Big game in SWVA this Saturday with class 2 defending champions Graham traveling to Big Stone Gap to face Union. Union won the matchup earlier in the year but both teams are more experienced now which might give a slight edge to Graham being they have a very young team (more room to grow). Should be a great game!
SWVA Big game
- Thread starter Bo Bob
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People continue to say that graham is young.But the roster of 34 shows 17 upperclassmen. When you say they are young, what do you mean by that? Most everyone is a first year starter? Most of their starters are freshmen and sophomores? Just wondering because the roster doesn't appear young at all
From what I have read on the SWVA forum they have a lot of younger players/ starters I guess.
No need to look for a reason to get offended by someone’s take. And not every not-so rah rah take about your team should be considered something to get upset about. A first year starter can be considered young just like a first year starter can be considered young in college sports.
They do have a lot of young starters. Only 8 seniors and only 3 or 4 on each side of the ball starting, so they will return about 8 on offense and defense next year. Very talented young group. Very talented freshman class. 34 on the roster is not much, but the talent in the freshman and sophomore class is outstanding, should be a very dangerous team for the next 2 or 3 years after this season. One of the best freshmen classes to come through Graham in quite a while. Hopefully that will pay off for them in the not too distant future. I wouldn't count them out this season, despite being young, they are playing some really good football right now. I would not be surprised to see Graham knock off a senior laden team this saturday in Big Stone Gap. That bunch from Bluefield has continued to improve each week, those young guys are coming along nicely.
You make one assumption and that is the assumption that Because they are upper classesmen, they must automatically start. Well, they dont. Scroll above on how many freshmen and sophomores are on the field as starters.
Go GMen! Give em the business down in Big Stone Gap! This game is the one that will tell us if Graham has turned the corner and grown up since the early 3 losses. If Graham comes out of Big Stone Gap with a win on the road, I would be concerned if I were in Class 2, because Union has been as dominant as Armstrong and Glenvar and has just rolled through opponents without a close contest.
Graham has won the last 6 out 7 Region D titles..
Yes. Their closest contest was 28-7 over a Graham team which didn’t have their starting qb, their best athlete played hurt and a couple of linemen were out of that one too. Graham is mostly healthy now and have been steam rolling their opponents lately. Whichever team comes out of region D will be the real deal.
That is partially true. They had 4 different opponents they beat by 21, 1 of which was graham
And the statement made by Real Sasquatch is more than partially true if going by total points scored. Graham is the only team to hold Union under 30 points, the other contests in which Union won by 21 were games in which Union had well over 30 points. But there's one key difference. Union caught Graham early and Graham had a freshmen QB from start to finish as Grahams senior starting QB did not play. Added to that, several injuries to other key players. So, in this sense, it kind of was Unions closest game. Gate City could have an argument as they had some injuries when the played Union. Lebanon and Ridgeview were full strength.
Objectively speaking, 4 different teams played Union to the same exact point differential....but if it makes you feel better to say the 21 point win against Graham was "tougher" than the other 3....then ok, Ill go along with that
Objectively speaking, 1 of those 4 held Union 30 points. That has nothing to do with "feeling better." It's a fact. There are no feelings in facts and if you weren't a Graham hater (which you obviously are but will not admit it), you would see my post through a neutral lens. That neutral lens wouod clearly see that I wrote that Gate City also has an argument for playing Union the closest. You are getting caught up in final score. Its about the context of the entire game and who played tougher. This is what the original poster was referring to and I think you know that.
Lastly, I have no interest or concern about "what you will go or not go along with." You do you.
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Very much looking forward to the ultimate conclusion in Region D and the state rounds.
Im not sure about Irony, but I know this. 6 time state champion and 3 in the last 8 years ain't bad, especially with whats coming in the pipe for the next 3 years.
