Union @ Richlands

[Ryan4VT]

This is likely the game of the week in all of 2A. In the 5 meetings between these two, the total margin of victory is 13 points. Richlands won the first two games by 2 points each time, Union has won the last three on the last play of the game. It doesn't get any better than that.

Gonna be a packed house at Ernie Hicks this week.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

i got Richlands smacking Union by no less than 20 points.

 

[Ryan4VT]

It has never been that lopsided. The largest margin of victory is 6. 2, 2, 6, 1, 1. Those are the margins. I don't expect this game to be any different. Union has Mitchell, who is a 4* and in the top 250 recruits in the nation for his class.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

It has never been that lopsided. The largest margin of victory is 6. 2, 2, 6, 1, 1. Those are the margins. I don't expect this game to be any different. Union has Mitchell, who is a 4* and in the top 250 recruits in the nation for his class.

shoot. The battle of the axe has been decided by 7 points or less in past 5 meetings but it was a blow out last night.

 

[Ryan4VT]

But Buckingham is down. Union is not. They are young on defense, but they are still a 9 win team, and can maybe run the table if they beat us again.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

But Buckingham is down. Union is not. They are young on defense, but they are still a 9 win team, and can maybe run the table if they beat us again.

Union not gonna do nothing unless they learn how to play defense vs. Single wing/wing T teams. until then, i cant rock with you. Clarke county made them look like a 8th grade team

 

[Intrinsicrewards]

Union not gonna do nothing unless they learn how to play defense vs. Single wing/wing T teams. until then, i cant rock with you. Clarke county made them look like a 8th grade team

I was thinking the same thing. If I were coaching against them I would have a few wing plays ready. Even if the team couldn't execute them, they just might work or at least disguise my offense.

 

[honestjohn60]

Rumor has it that Richland's has been on the recruiting trail and may have landed one of the best RB in SWVA. Hope there is no truth to it.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

Rumor has it that Richland's has been on the recruiting trail and may have landed one of the best RB in SWVA. Hope there is no truth to it.

Something has to give about all these Richlands rumors and them recruiting. It just so happens they have 2 OLs from neighboring counties and schools to replace two that they lost? Now they have a RB? @Ryan4VT where the RB come from?

 

[Ryan4VT]

Rumor has it that Richland's has been on the recruiting trail and may have landed one of the best RB in SWVA. Hope there is no truth to it.

To say Richlands goes out school to school and tries to find players is false.

Yes, kids do come here. For whatever reason they choose, players do come here. They see a chance to better themselves with top notch facilities and a fanbase that travels better than any around it. Richlands brought 2000+ to Appomattox, a 4+ hour drive. Would Appo bring 2000 to Richlands? Not a shot at Appo, I don't know if they they would or know. But we all know that Richlands travels extremely well.

But to say that we go out and actively pursue these players isn't right. They move here. They live within the Richlands High zoning district. That is their choice as a family.

That's all I'll say on this matter for now.

 

[Prognosticator]

If somebody is transfering now from in-state, don't they have to sit out a semester?

I know out of state transfers are immediately eligible. It does get old hearing about transfers to Richlands, especially if you live in Tazewell Co. like myself. A lot of folks around here look upon it as a negative thing, unless of course you are from Richlands. The parents are ultimately the ones who are to blame (or praise), depending on which side of the situation you are on. Personally, I like to compare it to the parent who wants his kid on the little league team that's winning the games as opposed to one that is going to struggle. A lot of life lessons are learned through struggles. This instant gratification stuff isn't going to get these kids very far in the game of life. As far as getting a better opportunity at Richlands, that's just B.S. Very few of those kids will play D 1 ball and if they have D 1 talent, they will get noticed, no matter where they are from. Most of them go to Emory and Henry or UVA Wise.... or somewhere else they could go if they played for any other team in SWVA. The Real reason is wanting to win a few more games. If a coach goes out and recruits KIDS to his team to win a few games, that is shameful. Heck, we had coaches who got kicked out of our Rec Soccer league for doing that.

Not saying that is happening at Richlands at all, I believe it to be more of a parent wanting little Johnny to get a trophy instead of a participation ribbon.

 

[Prognosticator]

Rumor has it that Richland's has been on the recruiting trail and may have landed one of the best RB in SWVA. Hope there is no truth to it.

