Tazewell (2-6) at Grundy (5-3)
Date: Friday, October 26, 2018.
Where: Nelson Memorial Field—Grundy, VA.
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Last meeting: 10/27/2017 Grundy 42 – Tazewell 20
All-time record: Tazewell leads 39-30.
Players to watch:
Tazewell—RB Chancellor Harris, QB/RB/WR Josiah Jordan, QB Jamir Blevins
Grundy– RB Gabe Fiser, QB Derick Endicott, WR/CB Jacob McCoy
What to watch for:
Tazewell: Another season for Tazewell has brought a similar feeling. Disappointment. The Bulldogs will travel to Grundy riding a three-game losing streak after dropping contests to Richlands, Fort Chiswell and Marion. The Dawgs have looked sharp in their two wins over RiverView and Hurley in 2018. However, things are looking up for J’Me Harris and the Dawgs. Tazewell has an impressive slate of skill kids with Jordan, Harris, Jones and Blevins. These sophomores and the lone freshman will have the Kelly green winning football games again before too much longer. Last week against Marion, Chancellor Harris ran the ball six times for 121 yards. Josiah Jordan found the end zone on the ground once, while also hauling in a 44-yard strike from Jamir Blevins. The Bulldogs line play has been suspect at times in 2018 and proves to be the biggest weakness on this young team. This will serve as an issue against one of the best running backs the Bulldogs have faced this season.
Mike Jones
Grundy:
The Golden Wave has strung together a pretty good campaign in 2018. Last week, Grundy was dismantled at home by their interstate rival Pikeville, 47-8. That is not the way you want to spend homecoming if you are a native on Slate Creek. The Golden Wave rides its first two-game losing streak of 2018 (Pikeville and J.I. Burton) into this matchup between two old Southwest District rivals. Grundy tailback Gabe Fiser has put together the most impressive campaign in far southwest Virginia to this point. After 143 yards and a touchdown against Pikeville, the senior tailback has rushed for 1,901 yards and 19 scores this fall. If you are at Friday’s matchup, you will witness Fiser go over the 2,000 yard mark against a weak Tazewell defensive line. Derick Endicott was limited last week against Pikeville, look for his presence to be a big variable in the Golden Wave offense. It is senior night at Nelson Memorial Field, where Grundy will be adieu to 15 seniors. Although Tazewell leads the series 39-30, the Golden Wave have taken the past two matchups in impressive fashion.
Jake McCoy
I am a graduate of Richlands High School—class of 2014. In May 2018, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Multimedia Journalism and History with a minor in war and Society from Virginia Tech.
My passions in life are numerous. We don’t have all day. This is not the place to divulge into Hokie Football, so I will shed some light on one of my other favorites.
I was born and raised in the coalfields of southwest Virginia—Richlands to be exact. I remember the first time I ever went to a high school football game (Richlands-Tazewell ’02). Since then, a passion has grown that is stronger than the current in the Clinch River. As a football player in this region, I was able to witness the passion oozing out of the hills firsthand. It was something that when I began college, people had a hard time believing the spectacle that is high school football in the coalfields. Luckily, I was able to go 42-8 in between the white lines on Fridays and Saturdays from 2010-2013. I look forward to having another platform to tell you my stories, your stories and their stories. Here’s to the good times and hoping I don’t leave you like I did Coach Greg Mance numerous times—by saying, “Gosh Durn It!”
Let’s talk, SWVA sports, Hokies, history or maybe even barbecue.