vs. 
After starting out 2-0, the Twin Valley Panthers dropped their first contest a week ago against the Honaker Tigers. In a battle between cats, the Tigers proved to be superior as Honaker tailback Trevor Dye’s four touchdown dashes led the Tigers to a 47-8 victory over Twin Valley.
For Twin Valley, their lone touchdown of the evening came from a familiar face. Panthers running back Brandon Lester found the end zone and converted the two-point conversion to put Twin Valley on the board in the fourth quarter. The score was Lester’s sixth rushing touchdown on the season.
Another familiar face, quarterback Tylor Keen, missed the Black Diamond District opener with a knee injury. The injury to Keen proved to be another ailment for Twin Valley against a deeper Honaker team.
Sophomore Xzavier Ward led the Panthers on the ground. The tailback amassed 94 yards on the ground to lead Twin Valley’s offensive attack.
Honaker outgained Twin Valley in total yardage, 326-176.
Northwood took a 35-0 loss at the hands of the Bland County Bears last Friday. Much like Twin Valley, Northwood fell victim to a stout rushing attack. Samuel Bright’s three touchdowns were the highlight of a Bears rushing attack that pounded out 458 yards. Northwood, who was hampered by injuries to three senior starters, finished with 85 rushing yard and 83 yards through the air. The Panthers gained a mere 168 yards.
Chris Duble’s bunch from Saltville opened the season with a 41-30 victory over Twin Springs in week one. Week two brought in Smyth County rival Marion. The Scarlet Hurricane took home a 57-12 victory.
Sitting at 1-2, Northwood is led by sophomore quarterback Gage Hogston who through for 156 yards and ran for 80 more in the season opener against Twin Springs. Hogston found the end zone that night three times through the air, while adding one more touchdown on the ground.
Injuries will serve as a question mark in this one. Will Twin Valley head coach Jeremy Ward have Tylor Keen back under center? Or will the Panthers quarterback remain sidelined with a knee injury?
Duble and the Panthers have injury issues themselves. Will the three starters be back after Northwood’s pummeling against Bland? Time will tell.
However, this serves as a pretty even tilt.
Perhaps, whomever can survive the bite of the injury bug the longest will walk out of Oakwood with a victory.
Last season in Saltville, a two-point conversion by Northwood with six seconds remaining gave the Panthers a 36-34 win over the then Brian Moore-led Twin Valley squad.
In a series that dates back to 2011, Northwood leads it 7-0.
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.
