Gate City vs Richlands......

[Dudley Dawson 10]

Let the discussions begin!

[applebarn 10]

Let the discussions begin!

 

I hope our GC boys can give Richlands a game.

[vthokies331 10]

I think it will be a good game. Both teams are very young but also very talented. Go Gate City!!!

[Nadoball 18]

Not sure what gate city has but i think it will be a good game, usually is. Richlands is really young (5 seniors). For richlands it depends on how well and how fast this team gels together, alot of potential. Need to see more out of the blues offense this friday night. How many starters and seniors for gate city?

[-oo- 146]

i havent seen gate city play but richlands looked very good at the grid-o-rama.

or at least the 10 total minutes i watched of them

[vthokies331 10]

Not sure what gate city has but i think it will be a good game, usually is. Richlands is really young (5 seniors). For richlands it depends on how well and how fast this team gels together, alot of potential. Need to see more out of the blues offense this friday night. How many starters and seniors for gate city?

 

Gate City has 6 seniors but only 5 of them start. However, they do have many underclassmen that have started for the last year or two. So, they are very young but do have quite a bit of experience.

[trublue 939]

Going out on a limb......but I have a gut feeling a team in "blue" will win .....;)

[devilsfork 19]

Several kids in our area have been hurt playing on the new field turf. I've heard Richland's has this now as well, so hopefully the Devils as well as Richlands come out of the game healthy. It will be a hard hitting contest as usuall, but with all the new transfers Richlands has received this year, I just hope the Devils can give them a good game.

[hoard 18]

This has probably been discussed on here in the past, but how in the world did Richlands end up with only 5 seniors this year?

 

How many in that class played along the way, like in 8th grade, JV, etc?

Edited August 25, 2009 by hoard

[mrb 26]

I maybe wrong but only one senior starts. QB

[Hokies4Ever 23]

2 i think start QB and OL.

[meaty_2 10]

and the transfer from tazewell #2 running back

[BigD4VT 11]

Six seniors. Two who played last year, two who played in '07 but didn't play last year, and two transfers. Two of the six are starters and two others are on the 2-deep.

[Bulldogs52 484]

and the transfer from tazewell #2 running back

 

But you don't have to worry about him!

[RHS71 10]

Go Big Blue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CopperRidge 10]

Should be the typical GREAT game between two SWVA powerhouses. Doesn't matter how much youth each team has you know both teams will get after it. Good Luck to both teams for a hard played and injury free game.

[Nadoball 18]

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Richlands defeats Bassett in benefit game

Jim Talbert

Richlands News Press: Sports >

Tue Aug 25, 2009 - 08:57 AM

 

 

By DAVE COX/Staff

The final tune-up for the regular season for the Richlands Blue Tornado football team proved a couple of things. The Blues looked great at times in a 28-13 benefit game victory over visiting Bassett last Friday night at Ernie Hicks Stadium/EMATS Field, but at other times it was clear that RHS needs some serious work in several areas as they head into this week’s regular season opener against non-district opponent Gate City.

The Blue Devils bring a very talented squad to town with a No. 5 preseason state ranking status. The Blues will need to be at the top of their game and correct some mistakes made against the Bengals last week if they are to come away with a victory.

“We got to do a better job with the football and not turn it over†said Tornado head coach Greg Mance. “We’re disappointed with the way we protected the quarterback tonight. We did some good things, but when it was bad, it was bad and you just can’t do that and beat good teams. We’ve really got to improve offensively next week.â€

The Big Creek transfer trio figured into every score by the Blues except the extra points where Reece Strong was a perfect 4-for-4. He barely missed a 37-yard field goal attempt in the third quarter. Bradley Strong made an amazing 91-yard kickoff return to start the third frame. He was finally tackled at the Bassett one yard line. Devon Johnson, returning from his injury in the Bluefield Jamboree, jumped across the goal on the next play. He only ran two plays from scrimmage on offense all evening.

Austin Johnson was the man of the hour for the Tornado, running a punt back for a score and catching a pair of touchdown passes from Cody Johnson.

Defensively, the Blues were virtually unstoppable with two interceptions and a pair of fumble recoveries. The RHS defense harassed Basset quarterback Mason Maples all night, giving him precious little time to get a pass off and sacking him five times.

The Blues rushing game was virtually non-existent. They collected just 14 yards on the ground. Cody Johnson accounted for 126 of the Blues’ 136 yards passing on 22 attempts and 12 completions. He was intercepted once. Jack Vance hit one of two pass attempts for 10 yards and was not intercepted.

Bassett ran for 34 yards and passed for 126 on 17 attempts and 10 completions. Maples was intercepted twice. The first pick came on Maples’ first throw of the game. It ended up in the arms of Albert Fajardo.

Moments later, Cody Johnson suffered an interception when Shaq Finney stole his toss.

The Blues didn’t start to click on offense until their third possession. With great field position at the Bengal 23, Cody Parnell gained a yard before Cody Johnson missed his target on a pass play. He hit his target on the next throw and it was Austin Johnson coming down with a 22-yard touchdown catch with 3:23 left in the first quarter. Reece Strong followed that up with his first extra point kick of the game.

The Richlands defense forced the visitors into a punting situation and the speedy Austin Johnson sat sail for a 46-yard punt return for the next RHS tally with 36 seconds remaining in the opening chapter. Reece Strong added the PAT to make it a 14-0 contest.

The first Bassett touchdown came courtesy of a Richlands turnover on offense. The Bengals were driving toward the goal, but coughed up the football on a fumble at the five yard line that was recovered by Nick Wolfe. The Bengals got a little payback and more on the next play when the ball was jarred lose and grabbed in midair by Patrick Blankenship who stepped into the end zone with 8:56 left to play until the half. Tyler Martin added the extra point to cut the Blues’ lead in half at 14-7.

