2A Top Teams this year?

RichlandsRyan

Sophomore
Nov 29, 2014
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Ridge view may be a sleeper

I agree they could be a sleeper, but I also think some people may be reading too far into their large victory over Jenkins, KY. That is a school with just 20 varsity players. This was more like a glorified scrimmage that counted than an actual football game.

I still think they are top 10 material, but we will get a better glimpse into the team when they play a good Central team this week.
 

obguthr

Senior
May 29, 2003
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So.... Richlands, Union, Giles, Glenvar, or maybe Ridgeview? The East region doesn't stand a chance. I personally agree, but it's still sobering to see no East team even get a mention.
 

RichlandsRyan

Sophomore
Nov 29, 2014
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So.... Richlands, Union, Giles, Glenvar, or maybe Ridgeview? The East region doesn't stand a chance. I personally agree, but it's still sobering to see no East team even get a mention.

My top 5 is Glenvar, Richlands, Buckingham, Union, Clarke. To me, those 5 are the ones who will be fighting all year for the two top seeds.
 

kwhs95fan

All-Conference
Oct 17, 2006
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Ridgeview lost their top receiver to a torn ACL last week also. Prayers to him as I remember him from last year at Haysi. Very good ball player. Hate to see injuries like that
 

obguthr

Senior
May 29, 2003
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Early in season still, but I think there are lots of good teams, but no great team.

Richlands is the only team I'm reasonably certain will still be in the top 5 by year's end. I'm still waiting to see more out of Giles, Glenvar, Union, Brunswick, Clarke, King William(enjoyed what I saw from them last year), Goochland (humbling loss to the Essex machine), and Appomattox.
 
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white&blue

Redshirt
Apr 22, 2009
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Clarke a top 5 team? A weak district allows them to post a decent record but look at what happens to them EVERY year in the playoffs.
 
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Keith_Stone33

Junior
Sep 30, 2013
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Clarke a top 5 team? A weak district allows them to post a decent record but look at what happens to them EVERY year in the playoffs.
I was glad to see them pick up some tougher non district games this year. Maybe they will be more tested going into the postseason in 2015
 

lovemesomeweezy

Redshirt
Nov 20, 2014
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Speaking of Clarke---2 years ago they made it to 3rd round of playoffs losing to Brunswick on last play of game (josh Dulaney who now plays for William &Mary) was injured in 2nd play of game. I'm willing to bet the bank that game would have gone much differently if he was healthy. Just bad luck there. Last year was 2nd round before losing to a very good Nottoway team. A few years before that were beaten by Gretna in the region championship. People are acting like they are a flop every year----ask the teams they have played over the years and I'm sure they will feel differently. ......rest assured
 

Keith_Stone33

Junior
Sep 30, 2013
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Speaking of Clarke---2 years ago they made it to 3rd round of playoffs losing to Brunswick on last play of game (josh Dulaney who now plays for William &Mary) was injured in 2nd play of game. I'm willing to bet the bank that game would have gone much differently if he was healthy. Just bad luck there. Last year was 2nd round before losing to a very good Nottoway team. A few years before that were beaten by Gretna in the region championship. People are acting like they are a flop every year----ask the teams they have played over the years and I'm sure they will feel differently. ......rest assured
I personally feel that their out of district schedule will help them this year and next. I've always respected the Clarke program.
 

mg66

Redshirt
Dec 20, 2012
125
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Nottoway dominated Clarke in every aspect. Clarke plays a weak schedule that is why they always post 9-10 win regular seasons. I have been to the last couple playoff losses and they just look out classed. Brunswick was a hell of alot quicker. Two years ago when they were loaded they struggled against a subpar and struggling strasburg team winning 12-7 I believe. This year will be no different they will win 9-10 games and bow out early in the playoffs.
 

lovemesomeweezy

Redshirt
Nov 20, 2014
49
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Come on man---Clarke got stopped at 1 yard line against brunswick with a makeshift backfield while missing a first team all state linebacker and 1800 yard rusher with a min left in game in final 8 of state. --dropped a pass on last play of first half vs Nottoway or would have taken lead into half. Catch that ball---different game----Yes--lost both games could've would've should've ----but was there to put themselves in that spot. The level of "know it all" on here truly amazes me. Clarke has been so called "out classed" one time in the playoffs and that was at Buckingham when they had peanut and koonce----I refuse to get in a dispute from this point on and good luck to all teams
Thanks for the respect Keith_stone33
 
