Welcome to Coalfield Sports’ Game of the Week Poll!
Throughout the season, we will select five games each week for our weekly pick’em segment on the SWVA Sports Podcast. Co-Hosts Ryan Dye and Brady Hess will keep a running total of their picks along with a collective total of the weekly guest picker!
With so many great games each week to choose from, we’re going to need your help in selecting the Coalfield Sports’ Game of the Week! So while you’re here, scroll to the bottom to cast your vote for week seven!
Gate City at Marion
In a series that dates back to 1933, the Gate City Blue Devils will visit Smyth County to take on the Marion Scarlet Hurricanes. Gate City currently holds a 28-3-1 advantage in the series.
Gate City is coming off a respectable performance against Region D power Ridgeview. Gate City fumbled many opportunities to keep the score close on their way to a 35-7 Mountain 7 District loss. There were a bright spot for Chris Akers’ team. Sophomore tailback Luke Reed rushed for over 100 yards and a score against the Wolfpack’s stingy defense.
Marion comes into this matchup fresh off a nice bounce back game against the Lebanon Pioneers. Quarterback Tanner Tate punished the Pioneers all night as he threw for 180 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another 90 yards and a score. Devin Hamm caught two touchdown passes for Joey Carroll’s squad, while Easton Medley rushed for 99 yards.
Galax at Fort Chiswell:
It will be the 44th matchup between these two Mountain Empire District Foes. Fort Chiswell is leading the all time series by one game, 22-21.
Galax is looking to rebound after falling to 3A power Northside. Coach Mark Dixon has foregone his ground-and-pound mentality and implemented a new uptempo offense in 2018. Cole Pickett leads the charge from the quarterback position. Senior Blake Brown still leads the Maroon Tide in rushing. Joshua Spurlin has proved that he’s more than capable of being a go to receiver for the Tide.
Fort Chiswell is coming off a 20-14 win vs. the Auburn Eagles. The Pioneers have had a up and down season but have enjoyed the consistency from their leader on offense, Denver Brown. Brown, a multiple time CoalfieldSports.com Player of the Week nominee, ran for 163 yards and two TDs on 26 carries against the Eagles. Meanwhile, his teammate Brody Crockett carried the ball 20 times for 86 yards and a touchdown.
Abingdon at Virginia High
The 87th edition of this Washington County rivalry will take place Friday when the Abingdon Falcons cross into the city of Bristol to take on the Virginia High Bearcats
The Bearcats are led on offense and defense by their senior stud Aaron Rose. Rose, a first team all Region IV selection from 2017, is once again leading the ‘Cats in rushing and tackles. Rose has over 500 yards rushing on the season, but was spelled some in the game vs. Central by freshman tailback Stevie Thomas. Thomas finished with 137 yards and two touchdowns. Senior dual-threat quarterback Jamie Lathrop slings the ball for Virginia High. The four-year player completed 75% of his passes vs. the Central Warriors, accounting for 156 yards and three touchdowns. Michael Bradley brings speed on the outside for the Bearcats. All three excel on offense, defense and special teams.
The Falcons are led on offense by their strong armed signal-caller Gabe Booth. In Abingdon’s 50-21 domination of the Central Warriors, Booth threw for 192 yards and accounted for three touchdowns. William Seymore and Martin Lucas are the leaders on the ground for Garrett Amburgey’s team. Against Central, Lucas led Abingdon with 98 rushing yards and a score while Seymore added two touchdown runs of his own. Holt Dotson & TJ Taylor are Boothe’s favorite targets in the passing game. Dotson caught five passes for 107 yards against Central, while Taylor shouldered the load against Hidden Valley with two catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.
Tazewell at Richlands:
It will be the 94th edition of the “Backyard Brawl” when Coach J’Me Harris takes his young Bulldogs west on Route 460 to take on Greg Mance’s Blue Tornado. Richlands holds a 50-41-2 advantage in this Tazewell County Rivalry.
A win for Tazewell would be it’s first vs. Richlands since 2003. The Bulldogs went to “The Cliff” last Friday and came away with a 52-0 win over the Hurley Rebels. Freshman Mike Jones had a breakout performance with six carries for 151 yards and three touchdowns, on his way to garnering a CoalfieldSports.com Player of the Week nomination. Chancellor Harris has been the workhorse for the Bulldogs in 2018. Harris has over 1,000 all-purpose yards for the season. When Josiah Jordan isn’t catching passes from starting quarterback Jamir Blevins, you can catch him lining up behind center to give the Bulldogs a “wildcat” look.
Richlands has made this a one sided rivalry over the last three decades by only falling to Tazewell three times since 1991. Quarterback Race Moir has the keys to the Blue Tornado offfense. The 6-foot-2 inch senior quarterback had his best performance to date in the Blue Tornado’s upset over 4A William Byrd by throwing for 310 yards and three scores. Moir’s favorite target is CoalfieldSports.com’s Week 5 Player of the Week Taylor Horn. Horn had seven catches for 184 yards and three touchdowns vs. William Byrd. Former quarterback Trey Brown has embraced his move to the halfback position. Brown had 138 rushing yards against Blacksburg three games ago.
River View at Montcalm:
Friday will mark the fourth game between these two southern West Virginia schools. River View has won all three games.
Coach Wayne Hall’s Raiders are off to a disappointing start to the 2018 season, having dropped all six of their games. If River View is to find the win column for the first time this season it will be behind the direction of quarterback Boo Roberts. Roberts showcased his arm last week vs. Wyoming East when he launched a touchdown pass to Freddie Collins. Jacob Collins scored on the ground against Wyoming East and is the leading rusher for the Raiders on the season.
Much like River View, the Generals look to get into the win column for the first time this season. Montcalm is coming off a seven day stretch in which they played three games. The Generals are 0-5, however, their matchup with the Raiders marks their second in-state contest of the year. Adam Havens is in his first season at the helm of the Montcalm Generals. Havens, an All-State quarterback in his playing days at Montcalm, will be leaning on his quarterback Doug Belcher. Belcher has a talented receiver to throw to in senior Devon Brooks. Jared Bailey is a key two way performer for the Generals.
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