Who all has Bland played? They have seemingly come out of nowhere to become a contender. That is why I'm wondering bout the level of competition they have played so far. Nice to see them doing well, can they be the next Auburn and keep the success going? Regardless of who they've played they're still undefeated and ranked in the top 10. Congratulations Bland on your season so far. I don't think many people saw this coming, I for one know I didn't.
BLAND
- Thread starter MT FAN 91
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Someone mentioned that they got beat 42-0 in a benefit game vs. Auburn. Still cool to see them at the top of the rankings.
Don't think you can read into that score too much. I work with one of players dad and he said one of blands best players didn't play due to knee surgery before the season, and they started 2 freshman and 2 first year players defensively. He did say Auburn won the trenches pretty handily though. Bland has played Craig co. Rural Retreat, Northwood, and Eastern Montgomery.
I second that congrats to the Bears they have come out and gave it everything this season and it shows. I honestly think they will finish up 9-1 with a maybe of 8-2 if Graham sneaks up on them. The 1 game I just don't see them winning is Galax the Tides line work is just to good the bears should go into the postseason as a top seed.
What's truly special about Bland is that they didn't even have a football team until relatively recently. There was talk about it when I was a "Rocket" but it didn't happen until many years later. The first teams they fielded jointly with Rocky Gap High laid the foundation for the Bland County High School they now have.
Some of us thought consolidation might never happen. Congratulations to the Bears!
Some of us thought consolidation might never happen. Congratulations to the Bears!
Beating RR and Northwood is pretty impressive for Bland, from where they've been the last few years. Narrows is a little better than they've been for the last few years, so a nice win against the Green Wave would be nice for them too. Might beat Fort, but agree with you about the G teams.
Bland. Who on this beautiful earth could not like this story. Bland. No one expected this football team to win but maybe one or two games. Bland. Undefeated. Bland ranked in top ten in the polls. What? Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus. I could go on, but who could not pull for this tiny school to be successful on Friday night. Bland, you have won the hearts of many football fans across all of SWVA, and probably the State. Go Bears from a fan from Chilhowie!
Last year Galax physically man handled bland. Grayson broke some long plays and stifled Blands offense. Bland could have very well been up on graham by two scores at halftime but squandered opportunities. Hopefully that gives them some confidence going into this years game. One injury for a team like bland is like losing three players for larger schools. Here's hoping for an injury free season and competitive games down the stretch.
I think 7-3 is realistic and an achievement too. No shame in losing to an excellent Galax team, a much larger school in Grayson, and a sneaky Graham squad. (If all of those happen...) I'm pulling for the bears to win 'em all. Got to know a few of their coaches over the last two seasons. More level headed and humble than most you find in HS football. Good on you, Bears!
Not their best effort. Played really poor the last two weeks in the first half. Being the more talented and heavily favored team is not the norm for bland and I don't think they've handled it well. Hopefully Saturday's game with narrows will bring back the team that played with a chip on their shoulder. If not it's going to be a rough game.
They certainly shouldn't take the Green Wave lightly. Narz has improved from last year. I think the real danger for Bland is looking too far ahead at the really tough games against the Gs. Like Chil said, "Keep playing them one at a time"
I could not agree more with obguthr. Bland, keep focused on the next game, and that is the most important game of the year for you. Listen to your coaches, and play hard ever play, knowing that if you let up just a little, someone will be there to take away everything you have worked so hard to obtain. Keep it up guys. A lot of people here are pulling for you. Narz is not bad!
I have to change my toon on bland I was a big supporter of the bears and still hope they do well the rest of the season but after the loss to narrows I cant see them winning any more than 6 games this year. I seriously think the will finish up at 6-4 and they might win a first round game depending on who they play but as soon as they run into a GW, Radford, Ji burton or Honaker type team they will get exposed badly. Again I hope they prove me wrong but I don't see it.
I really hated to see Bland lose their first game with Narrows. But Narrows was in the same situation that Bland was in, suffering year after year with losing seasons and little success. So either way, the little guy was the winner. Congrats to Narrows, and Bland keep your heads up and play Grayson tough Friday. Keep playing strong, one at a time.
This Friday will be telling. Bland plays a Grayson team that was hammered at graham last week. Grayson likes to throw the ball and that's what hurt bland against Narrows. Well that and too many mistakes. Bland had a chance to be up 28-6 at half but unforced errors (false starts inside the five yard line). Narrows only play in the first half was a screen that was fumbled forward and recovered for a touchdown. We'll see how they adjust this week and hopefully put on a good showing
Yeah Grayson will show what they have left in the tank and it will be a good test for the bears. Who knows the loss might be a blessing for them this will allow the kids to show how they react to a loss that should have been a win and it will give them a chance to prove a lot of people wrong my self included now. Like I said in my post above I hope the prove me wrong and come on strong again and make a run but I just don't see it I think against Galax is where they will really get exposed I think Galax wins that one by at least 5 or 6 TD's. Blands big test will come playoff time when they will have to play one of the teams I said only time will tell and the kids have to do it for themselves none of us can.
I think one of the big things that gets over looked is the mental aspect. Even if the talent level between bland and teams like GW, galax, Giles, etc. is exactly the same (not saying it is) those teams have a distinct advantage because teams truly believe they can beat Bland regardless of their record. I think GW has this advantage over a lot of teams in the hogo. I know this has been an issue at bland in the past when they've played these schools.
In a way I agree but if a team for even a second thinks they can be beat by another team then it doesn't matter how good they are or how bad they will get beat. Bland has to be good to some degree they are now 5-1 and should be 6-0 I picked them to go 9-1 earlier this season but now I really think they will be 6-4 at the end of the season. As a team they have to know they can beat anyone on any given day GW might be a 100 point underdog but we will always think we can win no matter the opponent. And that all starts will fans and after that it comes down to the kids to know they are good enough to win if not then talent will never matter. Now don't get me wrong as a GW fan and this is not to gloat or anything we usually always are blessed with a ton of talent. We are very young this year our QB our whole line and almost all of our D comes back for the next 2 seasons and that helps the kids in thinking they will win no matter what. But it is up to them like I said again I hope bland comes on strong and wins Friday but if the kids are down on this loss they will struggle for the rest of the season.
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