Blue Devils Travel To Powell Valley, Hope To End Loss Streak To Vikings
By Allen Godsey
TriCitiesSports.com
October 18, 2007
GATE CITY, Va. -- Gate City will travel to Powell Valley, (Bullitt Park), Friday night to compete in one of this
area's biggest football rivalries. The Gate City-Powell Valley series began in 1959. Gate City has 20 victories,
Powell Valley 16, and there has been one tie.
The last few years, the series has been a game of streaks, Powell Valley has won the last five games. Before
that, Gate City defeated the Vikings seven consecutive times.
"It will be an old fashioned football game," said Gate City defensive coordinator Darren Reed. "They've got some
talented athletes that we'll have to try and contain. Quarterback Cedric Mitchell and running backs Myron and
Malcom Pinkston are talented and physical. Powell Valley also has an excellent reciever in Delmas Lawson.
And don't just look at the Vikings' offense; they also have an excellent defense."
Gate City, 5-2, 2-1, has won four straight games and the Devils are coming off a big win over Clintwood, 28-17,
last Friday night. Powell Valley, 4-3, 1-1, has won two straight. The Vikings defeated J. J. Kelly, 21-13, last Friday.
Powell Valley also has wins over Lebanon, Lee, and Thomas Walker.
Gate City is led by Tailback Tyler Parks, who has gained 800 yards and scored 12 touchdowns this season.
Parks is averaging 8 yards per carry. Also, quarterback Tihlee Anderson has passed and run for 963 total yards
for the Devils and accounted for 14 Gate City touchdowns.
Running back Peyton Jenkins had a career game against Clintwood, gaining 111 yards in nine trys. Jenkins
also set up the second Gate City touchdown against the Green Wave with a 56-yard burst over the right side
of the line in the second quarter.
Powell Valley is led by veteran quarterback Cedric Mitchell. The Viking signal-caller has passed for 780 yards and
seven touchdowns. Mitchell has scored three times rushing the ball. Also Brothers, Myron and Malcom Pinkston
have seven and three Viking scores respectively. Flanker Delmas Lawson is the go-to guy in the passing game, has
caught 3-touchdown passes from QB Mitchell.
"We've played for a long time, in and out of the District," said Powell Valley coach Phil Robbins, "Its been a great
rivalry for both the teams and the communities. Nick and me are the best of friends, Its always been a hard fought
game that's gone right down to the wire.
"I know Parks, Jones, and Jenkins are doing a fine job for the Gate City offense. Their offensive line has come on
strong since early in the season. We've played really good on defense this season, our offense has been up and down, we have made a lot of mistakes in the kicking game thats bothered me. All in all, we are doing pretty good."
This year's Blue Devil team has a unique family tradition. Three of the present team members have dads that
played on the 1974 Gate City State Championship team that went, 13-0 -- Jarrod Sanders (dad Johnny was
a sophomore end; Will Godsey's dad ToTo was a senior end, and Ty Frazier's dad Terry was a senior tackle
on the championship team that defeated South Hampton, 28-7, for the State Title.
One of the big reasons for the Gate City winning streak is the inner defense, which has only allowed
the opposition an average of 6 points per game. The key performers for the Devils have been ends
Tyler Tiller, Logan Russell, and Jason Begley, tackles Josh Powers and Owen Franklin and linebackers
Tyler Parks, Cameron Browder and Dustin Clark.
Bookmarks