So, the season is getting close. Which teams will be contenders this year in your respective districts? Please post your thoughts.
For the Southwest, I am picking Graham to beat out V-High and Richlands for the top spot. A lot of talent returning for Graham and a couple of nice additions. Sure they lost Taymon Cooke, but they will have more weapons this year and it will be harder to key on one player. Graham will also bring a big line with a mixture of youth and experience and a new D-Coordinator from Richlands. Play at the linebacker position should be outstanding this year, they lost Vineyard, but they will have some very good LB's this year in Kastner, Reed and a younger Reed as well. Allen has committed to Purdue at DB and they have Shinault back there as well and he is getting looks from Wake and others. Reed, Kastner and Lester are getting a lot of attention from D 1 and FCS schools. A ton of talent on this year's team. The key will be the lineplay, but they will be very big up front, a couple of veterans and a couple of youngsters, but the size is somethng Graham has not had in a long time. Graham will have a lot of weapons for Allen to throw the ball to, Lester, Shinault and Justice come to mind immediately. The running game is stacked with Reed, Booker, Dalton and Shinault.
I am very anxious for this year's Graham team, if the lineplay is good, watch out!!
V-High returns a lot of talent, but nobody close to Graham's Allen, Lester, Shinault and Reed.
Richlands returns their qb and some key skill positions, but they lost some key linemen and IMO, their lineplay and defense has been somewhat overlooked because of their passing style of play in the past. They had a solid running game last year, but a big part of that running game has transferred back to Graham. Their D Coordinator is gone as well and it could prove to be the difference between a playoff berth and not. Richlands has a very tough schedule, featuring Graham, Bluefield, Byrd, Union and Blacksburg. If they end up 7-3, I'll be impressed.
For the Southwest, I am picking Graham to beat out V-High and Richlands for the top spot. A lot of talent returning for Graham and a couple of nice additions. Sure they lost Taymon Cooke, but they will have more weapons this year and it will be harder to key on one player. Graham will also bring a big line with a mixture of youth and experience and a new D-Coordinator from Richlands. Play at the linebacker position should be outstanding this year, they lost Vineyard, but they will have some very good LB's this year in Kastner, Reed and a younger Reed as well. Allen has committed to Purdue at DB and they have Shinault back there as well and he is getting looks from Wake and others. Reed, Kastner and Lester are getting a lot of attention from D 1 and FCS schools. A ton of talent on this year's team. The key will be the lineplay, but they will be very big up front, a couple of veterans and a couple of youngsters, but the size is somethng Graham has not had in a long time. Graham will have a lot of weapons for Allen to throw the ball to, Lester, Shinault and Justice come to mind immediately. The running game is stacked with Reed, Booker, Dalton and Shinault.
I am very anxious for this year's Graham team, if the lineplay is good, watch out!!
V-High returns a lot of talent, but nobody close to Graham's Allen, Lester, Shinault and Reed.
Richlands returns their qb and some key skill positions, but they lost some key linemen and IMO, their lineplay and defense has been somewhat overlooked because of their passing style of play in the past. They had a solid running game last year, but a big part of that running game has transferred back to Graham. Their D Coordinator is gone as well and it could prove to be the difference between a playoff berth and not. Richlands has a very tough schedule, featuring Graham, Bluefield, Byrd, Union and Blacksburg. If they end up 7-3, I'll be impressed.
Last edited:
