This game could go a number of ways tbh, Essex is favored I believe, however we saw that last year with Galax who was not as good as Essex take it with a last second miraculous fg. Partly because Essex played with their food so to speak. They should've put them away early but didn't capitalize in the moments given. There were play calls that were questionable including what some thought to had been a touchdown before the half, but I say that to say this...this will take the players efforts no doubt but also a decent and straight forward game coached by Todd Jones. Great coach but I've seen some questionable play calling over the years and as recent as last week against AltaVista. His play calling in the 1st half kept AltaVista in it...gave them momentum before the half when he should've been up by more than 20 at the half. Play around with Grayson and you may have a repeat of Galax last year. Let them hang around and leave to chance a "bad call" "fluke play" or a special teams blunder and it will be a long trip back home with another runner up trophy. I like to poke the bear sometimes or in this case stir the horses of Troy and say things to stir the up but am I wrong? Take care of business or Deja Vu all over again....looking forward to seeing both teams I just would hate to be disappointed again to see Essex get this far and lay an egg again.
Essex..Grayson..State game thoughts
- Thread starter 24kGoldPurpleBlack
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as a long time essex fan, I have seen my share of disappointments in state championship games with essex. Could write about all the reasons why but at the end of the day, essex needs to find a way to get it done. Especially considering how many chances they have had.
Watching that game last week in the 2nd qtr i could tell there were some play calls that had the offense confused and to pass down there end the red zone when you were running it so well with over a 1:30 before the half. Again great coach, I think he maybe just overthinks or gets in his own head a bit when he doesnt have to...with the personel of players he has at his disposal there shouldnt be any reasons not to succeed.
I was talking with coach jones before the game started with altavista. We were standing on the hill watching the altavista players warm up. Normally jones is business like before a game. He seemed nervous that day. IMO he is feeling some pressure to get is done this year.
The pressure is always there for players and coaches alike, but you cant fold, go with what you practiced and prepared for...overthinking kills it sometimes. Trust what got you to this point
Couldn’t remember whether ‘03 or ‘04. Drove up to watch GC. Spent couple nights in Harrisonburg and enjoyed our time there. Remember Essex had a running back who could get around the end quickly.
You’re probably thinking of Ramarcus Baylor, he was a state runner up in the 100 m and played football at Christopher Newport. There was a freshman running back on that team that scored a TD who happened to be 6’+ and 200 lb+ and is the dad of this years freshman that is 6’3” and 225 lbs.
nbthpr9 speaks the truth. That 2003 Group A State Championship v Gate City was nuts. I was there, too.
We rolled up in with an SUV full of partying Essex fans to JMU (I think that is where it was played.) It was quite cold and snowy if I remember correctly.
I was like "WTF!" - Essex had like 200-250 fans on one side and there was literally 4,000 to 5,000 wild Gate City fans on the other side! We on the Essex side tried to be as loud as we could!
However, it was like the Greeks (or the Trojans in this case ha) v the Persians at Battle of Thermopylae (if you saw the 300 film)! lol
Indeed ha!
Some of the boys and I walked over to the Gate City side later in the game and chatted with a few folks over there.
I'm not exactly sure what some of the GC fans were still pounding in their thermoses etc. but they were certainly enjoying themselves - snow and all! lol
Good times back in the day!
I can attest to what was in those thermoses. Some legal some like the TV show, Moonshiners. 😂😂
I realize Google is not always correct, but according to Google Essex has more students than Grayson. Everyone has bashed Graysons enrollment, but I'm willing to be proven wrong about Essex enrollment. It says 404 from grades 9 through 12.
It's not the kids fault at Grayson. They play who they're told to.
It's not the kids fault at Grayson. They play who they're told to.
Essex is going to dog walk Grayson. I just watched them on hudl. No film from this year for the boys from Tappahannock...Weird.
Grayson has almost 30 Juniors/Seniors who have played alot of football. Group has been groomed since MS to be here. No school in area has come close to the commitment they have made past several years. Regardless of what folks think of Super he has when above and beyond to help get program where its now is. I believe it is Essex game to lose but if they perform like they have in past in Salem I would not be surprised by a Grayson W.
He was the head coach for them for that game. Of course, John Fulks was the head coach for Essex during that time
Grayson has had so much talent over the years with no one who new how to coach talent. With better coaching 10-15 years ago Grayson should have at least 2 maybe more especially if they were class 1. Grayson has a good coaching staff. Former college players and state record book players to boot. Just don't count out those Blue Devils they are a scrappy bunch.
Essex has multiple former college players as well. The latest to join is former Essex star Taishan Holmes. He played at UMass and his final year at Northwestern at the DT position. His lil brother is #78 who is a 5’11” 330 lbs Jr OL/DL
Essex has 26 Seniors & Juniors that were Juniors and Sophomores last year playing for the championship. Last years team had about 6-7 seniors.
Love that former players are coming back to contribute to the local teams they played for. Great for the community. Helps show up and coming players that they can achieve their goals too. Also gives them someone to talk to for every day struggles. My son is one of Graysons coaches. He has helped in alot more ways than just coaching. Helped with personal issues of several players. Hope this young man is doing the same for his little brother and the rest of the players. Teaching them about being a man and productive members of society.
Salem had two former players join the coaching staff this year. A DPOY and a 3 time Dude!
Essex shouldn’t have any trouble with Grayson. I’d be shocked if it’s close but stranger things have happened.
Really hoping for a good game. Will say that Grayson is a scrappy bunch. Good to be looked over and underestimated. Teams have been doing that this entire play-off. Grayson has already went further than anyone thought. Hoping for Graham a good showing too. Not gonna say I wish any team to lose but someone has too. We will all find out Saturday who the winners will be.
I like Grayson chances tomorrow…. Essex for a lot of reasons has found ways to lose to solid teams. Who exactly should have Grayson beat 10-15 years ago in Division 2?
When grayson had the Rodgers boys and Harvey Rodriguez Anderson. They were poised to beat anyone with any type of coaching. The year Grayson lost to Dan River? Were out coached several times. They have had alot of talent through the years and no coaching.
On paper is one thing, but on the field is where it gets settled. Best of luck to both teams.
