Week One Preview

Yes I know that there is another post similar to this but it has kind of got off tipic

The practice week is in nothing left but to play the game and this is how I see it


J.J. Kelly at Patrick Henry: Kelly with it new wishbone attack will be maybe the most improved team in the LPD this year and while I will be the first to admit that I do not know well anything about PH I am taking Wise in this game in a tight on (Less that a TD)

GC vs Richlands- GC will be better this week than they have shown up to this point and Richlands is banged up and ripe for the picking However Richlands still has a load of talent and will still take this one unless they start reading there own press clippings and overlook a dangers GC team (Richlands by about 10)

J.I. Burton at Castlewood- Burton may be better on O this year than last season and while Castlewood may contend for the CD title this season this one will be over at the end of the 1st qtr (Burton by 40ish)

Powell Valley at Lee- Lee is on the right track for rebuilding there program and PV may regret running the score up on them in a few years but not this year (PV by more that 30)

Rye Cove at Appalachia-Word is that RC is down a bit but still the class of the cumberland, Appy will open a season without Turner as the head dog for the first time in what seems forever and will probably try to beat RC at the Dawg house as completely as possible (Appy by around 30)

Coeburn vs Twin Springs- While this is a meaningless game this year it is a preview of a possible Distric Champinship game in the next few years I look for Coeburn to come out with the intent to show the SD what it can expect next year (Coeburn by less than 10)

Clintwood vs Grundy-Two young teams coming off of disappointing seasons last year looking to rebound/Build for the future this one could go either way (Toss up)

Pound at Ervinton- Both teams have been a surprise this preseason Ervinton looks to be a Div 1 contender and Pound is struggling to replace some key folks from last years team if Ervinton pulls out the win I predict that they will make the playoffs this season but IMHO Pound will out skill them in the end (Pound by less than 14)

Im real excited to watch PV play. I hear they have an awful lot of young talent that are major contributors. They could be the real deal.

I would love to see Appy have a great year for the simple fact of what the kids and town have went through recently

Well I hadn't predicted, so here goes nothing.

Kelly and Patrick Henry: Kelly seems to have a better offensive scheme for what their talent appears to be. Patrick Henry, well like Counts I'm kind of clueless. Just to be different I'll take Patrick Henry by 7.

GC and Richlands: I honestly think GC is going to surprise Richlands here. Not sure why, just a bad vibe. I guess I'm always suspicious when GC protests too much. I think it being at Gate City is at least a 7 point difference in the game. GC with the upset by 3 (returning kicker wins it)

Norton and Castlewood: Norton will be playing with a lot of emotion. I think they may struggle a bit out of the gate trying to get their heads focused but the speed will still be there at the end and the fresh Castlewood legs won't be so fresh. Burton by 35.

PV and Lee: The key to this game is how effective the Lee offense can be keeping the PV offense off the field. PV is loaded but good coaching will keep Lee in the game for a bit before PV pulls away to win by 28.

Rye Cove and Appy: A new era at Appy will start out with a W. Rye Cove will make this a better game than the score appears. Appy by 21.

Coeburn and Twin Springs: Is Coeburn as bad as some say or will they take the questions and do something with it? Coeburn is as bad as they say. Twin Springs by 21.

Pound and Ervinton: Ervinton returns their entire starting units from a 4 win team. Pound hasn't looked great but this is where is starts counting. Could be an extremely exciting game. Pound by 1.

Clintwood and Grundy: Last year Grundy was supposedly really good and then injuries and such hurt them and Clintwood rolled them. This time, Grundy is suppsoedly a bit down. A wounded animal will fight hard and if you aren't ready for it, it will bite you. Clintwood by 13 scoring late to put it away.

Kelly/PH: Don't really know much about PH either...just going with kelly in a close one(TD or less)

GC/Richlands: Even with the injuries I believe Richlands is too talented for the Devils to handle(Blues by 20 or more)

Burton/Castlewood: Should be an inspirational night for Norton...they will be hard to handle no matter who they were playing(Burton by about 30)

PV/Lee: The Generals do seem to be taking some steps in a positive direction...still an easy game for the Vikes(PV by 30 or more)

RC/Appy: Seems like everyone is discounting the Eagles...I wouldn't do that just yet(Appy by a TD or two)

TS/Coeburn: Tough to call this one...apparently both teams have looked poor in preseason(Toss Up)

Ervinton/Pound: Seems everyone is jumping on the Rebel bandwagon...don't get too carried away just yet, they will keep it close though because Pound has not looked good at all so far(Mildcats by a TD or less)

