Clintwood vs Gate City

[cvcgrad]

I was actually impressed with the way Clintwood played up until the Appalachia game, despite the loss to Haysi. In the early season scrimmages against Honaker and Thomas Walker, the team showed a lot of fight. Even in the Haysi game, they were demolished in the first quarter but didn't give up.

The Appalachia game is another matter all together. I'll never understand how they played so badly in that game.


[ QUOTE ]
Clintwood needs to learn how to win a big game like this (IMHO the Clintwood team has grown up alot since the Haysi and Appy games and if they were to be lucky enought to get another crack at Haysi I think that they would make a better showing of themselfs)

Big game for Both Clintwood and GC I hope both teams play well (just hope Clintwood plays a bit better LOL)



[/ QUOTE ]

[imported_Counts]

IMHO it was a snowball affect.....The Appy type offence was exactly what the Clintwood D had a tough time stopping and even then I think Appy had to convert a 4th Down (one in there own territory) on there first 2 drives and kept the ball away from the Clintwood O (3 plays in the 1st qtr) If Clintwood could have went into the half down 16-0 I think they would have made a game out of it since they did play better the 2nd half however Appy got a turnover and showed off a pretty good passing game to get a couple of quick score before the end of the half putting the game out of reach.

A young Clintwood team got smacked in the face that night and learned what football in the LPD is all about and while they may still lose to a better team on a given night I do not look for them to roll over for anyone

[cvcgrad]

Not taking anything away from Appalachia at all, they shocked a lot of people that night who may have thought that they didnt' have a good team this year. But, I think Haysi may be the best D2 team in Region D again this year, and Clintwood played with them until the bitter end.

Honestly, I would like to have seen some of that same fight against Appalachia and Powell Valley.

Clintwood may have matured since the season started, but I fear that they have also become kind of complacent, i.e. being satisfied to have a 5-5 season, beat the teams they're expected to beat, and lose to the teams everyone expects to beat them.


[ QUOTE ]
A young Clintwood team got smacked in the face that night and learned what football in the LPD is all about and while they may still lose to a better team on a given night I do not look for them to roll over for anyone

[/ QUOTE ]

[imported_Counts]

I thought that Clintwood played hard vs PV (Which like GC is a much better team than some are giving credit for) and had a shot at going up in the 4th qtr when they had a drive killing 'Aiding the runner' call (It was a good and the correct call)

IMHO here is what Clintwood has to do to be a better football team

#1 Come out ready to play (vs Haysi and Appy Clintwood seemed to have a deer in the headlight look early in the game and while they played better as they game wore on it was not enough to overcome the hole they had dug. Even vs PV the difference in the game turned out to be the opening onside kickoff that lead to a PV score on there first position of the game.

#2 Put team away ( Vs Coeburn Clintwood had a foot on the Blue knights throat but gave up several big plays that kept Coeburn in the game Vs PV they had the ball in PV territory, Momentum and a chance to take the lead in the 4th qtr and was unable to take advantage)

#3 We need to do a better job of tackling on 3rd and 4th down (probably 1st and 2nd as well but broken tackles that result in 1st downs on 3rd and 4th downs are tough to overcome)

[R0cketer]

Wow Counts you nailed it. I was trying to think of what they needed to improve and thats pretty much spot on.

I fully am prepared for Gate City to beat Clintwood this week. I hope not, naturally, and I do think Clintwood can win, but they're going to have to grow up and play a complete game. Not a perfect game like I thought we needed at times in the past. We can't beat ourselves. Gate City is a bit of a shark, in that they smell blood, they can go for it.

I hope its a good game, like you, I hope Clintwood is a wee bit better.

[UTVol]

Good analysis.

If GC manages to get the ball into Parks' hands, how well do you think Clintwood will be able to stop the running game? In the games I've seen, Clintwood seems to be vulnerable defending against a good passing game.

Looks like it's going to be a clear, cold night for some classic LPD football!

[greencrest1272]

Clintwood cannot handle a grind it out man to man physical football game. The key will be whether or not we can create some turnovers and capitalize on them. Also field position will be huge. If we can make GC play on a long field all night as we did PV, we have shot. From what I hear with the exceptoin of Parks, GC is not very explosive offensivly. Field position will be key for both teams.

[imported_Counts]

Honestly While stopping Parks will be a big key to a Clintwood win IMHO I would be more worried if he were a 3 yards and a cloud of dust type runner. If GC beats Clintwood on the LOS Parks will have a big day if they try to paint the corners with him I think Clintwood will be OK. As far the passing game goes LOL I don't know what to expect I am not sure we have seen a good passing game since the Haysi Game the Coeburn Passing game was one man deep and through it up for grabs (was pretty successful though LOL)

[imported_biggamesjames]

"I think Clintwood will be more evenly matched up with Gate City this year than in previous years but not yet on the same page as the Devils."

I saw the two teams play in '04 and they were very much evenly matched in that game. Clintwood actually moved the ball much better than GC that night but had some trouble in their goalline offense. Clintwood led 3-0 at the half but GC took a 7-3 lead late in the 3rd and held on for the win.

[UTVol]

The 2004 team was probably Clintwood's best team in recent years, with Jon Michael Fleming at RB and Kelly Fleming at WR. They also had a very good defensive line. I think Clintwood went 7-3 that year while Gate City went 9-1 in the regular season and 10-2 overall.

But, I can't say Clintwood was on the same page as Gate City in 2004. The two losses for GC came at the hands of a very good Powell Valley team.


[ QUOTE ]
I saw the two teams play in '04 and they were very much evenly matched in that game. Clintwood actually moved the ball much better than GC that night but had some trouble in their goalline offense. Clintwood led 3-0 at the half but GC took a 7-3 lead late in the 3rd and held on for the win.

[/ QUOTE ]