sixcat

Dixon and McPherson are good friends. I can't imagine Dixon will have an issue with it but school board and administration might be a different matter altogether.

That was obviously one of my weaker predictions. Exactly one person on this board picked Grayson on the pick-em challenge. His/her username leaves little doubt to their allegiance so, not exactly unbiased. Not one single person otherwise, yourself included, would have put money on Grayson winning that game. Hindsight is always 20/20! Rivalry game or not, Grayson played with an intense sense of urgency while Galax was flat. Not an excuse, hats off to Grayson for being prepared. Best defense Galax has faced all season.

Karma was a "dancer" I used to know from my time at Fort Jackson!?!?!

Abingdon Ft. Chiswell Glenvar Union Ridgeview Galax Graham Tazewell George Wythe Narrows Grundy JI Burton Eastside Chilhowie Patrick Henry Penn St. Florida St. Georgia Tech Clemson West Virginia Washington St. Oklahoma St. Tennessee Alabama USC Tennessee New Orleans Carolina Seattle Kansas City Oakland G(s)otW Richlands 40 Rye Cove 47 Virginia Tech 52

Programs that have experienced a complete and total change in culture and the coaches who were instrumental in the process. Both positive and negative. Hard to imagine one bigger positive turnaround than Galax. Dixon took over a program in 2010 that had played in 5 total playoff games in school history. He took them to a regional final for the first time in school history in year #1, a state championship game in year #2 and a state title in year #5. He has built the program into perennial favorites in 1A. I know others exist, i'm just not familiar with them and would love the insight.

Galax..........by as many as they want! I said it in another thread, Galax is in the early stages of a special run. I didn't think it would happen this season. I thought next season would be more likely. Dixon never ceases to amaze me though. For the first few games, they couldn't even line up in the correct formation. I didn't think this team of freshmen and sophomores could improve to the level they have as quickly as they have. I thought they had too much youth and inexperience in too many places. I was wrong! The best player on the field is Dougie. A close second to him are three freshmen, Cole Pickett, Keaton Beeman and Kolby Barnes. Beeman and Barnes have younger brothers that will join them on varsity in two years. They aren't coming alone! This group currently in middle school are ridiculously talented. You ain't seen nothing yet!

Tell me about it! This World Series feels like an NL West match-up.

Cubs have been inconsistent in all phases of the game all season and I watched them all but 6! Sad, I know! I hoped they would get back the the World Series but didn't expect them too. I still believe the Cubs are supremely talented. I also feel like virtually every player had a down year based on past success and ability. I like that they are mixing things up with new coaching voices in the clubhouse. Maybe get the attention of some guys that they need to do more on the field and less in front of the tv camera. It's been the norm in baseball for at least 20 years. The World Series hangover is a very real thing. I think Chili Davis will be great for Schwarber and Baez while Andy Haines will be great for Russell, Almora, Rizzo, Contreras and Bryant. My issue all season hasn't been lack of production. It's been with the lack of an intelligent approach at the plate. Wasted at-bats have been a real problem all season and were instrumental in ending the Cubs season. I didn't think anyone could beat the Indians in a 7 game series with that pitching staff, to be honest. I was way off with my prediction. I would love to see the Astros in 5. Would hate to see the Dodgers win another game!

And two of them didn't have the balls to put their name on it!!!!

I don't know enough about Gate City to be jealous of the program. My one and only interaction was when my brothers Grayson team traveled to Gate City. I don't recall the year exactly, either '96 or '97. We were made to feel welcome and never felt any hostility or arrogance. My brother suffered a concussion in that game when he caught a slant over the middle and Houseright teed off on him. It was a great, legal and completely devastating hit. Gate City had a great team that season. If i'm not mistaken, they won a state championship. They could have chosen a score over a struggling Grayson team that finished 3-7 (0-10 after the season was forfeited for an ineligible player). Gate City's coaching staff called off the dogs and won 33-6. It could have and should have been much worse. Snickers had a series of commercials on TV at that time where a football player was knocked silly on the field, the coach asks him who he is and the player replies "I'm Batman". Following the game, Gate City's head coach, along with several players, came over to my brother, patted him on the backside and said "are you Batman"? Some may have thought it was an insensitive or unwelcomed comment. We thought it brought a moment of levity to the situation. I didn't know the coach at the time. I assume now, it was Nick Colobro. Regardless of his reputation, I have always appreciated him taking that moment to check on my brother's health. The handful of players who came over were equally as gracious. The only two I can name would be Houseright and Shoemaker. Shoemaker was hard not to recognize given he was the only player on the field taller than my 6'-6" brother. We are often quick to point out anything negative. I thought it might interest some to hear something positive about the Gate City program. Even if it did happen 20 years ago.