C-wood/Grundy: Both are young and both are inexperienced but Clintwood has more talent, Grundy should play them tough though(Greenwave by a TD)

Let's see
Counts you missed PH/Kelly, I got it right
Counts you got GC/Richlands, I got it wrong.
We both got Burton game and were pretty on by the margin
We both got PV game, you were a bit closer but if we go with the close without being over, I've gotten the last 2 [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
We both got Appy but both were over.
You got Coeburn, I totally missed that game.
We both got Pound/Ervinton, but again you was over [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]
I got Clintwood because you couldn't predict a winner, toss up, so that a loss for you [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

You 6-2
Me 6-2


My recaps

I figured that the Kelly/PH game would be a good one. I swear my mind goes crazy sometimes but most years PH is a decent team.

GC/Richlands shocked me. I figured that Gate City had more for them than they did. Sounds like a bit of roll reversal in this game, in that Gate City normally can get up on someone and put the other team in a 'we can't win' mentality and Richlands was able to do that to Gate City. Still I can admit that I was wrong, Richlands sounds very impressive and Gate City wasn't able to slow them down.

Burton game was about what I expected. Figured it was a run away and hide game.

Appy game was better than the normal Appy/Cove game it sounds like at least. I think Appy will be ok

Coeburn game. Sounds like some of the boys took all the negativity on here and well, everywhere and used it to motivate themselves to make them better. If they can continue to build on what sounds to be a great effort, they'll definitely be better than a lot picked.

Pound-Ervinton game was lower scoring than I expected. Not a bad showing, although now the coaches for Ervinton have to try to shake off one that a lot thought they could get.

Clintwood-Grundy. Impressed by the Wave, but not overly. Grundy was not good at all. Look for some of their other scores to be horrible if they don't improve greatly. Some of the good young players for Clintwood had nice games, 2 backs broke the century mark. Really though, I find myself so disappointed with the effort Grundy game that I'm finding it hard to be too good to the Clintwood team. They did what they had to do but nothing was just earth shattering, if that makes sense. I was a little disappointed by Grundy near the end of the game. 40-0 Clintwood, subbing extremely liberally. Grundy scores. Went for 2, which ok, no problem, maybe they don't have a kicker (kickoffs were poor so its possible). Then they went for an onside kick. Now not faulting the trying to score to get something positive for your starters, even against third string and such players, but then to try the onside kick, was a bit 'iffy'. It's taking advantage of a team trying to back off on you. Clintwood recovered, so no huge deal and then I can't remember if we punted or turned it over, but next series, starters still in and here is where Grundy left a sour taste in my mouth. They went for the bomb. Twice. Going to their best receiver (and probably their best player on the field #15). He was a big old boy and got by our whatever string coverage was in there, scored and floated into the end zone.

Again, I don't fault a team for trying to get something positive when you're down 40-0, but the general way that is dealt with is you try to get something, then if you do, you sub, not try to make the game sound better or take advantage of someone being good to you.

It didn't matter. Not saying it did, but hey the game is over, the other team has called off the dogs, don't take advantage of their niceness. It's probably good that I'm not a coach, because I would do the exact same thing that we did, and then the next series, I would sent my starters back in. Make it a very huge obvious point. Let them run a play, nothing big, not trying to throw a bomb back on them. Then very deliberately mass sub.

Anyhow, I'm also glad that the mercy rule is now in effect for Virginia. About time.

[ QUOTE ]
Clintwood-Grundy. Impressed by the Wave, but not overly. Grundy was not good at all. Look for some of their other scores to be horrible if they don't improve greatly. Some of the good young players for Clintwood had nice games, 2 backs broke the century mark. Really though, I find myself so disappointed with the effort Grundy game that I'm finding it hard to be too good to the Clintwood team. They did what they had to do but nothing was just earth shattering, if that makes sense. I was a little disappointed by Grundy near the end of the game. 40-0 Clintwood, subbing extremely liberally.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with that anlysis. The one Earth shattering thing that you didn't mention, was that hit by Osbourne on the kickoff. That's the best hit I've seen in 6-7 years. That was great.

Are you related to Phil??? LOL A win is a win Thought we looked OK But I thought the same thing last season when we opened up with a big win in this game and went on to lose 5 out of the next 9 games.

IMHO next week is huge for the Greenwave if they have any plans of making the post season this year thay HAVE to win this game the game is at Sandlick and the Tigers are pretty good playing at home and the favorite to win the BDD this season

[ QUOTE ]
IMHO next week is huge for the Greenwave if they have any plans of making the post season this year thay HAVE to win this game the game is at Sandlick and the Tigers are pretty good playing at home and the favorite to win the BDD this season


[/ QUOTE ]

Extremely important point.

