2018 outlook.

[Real Sasquatch]

I see the Southwest District being a battle between Graham and V High. Richlands close behind in 3rd position. Look for Tazewell to be a dangerous team and finish above .500 and make the post season.
Marion will finish 5th and Lebanon a distant 6th and will not come close to winning a district game

 

[swva_havok_fan]

Ridgeview should be the favorite in the M7 this coming season with Mitchell gone at Union.

 

[Real Sasquatch]

Graham returns some talent with Allen at qb and Reed at rb (if healthy). Lester is a versatile athlete and can plat rb or receiver and is a very capable backup qb. Hoping they get Chinault back also, very versatile as well. I think Isaiah Justice will play a big part in the offense also. Key will be lineplay. They lost some key starters. We will see who steps in.

 

[swva_havok_fan]

I am hoping a Ridgeview/Graham or a Ridgeview/Richlands matchup happens on the gridiron sometime sooner rather than later.

Since our girls basketball team played Tazewell in the Region D tournament this year, Richlands is now the only Region D school Ridgeview hasn't played in anything that I know of.

 

[lucustookis]

At the "East End", the Bull Islanders of Poqouson will be slightly better in my opinion. The loss of RH, especially at Linebacker and his overall leadership is huge. He was one of our best to ever wear the uniform and is a gigantic loss, but.......we have very good athletes returning all over the field and the line will be bigger than last year. I think we have our best chance to win a state title since we beat Richlands years ago. Not saying we will.......but we will be pretty good again. We could still actually go 6-4 in regular season. Aside from the usual tough opponents, the teams we played and won against will be either slightly better or much better. We have the possibility of going 6-4 and making it all the way to the state finals. But....anything is "possible.". In the Valley, Lee will be very good from what their fans told me in our OT loss to them in the state semis. They told me they will actually be better this year. If so, Lee may well be the favorite in VAs 2A to win the state title. Considering Appo is supposed to finally not be as good, but still good, and Union with Mitchell and some other key losses, and Graham lost Cooke, the favorite and preseason number one may be Lee. After all, they lost, but they did take Appo to OT and about near beat em. FYI, Poqouson took Lee to OT the game before, so we weren't that far off.

 

[Real Sasquatch]

Grahams season will hinge on the lineplay and how they progress. Running game will be more physical and improved. Anticipating the return a couple of key players.at the RB position. One from injury and one who did not play last season. Freeing up Lester from the RB position and the return of Justice and the kid who didnt play last season will create a difficult task for defenses to defend the pass. Cant douuble team one of them like Cooke last year. More talent at the skill positions for Graham next season, although none of them quite as talented as Cooke was for them. As stated before. Going to have to work with those linemen. A few kids with good size and potential. Look for another good squad from Graham this season.

 

[eh31]

Grahams season will hinge on the lineplay and how they progress. Running game will be more physical and improved. Anticipating the return a couple of key players.at the RB position. One from injury and one who did not play last season. Freeing up Lester from the RB position and the return of Justice and the kid who didnt play last season will create a difficult task for defenses to defend the pass. Cant douuble team one of them like Cooke last year. More talent at the skill positions for Graham next season, although none of them quite as talented as Cooke was for them. As stated before. Going to have to work with those linemen. A few kids with good size and potential. Look for another good squad from Graham this season.

Graham’s has QB/DB Cameron Allen coming back as well. For those that didn’t know, he has picked up offers from Liberty and UVA in the last couple months. He’s had a lot of interest from WVU, JMU, & Wake Forest as well. He’ll be attending the rivals 3 stripe camp in Charlotte and Nike’s “The Opening” in the next few months too which should bring him some more looks.

 

[longtimerhsfan]

I will be surprised if Lee is as good or better than last year because the quarterback graduated and he was a threat in just about every sense of the word. But then maybe they have a back-up just waiting for his turn.

Another team to watch will be Central Woodstock. Although Lee hammered them in the playoffs, the Falcons were almost entirely a junior team from what I understand, so this upcoming season could be the one they have been building toward.

 

[Real Sasquatch]

Graham’s has QB/DB Cameron Allen coming back as well. For those that didn’t know, he has picked up offers from Liberty and UVA in the last couple months. He’s had a lot of interest from WVU, JMU, & Wake Forest as well. He’ll be attending the rivals 3 stripe camp in Charlotte and Nike’s “The Opening” in the next few months too which should bring him some more looks.