Stay classy Dodger fans!!!!!!!!!!!!! https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/watch-dodgers-fan-jumps-over-railing-into-astros’-bullpen/ar-AAu3VBJ?li=BBnba9I

If my post above isn't a clear indication, I hate the effing Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO CUBS GO #FlyTheW

That was a wild game last night. The Dodger bullpen has been automatic in the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how they bounce back after getting shelled for 4 innings last night. That "vaunted" Dodger bullpen allowed 3 homers in an inning of work in the 9th and 10th last night. That has to sew some seeds of doubt. To me, it appears the Astros have the better pitching staff. But it will be fun to see how it plays out. I believe the Astros will win at least 2 in Houston and could possibly end the Series Sunday night with Dallas Keuchel pitching. He is tough to beat twice and will be extra motivated after game one. He didn't pitch badly in game one but did give up two homes. He will be opposite Kershaw who hasn't exactly been consistent in postseason play throughout his career. Darvish has 14 career starts against Houston given he spent 5 seasons with the Rangers. Not sure who that will favor but I've always felt in October, the hitter is almost always favored in match-ups of familiarity.

Union Graham Giles Radford Ridgeview George Wythe Richlands Marion Grundy Galax Auburn Chilhowie Narrows Honaker JI Burton Eastside Thomas Walker Oklahoma St. Pitt Ohio St. Georgia TCU Notre Dame Virginia Tech Kentucky Buffalo New England Tampa Bay Seattle Dallas Pittsburgh G(s)otW John Battle 59 Central 50

Some folks from Staunton River are claiming "fake news" in the comments section as well as on Twitter. William Byrd head coach Jeff Highfill is also known for some creative "gamesmanship".

Ft. Chiswell Radford John Battle Lee Graham Virginia George Wythe Galax Rural Retreat Narrows Pikeville Patrick Henry Tug Valley Twin Valley Burton Chilhowie North Green Virginia Virginia Tech Alabama West Virginia Penn State Notre Dame Buffalo New Orleans Minnesota Pittsburgh Denver New England G(s)otW Glenvar 55 Ridgeview 43

I think the fortunes of every SWVA football team would have changed by having Jim "Dandy"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two things about that game stand out. One, the officiating crew lost control midway through the third quarter and struggled to finds ways to regain it. Both sides got chirpy and chippy. Haysi was talented as a group and wore Peoples down as the game went on, which brings me to point number two. Galax ran 64 offensive plays, Steven Peoples was responsible for 48 of them. He finished with 341 yards and all four Galax touchdowns. What he needed was help! Haysi may very well have won that game anyway but when you're that reliant on one player and don't develop anything in support of that one player, somebody is eventually going to take advantage of that weakness and Haysi/Colley did that very thing.

Galax has completely changed its culture since 2010. An 18-6 (.750) playoff record with a state title and a runner-up. Given they were 2-5 from the 1920's to 2009 in playoff competition, that's just remarkable. Grayson/Independence/Fries is a whopping 4-22 (.154). I'm honestly shocked Grayson has played in 21 playoff games. That number just seems awfully high for whatever reason. I think it goes without saying, Appalachia and Powell Valley were remarkable programs and these numbers bear that out. All these years after the schools closed and they are still among the all-time leaders in win percentage, total wins and state titles. I didn't live in this part of the country for a number of years, Bluefield Reseracher. In your opinion, how did reclassification and realignment affect certain schools, especially in recent years with the number of teams getting into the playoffs?

Graham Ft. Chiswell Giles Union Lee Castlewood Auburn Chilhowie Narrows Grundy Honaker Thomas Walker Eastside Rye Cove Northwood West Virginia Oklahoma Tennessee Miami Virginia USC New Orleans Tampa Bay Kansas City Oakland Denver GotW Galax 52 Richlands 38 John Battle 55

The Nichols brothers from Radford should also be in the conversation. Those guys were special talents. Darris played at West Virginia and is currently an assistant coach at Florida. Shane played at Wofford and is currently an assistant coach at Murray State.

According to VHSL, it has been 474 for several years now. But according to the official VADOE statistics, it was 519 in 2012-2013 and has deviated very little since. http://www.pen.k12.va.us/statistics_reports/enrollment/fall_membership/report_data.shtml

I think 1A West as a whole is down this year. Galax is young, inexperienced, small and lack depth. George Wythe has been inconsistent with a lot of infighting surrounding the football program. I see changes on the horizon after talking to some friends over there. Burton and Honaker are both rebuilding. Hurley isn't nearly as talented as in recent years. Radford and Fort Chiswell are no longer 1A programs. Truthfully, Riverheads should be 2A as well. According to the VADOE website, they have had a higher enrollment than Fort Chiswell and Radford 7 of the past 10 years. Unless something crazy happens, they will repeat with relative ease.

Galax Giles Floyd John Battle Marion Union Grayson Graham Richlands Rural Retreat Narrows Grundy JI Burton East Ridge Castlewood Eastside Thomas Walker Patrick Henry Louisville Virginia Tech Virginia TCU Miami Michigan Cleveland Tennessee New York Giants Dallas Kansas City GotW Abingdon 41

I understand what you're saying but Galax has fewer than 26 players on the roster after a few injuries and a couple quit. I feel certain Union has many more than that. Union at least has some depth, Galax has 16 freshmen and sophomores. Almost every starter plays both ways.