John Battle/Gate City

[Jethro 113]

I have to be honest. I will be at this game instead of the Virginia High game. Battle won last year in OT for the first time since the 80's to make their 2nd win ever over gc. Battle still a fairly tough team this year hosting the devils as gc is catching hot at the right time. gc wants revenge. this will be a showdown of showdowns. I got my money on the trojans, lesser of the 2 evils to me.

Trojans 31 Devils 28

[battleftbl 42]

Will be a great ball game.    Battle lost a heck of a linebacker in the Blaylock kid and hopefully the open week allowed them to find a replacement for him.  I've heard that Chapman is getting back to full strength which would be a major boost. 

 

I watched the Gate City/Union game a few weeks ago and told everyone that I wouldn't be surprised if Gate City won out.  Gate City pushed Union around up front and even though it fell apart in the 2nd half,  they've built on it ever since.  

 

Battle has the advantage at the skill positions with their speed,  Gate City has the advantage upfront.  I don't think either advantage is huge though and turnovers/penalties will decide this one.   Battle doesn't make many mistakes and really makes other teams pay for theirs.  Battle will score on the devils but if Gate City plays smart football with no turnovers,  it could look like a repeat of the Honaker game for the Trojans defense just because of a lack of size up front.  That group goes 100% all the time. They shut Honaker down for the entire first half but size and a lack of depth just got the best of them in the 2nd half. On the flip side... I've seen Gate city coaches and players fall apart when hit with adversity.  The last 2 weeks have gone smoothly but how will they respond after a mistake or 2 in a tight ball game?   That's a question that's no one can answer at this point.  It's all easy when you're up a few scores and things are going good because winning cures everything.  Like I said earlier, Gate City was playing great football in the 1st half against Union, but as soon as Union took the momentum,  players were arguing, ignoring coaches, coaches arguing, fans fighting in the bleachers and it all went down hill from there.   Have they moved past this or will it flare up again if things take a turn for the worse? 

 

I do think that Battle will pull this one out but it's going to be a very close ball game.   In the end, hope both teams come out healthy as both have a chance to cause some trouble in the playoffs.   Going to be a great atmosphere on Battle hill this Friday night.

[redtiger 1,742]

It should be a great game and you're right Jethro, Battle is solid and GC is getting hot.  Very interesting matchup

[starcityfootballfan 517]

Wish I could be there for this one. The old guard versus the upstart! No doubt, Gate City is peaking at the right time and revenge will certainly be a factor. In all honesty, I hate to see either team lose but I am going with Battle in this one ... home field advantage! Good luck to both teams.

[Jethro 113]

Rumor has it that the principal of John Battle has banned artificial noise makers at JSB's field starting this week. Has to do something with what happened in the JSB/VHS game with whistles or something.

[barondawg77 115]

I thought that was a vhsl rule anyway

[ThomasDenton 79]

Rumor has it that the principal of John Battle has banned artificial noise makers at JSB's field starting this week. Has to do something with what happened in the JSB/VHS game with whistles or something.

I believe the person on the Mtn District forum is either misinformed or getting everyone fired up. No way they'll be able to enforce a rule like that at this game.

 

Anyway, I also expect this to be a close, hard fought game like the one with Honaker. If Battle pulls off the win, it'll be pretty huge with two tough road games coming up that could decide who wins the district. Each game this season just seems to get more and more exciting.

[Jason 299]

I believe the person on the Mtn District forum is either misinformed or getting everyone fired up. No way they'll be able to enforce a rule like that at this game.

 

Anyway, I also expect this to be a close, hard fought game like the one with Honaker. If Battle pulls off the win, it'll be pretty huge with two tough road games coming up that could decide who wins the district. Each game this season just seems to get more and more exciting.

Jethro and greenligtning are one in the same.

[ThomasDenton 79]

Jethro and greenligtning are one in the same.

That would make some sense. Jethro seems oddly nice towards Battle this week and hasn't been trolling us and then this greenlightning person pops up like they did.

[Bearcat Bob 491]

I believe the person on the Mtn District forum is either misinformed or getting everyone fired up. No way they'll be able to enforce a rule like that at this game.

 

Anyway, I also expect this to be a close, hard fought game like the one with Honaker. If Battle pulls off the win, it'll be pretty huge with two tough road games coming up that could decide who wins the district. Each game this season just seems to get more and more exciting.

Rumor or not, it would be easy to enforce.  If you use a banned noise maker, you are escorted out of the facility.  Simple.  No different than smoking in a smoke free zone.  I saw a basketball game last year in which the home team was called for a technical foul when their fans continued using bells after an announcement was made to stop.  The same could probably be done in a football game, I think.