Probably a rumor at this point. Somebody transferring mid season is unlikely. If I was an opposing coach, I would demand that be checked out and verified that everything was on the up and up. If a kid was leaving my school and transferring to another school, it had better be on the up and up or somebody would be getting a phone call, namely the VHSL and I would demand an investigation.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

To say Richlands goes out school to school and tries to find players is false.

Yes, kids do come here. For whatever reason they choose, players do come here. They see a chance to better themselves with top notch facilities and a fanbase that travels better than any around it. Richlands brought 2000+ to Appomattox, a 4+ hour drive. Would Appo bring 2000 to Richlands? Not a shot at Appo, I don't know if they they would or know. But we all know that Richlands travels extremely well.

But to say that we go out and actively pursue these players isn't right. They move here. They live within the Richlands High zoning district. That is their choice as a family.

That's all I'll say on this matter for now.

You didnt answer the question though? I asked you about a new RB yall have? I know before season this was a concern of yours? Now somebody comes on board saying the problem is solved? Just saying...

 

[lovethisgame78]

You didnt answer the question though? I asked you about a new RB yall have? I know before season this was a concern of yours? Now somebody comes on board saying the problem is solved? Just saying...

Probably just a rumor. We will see friday.

 

[SpartanOfYore]

Union not gonna do nothing unless they learn how to play defense vs. Single wing/wing T teams. until then, i cant rock with you. Clarke county made them look like a 8th grade team

I have no dog in this fight whatsoever. And for all I know, the margin of that Union - Clarke Co. game last year was an accurate reflection of the gap between the two teams. But in fairness to Union, they probably don't play too many games following a six or six-and-a-half hour bus ride. That's kind of extreme, for high school. That had to have impacted their performance to some degree, even if they stayed overnight. Maybe especially if they stayed overnight, as that would be a big deviation from any high school team's usual routine. Again, not making excuses for Union, just suggesting a possible mitigating circumstance.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

I have no dog in this fight whatsoever. And for all I know, the margin of that Union - Clarke Co. game last year was an accurate reflection of the gap between the two teams. But in fairness to Union, they probably don't play too many games following a six or six-and-a-half hour bus ride. That's kind of extreme, for high school. That had to have impacted their performance to some degree, even if they stayed overnight. Maybe especially if they stayed overnight, as that would be a big deviation from any high school team's usual routine. Again, not making excuses for Union, just suggesting a possible mitigating circumstance.

Nah, Im not buying that one. I could have had significance but i doubt it had much to do with it.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

Im curious to know how many Wing teams Union played last year until they faced Clarke?

Im hearing there is a Dead T offense? I have never heard of that. Would that be a formation without the WR out and a split back setting?

 

[Thunder's-crest]

Have to agree with Spartan, plus remember Union had not been that deep into playoffs before. They beat Glenvar the week before, but doubt they have ever faced a single wing and a good one at that until that last game. One week to prepare just don't cut it and staying overnight, not good. Powell Valley one of the two combined to make Union was one of the first in SWVA to start using a spread so they are very knowledgeable about the spread.

 

[Union_Fan]

Im curious to know how many Wing teams Union played last year until they faced Clarke?

Im hearing there is a Dead T offense? I have never heard of that. Would that be a formation without the WR out and a split back setting?

0 wing teams last year. Only a couple in the 5 years of existence. 0 single wings.

They were a primarily spread or 2 back set last year, but have run the "T" at various times over the last 5 years. Almost exclusively in 2012. You basically have double tight ends, no receivers, and a fullback in the middle of 2 RBs side by side behind the QB. Also called a full house backfield. Appalachia ran it exclusively.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

Have to agree with Spartan, plus remember Union had not been that deep into playoffs before. They beat Glenvar the week before, but doubt they have ever faced a single wing and a good one at that until that last game. One week to prepare just don't cut it and staying overnight, not good. Powell Valley one of the two combined to make Union was one of the first in SWVA to start using a spread so they are very knowledgeable about the spread.

If that was the first time they faced the Wing, I can understand. I thought for sure they would have face one SUB PAR wing team throughout the season and their talent pulled them through. One week to prepare for a good Wing team like Clarke is not long enough to prepare. Appomattox faced Riverheads (Scrimmage), William Campbell, Amherst, Buffalo Gap before facing Clarke. So we had seen it 5 times throughout the season.

