Article from VApreps

[LBU]

Marsel T. Mason
VirginiaPreps.com Senior Writer


.....AND THEN THERE WERE TWO

Unlike the previous weeks, the team from Southeastern Virginia is the favorite. The Franklin Broncos have avenged their only losses from the regular season in the regional playoffs and pulled off one of this season's best upsets last Saturday. Now the Broncos are hoping to finish off the season right by capturing their 2nd state title in 5 years. This season has already been a special and emotional one even before the team advanced to Salem.


The team had dedicated this season to fallen teammate Josh Willis who died last spring and Dr. Charles Green an assistant coach. The #1 jersey of Willis and the cleats of Green are brought out with the team as a dedication.

During mid-season the team received more motivation as one of the senior leaders on the team Carl Harris suffered a season ending injury that put him in a wheelchair preventing to share his last moments on the field. The kids have been playing for him and the effort has united the team closer in their quest for the championship.

Head Coach Darren Parker's team received a spark from a different member of the team each week. First it was the powerful running of Senior Isaiah Hudson, then the defense of the Broncos in the Region Championship, and last week a sensational effort by quarterback Donzell Shearin. Saturday the team expects it all to come together for this outstanding group.

Their opponent is a heavyweight whom many expected to get here. The Clintwood Green Wave aren't the same team that fell short to Buffalo Gap last year in the 2007 final. This year's Green Wave team is much more explosive. The Green Wave averaged over 43 points a game during the regular season.

Clintwood had their toughest game in the Region D final against district foe J.I. Burton who could've easily been at this spot. The battles with the Raiders hopefully will prepare them for what is expected to be a very physical contest for the title. No Region D team has won the Division 1 title since Appalachia did it in 1997.

Coach Rick Mullin's squad who is led by Senior Heath Counts and runningback Chris Robinson have a chance to end that streak. The Green Wave have tremendous depth in the backfield just like the team they will be facing Saturday. Backs Alec Osbourne, Derek Robbins, and Devin Elswick add to the smash mouth style that the team hopes is successful in its second consecutive title trip.

Saturday will be the 30th anniversary of the last Clintwood state championship. The tight community is bound to have many players coming back to support the current Wave in completing their quest. And there is no other place folks would rather be then supporting the Greenwave in Salem. The buzz from the Barbershop to the Food City is all about the smash mouth contest that will take place on Saturday.

The Division 1 state championship game will kick-off at 12 noon between the Franklin Broncos (11-2) and the Clintwood Green Wave (12-1). Both teams first love is the running game but they both can pass the ball as well. Clintwood's offense is a bit more explosive while the Franklin defense is tough as nails. The two also have good size on the offensive line and defensive lines. And they are both led by great quarterbacks who want to see the day end with them raising the trophy in triumph.

Something will have to give.

Salem will be a loud and exciting place to be coming Saturday

[Unchained]

CLINTWOOD, Va. ? For this one week, everything in this small town, including the Christmas season, is taking a back seat to football.

Just check out the shops along Main Street. The green-and-gold messages scribbled in shoe polish across storefront windows convey one universal message: Greenwave pride.

"Greenwave football is the town of Clintwood and has been since the "?70s,"? the city's mayor, Donald Baker, said. "This is the first opportunity we've had to win a state championship in 30 years. That ought to tell you something."?

If it doesn't, the town's businesses do.

As the Clintwood football team prepares for its second straight trip to the Virginia High School League Group A, Division 1 Championship game against Franklin on Saturday in
Salem, Va., the already football-crazed community's excitement has reached a fevered pitch.

Modern Hardware and Furniture Co. stands in the middle of Clintwood downtown. Inside the store's display area stand creamy leather couches and the thinnest plasma TVs.

The store's window, however, hardly mentions these wares.

Instead, green letters inlayed in golden sparks announce, "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger ... WAVE."?

"We've had a 30-year streak where we've been mediocre,"? laments Lana Stanley, a Modern employee and lifetime Clintwood resident. "All the painted windows, all the signage ... everyone was supportive of the teams [in the past], but everyone loves a winner."?

Haielys Brandz, a small clothing outlet, has a storefront graffitied with notices encouraging the team to, "Go get "?em boys!"?

Inside, Mary Lou Duty can't help but rave about the amount of Greenwave-inspired merchandise that has flown off the store's shelves in recent weeks.

"A lot of Greenwave hats, hoodies, jackets,"? she said. "If they're playing on Saturday, then on Monday morning everyone comes in here smiling. You see the enthusiasm on their faces, for sure."?

Perhaps the most telling characteristic of the Clintwood state title rage is its ability to eclipse Christmas. Or at least the Dickenson County Christmas Parade.

"We had out Christmas parade scheduled for Friday evening,"? Rita Surratt, the Dickenson County tourism director and executive director of the Clintwood Chamber of Commerce, said. "There will be a lot of people missing the parade ? most of the teenagers, the high schoolers and probably a whole lot of the parents."?

Even the Dickenson County Emergency 911 office is not immune from the town's football infection.

A hood of energetic cheerleaders invaded the place, leaving in their wake green declarations of "State in 08!"? and "Ride the Wave!"?

But Steven Powers, an ex-Clintwood player and current county dispatch supervisor who works at the office, won't be able to travel to Salem, Va., to root on his alma mater. He's putting a new rig into service that morning.

"But we had a meeting on Monday and were asked, win or lose, if we'd bring them back home,"? he said. "That's what we'll be doing on Saturday night."?

Just like last season, when the Greenwave limped home from Salem as the state's runner-up, the team's bus will be escorted by flashing fire trucks when it trundles home Saturday night.

If it plays out like last year, Route 83 will be lined with fans tossing confetti and encouragement to the town's conquering sons.

The team convoy will have to make a loop around the high school just to avoid the mass of Greenwave admirers clogging the town's thoroughfares.

It will be pigskin pandemonium.

It will be Clintwood.

[email protected]|(276) 645-2543

[R0cketer]

I got a chill reading the first article.

It's just time for us. I appreciate all of Franklins motivation but 30 years or 2nd in 5 years are 2 different things.

[imported_burrhead]

You were still s h ittin yellow when Clintwood last won the State. I listened on the radio with my mom and dad. That is the year I had a ruptured spleen. Coach Cummins sent me a team picture and card. Still have it somewhere.

[Biggin]

damn, that article does make it hard to pull against franklin

its hard to say they dont deserve it

but im not saying cw doesnt deserve it, but damn franklin has had a pretty rough year

[imported_burrhead]

How did that player die?

[pvfan]

If CW doesn't win they'll have to be disappointed more so than last year. They should win this game, the stars aligned correctly for them in 08 and there is only one more game left to win. Win it or you'll go to grave wondering what might have been.

[MikeJones]

How did the guy from Franklin die? Also is the other kid still in a wheelchair?

[R0cketer]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Burrhead</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You were still s h ittin yellow when Clintwood last won the State. I listened on the radio with my mom and dad. That is the year I had a ruptured spleen. Coach Cummins sent me a team picture and card. Still have it somewhere. </div></div>

Dang you're wrong, I happen to remember going and was at the game, so maybe you were crapping yellow with the spleen issue, I was there =)

[R0cketer]

Although to be honest, the major thing I remember of the trip was being scared to death of the tunnels and the bridges. I guess it was the youth, but I had been absolutely terrified of Sharks (post Jaws) and was convinced that one could hit the tunnel, rip it open and chew me up.

The football game was calm compared to the trama of that.

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