WE ARE RAIDERS!!! WE ARE 1!!!

piz hokies

Redshirt
Jun 7, 2006
1,355
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Salem won 3 straight (98, 99, 00)
Hampton won 4 straight (95, 96, 97, 98) - National Team of the year during one of those.

Currently Westfield, Highland Springs, Salem, and Appomattox are riding on back-to-back state champs.
 

longtimerhsfan

All-Conference
Dec 11, 2006
5,582
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When Briar Woods had its run, I remember them having a superstar quarterback who was either a freshman or sophomore when that streak started. I can't remember the name. Did he ever go on to play college ball anywhere?
 
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AppoCrazy

Freshman
Nov 17, 2013
58
99
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That Briar Woods team that played Heritage in the State Finals was incredible. They should not have been 3A as they were up the next year after killed Heritage. On of the best high school teams I have ever seen.
 

AntGZee

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2015
1,732
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Briar Woods did it, playing in a lower classification that they were not supposed to be in. They were playing in either Division 3 or 4 and they should have been in Division 5 or 6.
 
Oct 13, 2015
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Is Appo as hungry this year compared with the last two? I've always thought the 3rd year is the toughest because a team loses it's edge and desire. Time will tell.
great question, you will have to ask some of my Appo friends on here more close to team being I moved away. I know in the beginning of season it was a lil shaky, but it seems like they have hit a stride now and improved greatly on D. I will say this though....this team has not seen the competition that past 2 teams faced during the season. I think our schedule was weak this year. They WILL see it in playoffs and a one man show Heritage beating Appo this year scares me.

There is one other thing that bothers me about this team, many members on D have not played Single Wing (Double Wing, 0 wing) teams (except on JV). We didnt face one this year either being that we didnt face Riverheads in jamboree, Amherst, Nelson (ran it 2015), WC (ran in 2015). This is why us facing Giles bothers me the most.
 
Sep 16, 2011
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great question, you will have to ask some of my Appo friends on here more close to team being I moved away. I know in the beginning of season it was a lil shaky, but it seems like they have hit a stride now and improved greatly on D. I will say this though....this team has not seen the competition that past 2 teams faced during the season. I think our schedule was weak this year. They WILL see it in playoffs and a one man show Heritage beating Appo this year scares me.

There is one other thing that bothers me about this team, many members on D have not played Single Wing (Double Wing, 0 wing) teams (except on JV). We didnt face one this year either being that we didnt face Riverheads in jamboree, Amherst, Nelson (ran it 2015), WC (ran in 2015). This is why us facing Giles bothers me the most.
yes..for that reason alone I think Giles is the most dangerous team for Appo. Giles single wing has also evolved... and they probably have the best overall athlete in 2A touching the ball on almost every play.
 
Sep 16, 2011
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yes..for that reason alone I think Giles is the most dangerous team for Appo. Giles single wing has also evolved... and they probably have the best overall athlete in 2A touching the ball on almost every play.
and they played a tough non district schedule early in the year.
 

AntGZee

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2015
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Davis, Hairston and Pettway from Martinsville might have something to say about that as well!!!!
 

VolNation85_rivals

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2013
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Davis, Hairston and Pettway from Martinsville might have something to say about that as well!!!!
@AntGZee I think we had a little debate earlier in the year about the best WR in 2A. You made an argument for your boy Pettway and I was arguing in favor of Graves. Who would have guessed 12 weeks ago that we would get a head to head matchup of the two. After seeing Pettway in the Byrd game, my money is still on Graves.
 
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eh31

Senior
Sep 25, 2005
881
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@AntGZee I think we had a little debate earlier in the year about the best WR in 2A. You made an argument for your boy Pettway and I was arguing in favor of Graves. Who would have guessed 12 weeks ago that we would get a head to head matchup of the two. After seeing Pettway in the Byrd game, my money is still on Graves.

Not to hijack but in the best 2A WR debate I think Taymon Cooke from Graham gets overlooked in that. Legit 4.3 speed and holds D1 scholarship offers from 3 of the 5 Power5 conferences.

And about Graves - I questioned last year why he would commit to NC State so early in his career. I thought had he not committed he could pull "better" offers but it looks like he made a great choice. NC State Should be at the top of the ACC the entire time he's there.
 

AppoCrazy

Freshman
Nov 17, 2013
58
99
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Sooo- I stand corrected on Heritage -B. Woods 3A versus 4A...and I agree they should have been 5-6 A , but they still were one hell of a team at any level.
As far as Graves- he raises his game when challenged as he did against the kid from Richland in his Sophomore year. He has been loyal to the first offer in NC State although Notre Dame, Tennessee, VT, UVA, Wake and others all have offered. He will be a great player at the next level wherever he goes, we support his decision as all of our kids and we feel we are very fortunate to have him.

