Grundy Golden Wave (6-3) at Central Warriors (3-6)
Date: Friday, November 2, 2018.
Where: Central High School—Wise, VA
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Last meeting: 9/1/2017 Central 21 – Grundy14
All-time record: Central leads 2-1
Players to watch:
Grundy– RB Gabe Fiser, QB Derrick Endicott, DL Matt McCowan
Central– RB C.J. Crabtree, QB Ethan Mullins, RB Matthew Boggs
What to watch for:
Grundy: The Golden Wave is coming off a 36-22 win over the Tazewell Bulldogs on senior night. Tazewell stormed out to a 22-6 lead before Grundy roared back to score 30 unanswered points to take home a 36-22 victory. Gabe Fiser finished with 282 yards and four touchdowns on the ground for the Golden Wave. After his performance against Tazewell, Fiser has now accumulated 2,183 yards on the ground this season. He now holds the record at Grundy High School for most rushing yards in a single season. The record had stood since 1996, when David Scammell galloped for 2,077 yards on the way to the state semifinals. Fiser has had a field day all season long running behind Grundy’s big offensive line. Last week on defense, Matt McCowan and Colton Justus combined for 13 tackles and a sack in the win against the 2-7 Bulldogs. With a win, Grundy will clinch a top four seed in the Region 1D playoffs.
Central: Luke Owens will welcome his alma mater into Wise with his Warriors playing their best football of the year. Central comes into Friday’s matchup on a two-game winning streak after victories over Lee and Gate City. The Warriors third win came back in week one in a 41-27 romping of Eastside. After the win over the Spartans, the Warriors lost six consecutive ballgames before winning their last two. C.J. Crabtree has been the x-factor for Central. The tailback dashed for 131 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win over the Blue Devils. Crabtree also played hero when he was successful on a two-point conversion run to give the Warriors a 22-21 overtime win. Central must win this game to lock up a spot in the 2D playoffs. With a Warriors loss and a Marion win, Marion will out point the Warriors. However, if Central takes care of business against Craig Plymal’s gang, they will make the trip to Ridgeview next week for the first round matchup with the Wolfpack. Central won last year’s battle at Nelson Memorial Field, 21-14.
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.
