BHC Super 7

[greatwhitemp36 25]

Super 7

 

Team Record

 

1. George Wythe (4) 8-0

 

2. Richlands (1) 9-0

 

3. Clintwood 6-2

 

4. Rural Retreat 7-1

 

5. Gate City 5-3

 

6. Sullivan East 7-3

 

7. J.I. Burton 7-1

 

First-place votes in parenthesis

 

The Predictions

 

No. 1 George Wythe at Holston

 

Last meeting: George Wythe 38, Holston 3 (Oct. 22, 2010 in Wytheville, Va.)

 

George Wythe continues to chug along. The Maroons have outscored three Hogoheegee District foes by a combined 166-24. … Running backs Hunter Tolley, Jonathan Turpin and Isaac Young have all rushed for more than 500 yards for GW. The wealth has been spread around as part of the Maroons’ Wing-T offense. … Holston hasn’t beaten George Wythe since 1991. … The top two kickers in the district will be featured in this one – GW’s Mikel Hawks and Holston’s Ethan Miller. … George Wythe can’t be looking ahead to next week’s showdown with that Rural Retreat. That being said, the Maroons just have too many weapons for Holston to contain.

 

Prediction: George Wythe 43, Holston 10

 

Wise County Central at No. 3 Clintwood

 

Last meeting: First meeting

 

First place in the LPD will be on the line tonight at Ralph Cummins Stadium. … Clintwood can clinch the league title with a victory. … Both teams are playing well. Central has won four straight, while Clintwood enters the game on a five-game winning streak. … This will be an old school coalfield clash as both teams rely on big lines and a power running game. Clintwood’s Austin Dotson and Central’s Joe Burnopp are two of the area’s most bruising backs. … Wise County Central was picked last in the LPD preseason coaches poll, but the Warriors have silenced many critics. The Warriors have the best record of any of the three new consolidated Wise County schools. … Clintwood hasn’t lost a district game at home since 2006. That impressive streak continues tonight.

 

Prediction: Clintwood 28, Wise County Central 20

 

Northwood at No. 4 Rural Retreat

 

Last meeting: Rural Retreat 49, Northwood 28 (Oct. 22, 2010)

 

At 7-1, Rural Retreat is off to its best start since 2005. An experienced line, heady quarterback and depth at the skill positions have been a major factor to the success. … In last year’s win over Northwood, six different players scored touchdowns for Rural Retreat. Quarterback Zayne Williams threw two touchdown passes to Travis Foster in the win. The Williams-to-Foster connection is still alive and well at Rural Retreat and that could spell trouble for Northwood. … The Panthers are allowing 33 points per game. That’s a bad sign against a team with many offensive options.

 

Prediction: Rural Retreat 40, Northwood 8

 

Lee at No. 5 Gate City

 

Last meeting: Gate City 33, Lee 7 (Oct. 29, 2010 in Ben Hur, Va.)

 

This might be toughest matchup of the season for prolific Lee running back Tyler Graham. The elusive and strong senior averages 13.1 yards per rush and 281 yards rushing per game. Graham has topped the 200-yard mark in five of his seven games this season. … Gate City junior quarterback Nick Bowen has distributed nine touchdown passes among four different receivers. Six-foot-one sophomore receiver Michael Collier has emerged a big weapon in recent games along with speedy senior Tyler Bird. … Payton Sivert, Micah Bledsoe, Seaver Elliott and Derick Miller are among the deep corps of Gate City thumpers. … Zack Parsons (53 tackles) and Grant Rutherford (32 tackles) are the leading stoppers for the leaky Lee defense, which allows 33 points per game. …The Generals have attempted a total of 15 passes, completing four for 33 yards. …Gate City rushed for 297 yards in this game last year while Lee managed just 167 total yards. … Gate City will clinch yet another CMD title tonight in style.

 

Prediction: Gate City 42, Lee 14

 

No. 7 J.I. Burton at Union

 

Last meeting: First meeting

 

While not the marquee game in the Lonesome Pine District, this one should still be pretty good. … Burton lost to Clintwood two weeks ago, but bounced back with an easy win over Johnson County last Friday. While the Raiders’ running game continues to churn up the yards and post impressive numbers, Burton quarterback Tanner Crowder is solid. He’s passed for 912 yards and 13 touchdowns this season. … Union has lost four straight and after a preseason full of hype the Bears have not lived up to expectations. The team has allowed 30 points per game during its current losing skid. … Union has played in five games that have been decided by five points or less. This one will be close as well, but the Bears could fall short once again.

 

Prediction: J.I. Burton 31, Union 28

[greatwhitemp36 25]

It looks like Sacco gave a first place vote to Richlands this week!