Blacksburg.......

[falcettik]

I read the 4A board but admit I know little about the teams since I follow 6A in NOVA. I see that Blacksburg, a #10 seed who entered the playoffs with a 5-5 record, is now in the 3A championship.

I was wondering if someone can tell me what happened? Did they just put it all together at the right time? Did injuries hamper them earlier in the year? Do they play in a conference with teams from higher classifications? I am just curious. Regardless, what they have accomplished deserves a ton of credit!

 

[GatorBait1988]

I heard early on in the year Blacksburg tried a new strategy of going for it on every 4th down (no matter where they were at on the field) and they ALWAYS attempted onside kicks, no matter what. I heard they tried that for like 5-6 weeks and it wasn't working, so they laid off of that. Looks like the turn around helped. I haven't seen B-Burg play this year, this is just what I've read on here.

 

[1bburgfan]

I heard early on in the year Blacksburg tried a new strategy of going for it on every 4th down (no matter where they were at on the field) and they ALWAYS attempted onside kicks, no matter what. I heard they tried that for like 5-6 weeks and it wasn't working, so they laid off of that. Looks like the turn around helped. I haven't seen B-Burg play this year, this is just what I've read on here.

that and only playing kids one way , got to put your best 11on the field. Changes made after a 2-4 start http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/404325076.html

 

[SpartanOfYore]

I read the 4A board but admit I know little about the teams since I follow 6A in NOVA. I see that Blacksburg, a #10 seed who entered the playoffs with a 5-5 record, is now in the 3A championship.

I was wondering if someone can tell me what happened? Did they just put it all together at the right time? Did injuries hamper them earlier in the year? Do they play in a conference with teams from higher classifications? I am just curious. Regardless, what they have accomplished deserves a ton of credit!

They play in the River Ridge District with 5A Patrick Henry (Roanoke), and 4A schools Salem and Pulaski County. The Bruins finished tied for third with Pulaski, whom they defeated. For the first four or five games, Blacksburg was going with the "go for it from anywhere" philosophy on fourth down, and doing onside kicks on every kickoff. Apparently, they wisely abandoned that, and from what 1bburgfan says, they started playing their best players more on both sides of the ball, as opposed to trying to have two separate platoons for O and D.

They've been good offensively all year. The Bruins have a pretty good qb, a fast, quick wideout in Terry, and the state 100 meter dash champion in halfback Cole Beck. The biggest difference seems to be on defense, where something must have started clicking for B'burg late in the season. They lost to two teams early on, Giles and Hidden Valley, that I dare say they would thoroughly thrash had they played them in the second half of the season.

[Edit: I was typing as 1bburgfan was replying.]

 

[GatorBait1988]

that and only playing kids one way , got to put your best 11on the field. Changes made after a 2-4 start http://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/404325076.html

Interesting point. Glad those guys got it turned around. Awesome to see B-Burg playing for the state title!

 

[DanvilleSportsHead_rivals]

They play in the River Ridge District with 5A Patrick Henry (Roanoke), and 4A schools Salem and Pulaski County. The Bruins finished tied for third with Pulaski, whom they defeated. For the first four or five games, Blacksburg was going with the "go for it from anywhere" philosophy on fourth down, and doing onside kicks on every kickoff. Apparently, they wisely abandoned that, and from what 1bburgfan says, they started playing their best players more on both sides of the ball, as opposed to trying to have two separate platoons for O and D.

They've been good offensively all year. The Bruins have a pretty good qb, a fast, quick wideout in Terry, and the state 100 meter dash champion in halfback Cole Beck. The biggest difference seems to be on defense, where something must have started clicking for B'burg late in the season. They lost to two teams early on, Giles and Hidden Valley, that I dare say they would thoroughly thrash had they played them in the second half of the season.

[Edit: I was typing as 1bburgfan was replying.]

How did Blacksburg look against Salem? They go for onside kicks and give up field position?