Devin Lester is getting looks from Western Michigan. Nick kastner (not sure of spellng isbgetting early looks from D 1 schools. Chris Chinault getting attentuin fron Wake. The cupboard is far from bare at GHS right now. Also heard that Sesco is starting to get a little attention.

 

[Gunz41!]

At the "East End", the Bull Islanders of Poqouson will be slightly better in my opinion. The loss of RH, especially at Linebacker and his overall leadership is huge. He was one of our best to ever wear the uniform and is a gigantic loss, but.......we have very good athletes returning all over the field and the line will be bigger than last year. I think we have our best chance to win a state title since we beat Richlands years ago. Not saying we will.......but we will be pretty good again. We could still actually go 6-4 in regular season. Aside from the usual tough opponents, the teams we played and won against will be either slightly better or much better. We have the possibility of going 6-4 and making it all the way to the state finals. But....anything is "possible.". In the Valley, Lee will be very good from what their fans told me in our OT loss to them in the state semis. They told me they will actually be better this year. If so, Lee may well be the favorite in VAs 2A to win the state title. Considering Appo is supposed to finally not be as good, but still good, and Union with Mitchell and some other key losses, and Graham lost Cooke, the favorite and preseason number one may be Lee. After all, they lost, but they did take Appo to OT and about near beat em. FYI, Poqouson took Lee to OT the game before, so we weren't that far off.

Lee would seem to fail off with the losses that they will experience. Without thinking about my school, I would venture to guess that the top 2 teams in Shenandoah would be Riverheads and East Rockingham. Riverheads will most likely be better than last season and big favorite for their own 3 peat.

 

[lucustookis]

Riverheads should be better from what some of their fans wrote on VaPreps last fall. One of them said that last year (2017) was the year to beat em because they would be even better in 2018 and 2019. Thats scary. Is Riverheads staying Class 1A, or will they make the jump to 2A? As for Lee, I must have set beside some drunk fans because they told me the QB was a sophomore. He didnt look or play like one. They also told me they return most of their starters and would be better. Sounds like I got some wrong info.

Watch for Buckingham County. They've always had talent, and they now have a coach to go with it. When you see them running off big wins and having impressive scores, don't be surprised or fooled into thinking they magically got talented all of a sudden for one year. Theyve always had talent, but the difference for them will be the new coach. Over the next two-three years, look for a 180 turnaround with them from where they were in the recent years as they are going to be very solid.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

Watch for Buckingham County. They've always had talent, and they now have a coach to go with it. When you see them running off big wins and having impressive scores, don't be surprised or fooled into thinking they magically got talented all of a sudden for one year. Theyve always had talent, but the difference for them will be the new coach. Over the next two-three years, look for a 180 turnaround with them from where they were in the recent years as they are going to be very solid.

This is so true, the new coach was under the Gill for over a decade. He was suppose to get the job after Gill passed. They went with the guy from Petersburg. He is a solid dude and them kids will be motivated to play for him. Wilkerson is a Appomattox guy and I went to school with him. He has a great family and a great all around dude. He knows football. Buckingham will be a threat in upcoming years and the BATTLE OF THE AXE will have more great battles. I know Bucktown is our rivals but I want nothing but the best for them.

 

[LHS Rams]

At the "East End", the Bull Islanders of Poqouson will be slightly better in my opinion. The loss of RH, especially at Linebacker and his overall leadership is huge. He was one of our best to ever wear the uniform and is a gigantic loss, but.......we have very good athletes returning all over the field and the line will be bigger than last year. I think we have our best chance to win a state title since we beat Richlands years ago. Not saying we will.......but we will be pretty good again. We could still actually go 6-4 in regular season. Aside from the usual tough opponents, the teams we played and won against will be either slightly better or much better. We have the possibility of going 6-4 and making it all the way to the state finals. But....anything is "possible.". In the Valley, Lee will be very good from what their fans told me in our OT loss to them in the state semis. They told me they will actually be better this year. If so, Lee may well be the favorite in VAs 2A to win the state title. Considering Appo is supposed to finally not be as good, but still good, and Union with Mitchell and some other key losses, and Graham lost Cooke, the favorite and preseason number one may be Lee. After all, they lost, but they did take Appo to OT and about near beat em. FYI, Poqouson took Lee to OT the game before, so we weren't that far off.