 

[AdvocateOfMany434]

0 wing teams last year. Only a couple in the 5 years of existence. 0 single wings.

They were a primarily spread or 2 back set last year, but have run the "T" at various times over the last 5 years. Almost exclusively in 2012. You basically have double tight ends, no receivers, and a fullback in the middle of 2 RBs side by side behind the QB. Also called a full house backfield. Appalachia ran it exclusively.

I need to cut yall a break and stop talking so much trash about yall playing like a middle school team vs. Clarke. Its hard to prepare vs a wing team. If yall didnt see it throughout the year, well Clarke had the advantage BIG TIME.

 

[Union_Fan]

I have no dog in this fight whatsoever. And for all I know, the margin of that Union - Clarke Co. game last year was an accurate reflection of the gap between the two teams. But in fairness to Union, they probably don't play too many games following a six or six-and-a-half hour bus ride. That's kind of extreme, for high school. That had to have impacted their performance to some degree, even if they stayed overnight. Maybe especially if they stayed overnight, as that would be a big deviation from any high school team's usual routine. Again, not making excuses for Union, just suggesting a possible mitigating circumstance.

Union was definitely not as bad as Clarke made them look. Excuses could range from a couple of key players that were injured prior to the game to the bus ride, but reality is they were simply not prepared on defense.

 

[Ryan4VT]

If that was the first time they faced the Wing, I can understand. I thought for sure they would have face one SUB PAR wing team throughout the season and their talent pulled them through. One week to prepare for a good Wing team like Clarke is not long enough to prepare. Appomattox faced Riverheads (Scrimmage), William Campbell, Amherst, Buffalo Gap before facing Clarke. So we had seen it 5 times throughout the season.

The vast majority of teams in SWVA run either spread systems or one back, option style systems. The wing teams are few abs far between.

 

[DirtBike30]

Wing teams that Union has faced since school was formed VA HIgh, Gate City, Stuarts Draft, Sullivan North, Wise Central, Glenvar, Richlands, etc! Everyone of these teams has run a form of the WIng Offense whether it be a Single Wing, Double Wing, Wing T, etc. VA High and Stuarts Draft ran a pretty traditional Wing T, Gate City can run 30 plus formations in a single game, Sullivan North runs a traditional Double Wing. Wise Central and Richlands have run Single Wing alot especially a couple of years ago, when Reed was at Wise Central and Richlands 2 years ago with the bigger QB! A team goes 13-1 and you want to complain about everything, maybe a 6 hr bus did hurt them, maybe 3 turnovers in the first 13 plays on offense did too! Maybe their middle LB getting hurt on first series and limping around hurt, maybe their starting defensive end getting hurt the week before against Glenvar and not playing defense hurt, maybe their best defensive tackle who nobody could block all season played with a messed up shoulder hurt them. Clarke had 42 offensive plays in the first half and 21 points, so it took them on average 14 plays to score, and that was on a short field mind you!!! Clarke was the better team on that day for whatever reason, but they definately were the stronger weight room team and it showed, bottom line! For whatever reason they lost, but had a great season! They are teenagers playing game and sometimes make mistakes or have other issues they deal with that affects them. And #25 kid from Clarke was a pretty good player, thats why he is at D3 power Mount Union.

 

[HS-SportsFan]

#25 from that Clarke team was the QB and is now at UVA Wise for baseball. #8 was the wingback on offense and a corner on defense, he is the one that has gone on to Mount Union for football.