The prettiest play of the first half came with only 58 seconds remaining before the break. Cody Johnson lofted a 51-yard pass that fell perfectly into the hands of Austin Johnson who never broke stride on his way to the house. Reece Strong exercised his kicking foot again for a 28-7 Blues’ edge.

Bradley Strong intercepted Maples on the final play before the halftime intermission and that set the stage for his crowd pleasing kickoff return to start the second half. Strong worked his way through numerous would-be tacklers, but was finally pulled down from behind just short of a 92-yard score. His total gain was 91 yards on the spectacular run and Devon Johnson took care of the other yard on the next play. Reece Strong made the extra point kick to wrap up the Blues’ scoring for the night with 11:37 left in the third frame.

Many Richlands reserve players on both offense and defense were on the field the entire fourth quarter and the Bengals eventually broke through with another touchdown late in the game. Maples found Finney open on a 36-yard touchdown pass with 56 seconds left in the game. A two-point conversion pass fell incomplete the final score was set at 28-13.

Cody Thomas registered 10 tackles and an assist on defense for the Blues. Wolfe finished with five tackles and three assists to go along with a number of sacks on the Bengal quarterback. Tanner Smith came up with five tackles and an assist. Will Lowe managed four tackles and three assists. Zack Frazier contributed four tackles and a pair of assists.

“I think we played great defense,†said Mance. “There were a couple of plays that got away from us, but defensively, I’m very pleased.â€

[applebarn 10]

Dont know how we got a top 5 ranking in the state.

[89bluedevil 10]

This is a tough game to start the season for both teams, but also beneficial to both. Sounds like both teams are young and evenly matched. Hopefully, GC pulls this one out and both teams stay healthy.

[bigdogfan2 10]

I can't wait to see the johnson kids in action on Friday I will be attendance for sure. Everyone thinks that Bluefield vs Graham is going to be big but I see this as the game of the week.

[Warrior 10]

You know I feel this could be one of the best regular season games Richlands plays. But from what I seen at the Bassett game , the Blue are going to have to tighten up that O line, I seen too many jersey numbers all night long!!! Once that is fixed I feel the Blues can go very deep into the playoffs this year. Good Luck Coach Mance and the Blues!

 

P.S. I thought Special Teams played excellent, Defence was impressive, and O is young and can be very good once they gel and ge tthem linemen firing off the ball like crazed maniacs!!

Edited August 26, 2009 by Warrior

[Nadoball 18]

RICHLANDS, Va. – Life is good for Greg Mance.

During the past five years, the coach of the Richlands Blue Tornado football team has overseen a glorious run of championships, all-star players and expansion.

 

The raw numbers, including five straight Southwest District and Region IV titles, only tell part of the success story.

 

With the financial assistance of a rabid fan base, Ernie Hicks Stadium has been transformed into a prep football paradise complete with a colorful turf field, high-tech scoreboard and expansive new fieldhouse. Two radio stations cover every Richlands game.

 

“We take a lot of pride in our program,†said Mance, who was greeted by a swarm of reporters on media day. “Our fans fill up this stadium for every game, and our kids grow up with very high expectations.â€

 

In addition to a large weight room, training area and media room complete with remote-control projection screen, the air-conditioned Richlands fieldhouse features plaques bearing the names and numbers of former players. Large group photos of the state final teams from Richlands will soon be added.

While the Blues return just six starters this season, the outlook remains bright. Thanks to the addition of three transfers from Big Creek High School in West Virginia, Mance might have his quickest ever team.

 

Richlands is again favored to win the SWD, but Mance cautioned that the path to another title is full of hard-hitting obstacles.

 

Graham features 15 returning starters, including veteran quarterback David Marrs. Tazewell returns 14 veterans from a 9-3 team, while Abingdon and Marion each return 11 starters.

Carroll County posted a perfect record on the junior-varsity level last season.

 

“I think our district is going to be as competitive as it’s been in a while,†Mance said. “Abingdon, Graham, Carroll County and Tazewell are all going to be tough.â€

 

Grundy’s Greg Rowe returns as the dean of Southwest District coaches. Rowe compiled a record of 143-110 with five Southwest District and two regional titles in his first 18 years. But, as enrollment has plummeted at the Buchanan County school, Grundy has managed just a 6-34 mark the past four years.

 

The SWD might be balanced, but that will not diminish the intense spotlight at Richlands. The Blue Tornado participated in seven camps this summer – five for passing and two for linemen. Mance did not take time for a vacation until Aug. 8.

 

“Folks in this community don’t ask how many games we’re going to win; they want to talk about Lynchburg,†Mance said, referring to the annual site of the Group AA Division 3 state championship game.

 

Abingdon’s John Bowles is among the many coaches around Southwest Virginia who admire the success and commitment of Richlands.

 

“It just seems like [Richlands] is able to plug players in every year,†Bowles said. “The record speaks it for itself.â€

[Tigers_07 72]

this is truly the battle of who wears the color blue best.

 

two key things for this game

 

For Gate City:

1. Can Gate City keep it a close game with Richlands

2. How will Head coach Bill Houseright fair in his debut

 

For Richlands:

1. How will the johnson cousins fit in Mance's offense

2. Will Richlands play to their potential like they did last year

 

Key Players:

Gate City: FB Joe Vaughn, DTs Owen Franklin & A.J. Johnson, LB Trey Clark, & DB Logan Byrd

Richlands: the Johnson cousins

 

look for these guys to make an impact in the game

[GC_Quincy 582]

Dusty Clark will make the biggest impression. IMO

[applebarn 10]

Dusty Clark will make the biggest impression. IMO

 

 

Dont give them any names Quincy! LOL!