excellent new sub-divisions and people like Chilhowie because of it's location near I-81.The future for Chilhowie looks good, but Marion and Northwood will continue to decline ( no housing lots ). The new school Marion build is as close to Chilhowie as one could get ( figure that ). It appears Northwood is headed for some type of consolidation in the near future. My take on this year Hogo FB 1. Marion 2. GW 3 Chilhowie 4. PH 5. NW 6. RR 7. Holston

Any truth to rumor that Marion baseball coach fired, and several players suspended ?

May God be with this family, bless them, and comfort them during this very difficult time. My Prayers are with them and with the Marion community. God Bless !

Woops.....................I think I was wrong about that. VHSl Reference did not have that info.... You might try Bristol HC Sports.... That paper covered SWVA Football like a glove in those years.

You can find it at: vhsl-reference.com

This guote just might fit if LB fans don't know about SWVA Football. " When you tell somebody something, it depends on what part of the Country you're standing in as to just how dumb you are".

Haysi's win over Clintwood was the "Shocker" of the year so far..... Maybe not to Redtiger, but to A lot of other fb fans in SWVA. Haysi must have a good team this year, and the Tigers are known For good sports teams in SWVA. Congrates to the Tigers.......You have made some noise in VA!

Any doubts NOW......The Hogo STILL runs through GW.

Falcons played very well, and CHS got it's bubble burst. Chilhowie tried to get cute And got away from their bread and butter.......run...run...run... with Jones and Brooks. Congrates to AHS. CHS brought out the old play book from the past!!!!!!!!!!

The Canes were blowing hard before Chilhowie turned them into A cool breeze.......going to win the Hogo hands down........ Not much talk now, The Hogo still runs thru GW. This will be close, GW by 3.