Blaster, may I offer my congratulations to you and to the GW Maroons for making it to the final four in D1. I am not going to tell you that you have more than surprised me at times this year. The GW win over Radford was something special. I would have posted earlier but I have been under the weather, and still not at 100%. Best of luck against Riverheads.
Just a couple of things. Way back in the day, when the VHSL adopted the playoff format of divisions, Chilhowie was the first VHSL Champ in 1970. For several years Chilhowie ruled region C in the early 70's. I am not sure of the exact year, but Chilhowie met up with Riverheads in the Region C finals, played at Riverheads. I recall the game, as it was a night game and very cold. The most remembered thing that I recall was Chilhowie had a very sad situation that week that sadden our entire community. The father of one of our best defensive player passed away suddenly, like on Tuesday of the week. The whole community was upset. Our thoughts turned to this young man, and his family. Our coach told the player to take as long has he needed to be with his family. I recall the funeral was on Friday afternoon, the same day as the game that night at 7:30 at Riverheads. The player made it through a very though situation that week.
The remarkable thing was the player insisted on playing in the game. The coach tried to say no, but nothing would do but for the player to be with his team. So, how on earth was he going to get to Riverheads in a short time after the funeral. Welcome the VA State Police. Yes, be it good or bad, just so happened, I'll call my friend Gene, said Don't Worry, he will be there! Well you know that Gene and the player got in that cruiser and away they went, up I81. No one to this day knows just how fast that Plymouth Hemi Cruiser was going, but Gene, well let's just say got there in time for kick off.
Oh, by the way Chilhowie took care of business on the field that night as well, and was Region C Champs again. I hope my memory didn't fail me much in recalling this event, but that is the way everything went down.
Oh, on a much different note, I was in a store in town a couple of weeks ago, and ran into a very good friend of mind who I had not seen in several years. I was asking about his family, and I ask about his son. Well, as things would have it, his grandson is a big strapping fellow about 6'3" 260lbs Soph who just happens to play right smack dab in the middle of that Big offensive line at GW! By the way, his dad was big time player at Chilhowie back in the day.
You got some good blood lines at GW, My Friend! That is my story, and I am sticking to it!
