2017 looking like 2009 to me...

[Twobyfour]

It is actually in the VHSL handbook that the home team provide for crowd control and safety of officials, even if that means a police escort. If anything the refs at the FC game seemed to give Essex a harder timethat FC. FC corners held Essex recievers almost every play so they couldnt get upfield for a big play. The only questonable call I remember was a 4th and goal from the 1. FC tried a qb sneak and he got stuffed. Maybe he made it maybe he didnt. I was on the 40 yd line so I couldnt tell, except that he didnt appear to get much if anything. Anyway, the refs had to be escorted out in the ambulance if I remember correct, due to some Fort fans acting like fools. This took place at the end of the endzone by the baseball field. Damn shame

 

[uvacavs1]

. If Essex County powers that be upgrade what’s needed, we can host like any other school. As for refs being fired, that’s all new to me. They called a fair game. It was not their fault that some fans got rowdy. Heck, the refs had to be protected and escorted out after the game because some Ft. Chiswell fans were angry and waiting for them outside of the field house.

What EssexTrojan1 and NNman wrote is true - 1) The refs were from the Winchester area (like 3 hours west and up from Tappahannock). I had never seen this crew before.

2) I wrote a lot about this game years ago but some of what we heard and witnessed was too ugly - plus not all of the FC players and fans were disgusting people -

FC fans chanted the "n-word" during the game and chanted other obscene comments like "refs you must like sucking N ---- ----" .

Essex players (both black and white) were called many derogatory terms. The refs penalized FC at least twice and tried their best to control it.

Many other worse comments were made. For example, a Essex white adult fan was called some awful things after the game for protecting an Essex player who was being called, well, I'm sure you can guess...

I was very proud of the Essex kids as they took this abuse, never retaliated, and they just played their game. The boys had been forewarned they might hear a little bad stuff, but we Essex folks were shocked at what went down.

3) Once during the 2nd half after FC was being soundly beaten, two FC players after a play was over, intentionally tried to hurt an Essex star (who at the time was being recruited by Va Tech and Louisville and others). Later, I watched it several times on tape, imo, it was planned without a doubt.

 

[uvacavs1]

4) After the game, about 50 FC fans tried to prevent the refs from leaving. The terrified refs were run through the angry crowd to be placed in an ambulance. As the volunteers drove them away, some FC people literally hit the ambulance and tried to rock it.

This is not what I heard about, my friends, I was there in middle of it. Once the ambulance got way, I was like whew...that's good. .then realized I was in the middle of those rabid people. I backed the ---- out of there....

It was an adrenaline rush that's for sure...lol. It was also sad and shocking.

I heard later the FC blamed it all on Essex and also on poor Essex Coach Fulks (who was coaching the game!!!) and VHSL may have sided with FC....From what I understand, only Essex was penalized.

 

[NND Sports Fan]

The crazy thing about it was the VHSL had folks there as observers. I don't know if they witnessed what UVACAVS wrote about but it's all true from eyewitness accounts that I heard. And I saw the video of the hit on the Essex player and it was the cheapest of cheap shots. There even some concern if he would be able to play the following week IIRC.

 

[uvacavs1]

Just to provide some comparison and context for those who have not been on Va Preps that long or are new to 1A etc, the year before the above FC game I believe, Essex hosted the State Semis at Essex without a single issue as far as I know.

The opponent was also from way out West, a school called John Battle. John Battle brought at least 2,000 people all that way to proudly support their team (like 12 or 13 hours?).

Oh my, I was so impressed with those folks - super friendly and great accents! Beautiful football uniforms, signs, flags, and colors everywhere. The band was awesome!!! I think since Essex only had a very small band, Essex and JB performed together at the half in a sign of good sportsmanship.

I was with Essex in those days and since I don't coach gridiron football, but support, I would often mingle with the people. I met a ton of awesome friendly folks.

 

[uvacavs1]

I'll never forget - I apologized to several John Battle fans that Essex did not have the best facilities after their long trip - and to a person every one said something like "don't you worry about it, we are just fine. This is football and we are just happy to be here to support our boys."

I was feeling really bad for them as Essex was beating them by a large margin in the 2nd and I could see their sadness and frustration

After Essex QB Broaddus hit Trey Jones for like 3 or 4 long passing TDs, JB folks were asking me how could Essex be so good? I just tried to let them know what an amazing year Essex was having with the state records and all (I think that was the big record year?) and their boys were just up against a Juggernaut and not to think their kids were not playing well. They said "its tough but thank you for that."

Anyway, as I left with my family walking with a beautiful family from John Battle, I said to a lady "I'm so sorry that it didn't work out and we hope y'all have a safe trip back etc. She said with her kids echoing her words " Thank you so much honey, but its okay, don't feel bad . We had a great season and good luck to y'alls great team."

It went so well with John Battle I guess the feeling the next year was that it would again.....So maybe that's why the security was kinda light but who could have expected what happened.

 

[Gunz41]

What EssexTrojan1 and NNman wrote is true - 1) The refs were from the Winchester area (like 3 hours west and up from Tappahannock). I had never seen this crew before.

2) I wrote a lot about this game years ago but some of what we heard and witnessed was too ugly - plus not all of the FC players and fans were disgusting people -

FC fans chanted the "n-word" during the game and chanted other obscene comments like "refs you must like sucking N ---- ----" .

Essex players (both black and white) were called many derogatory terms. The refs penalized FC at least twice and tried their best to control it.

Many other worse comments were made. For example, a Essex white adult fan was called some awful things after the game for protecting an Essex player who was being called, well, I'm sure you can guess...

I was very proud of the Essex kids as they took this abuse, never retaliated, and they just played their game. The boys had been forewarned they might hear a little bad stuff, but we Essex folks were shocked at what went down.

3) Once during the 2nd half after FC was being soundly beaten, two FC players after a play was over, intentionally tried to hurt an Essex star (who at the time was being recruited by Va Tech and Louisville and others). Later, I watched it several times on tape, imo, it was planned without a doubt.

Mysterious. Not the details of the game, but saying we Essex folks (which is what I have thought all these years.) But recently you said you weren't. I think you are just trying to confuse me lol

 

[OCBoy]

I think they should just let Essex play at home. They earned home field. Bring in some portajons to ease the restroom issue. Let the fans pack it in tight and down the fence line. It's 1A football, let it get a little hostile and uncomfortable for the visitors.

Just my opinion but if the vhsl has an issue with a schools facilities, play all semifinal games at neutral sites.

Or if your a lock every year in making it that far maybe they should invest in their kids and help get those facilities up to par. I mean all they would have to do is install new bleachers on the away side and make it the new home side. Leave the current home side as the new away side.

 

[NND Sports Fan]

For Gunz41: UVACavs once taught at Essex but has been at Northumberland the past 3-4 years.

 

[Gunz41]

For Gunz41: UVACavs once taught at Essex but has been at Northumberland the past 3-4 years.

Makes sense now