Gate City will show up!!

**fourthn1** · December 5th, 2007, 01:29 AM

If Vegas was giving odds on this one Gretna would be a huge favorite. The Media and fans alike across the commonwealth have already given the trophy to the Hawks. The game hasn't even started and Gretna is leading 42-0. Sounds like all the hype before the Mike Tyson / James Buster Douglas fight. I've seen the Hawks and they are fast and talented. But what I didn't see was the type of vicious hits that every Blue Devil player delivers. The Hawks may blow them out but if Gate City roughs them up and is in it at half time they have a punchers chance. What do you think?

**661** · December 5th, 2007, 01:53 AM

Gretna has some real weaknesses. They are starting a freshman qb in a state title game - talented as he is, he may well come down with the heebie jeebies when he sees that Big Blue visitor's side. The Hawks didn't play near the schedule GC did. They may have a lot of blowouts but GC has plenty of big wins over quality opposition. Gretna boasts a win over a '4A' North Carolina school, but what does that mean? There are plenty of 3 and 4 A Tennessee schools GC could have beaten. As in 'GC wins big over 4A Tn powerhouse Volunteer' (had we played them instead of Clintwood). It would look good on paper, but in reality a win over single A div 1 JI Burton would be much more impressive.
I have watched a few clips on Gretna and read all about their "?Dog Soldier' defense. In every clip it looks like they are playing St. Paul caliber teams. Now, granted, Gretna may be making good teams look terrible on film, but I don't see it. They just aren't going to be able to do a lot of the things they're used to doing against that devil defense. And it's no mystery that GC is going to run the football.
No matter how it turns out GC should have a massive crowd advantage. Plenty of devil fans will travel and plenty of Clintwood fans will want to hang out and celebrate their title. It should be a great time in Salem.
The bottom line is no matter how you feel about the gate city blue devils anyone with a lick of common sense knows not to count them out.

**pvfan** · December 5th, 2007, 02:00 AM

Wrong, Gretna's schedule is as tough if not tougher than GC's. They played a 4A school that had a winning record, the defending state champions and the best player in the state, William Campbell, and 8-2 Altavista. The only team GC has played that could possibly compare is Richlands. I'm sure the entire town of Gretna will be there as well it's not like it's a long drive for them. Only chance GC has is if the freshman qb just falls to pieces.

**redrain** · December 5th, 2007, 03:33 AM

Altavista was 2-8 this season, you must be thinking of Appomattox who went 8-2. In the regular season Gretna defeated two 8-2 teams (William Campbell & Appomattox), two 6-4 teams (Chatham & Davie Co., NC), 5-5 Nelson County, 4-6 Martinsville, 3-7 Tunstall, 2-8 Altavista, 1-9 Dan River & 0-10 Magna Vista.

**661** · December 5th, 2007, 04:50 AM

so they beat a big North Carolina school and a bunch of teams that were good last year. so they beat some teams that went 8 and 2 in a league that is soft as ice cream. come saturday well see whos wrong - as of december 5th its still football season in Gate City.

**PVVikeFan** · December 5th, 2007, 07:20 AM

Good luck Great City

**Gotch** · December 5th, 2007, 07:44 AM

Good luck to the Devils. I'd love to see them and the Wave bring back titles. Could well happen.

I don't follow the game the way I use to, but since the mid 70's one thing that you could always count on was that the teams east of Bluefield would be over-rated and the teams west of Bluefield would be under-rated. Didn't always mean a title, but it sure did a bunch of times. Too many SW Va. Football title winning upsets to count.

**imported_Counts** · December 5th, 2007, 08:12 AM

I hope all 3 SWVA schools bring back a title. I think all 3 have a good shot (you don't get to this game without being pretty good)

I DO NOT see GC getting blown out regardless based on the type of team they are.....The Gretna/GC game is starting to sound alot like the Bath/Appy game from 89 (No way was Appy going to win that one......till they did)

**1inStripes** · December 5th, 2007, 09:06 AM

Odds would probably be like 5-1 Gretna or something. To me the key is whether or not Dustin Jones is able to play for GC. He's their best coverage guy, and he can turn the table in field position with one punt. GC will have to bend and not break on D, similar to the GW game this past week, and keep a ton of pressure on the QB, keeping everything in front of themselves. Eat up clock with every drive making it one possession per quarter for each team or so. If they can do that, they definitely have a chance.