Gate City will show up!!

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Good luck Great City

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.

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)

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.

You must be readin my mind...lol

CALPREPS.COM
PROJECT A MATCHUP

http://calpreps.com/projections/Gate...tm#Gretna_(VA)

Gretna (VA) 35, Gate City (VA) 14

The thing about those matchup scores is they miss the neighborhood of the score spread 75% of the time..and miss the winner about a third of the time. Can't rely on someone or something that has never seen a school play to predict a score.

They're also projecting Buffalo Gap to beat C'wood, 31-21. It's possible, but I don't think that's how it'll shake out.

They also predicted PV to win every game except Richlands too...can't put any stock in that.

I looked and they are still projecting Burton to beat Clintwood 21-20 and predict Buffalo Gap 35-28, so that shows you how accurate they are right there.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sup-rbeast</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The thing about those matchup scores is they miss the neighborhood of the score spread 75% of the time..and miss the winner about a third of the time. Can't rely on someone or something that has never seen a school play to predict a score. </div></div>

I know it is worthless. Just something to add to the discussion. Myself I expect GC to win every game they play. Even if it were against the Dallas Cowboys. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]

What I don't understand is people going off because Gate City fans are showing the boys they have confidence. Hell I'd be worried to death if everybody said "we have no shot". I'm leaving Saturday morning early to watch 2 state championship games, and I'm going with the mindset that we're winning the dang thing. We may get beat, we may get out guts stomped out, but we'll be there and I have no doubt GC will give 150%.

As for Dustin Jones, I had heard he's out. I hope that isn't true.

i am going off because of my sheer hatred for gatecity, its nothin new, you guys know that

Just to let you know. Dustin is going to tape it up and try and practice tomorrow to see how it feels. As of right now it doesn't look good!! This could hurt real bad!!

My Dad works with some of his family, and yes its probably not a great chance of him making an impact this weekend. I hope he is able to though.

Adrenaline is nature's healer. I hope he's able to get out there. After seeing how upset he was last weekend, it'd be great to see him on the field Saturday. In more ways than one.

This made me feel lil diff about GC chances this week
They (gretna) think they already got it won... apparently..
GC needs to smak em in the mouth hard right off bat...
and yes... we can, I seen it last week against GW,
The def is on thier game... they need to play thier hearts out..
DEFENCE and "harry fry" strait up middle till u get tired of it Fball..
hope they (gretna) dont quit havn such a good ol time thier last week of practice...
live it up all week and they will get...surprised....
GC looking like they mean buis on DEF finally

The audacity of taking GC lightly didnt sit well with me,
someone needs to show the GC players this and get em a lil pumped right b4 game... maybe it wont sit well with them either..

LINKAGE
http://www.gretnafootballblog.blogspot.com/


http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Satel...!fridayfootball


Good luck GC and give it your all, no one expected you to be here anyway.. nothing to lose, and everything to gain, smak someone...
then smile...
GC football in a nutshell...
bring it HOME!

It does sound like a team with little to no disaplan I do wonder how they will handle a tough game.

I think if GC can control the clock and make Gretna drive down the field (not give up a 40+ yard TD) that lack of disaplan will show up to bite Gretna in the butt

Alright, I've had enough of all this hype about how gretna is gunna beat us so bad, at least 18 points. Bull. These boys may be good, but their schedule was nothing like ours, they've only played one or two teams that rank with us, and they're coming into this game cocky like they've already won the ring and its on their finger. You know, I recall earlier this year we all were hyped because we beat clintwood who had beat PV....how sorely were we disapointed when we go down to Bullet Park and got beat? Pride, Tradition, and Desire win championships, not big heads and talk. And in my opinion, gretna just doesn't have enough of that to compare to the Big Blue Wreckin' Crew.

Good luck Blue Devils!

Unfortunately many of us old timers said the same thing about Southampton back in 1978. If my failing memory is correct the score was something like 56-6. I hope I am wrong, but I just do not see how the Devils can cope with the speed that Gretna brings. Regardless of what happens this Saturday, the Devils have had a great season. Go Big Blue!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Hashmark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">This made me feel lil diff about GC chances this week
They (gretna) think they already got it won... apparently..
GC needs to smak em in the mouth hard right off bat...
and yes... we can, I seen it last week against GW,
The def is on thier game... they need to play thier hearts out..
DEFENCE and "harry fry" strait up middle till u get tired of it Fball..
hope they (gretna) dont quit havn such a good ol time thier last week of practice...
live it up all week and they will get...surprised....
GC looking like they mean buis on DEF finally

The audacity of taking GC lightly didnt sit well with me,
someone needs to show the GC players this and get em a lil pumped right b4 game... maybe it wont sit well with them either..

LINKAGE
http://www.gretnafootballblog.blogspot.com/


http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Satel...!fridayfootball


Good luck GC and give it your all, no one expected you to be here anyway.. nothing to lose, and everything to gain, smak someone...
then smile...
GC football in a nutshell...
bring it HOME! </div></div>



Just another week

Just like Gretna coach Chris Thurman alluded to after Saturday's Group A Division 2 semifinals victory over King William, it seems like this week has started off as any other has this season for the Hawks.
"I'm not going to let them get all bent out of sorts just because it's a state finals,"? Thurman had said.
So far, he has been true to his word, as the Hawks (13-0) are stayed just as loose acting as free-spirited as ever in practice on Tuesday, as they prepare to take on Gate City (10-3) for the state title on Saturday.
Sure, the Hawks know that this week is different. After all, senior running back Tyon Bennett kept going around practice chirping that, "This is the last Tuesday."? But in the Hawks' tradition of joking around with each other, senior defensive back/wide receiver Theo Miller shot back just as easily, "Man, the whole week is the last week."?
Yes, it's just another week of practice at Gretna.
Players cracked up at every false start or fumble. Bennett feigned an injury after a hard hit, refusing to get up until a teammate pretended to resuscitate him through CPR, Jerrell Witcher broke out his Michael Jackson dance moves between plays, and an improvisational WWE-style wrestling match broke out during one lull, complete with Tyron Haskins channeling The Rock and dropping "The People's Elbow"? on a teammate.
It was a vintage Gretna practice, and that does not bode well for Gate City. The Hawks always seem to play at their best when they're having fun ? and they certainly were on Tuesday.