I look for #33 to have a breakout year and catch some people off guard...I believe his name is Max Barrett. He's got a nose for the ball on defense and hits the hole quick on offense...I'd play him more in the backfield and try to get #9 the ball in space and let him do his thing...simply have to get touches for Hicks.

 

[lucustookis]

I look for #33 to have a breakout year and catch some people off guard...I believe his name is Max Barrett. He's got a nose for the ball on defense and hits the hole quick on offense...I'd play him more in the backfield and try to get #9 the ball in space and let him do his thing...simply have to get touches for Hicks.

Agree. Hicks is going to get tons of touches as he should, but I agree, Max needs touches carrying the ball. He is an incredible football player. Hes tough and durable and this will help Hicks from getting worn down or risk for injury by Max carrying some of the load on offense. As for defense, dude is incredible. I'm calling it now, he's a first team All State Linebacker. It's not just his nose for the ball, but he has a very fast first step and his lateral quicks are impressive. He made lots of tackles last year against backs catching the ball out of the backfield. In addition to his run stopping ability, he covers and sees the pass very well. Max will blow it up this year. He had over 130 tackles last year.

 

[Gunz41!]

Riverheads should be better from what some of their fans wrote on VaPreps last fall. One of them said that last year (2017) was the year to beat em because they would be even better in 2018 and 2019. Thats scary. Is Riverheads staying Class 1A, or will they make the jump to 2A? As for Lee, I must have set beside some drunk fans because they told me the QB was a sophomore. He didnt look or play like one. They also told me they return most of their starters and would be better. Sounds like I got some wrong info.

Watch for Buckingham County. They've always had talent, and they now have a coach to go with it. When you see them running off big wins and having impressive scores, don't be surprised or fooled into thinking they magically got talented all of a sudden for one year. Theyve always had talent, but the difference for them will be the new coach. Over the next two-three years, look for a 180 turnaround with them from where they were in the recent years as they are going to be very solid.

Yes, you must have gotten some wrong info. As for Riverheads, they should be better and are EXTREMELY well coached. They went 6 deep in backfield in their Wing T last year so got a lot of experience.

I would imagine that whether right or wrong (not getting in that argument) that RH will be 1a for future. They for sure will be next season as it's done in 2 year cycles and last year was 1st.

I can certainly be wrong, but I would think that Riverheads is 1st and BG, ER, REL, and SD battle out after that. Luray will drop off with the losses they had

 

[LHS Rams]

Agree. Hicks is going to get tons of touches as he should, but I agree, Max needs touches carrying the ball. He is an incredible football player. Hes tough and durable and this will help Hicks from getting worn down or risk for injury by Max carrying some of the load on offense. As for defense, dude is incredible. I'm calling it now, he's a first team All State Linebacker. It's not just his nose for the ball, but he has a very fast first step and his lateral quicks are impressive. He made lots of tackles last year against backs catching the ball out of the backfield. In addition to his run stopping ability, he covers and sees the pass very well. Max will blow it up this year. He had over 130 tackles last year.

I wouldn't be surprised...he really impressed me at Goochland. I didn't realize he had that many tackles, but I think he was probably overshadowed a bit by Henesey, understandably so. If Henesey had the height, he'd probably be a lock to play defense at a high level D1 program...would love to see him play at CNU!

 

[Real Sasquatch]

Graham has acquired the services of Richlands assistant coach Dennis Palmer. Should be an assett to Grahams defense.

 

[Clarkefan]

Unfortunately, I don't think Clarke's gonna be much of a threat as they have been in the past few years. I hope I'm wrong, I'll be there anyway though, with my cowbell.

 

[Real Sasquatch]

I hear that the G-men are also welcoming back Tre Booker, transferring back to GHS from Richlands.

 

[Real Sasquatch]

Dont sleep on the Tazewell Bulldogs this year. Im calling 7-3 and a post season birth.and a dangerous matchup come playoff time. Bot the same product that wr have seen out of tazewell recently. Lot of talent at skill positions.still fairly young.