As far as Heritage- one guy really didn't beat us . We had some young guys not playing their position as well as they are now and some were in the wrong positions altogether when they could have made plays and didn't. Not taking a thing from Heritage or Davis ...it was their night and they were the better team .Our line has vastly improved as the season has progressed since that game, our offense is popping. Defense is working hard to get better and have been developing depth so that is where for some of the scoring has come from not taking anything from our opponents. I don't make comparisons because they serve no purpose as each team is different for better and for worse. I will say we have a great program and a great program finds ways to be consistent and I think we have done that.

I think Appomattox is just as motivated as in the previous 2 years with some different faces and for different reasons. Some have been there and want to finish as they have the last two years. Some have been on the train but now are having to be "The Guy" instead of behind " The Guy" -for that reason they want to keep the faith so to speak and prove their worth...and the continue to do so.

Lastly this team has really come together, the Seniors- all of them , are providing great leadership and we all know it's one game at a time. Is that going to be enough? That is why you play the game each and every week until if you are very ,very fortunate - you make it to Salem. But that is a long way off for everybody still playing.

Once again we are focused on one thing and one thing only, a very talented and well coached Martinsville football team.
 
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AntGZee

All-Conference
Nov 30, 2015
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If Pettway had a more experienced QB throwing the ball to him, then he would've shined more. Trust me, Pettway is a beast.
 
Oct 13, 2015
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If Pettway had a more experienced QB throwing the ball to him, then he would've shined more. Trust me, Pettway is a beast.
@AntGZee I think we had a little debate earlier in the year about the best WR in 2A. You made an argument for your boy Pettway and I was arguing in favor of Graves. Who would have guessed 12 weeks ago that we would get a head to head matchup of the two. After seeing Pettway in the Byrd game, my money is still on Graves.
People speak so highly of Graves at WR, but our #2 never gets talked about. He been killing it for 2 years, he didnt play as a sophomore or freshman due to focusing in on basketball. His hands are better than Graves and he can jump out the gym just like Graves can. Now he not fast as Graves but who is in 2A? I wish he would have played football all the way through high school like he did 8th grade and under. Devin Dews has some soft hands and blocking skills has me surprised because he only been on the weight room plan with Doug Smith like 2 years.
 
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Oct 13, 2015
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Sooo- I stand corrected on Heritage -B. Woods 3A versus 4A...and I agree they should have been 5-6 A , but they still were one hell of a team at any level.
As far as Graves- he raises his game when challenged as he did against the kid from Richland in his Sophomore year. He has been loyal to the first offer in NC State although Notre Dame, Tennessee, VT, UVA, Wake and others all have offered. He will be a great player at the next level wherever he goes, we support his decision as all of our kids and we feel we are very fortunate to have him.

As far as Heritage- one guy really didn't beat us . We had some young guys not playing their position as well as they are now and some were in the wrong positions altogether when they could have made plays and didn't. Not taking a thing from Heritage or Davis ...it was their night and they were the better team .Our line has vastly improved as the season has progressed since that game, our offense is popping. Defense is working hard to get better and have been developing depth so that is where for some of the scoring has come from not taking anything from our opponents. I don't make comparisons because they serve no purpose as each team is different for better and for worse. I will say we have a great program and a great program finds ways to be consistent and I think we have done that.

I think Appomattox is just as motivated as in the previous 2 years with some different faces and for different reasons. Some have been there and want to finish as they have the last two years. Some have been on the train but now are having to be "The Guy" instead of behind " The Guy" -for that reason they want to keep the faith so to speak and prove their worth...and the continue to do so.

Lastly this team has really come together, the Seniors- all of them , are providing great leadership and we all know it's one game at a time. Is that going to be enough? That is why you play the game each and every week until if you are very ,very fortunate - you make it to Salem. But that is a long way off for everybody still playing.

Once again we are focused on one thing and one thing only, a very talented and well coached Martinsville football team.

I agree with much of what you said, but I respectfully disagree. I saw the game on vid and a one man show beat Appo. That one man show is not getting recruited much either Im hearing? I know he had a few injuries in his HS career. That might be the reasoning. I think he is better than Hickson from Heritage a few years ago and he got a full scholly at LU?
 
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lyhsports_rivals

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May 17, 2017
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I agree with much of what you said, but I respectfully disagree. I saw the game on vid and a one man show beat Appo. That one man show is not getting recruited much either Im hearing? I know he had a few injuries in his HS career. That might be the reasoning. I think he is better than Hickson from Heritage a few years ago and he got a full scholly at LU?

Hickson's dad used to work at Liberty. I'm not sure if he still does or not. At one point in time, he was the running backs coach at Liberty.
 

VolNation85_rivals

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2013
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Hickson's dad used to work at Liberty. I'm not sure if he still does or not. At one point in time, he was the running backs coach at Liberty.
Coach Hickson retired when Frankie was in middle school. He coached under Rocco. Gill gave Frankie his scholarship. Not really any connection between Coach Hickson and Coach Gill.
 
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