[battlechick 12]

I can see the whistle being banned but what is a ballgame without some noise? Horns and cowbells have been around forever. No way would they say "hey folks gotta be quiet for this one..." And yeah Jethro is scaring me a little so far no....man he must really hate GC. Lol

[barondawg77 115]

http://www.vhsl.org/doc/upload/pub-smanshp-state-events.pdf

 

Page 6. Maybe it's just at state level events, but I'm pretty sure it's all games

[ThomasDenton 79]

Rumor or not, it would be easy to enforce.  If you use a banned noise maker, you are escorted out of the facility.  Simple.  No different than smoking in a smoke free zone.  I saw a basketball game last year in which the home team was called for a technical foul when their fans continued using bells after an announcement was made to stop.  The same could probably be done in a football game, I think.

In theory, it's simple. As you said, if they are caught using a banned noisemaker, they are asked to stop or escorted out. In practice, it would be impossible for this game. You can sneak in an air horn, cowbell, or whatever reasonable sized noisemaker very easily (in a purse, your pocket, coat, etc.). Pretty much every other GC fan has a cowbell and it's nearly the same way this season at Battle. If HUNDREDS of people in the stands (on both sides) start using noisemakers during the game, then there's no way they'll escort out the entire stadium and even if they stopped the game to tell people to stop, there'd be a fair amount of people who wouldn't just for spite. So I don't think it's possible.

[ThomasDenton 79]

http://www.vhsl.org/doc/upload/pub-smanshp-state-events.pdf

 

Page 6. Maybe it's just at state level events, but I'm pretty sure it's all games

It says for indoor events.

[barondawg77 115]

It says for indoor events.

Yea it's outdoor too though, they made some schools move those big air horn and whistles off the field first. They never do anything about it, but they would hit the team with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That guy from richlands using the megaphone all those years made me remember the rule. Gate city has that dang horn thing too

[ThomasDenton 79]

Yea it's outdoor too though, they made some schools move those big air horn and whistles off the field first. They never do anything about it, but they would hit the team with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. That guy from richlands using the megaphone all those years made me remember the rule. Gate city has that dang horn thing too

When I read through it, the spot that you pointed out (page 6) said just for indoor events...which I can understand, like in a gym where it'd echo and seem much louder. Heck, one of our school board members (Bill Brooks) uses a megaphone to lead cheers at the game (though he's not using it toward the field, just the home stands facing the press box).

 

I reread the link you provided and it says that artificial noisemakers are prohibited at indoor events on page 6 and the second to last page. Says nothing about outdoor events. Also, the whole thing is talking about VHSL Tournaments (the main heading on page 5).

[barondawg77 115]

Yes I saw that. I didn't the first time. My old age is catching up to me lol. When I get time I will look it up closer. I'm pretty sure there is some kind of rule on it though. Thanks for correcting me on that though. Good luck this weekend btw

[Jethro 113]

I can't stand gc. Of course I will pull for battle. gc always beat me in my time in school. I hold a grudge.

[redtiger 1,742]

I HATE noise makers, all of them. Cheer, yell, scream but noise makers ruin the game for me. A few years ago the "thing" to do at Haysi was fill a milk jug with BBs or coins or whatever and shake it to "support the team", I hated it. Still do. Personally im LOUD, I don't need a noise maker lol

 

I do love the cheer that the Battle fans do, is it for 1st downs? I only attended the 1 game last year but as impressed with it.

[Bearcat Bob 491]

Not to belabor the point but each school can determine what is or is not allowed at their facilities.  A school may ban something such as cowbells, if for no other reason than gamesmanship.  

 

Anyway, good luck v. Gate City.  I side with Jethro on this one.  I don't care for Gate City fans very much.  Nothing against the players but some of those fans are insufferable.

[ThomasDenton 79]

I HATE noise makers, all of them. Cheer, yell, scream but noise makers ruin the game for me. A few years ago the "thing" to do at Haysi was fill a milk jug with BBs or coins or whatever and shake it to "support the team", I hated it. Still do. Personally im LOUD, I don't need a noise maker lol

 

I do love the cheer that the Battle fans do, is it for 1st downs? I only attended the 1 game last year but as impressed with it.

Whenever we get a first down, Coach Posey leads the crowd over the PA by saying "And that's another Trojan...FIRST DOWN!" Honaker fans at the homecoming game started doing it when they'd get a first down too, lol. Bill Brooks leads the Trojan cheer where the crowd spells out Trojans and cheers.

[Jethro 113]

Yeah Thomas, that junk was annoying. Considering he yells it into the mic. Not to mention when he yells "BIG GREEN ARMY, MAKE SOME NOISE!!!"

 

Guess that noise will just be yells this week.

[ThomasDenton 79]

It wasn't too many years ago that we were ecstatic just to get a first down, let alone a TD. I think that's when that cheer became a really popular thing at Battle. I've never had any problems with GC...then again, when I was at Battle, we didn't play them and since Battle started playing them the year after I graduated, I've always been in the press box filming at the games where they treat you nice, lol.

[Jethro 113]

I'm torn on what side I am going to sit on Friday. I may just stand behind one of the endzones.

[battlechick 12]

I'm torn on what side I am going to sit on Friday. I may just stand behind one of the endzones.

You could come and tailgate with us Jethro...we have great food, and remember your always welcome on Battle hill so there is no need to stand the whole ballgame.