 

[Union_Fan]

Wing teams that Union has faced since school was formed VA HIgh, Gate City, Stuarts Draft, Sullivan North, Wise Central, Glenvar, Richlands, etc! Everyone of these teams has run a form of the WIng Offense whether it be a Single Wing, Double Wing, Wing T, etc. VA High and Stuarts Draft ran a pretty traditional Wing T, Gate City can run 30 plus formations in a single game, Sullivan North runs a traditional Double Wing. Wise Central and Richlands have run Single Wing alot especially a couple of years ago, when Reed was at Wise Central and Richlands 2 years ago with the bigger QB! A team goes 13-1 and you want to complain about everything, maybe a 6 hr bus did hurt them, maybe 3 turnovers in the first 13 plays on offense did too! Maybe their middle LB getting hurt on first series and limping around hurt, maybe their starting defensive end getting hurt the week before against Glenvar and not playing defense hurt, maybe their best defensive tackle who nobody could block all season played with a messed up shoulder hurt them. Clarke had 42 offensive plays in the first half and 21 points, so it took them on average 14 plays to score, and that was on a short field mind you!!! Clarke was the better team on that day for whatever reason, but they definately were the stronger weight room team and it showed, bottom line! For whatever reason they lost, but had a great season! They are teenagers playing game and sometimes make mistakes or have other issues they deal with that affects them. And #25 kid from Clarke was a pretty good player, thats why he is at D3 power Mount Union.

Stuarts Draft and Sullivan North were the only "true" wing teams that Union has played in 5 years. I think John Battle ran some sort of wing formation one season.

NONE of those teams were single wing offenses.

Richlands a single wing? Umm....since when is 4 receivers and a single RB a single wing??

 

[DirtBike30]

#25 from that Clarke team was the QB and is now at UVA Wise for baseball. #8 was the wingback on offense and a corner on defense, he is the one that has gone on to Mount Union for football.

Sorry numbers are wrong, he is the Asian kid correct?

 

[DirtBike30]

Union Fan, Richlands ran a single wing offense especially in short yardage and around the goal line when they had the bigger QB believe he was#12!!! Mance is a Giles guy, and didnt say they ran it against Union Alot either! And John Battle has run the Wing T also, thanks for reminding me. They ran a split back veer some too! Reed ran a single wing offense against Union almost the entire game a couple of years ago up at UVA Wise field! Don't know what game you were watching, I know they ran it the entire second half and they ran that offense about half the season I think.

 

[DirtBike30]

And VA High under Paul Wheeler ran a Wing T!!!

 

[HS-SportsFan]

Sorry numbers are wrong, he is the Asian kid correct?

I believe American Samoan or Hawaiian family background.

 

[b.Di3_2016RU]

Richlands did not run the single wing with river Michaels or any other qb for that matter. Mance is a Giles guy. But richlands runs the spread almost exclusively. They don't run the wing

 

[b.Di3_2016RU]

They ran a qb draw with him a lot in goal line situations out of the SPREAD.. If you want to classify that as single wing more power to you..

 

[DirtBike30]

Richlands did run it, I should know!!! They ran it like a power with River Michaels out of it alot! No they didnt run buck laterals, counters, but they used it as a power running formation!! Believe what you want, I know!

 

[DirtBike30]

And where do you think the spread originated from.....single wing! Many teams run a spread offense with Wing T or Single WIng plays these days. Louisa County is a good example, single wing coach who will spread you out and to run his single wing offense!

 

[b.Di3_2016RU]

It's not a matter of believe. I've been to 7 to 10 richlands games a season for well over 10 years. So I'm pretty up to date on what they run. A qb draw out of the spread is not a wing formation. One running back or empty set is not a wing play. I don't know where you're from but I highly doubt you've watched nearly as many richlands plays from scrimmage as myself, Ryan4vt or even Unionfan.

 

[DirtBike30]

I've watched plenty of game film and live action, all over the state!

 

[b.Di3_2016RU]

That's great. I'll be at the RICHLANDS Union game on Friday. I sit on the scoreboard side of the field about 15 rows above the 40 yard line. Feel free to come down and we'll count how many wing plays richlands runs.

 

[DirtBike30]

I didn't say they ran it this year or ran it alot!!! lol you people kill me

 

[Ryan4VT]

I am from Richlands. I have missed maybe 10 games in the last 15 years. Richlands DOES NOT run ANY FORM of a wing offense. When River was qb, we ran QB draws with him out of the shotgun. I have video proof if you don't believe me. There is a video of us at Wilson Memorial, on the 2 yard line, and River runs it out of the shotgun, 4 WR and a RB.

We don't run any kind of wing formation. I haven't seen us in the I formation in more years than I care to count. We run 4 and 5 wide with a rb or empty backfield. Period.

 

[Ryan4VT]

There's your proof of our offense with River at QB.