sixcat

Congratulations to everyone.  SWVA is well represented. 
https://docs.google.com/file/d/1qzzhe7ccryLrtJpj1LhF34Vy1Y-n2yKA/preview?rm=minimal
 

I don't believe consolidation is always the answer.  Ask Carroll County.
Personally, I believe Class 1 should be further reduced to those schools with enrollments under 350 or so regardless of the number of schools that entails.  The remaining schools can be evenly divided into 4 more classifications.  There isn't a ton of difference between a school with 450 students and a school with 650 students.  But a school with under 300 students trying to compete with a school with 450 students is another story altogether.  Riverheads and Galax can compete against Class 2 schools.  In my humble opinion, either would have had an excellent shot at a Class 2 championship this season. 

I don't believe consolidation is always the answer.  Ask Carroll County.
Personally, I believe Class 1 should be further reduced to those schools with enrollments under 350 or so regardless of the number of schools that entails.  The remaining schools can be evenly divided into 4 more classifications.  There isn't a ton of difference between a school with 450 students and a school with 650 students.  But a school with under 300 students trying to compete with a school with 450 students is another story altogether.  Riverheads and Galax can compete against Class 2 schools.  In my humble opinion, either would have had an excellent shot at a Class 2 championship this season. 

Concussions can happen just as easily in other sports. Especially soccer. But none of those sport have the perception of danger that football has. 
 
We live in a world where perception is largely reality!  

Just a few counter points.  First, basketball and baseball are not similar to football in terms of the amount of contact a kid is subjected to.  Especially from a perception standpoint.  I understand your point, 7 on 7 isn't exactly a contact form of football.  That does little to ease the concerns of mothers everywhere.  Head injuries have become so synonymous with football, the perception has become largely reality.  Second, VHSL has absolutely nothing to do with AAU.  
According to the article linked above, high school football participation is down 13.5% over the past 7 years in Virginia.  According to a recent article in the Raleigh News & Observer, high school football participation is down 19.7% in North Carolina over the past 4 seasons.  According to a news report from September on a Columbia television station, South Carolina high school football participation has dropped an average of 2.2% per year for 29 consecutive years.  Changes need to be made or we will lose football altogether as we know it. 

The officials in the Galax/Riverheads game were from the Roanoke area....

“Santa Claus” was brutal! He made several very questionable calls and even overturned the side judge on that first down turned 2nd and 5. And everyone who knows me on this site, knows I don’t bash officiating. 
 
Riverheads was offsides on defense but the result of the play was a 20 yard gain by Denver Brown. Dixon refuses the penalty. Side judge and umpire began spotting the ball and chains. “Santa Claus” came in and overruled them and marked off a 5 yard penalty against Riverheads from the original spot. Resulting in 15 yards of lost field position for Galax. Dixon was livid!  
 
I still don’t understand that one?!?!?

It was without a doubt questionable. I was there as a neutral observer just to enjoy a couple of great games and to these neutral eyes, Riverheads did get the benefit of the calls in question each and every time. The roughing the punter call on the partially blocked punt was terrible. 
Galax played with a ton of heart and should be very proud of their showing yesterday. Congrats on a great season!

A SWVA team screwed by officials in a title game vs Riverheads.  Where have I seen this movie before?  FFS

That in fact that Pickett crossed the line on the first try(you can see it on the film) as well as the punt that was tipped by a Galax player (you can here it and see the ball get redirected because of it) but they call roughing the punter on the play.  The kids shouldn't have to deal with incompetence by the refs. That was three huge game changing plays they missed. 

Just prior to halftime, Galax punted in a 7-7 game. The punt fluttered in the wind, landed and bounced directly into the midsection of a Riverheads player. The ball careened toward the Galax sideline and was recovered by Galax. The referees converged for several minutes and ultimately gave the football to Riverheads. Riverheads ultimately kicked a field goal at the end of that possession. 
 
The ensuing possession for Galax was the pick-6. Does the pick-6 happen had the correct call been made on the punt?  Galax should have had the football inside the Riverheads 35 yard line. It’s hard to predict what could have been but in my mind, that blown call gave Riverheads 10 points. To me, that was the depressing play. 

Very frustrating 

Just prior to halftime, Galax punted in a 7-7 game. The punt fluttered in the wind, landed and bounced directly into the midsection of a Riverheads player. The ball careened toward the Galax sideline and was recovered by Galax. The referees converged for several minutes and ultimately gave the football to Riverheads. Riverheads ultimately kicked a field goal at the end of that possession. 
 
The ensuing possession for Galax was the pick-6. Does the pick-6 happen had the correct call been made on the punt?  Galax should have had the football inside the Riverheads 35 yard line. It’s hard to predict what could have been but in my mind, that blown call gave Riverheads 10 points. To me, that was the depressing play. 

Galax answers. 24-21
3:17 remaining 3rd quarter. 

If you block a punt, it can't be roughing...

Galax answers. 24-21
3:17 remaining 3rd quarter. 

Galax goes 60 yards in 4 plays to open the second half. 17-14

Galax goes 60 yards in 4 plays to open the second half. 17-14

That's a shame!  Not to toot my own horn but a family from Central Lunenburg left their headlights on during the 2011 state semifinal at Galax.  Not only did my wife and I jump start their car, we bought them dinner at The Smokehouse to give the battery time to charge and make sure it held a charge. 
Most things in life are bigger than football.  It's just a game.  One played by 16 year old kids at the high school level at that!  Often, those 16 year old kids are more mature than the 46 year old parents in the stands.

Galax didn't adopt "sanctuary" status.  City Council unanimously signed a resolution not to support changes to the 2nd Amendment but felt declaring "sanctuary" status was nothing more than a symbolic gesture.  Should 2nd Amendment laws change, everyone will have to adapt, even those who have adopted "sanctuary" status, or risk losing all Federal and State funding. 
https://www.galaxgazette.com/content/galax-stops-short-2a-sanctuary-resolution
But hey, it keeps us all occupied on something stupid while the powers-that-be control the world.  

That's a shame!  Not to toot my own horn but a family from Central Lunenburg left their headlights on during the 2011 state semifinal at Galax.  Not only did my wife and I jump start their car, we bought them dinner at The Smokehouse to give the battery time to charge and make sure it held a charge. 
Most things in life are bigger than football.  It's just a game.  One played by 16 year old kids at the high school level at that!  Often, those 16 year old kids are more mature than the 46 year old parents in the stands.

The greatest joys of my life have all been wrapped up in being called "dad!"  Enjoy the hell out of it.  They grow up way too fast! 
Congratulations to you, your wife and your step-child.  You all gained a blessing.  

That's a shame!  Not to toot my own horn but a family from Central Lunenburg left their headlights on during the 2011 state semifinal at Galax.  Not only did my wife and I jump start their car, we bought them dinner at The Smokehouse to give the battery time to charge and make sure it held a charge. 
Most things in life are bigger than football.  It's just a game.  One played by 16 year old kids at the high school level at that!  Often, those 16 year old kids are more mature than the 46 year old parents in the stands.

That's a shame!  Not to toot my own horn but a family from Central Lunenburg left their headlights on during the 2011 state semifinal at Galax.  Not only did my wife and I jump start their car, we bought them dinner at The Smokehouse to give the battery time to charge and make sure it held a charge. 
Most things in life are bigger than football.  It's just a game.  One played by 16 year old kids at the high school level at that!  Often, those 16 year old kids are more mature than the 46 year old parents in the stands.