In truth (that means your post was Not truthful), Graham fans said the game would have been closer in game 1 with the starting QB, but Union was the better team, and that in game 2, it could be closer with the starting QB and it was. Graham fans never made an excuse that not having their senior QB was the reason they lost game one to Union (and you know that). Theybdid say it played a part in the final score, and it did. Graham got their senior QB back and lost 12 to zip and he struggled, but thats how it goes. Union will make lots of QBs struggle.
Finally, you know you are in good shape as a program when you have 1 poster dedicated to simply "hating Graham." Literally, no other posts made about anything other than being negative towards Graham. Favorite team? Nope, no posts made. 2nd favorite team to post about? Nope, Nada. Just dislike for Graham. If you are a program and you reach that level, you are probably a pretty good program.
Union was the better team from start of season to present and has played like it and deserved to win. Union is an elite Class 2 program and year in and year out, they are solid. Nothing has changed with them, BUT even with the loss, and no matter how much this bothers you, Nothing has changed with Graham either. In 2026, 29, 35, you and I both know, Graham will be right in the thick of things and knocking on the door, and that sickens you. It makes you physically ill.
Graham has been beat. I said this in week one, to be the man, you got to beat the man and only until Graham exits the playoffs can the talk begin about who is now the man. Well, that time is now. It ain't the G-Men this year, but as most know very well......we aren't done. Will be right back in the mix next year, but for this year, Union, Armstrong, Glenvar, Poqouson, Draft, Strasburg, Ridgeview, Gretna....one of them is now the man and gonna be top dogs and whichever team it is, they are The Man until they exit the playoffs next year or repeat. That's the way it works.
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There were multiple factors in play in that first game including starting QB. Graham’s offense had a bad day Saturday, it happens. Defense had a very good day. If Graham ever gets offense on the same level as Dennis Palmer has defense, that would spell trouble for 2A but I digress. Backup QB had injured wrist so pulling starter wasn’t an option on Saturday. I personally would have alternated Lilly & Palmer from Wildcat after that 2nd interception. Lilly is capable of short intermediate passes to Fix. Next year Graham needs to get Fix & Bradshaw in space and utilize screens, bubble, tunnels , etc. more next year in my unqualified opinion, lol. I’d also get Cecil more involved. As far as defense, they have 9 starters back, needing to replace Lilly (going to be hard) & Elick.
Union won Saturday in spite of the chaos going on with their head coach. Good for them & the assistants getting those boys dialed in for that game. Good luck to them the rest of the way. Maybe they’ll get their ring. If Union wins region, Turner definitely doesn’t deserve coach of the year IMHO after bailing on his team.
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12 men on the field(not called) on a key 4th and 1 in a tight game didnt help Graham’s chances either. Also, the constant blowing of horns during Graham’s cadence....not even a warning from the refs...smh. I think Union is the best team in region D. But, they didnt need any extra help. Ridiculous
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Literally nobody from Graham that I know has said thats the only reason Graham lost. Most have said, they have improved and it should be a much better game with their starters back...and it was. In fact, most Graham fans have said this is the year to beat Graham, if you are going to beat them. The next 2 or 3 years, they will have a lot of young talent returning and will be very good. Some are saying the freshmen class may be the best to ever come through Graham. The Junior and sophomore classes have a lot ofntalent too.
As for this year, Graham will be pulling for Union the rest of the way. It will take a very good team to beat Union
No disr
Best wishes to all teams left and an injury free remaining playoffs for all teams and Go Get Em Next Year G-Men! G-Men Maroon Born and G-Men Bred, and when I die, I will be G-Men Gray Dead, and they can bury me in the tallest town of Virginia which is Bluefield!
That was a big one. We would have had a chance to lead 7 to 6 at the half. I think Union would was the better team this year. They had great senior leaders and have played solid from start to finish.
Best wishes to all teams left and an injury free remaining playoffs for all teams and Go Get Em Next Year G-Men! G-Men Maroon Born and G-Men Bred, and when I die, I will be G-Men Gray Dead, and they can bury me in the tallest town of Virginia which is Bluefield!