Aug 3, 2015
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Speaking of Clarke---2 years ago they made it to 3rd round of playoffs losing to Brunswick on last play of game (josh Dulaney who now plays for William &Mary) was injured in 2nd play of game. I'm willing to bet the bank that game would have gone much differently if he was healthy. Just bad luck there. Last year was 2nd round before losing to a very good Nottoway team. A few years before that were beaten by Gretna in the region championship. People are acting like they are a flop every year----ask the teams they have played over the years and I'm sure they will feel differently. ......rest assured

Clarke sounds alot like like Glenvar's frustrations over the years especially against Giles. Then one magical Saturday last fall the football gods smiled down upon the Highlanders and all the hard work through the disappointments paid off in a 36-0 shellacking of the always favored and 27-0 defending state champion "can't lose" Giles..and most of you know the rest of the story. .
 
Sep 28, 2004
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Clarke has a solid program. They are definitely a top 10 team. I would not be surprised of they go 10-0 and earn the #1 seed in the east.
 

Hampton Roads 6

All-Conference
Feb 22, 2003
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Clarke has a good program but as some have said, they play a weak schedule compared to most of the top 2A teams in state.
 

RuppsRants

Freshman
Jun 24, 2008
91,064
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I agree they could be a sleeper, but I also think some people may be reading too far into their large victory over Jenkins, KY. .

Correct.

Jenkins is probably one of the ten weakest teams overall in the State of Kentucky. They are bad, bad, bad....
 

mg66

Redshirt
Dec 20, 2012
125
2
18
How many times has Clarke played in the final four with all these wins in the regular season. At least when Strasburg dominated the same area as Clarke they made it to the final four or championship. It was harder then in the playoffs than now. In 96 we ran the table all the way to the finals and lost to a great bath county team. I was a freshman on that team. Bath County's AD called it the ice and wind bowl. We held the leaf at the half then our OC decided to throw the ball in 45 mph wind instead of giving our all state rb the ball in the second half after he racked up 200 yards in the 1st half. Clarke has a strong program but regular season results mean nothing if you don't do anything in the playoffs. Just like the year at Clarke in the first round when they bowed out against Strasburg. Playoffs are what matter. Eagles will go 10-0 or 9-1 and probably get to 2nd or 3rd round in the water downed playoffs before losing. You speak of one player being hurt injuries are part of the game. In 96 we had 3 offensive starters out and 3 defensive starters out in the state semifinal game and still won. Of course the Great Glenn Proctor prepared everyone equally so we could have the Next Man Up attitude. No disrespect to the Eagles I am speaking on what I saw. Mcdonald should have carried that team past Nottoway last year. I will defend the Eagles on this though that dropped td you spoke of was not a drop. He caught it and tossed to the official. I watched the replay that one of Clarke's bloggers or someone posted. It looked like a catch and alot of the coaches I know said it was a catch.

All in all they are just kids playing a game they love. Mistakes will happen
Good luck to all teams this year.
 
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Appalachizona

Redshirt
Sep 4, 2013
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Richlands over Glenvar for State, calling it right here

And yes I know it's way to early to predict that, but that's what early September is for
 
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white&blue

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Apr 22, 2009
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The difference in Clarke and other teams from this area is the ability to win against quality teams. For the 30 years between 1970 and 1999 Madison County was in the State Championship game 9 times (basically once every 3 years). They were in the "final 4" 20 times I think. And back then, the playoffs were not watered down as they are today. Now, Clarke is the team to beat in the district. Clarke may get the No 1 seed in the East based on the regular season but then play teams in the first/second rounds that have absolutely no business in the playoffs. So their first "real playoff game" is the third or maybe fourth round; and they have not had success in those games.

Maybe that will change this year. Nothing against Clarke but the truth is the truth.
 
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obguthr

Senior
May 29, 2003
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Clarke undoubtedly has a good program, but their failings in the playoffs are because the Bull Run hasn't adequately prepared them. We'll see if this year's non district schedule helps toughen them up.
 
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Gunz41!

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2007
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All this back and forth and nobody knows what will happen this year. Lets just let the kids play hard and go prove what they can. But I think I will have to disagree to a point here about playoffs being watered down now. Sure more teams get in, but back before this playoff system, it was beneficial to certain areas and a detriment to others. You would have 5-6 teams in Region B at records of 10-0 to 8-2 and only 4 got in, while in other areas teams would get in at 4-6 because they won their district. What this new system does is it allows more teams in, which means more good teams and more mediocre team. There have been a couple state champions since the new system came to be that WOULD NOT have been IN the playoffs before. That certainly wasn't a team that shouldn't be in.
 
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