 

[southbottomU]

Blacksburg scored first, but I believe the half time score was 43 - 7. Final 57 - 21. They did try some on side kicks in the second half. They also went for it on 4th down a few times. But Salem called the dogs off after half time. Blacksburg did show some speed, but game was over after first quarter

 

[DinwiddieProud]

How did Blacksburg look against Salem? They go for onside kicks and give up field position?

Hey pal, that was an ugly, ugly loss by VCU. I hope it was simply one of those "bad nights".

 

[DanvilleSportsHead_rivals]

Hey pal, that was an ugly, ugly loss by VCU. I hope it was simply one of those "bad nights".

Yes sir it was. Gets no easier. We have Georgia Tech on Wednesday and ODbooooooooo Saturday in Norfolk! Saturday will be the toughest yet. Sell out crowd! I'm gonna be heated if we go out there and have a bad performance.. I'm missing the Dinwiddie/Salem game

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Yes sir it was. Gets no easier. We have Georgia Tech on Wednesday and ODbooooooooo Saturday in Norfolk! Saturday will be the toughest yet. Sell out crowd! I'm gonna be heated if we go out there and have a bad performance.. I'm missing the Dinwiddie/Salem game

Do what???? I had just gotten approval from Navy to make you an Honorary Dinwiddie Fan! Oh well, easy come, easy go.

Speaking of Navy, not that he is superstitious or anything, but listen to this. He stood in the parking lot Saturday, until he about had a melt down. He was so afraid that Mrs. Mills would not get her regular parking spot, that he took traffic cones and put them in her spot. And after she finally arrived, he was still a basket case because Mrs. Pittman, the former long term DHS Principal, (and just about Dinwiddie's biggest booster), had not arrived. (She finally showed up). After about 30 minutes of oxygen, he seemed to recover pretty good.

He also makes his good buddy's elderly father sit on the same crack on the bleachers, every week. I have heard that he makes him go to the stadium and sit there by himself, on our bye week, just to keep the "Football Gods" happy. Nah, he ain't superstitious!

 

[DanvilleSportsHead_rivals]

Do what???? I had just gotten approval from Navy to make you an Honorary Dinwiddie Fan! Oh well, easy come, easy go.

Speaking of Navy, not that he is superstitious or anything, but listen to this. He stood in the parking lot Saturday, until he about had a melt down. He was so afraid that Mrs. Mills would not get her regular parking spot, that he took traffic cones and put them in her spot. And after she finally arrived, he was still a basket case because Mrs. Pittman, the former long term DHS Principal, (and just about Dinwiddie's biggest booster), had not arrived. (She finally showed up). After about 30 minutes of oxygen, he seemed to recover pretty good.

He also makes his good buddy's elderly father sit on the same crack on the bleachers, every week. I have heard that he makes him go to the stadium and sit there by himself, on our bye week, just to keep the "Football Gods" happy. Nah, he ain't superstitious!

AHAHAHA!!! Will the guy who y'all didn't have any contact with for the Hanover game be there Saturday? I think you and Navy said he brought bad luck. If so y'all may have to make him watch from the top of William and Mary Hall

 

[DinwiddieProud]

Yeah, he will be there. We think he is only bad luck when we play Hanover. Not to worry, if Dinwiddie is struggling at half time, he will get a visit from "Guido". He make need to take a one way ride down to the river.

 

[1MoreHokie]

How did Blacksburg look against Salem? They go for onside kicks and give up field position?

They did initially and stopped somewhere in the middle. It was actually 15-14 Blacksburg early in the 2nd and Salem piled on I think 4 or 5 TDs and blew them out. They got a couple of long TDs (something Salem is apt to do this year, they're very difficult to drive on but do show lapses in the secondary) but were incapable of maintaining that all game. It wasn't as much of a field position thing as you'd think but it wouldn't have mattered anyway.

The philosophy is actually really good when done properly. If a quality team adopted that practice it would be a nightmare to stop which is exactly why it works for the guy that invented it down in Arkansas, he has the talent to make it work. With a team not as talented it's still a good tool to help against other teams of your skill level but when you start punching above your weight class and play someone like Salem even if it works occasionally they're still going to punish you when it doesn't.