UNIONFAN

One more question. According to the VHSL numbers (which are usually wrong from what ive seen so far) GW is now a single A division 1 team. Is that correct or not?

WOW i stirred up a hornet's nest on this one. GW from what ive been hereing is tough, I just know i havent heard much on them in the past couple of years like I used to. I hope they do good this season and bring a state championship to southwest va. That is what matters to me! I love seeing teams from down this way win and prove that these ole country boys down here can play some good ball. Again i appologize if I made anyone angry, just wondering if GW is going to be a dynasty team (such as mid 90's Powell Valley and Appy or Richlands here in the past 10 years) or if it was just a one year deal. I hope they are a dynasty and send kids on to college to play the game we love so well

I understand that George Wythe is getting alot of early praise as being the toughest team in southwest Va, but are they that good or is it a "one year" thing?

This iswhy I love SWVA Chat. Yall are some of the most respectful people I have ever had the pleasure of posting with. Not trash talking just honest opinions and facts to back them up! God Bless Yall. With that being said, I have talked to a couple of the Union Players who are really dissapointed in their play last week with missed tackles and over persuit so they are determined to fix that this week (as well as the coaches are). I look for a well fought ball game and a Ton of heart being poured out from both sidelines. Dont let the U fool ya they are coming to play, but the Blues are tough no matter when or where ya play em. Gonna be an epic game

Next Friday night a very talented Richlands team travels to Bullitt park to take on the Union Bears. As you know I am a Union supporter, but I am also a realist. Union is much improved in the conditioning area as compared to the Powell Valley Vikings of recent years, and they have some very scrappy players with a ton of heart (as was proven last night). The coaching scheme was pretty much old school football but a blind man could tell when they were goin to pass the ball, so that needs to change. Im positive that they will fix some issues this week in practice. That being said, I am hopeful to see what will be a great played ball game. I am predicting that its going to be a hard hitting, well played game with a ton of excitment. Score wise, much like this week's 31 to 13 over Gate City. Richlands should come out with a W but it will be earned IMO. Richlands 35 Union 14 (although i will pull for my bears to win)

Lee did get tired last night. thats honestly the only reason union won the game. Numbers will hurt em as far as getting tired, but IMO if Palko can condition his boys a little more they are gonna be hard to stop. I argee with the props to Palko for running what works instead of what he wasnts to run. Phill Robbins was the world's worst to run what he wanted to instead of changing schemes to fit his talent(hints the reason PV fell of the past 8 or so years). Ya gotta go with what ya have not what ya want to have.

I agree with you on that. This is going to be a solid year for football in single A. with consolidation in the LPD and Lee stepping up the clinch mountain it is goin to make for some exciting games to be played this season. Im not real familiar with the cumberland and the black diamond but from what i heard last night Castlewood sounded solid and honaker did too. I hope they have some good comp in their districts

Just throwing my comments and thoughts about Lee High out there. IMO that was one of the toughest Lee High football teams i have seen in years. They have no passing game but two of the most talented running backs I have seen in a while. Grahm and Anders are quick as can be and hard to bring down. Granted Union was in the backfield every snap and did NOT wrap up when they hit (which better change if they exspect to be competitive next week) but those two running backs were like pin balls bouncing off of people and breaking big runs. The 3rd quarter told the tale though. Union has done some really good conditioning this past off season and that is the soul reason they won. Lee high started sucking air FAST in the second half and just basicly couldnt keep up. If Palko will condition those young men they will be a force to be reconed with! I was truley impressed with their running game and Defence. I wish them the best of luck. The clinch mountain district will deff be more competitive this season with Lee on the rise to stir up some dust.

Today marks one of the most anticipated days (for me) in Southwest Va. Today is the day that bragging rights are born, hearts are pumpin hard, and battle begins! Im an old Viking who loves football almost as much as I do my wife, and Im probably as pumped now as I was when I played. With all the consolidations here in Wise co and new eras begining its really brought an orra of the past back. It feels like it used to in the 90's down here. Communities are excited about football once again. Appy and BSG have really pulled together and Union gear is leaving the shelves as fast as it goes on em. With taht being said, let me know if yall are as excited about your team as we down here are about our bears.

I look for this to be on heck of a game. Im gonna say that it will be a little tighter than that with Richlands winning 31 to 21. Im not a Gate city fan at all but they are a tough ball club no matter where they play.