Ridgeview Wolfpack (9-2)
VS.
Wise Central Warriors (9-2)
Region 2D Semifinal
When: Friday, November 22 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Ridge, Rose Ridge, Va.
Series all time: Ridgeview leads 4-2 (Last meeting Ridgeview defeated Wise Central 41-20 on September 13, 2019 in Norton, Va.)
For the second consecutive year, the Ridgeview Wolfpack and Wise Central Warriors will meet in the Region 2D postseason. In 2018, that meeting came in the first round and was won in dominant fashion by the Pack, 49-14. This time, the meeting comes in round two and promises to be a much closer affair this time around.
The Warriors are in the midst of their most successful season in the history of the program, finishing 8-2 on the regular season. The young, gritty Warriors have bought into the system of head coach Luke Owens and the results are paying dividends. Wise Central scored a landmark win over perennial Mountain 7 front runner Union in the regular season. Not to be outdone, the Warriors also scored their first playoff victory last week over top southwest Virginia football powerhouse Richlands.
The Wolfpack are back in the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year. Last season, a loss to Richlands denied Ridgeview its first ever Region title game appearance.
Being district counterparts in the Mountain 7, the Warriors and Wolfpack have already met on the gridiron in 2019 as well. The two squads met in Week 3 in Norton on the Warriors home turf. The Pack came away in that one as well by a final tally of 41-20. Wolfpack running back Trenton Adkins scored all six touchdowns on the night for the Pack in amassing 366 yards on the ground. Adkins has continued to pile up touchdowns and yardgae ever since.
Now over 2,700 yards and 47 trips to the endzone on the season, the primary key for the Warrior defense will be simply: Can they contain Adkins?
The Warrior offense is primarily a ground attack as well, behind the legs of C. J. Crabtree. Crabtree has 1,743 yards on the season. When the Warriors do air it out, quarterback Ethan Mullins is capable. Mullins has thrown for 713 yards with seven touchdown tosses and four interceptions.
Mullins also plays exceptional defense as witnessed by his 97 yard pick-six against Richlands last week.
Another key factor in Friday’s contest could be the weather. As rain is in the forecast, the passing game for both teams could suffer with a wet ball and cooler temperatures.
Kickoff is slated for 7:00 on Friday night on the Ridge. The winner of this contest advances to next week’s Region 2D championship game against the winner of the other semifinal pitting Graham against Union.
I was born a Haysi Tiger but unfortunately succumbed to a broken heart on a cold rainy afternoon in King William, Virginia on December 6, 2014.
However, I was reincarnated as a Wolf, and became a runner of the Ridgeview Wolfpack on August 28, 2015. You now hear me howling most autumn Friday nights high atop Rose Ridge in Dickenson County or anywhere else my Pack of hungry Wolves may be, from Grundy to Falcon Hill or from Ben Hur to Pikeville, Kentucky.
I never wolfed down (pun very intended) a Tiger Taco like Mr. Brady Hess, but I was and still am known to devour a pizza from Pizza Factory on Main Street in Haysi.
I have always wanted to write about sports and now I have the opportunity to thanks to those who have built this wonderful place on the world wide web. Hope y’all enjoy.
