Should be a good one between formidable opponents…I know Graham’s D is tough and Glenvar’s QB is very talented. Thoughts?
Graham vs Glenvar
- Thread starter Gridiron1960
- Start date
Having seen Glenvar and Graham, I would be surprised if Glenvar won playing on the road up there. Glenvar can win, but it will require a flawless game. Union played nearly flawless having no turnovers and less than 50 penalty yards and they got some first downs and killed some clock and still lost. Glenvar in order to win must not give up the big play and force Graham to drive the field for points. They also must shore up their front 7 defensively and not let Graham gash them on the ground.
Glenvar has to match Grahams physicality up front on both sides of the ball and that is a tall task. I favor Graham playing at home, but Glenvar is capable of winning. Should be a good one. Graham is just very difficult to beat at Mitchell Stadium, especially when the cold weather has set in for the mountains and teams not from there do have an adjustment because it's just a different kind of cold. If at Glenvar, I think it's a toss up. Playing at Graham, I favor Grahsm by 10
Glenvar has to match Grahams physicality up front on both sides of the ball and that is a tall task. I favor Graham playing at home, but Glenvar is capable of winning. Should be a good one. Graham is just very difficult to beat at Mitchell Stadium, especially when the cold weather has set in for the mountains and teams not from there do have an adjustment because it's just a different kind of cold. If at Glenvar, I think it's a toss up. Playing at Graham, I favor Grahsm by 10
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From what I've seen on film, I think Graham is just too physical on both sides of the ball. I know many enjoy the fancy passing games, but this time of year, it's the defense and run game that usually wins. Heck, I'd line Lilly and Palmer up in the Wildcat and let them gash them and force them to stop it
Better freshen up the bulbs in the scoreboard. Have a feeling one of these teams will be lighting it up!😄😛
Reminds me of the Graham/Radford game last year. The Glenvar QB is awesome, but I will say, Graham should be better prepared for a QB like that after last year. Overall this Glenvar team isn’t as good as last years a Radford and this years Graham team is better than last years (IMO) so I give the edge to the Gmen. I feel pretty confident we are headed for a Graham/Poqouson showdown for the ship.
Graham couldn’t get their offense going last year against Radford. Radford’s defense game planned well for that game. How is Glenvar’s defense? This year’s offense for Graham didn’t have one superstar like a Ty’Drez but they have several very talented athletes and can spread it out well. Glenvar has a lot more defensive game planning in my opinion than Radford had to do. That’s just my opinion others might disagree. I thought Graham’s defense did pretty well against Radford & their QB. He was just another level of talent.
I estimate that Graham is slightly better on defense this year and slightly worse on offense. I won't say they are better or worse overall, still elite if not the best team in the state. Glenvar is nowhere near as good as Radford was last year. I think Glenvar was even better last year.
Long story short, I think Graham can win 28-7. Glenvar may not even score.
I also think if I had to bet the house, Graham wins in Salem.
Long story short, I think Graham can win 28-7. Glenvar may not even score.
I also think if I had to bet the house, Graham wins in Salem.
I'm a homer, but it will be cold and the football will be harder to throw and catch. Graham's defense is fast and physical. Glenvar will have to get rid of the ball fast, because Graham's D Line and linebackers will put tremendous pressure on slow developing plays, the passing game will be at a disadvantage in the cold weather. The ball will be harder to grip, throw and catch. Graham can beat you by lining it up and running over top of you, they can also spread it out and beat you with their athletes in space. I'm taking Graham something like 28-7. The first team defense is giving up about 3 points per game. I wouldn't be surprised at all to see Graham coming out and running the ball quite a bit in this one. Their routine has been to spread teams out early, tire the defense out and then run the ball. I think they can have success running straight at Glenvar with the big boys blocking for Lilly or Palmer out of the wildcat Also, sorry about the bold print ...
Graham plays press so those 5 -7 yard quick hitters glenvar likes to run will be challenged. They will force glenvar to use long developing routes which plays right into the graham defense strength. The defensive line. Will glenvars offensive line hold up? If not it's going to be a long day.
4 things.
Injuries, turnovers, penalties, and a missed opportunity (example- WR open, all alone, ball dropped or overthrown). All 4 of these are gigantic at this point because at this stage, all 4 teams are usually close in talent and you can almost take away or put aside the talent factor as being slightly Less of a factor in outcome at this stage than all four factors above. Especially turnovers, penalties and missed opportunities early in the game where 1 team can ride momentum and make it very difficult for the opponent to catch up.
Perfect example. Us (Radford) last year against Graham. Sure, Clark was a beast and the best player on the field but Grahams 22 was STiLL, more talented than our starting 22. It was close, but Graham still had a talent edge. What did Graham in? Penalty and missed opportunity. One holding penalty killed a Graham drive that stalled at our 29 in the first qtr and a huge missed opportunity where a Graham WR was in full stride wide open for a TD and no Radford defender close and he simply dropped the ball. Things like that are devastating and missed opportunities is basically when the defense makes a mistake and the offense doesn't capitalize. Or, an offense (QB) throws a horrible ball and it hits the Defensive Back right in the chest who has an easy pick 6 and the DB drops it. That might as well be a turnover.
State Champions win games in the semis and finals in nearly EVERY sport by converting/capitalizing an opportunity the opponent gives them and teams that lose at this level nearly always have 1 or 2 huge plays where they fell to capitalize/missed opportunity the opponent gave them.
Injuries, turnovers, penalties, and a missed opportunity (example- WR open, all alone, ball dropped or overthrown). All 4 of these are gigantic at this point because at this stage, all 4 teams are usually close in talent and you can almost take away or put aside the talent factor as being slightly Less of a factor in outcome at this stage than all four factors above. Especially turnovers, penalties and missed opportunities early in the game where 1 team can ride momentum and make it very difficult for the opponent to catch up.
Perfect example. Us (Radford) last year against Graham. Sure, Clark was a beast and the best player on the field but Grahams 22 was STiLL, more talented than our starting 22. It was close, but Graham still had a talent edge. What did Graham in? Penalty and missed opportunity. One holding penalty killed a Graham drive that stalled at our 29 in the first qtr and a huge missed opportunity where a Graham WR was in full stride wide open for a TD and no Radford defender close and he simply dropped the ball. Things like that are devastating and missed opportunities is basically when the defense makes a mistake and the offense doesn't capitalize. Or, an offense (QB) throws a horrible ball and it hits the Defensive Back right in the chest who has an easy pick 6 and the DB drops it. That might as well be a turnover.
State Champions win games in the semis and finals in nearly EVERY sport by converting/capitalizing an opportunity the opponent gives them and teams that lose at this level nearly always have 1 or 2 huge plays where they fell to capitalize/missed opportunity the opponent gave them.
Add Floyd into that mix for the Wildcat too. He’s the one we first saw it utilized with back in 2022 if I remember accurately.
Southbottomu,
I think the poster was referring to thinking Graham is his pick to win the whole thing (state title in Salem). The Graham vs Glenvar game is in Bluefield, not at Glenvar (Roanoke County).
I think the poster was referring to thinking Graham is his pick to win the whole thing (state title in Salem). The Graham vs Glenvar game is in Bluefield, not at Glenvar (Roanoke County).
Graham is significantly lesser on offense this year without Jennings and Clements. Let’s not kid ourselves here, you don’t like a talent like that and not suffer a dramatic drop off. Defense is much better but the offense isn’t great by any means.
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