Tazewell vs. Marion article

[Lance 228]

Bulldogs ready for Marion

 

By LARRY HYPES

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

 

TAZEWELL, Va. — Few Tazewell games have been more suspenseful than the ones at Marion in recent years.

 

From questionable calls resulting in fan scuffles to Scarlet Hurricane success on incredible plays like a 4th-down-36 a few seasons back, the Bulldogs know it is never over until it’s over.

 

Last season, unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Marion got it over early at Witten Field with a 49-17 victory over Tazewell at home.

 

Now Tazewell (5-1, 3-1) travels to play Marion (4-3, 2-2) in a key Southwest District and Region IV, Division 3 encounter.

 

Bobby Wyatt’s Bulldogs are perched atop the Virginia High School League rankings (23.5 points), ahead of Patrick County (20.8), Richlands (20), and Martinsville (18.5). Marion is sixth, just behind fifth-place Graham, and only the top four teams will advance to the playoffs.

 

“This is a big game for them (Marion),” admits Wyatt, “because beating us would probably put Marion right back in the playoff picture. Every

 

game is big for us. Right now we are where we need to be. One week at a time, we have to make sure we stay there.”

 

Last week, Marion earned an impressive 15-13 SWD win at Carroll County. The Scarlet Hurricane was powered by Brock Hanna’s 134 rushing yards and touchdown, along with a field goal to earn a win in one of the district’s toughest places to play. Caleb Parsons added a score for Mike Briscoe’s squad.

 

Hanna is the district’s leading rusher with 844 yards for the Hurricane, which averaged 21.2 points a contest.

 

Marion has wins over Northwood (41-0), Patrick Henry—Glade Spring (33-9), and Grundy (27-6). The Hurricane has lost to Chilhowie (21-14), Graham (28-13), and Richlands (38-6).

 

Tazewell had three scores last week in a key victory over visiting Graham. Touchdown runs by Matt Muncy, Cody Lockhart, and Andrew Rhudy pushed Tazewell to a 20-6 win over the G-Men.

 

Muncy piled up an impressive 231 all-purpose yards including catching five passes for 105 yards. He ran 29 yards for his touchdown, returned a kickoff 53 yards, gained 91 yards rushing and had a touchdown-saving tackle on defense. Lockhart ran a six-pointer over from 29 yards and completed 11 passes for 134 yards.

 

Muncy has 644 yards rushing and has scored 8 touchdowns for Tazewell through the first six games. Lockhart has completed 56 passes for 783 yards and five scores. Dustin Dean has added 374 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

 

Defensively, Brandon Flanner had a superb game in his first starting assignment against Graham, while Rhudy returned after a two-week injury absence to register an amazing 18 tackles and scored a three-yard touchdown.

 

Luke Allison recovered a fumble and blocked one PAT and Dustin Dean had a fumble recovery for the Bulldogs. John Corner and Eugene Hilton had another strong defensive effort, along with steady Bruiser Moore.

 

Corner (48), Rhudy (46), and Hilton (40) are the leading tacklers. The Bulldog defense will need all its weapons against a Marion team that relies on a power attack.

 

Wyatt says, “Marion is a lot like Graham. They have an outstanding running game with talented backs and a strong offensive line. We know they (Marion) are bigger than we are up front.

 

“I expect a very physical game. We have to be ready for that. It will be hard hitting out there (tonight).”

 

Wyatt is eager to get his troops back in action after an emotional — and important — win over the G-Men. He understands the significance of the coming month.

 

“We are in the same position that Nick Saban spoke of at Alabama,” says Wyatt, “we’re on a bus with no rear view mirror. We’re looking ahead and planning for what is in front of us.”

 

LINK: http://www.bdtonline.com/localsports/local_story_290213824.html