Honaker Tigers (5-5) at Patrick Henry Rebels (9-1)
Date: Friday, November 9, 2018.
Where: Fred Selfe Stadium at Nicewonder Field—Emory, VA
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Last meeting: 10/19/2018 Patrick Henry 46– Honaker 15
All-time record: Honaker leads 7-4
Players to watch:
Honaker– QB Levi Miller, RB Trevor Dye, WR Chandler Hubbard
Patrick Henry– RB Cody Smith, RB Zach Brown, FB Landon Smithson
What to watch for:
Honaker: The Tigers are coming off a 58-13 loss to Ridgeview last week. The contest saw Levi Miller toss two touchdown passes to Chandler Hubbard to move Hubbard into the lead in the Honaker record books for touchdown receptions. Trevor Dye has led the Tigers on the ground this season. The tailback has amassed 1,000 yards for the second consecutive season in Russell County. The junior gunslinger, Miller, has also went over the 1,000 yard mark through the air in his first season as the starting quarterback. Honaker finished the season 5-5 after two consecutive three-win seasons. The Tigers are back in the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Doug Hubbard and the gang seek their first playoff victory since 2015’s first round triumph of Northwood. These two teams met in the 2012 playoffs, where Honaker defeated Patrick Henry, 69-7.
Patrick Henry: The Rebels finished the regular season 9-1, their best regular season finish since 1997. Patrick Henry has been impressive in 2018. Zach Brown and Cody Smith will carry the pigskin for Mark Palmer’s gang on Friday and they will do it rather well. Both members of southwest Virginia’s best tailback tandem have rushed for well over 1,000 yards this season. The lone loss for the Rebels came two weeks ago against Hogoheegee District foe Chilhowie (10-0). The Rebels come into the playoffs following a 43-0 victory over Northwood to close out the regular season. In a matchup at Fuller Field back on October 19th, Patrick Henry rushed for 415 yards in a 46-15 trouncing of the Tigers. Patrick Henry defeated Thomas Walker in the first round of the 2017 playoffs before being bounced by J.I. Burton in round two.
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.