I do think the Haysi/Clintwood game is a big game but I don't think it will absolutely determine whether or not Clintwood makes the playoffs. I think its a bigger game for Haysi's playoffs hopes. Here's why: As far as Clintwood's playoff hopes I think the Haysi/Honaker game will have more implications. If Haysi wins that game I think Clintwood is in. Honaker has overly beefed up their schedule and even if they beat Haysi they still likely end up at only 6-4, 7-3 at best in my opinion. If they lose to Haysi they will most likely finish 5-5 and be out of the playoff hunt because they didn't win the district. That will allow Clintwood to make the playoffs regardless of what they do against Haysi imho. However, if Haysi doesn't beat Clintwood then they will pretty much HAVE to beat Honaker in order to make the playoffs. They can't afford to lose both of those games. The only way they could make the playoffs if they lose both of those two is if GC has a complete meltdown which I don't see happening. Thats why I say this game is big for Clintwood but bigger for Haysi.

I guess we can see it differently but IMHO Honaker is Haysi's big game and really the only one that they need to win (sure that have to beat Hurly and TV but the Haysi JV unit could probably take care of that for them.) Clintwood has PV, GC, Burton, and Appy standing in front of them for an Auto Playoff spot and Wise, Coeburn , and Pound could prove to be tough as the year goes on. With that kind of distric schedule looking back at them Clintwood HAS to beat Grundy, Haysi and Lee to have a shot if they dont win the LPD If haysi loses to both Honaker and Clintwood then they probably finish 8-2 and probably make the playoffs no problem (Trust me no one will be pulling for Haysi to beat Honaker more than me)

Amazing that some teams just have to basiclly win 2-3 games to make the playoffs.

Always been that way (well since the Div sptil any way)

I remember several years ago Rcy Cove goes into the playoffs 10-0 Appy goes in 3-7 and Appy beats them by 40 points so you can't always go by records

I'm not saying Honaker is not a big game for Haysi...its a huge game. All I'm saying is if Honaker doesn't beat Haysi then I think Clintwood will have no problem making the playoffs even if they lose to Haysi. If Haysi loses to both Clintwood and Honaker I believe they will miss the playoffs even if they win the rest and finish 8-2. Heck it was just the year before last they missed the playoffs at 9-1. Clintwood is a big big game for Haysi.

That was due more to Rye Cove being Div 2 and winning the Cumberland than anything else.

Lets just say that BOTH Haysi and Clintwood Need this game LOL

Agree to disagree huh? [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] I do get your point on how important it is for Clintwood but I promise you if Haysi beats Honaker then Clintwood WILL make the playoffs even if they lose to Haysi...you can hold me to that. However, if Haysi loses to both Clintwood and Honaker I predict they WILL NOT make the playoffs even if they go 8-2. You can hold me to that as well. If Honaker beats Haysi and Haysi beats Clintwood the 4 playoff teams will be PV, Honaker, GC and Haysi. If Haysi beats Clintwood and also beats Honaker the playoff teams will be PV, Haysi, GC and Clintwood. Thats the way I see it going down. I also understand if Clintwood beats Haysi they are in a really good spot to make the playoffs no matter what happens in the BDD.

[ QUOTE ]
Always been that way (well since the Div sptil any way)

I remember several years ago Rcy Cove goes into the playoffs 10-0 Appy goes in 3-7 and Appy beats them by 40 points so you can't always go by records

[/ QUOTE ]

It does seem to be that way now...however the divisions were split when I played also but we had to do more than beat Honaker to make the playoffs. Back then Garden and Hurley were consistently making the playoffs and well and you had to win more than one game to win the district. On occasion even Pocahontas would have a good team. Its a shame TV and Hurley are in the poor state they are in. Those areas turned out some tough teams in the 80's and early 90's. Honaker was usually no better than the 3rd or 4th best team in the district. They would usually have alot of athletes but weren't physical enough to beat us and would have the same problem and split with Hurley/Garden(beat one lose to the other). St. Paul was the traditional BDD doormat in those days.

Garden had some REALLY good Div 2 teams 15 years AGO sad to see how far they have droped off

But even in the early days of the Div Split Appy wins a State title with a 5-5 record and I think Jonesvill did the same

yeah and hurley was usually better than them...went undefeated a time or two in the 80's.

i was speaking in reference to having to win just one or two games to make the playoffs...i agree with what you are saying about division 1