*News of 10/2/1998* Here's a nice article from the Bristol about the Powell Valley-Clintwood Game. Another article from the Kingsport paper on this weeks LPD games. *News & Notes of 10/5/1998* Just some thoughts on this past weekend....Powell Valley overcame the loss of two key linemen, the ejection of Keith Davis, 100 yds in penalties, and 3 turnovers and STILL was impressive in defeating Clintwood... Center Luke Gilly may be available for PV when they face Kelly on the 16th. FB Derrick Clark is a bulldozer for the future..... Justin Hamilton has got some of the finest hands around...looks so natural catching the ball....Great crowd at Clintwood & great job by the guys who parachuted in....Brad Ramey made one of the best catches I've ever seen in high school... The Burton Raiders have to be talking to themselves after wasting a 22-0 lead against Coeburn....Raiders got a good game passing from Ward, but the defense goes into neutral at times.... The Coeburn Blue Knights are trying to avoid the usual late season slump... They can't afford to finish less than 6-4 & even that may not be enough to outpoint Honaker.... The Dawgs look like they're getting it together in time for a serious playoff run with the return of Fleenor to the backfield & the emerging confidence of QB Brad Barnette.... Pound needs this week off to regroup after the last three disasterous weeks... Cats need to regain lost confidence or the season that started so well will be down the drain.... The Kelly Indians last shot at a win may have went out the window with the Abingdon game unless pull off a win vs. Marion.... *News & Notes of 10/12/1998* On Saturday Clintwood soph Justin Hamilton made just one of many future trips he'll be making around the country when he visited the University of Kentucky..... Appy fullback Josh Fleenor was reportedly banged up in the Dawgs loss to Lebanon and his status for Friday's Gate City tilt is questionable... Burton sees the end of a murderous 3 week schedule end when St. Paul comes to town....Raiders should be able to finish the year at 5-5 before heading to the playoffs.... Although Gate City & Appalachia have less than stellar records this year, the matchup on Friday will be no less intense....Dawgs are tuning up for the playoffs.... Kudos to Clintwood coach Bob Meade for having mercy on Ervinton last Friday....28-0 after 1 qtr before calling off the wolves.....On a side note, how much longer should the Wave continue to play the Rebels?.... Pound should be regrouped after a week off and sky high for Garden...it was the Dragon's blunder last year by using an ineligible player that cost Pound a much deserved playoff spot.... Kelly was impressive against Honaker for 1 quarter leading 7-6 before the roof caved in..... Powell Valley will look to have center Luke Gilley back for action this week, but I look for him to play little.....Keith Davis is serving a 1 game suspension for two personal fouls in the Clintwood game....Corey Davis will most likely be out for 2-3 more weeks with his foot.... *News & Notes of 10/17/1998* Some injury news.....Kelly FB Bobby Ramey will likely miss a couple of more games with a nagging ankle injury.....Josh Fleenor's knee was in good shape last night, but I have to wonder if it had anything to do with only a 10 carry night....maybe it was the Gate City offense hogging the ball. PV kicker/center/guard Tosh Barnett missed last night's game because he had his appendix removed this week. He should be OK....PV DT Cory Davis was walking without a limp on the sidelines and may be back in a couple of weeks. Kelly has some good size and is very young....Hang in there! Burton has moved Reggie Sensabaugh to fullback to try & take advantage of Sam Keys & Jazz Coleman's speed...it worked last night as Keys rushed for 172 yards... Pound looked like a completely different team against Garden....Week off did wonders, but so did the competition....Brandon Cantrell is a fine QB and he's got good receivers to go to.... In spite of the loss to Gate City, the Dawgs remain in good position for a playoff spot. They lead Whitewood in the points and are unlikely to be overtaken by the Indians.... *News & Notes of 10/27/1998* Hats off to the Kelly Indians for playing their hearts out last Friday against a heavily favored Clintwood team. Hang in there Indians...better days are ahead. Clintwood starting center Josh Wright is hobbled by an ankle injury and his status for the Burton contest is unknown. Can there by any doubt as to whether or not Burton & Appy will meet for the Region D D1 title? Look for Appy to dispose of the Region's #1 rated Rye Cove team in the first round. The Eagles will wind up the regular season at 9-1, but were manhandled by Coeburn earlier in the year. The Raiders in the meantime should have little problem with Thomas Walker who will be in a size mismatch with Burton. It's ironic but sad that a deserving Coeburn team will probably stay at home this year for the playoffs in spite of being much improved over last seasons playoff team which backed into the playoffs when it was discovered that Garden had used an ineligible player. I'm not sure even a upset over Powell Valley this week would help the Blue Knights. It will probably take a Garden upset of Haysi to turn the trick. A tip of the hat as well to Pound coach Rocky Baker who may guide the Cats to a 5-5 season if the Cats can get past Whitewood. Great job considering the Cats weren't expected to win more than a couple this season. *News & Notes of 10/31/1998* Some thoughts on last night..... The Coeburn Blue Knights fought their hearts out & it's a shame they won't be in the playoffs....how in the heck did Honaker lose to Haysi? Great effort by Coeburn and their fans, but it takes 4 quarters to beat the Vikings. Powell Valley demonstrated why they've won 22 in a row....Jones goes down...enter Josh Callahan who pick up where Jones left off....Robbins also turned to the passing game to pick it up. Tim Fredrich is developing into quiet a good WR/TE... Julius Jones received an invitation to the Hula Bowl in Hawaii by being named to the NRC high school All-America team... PV LB Don Dorton missed last night's contest with an illness.... What an effort by Burton's Reggie Sensabaugh last night.... Four turnovers did the Raiders in....Don't think you need a kicker to kick the PAT?...Burton was 1 for 4 on 2 point PATs...they lost by 1. Clintwood's Jon McCowan played a heck of a game in place of injured starting center Josh Wright....The Wave won last night in spite of being stastically dominated....it's called making the big plays... Clintwood RB Jason Mullins will be lost for about 3 weeks with a broken bone in his foot.... Pound is assured of at least a .500 finish...a huge accomplishment for 1st year coach Rocky Baker....Don't count the Cats out against Clintwood either..... Kelly's season is over....too young, too many turnovers, but some good talent on hand....it will be interesting to see if there are any coaching changes.... People are saying Appalachia won't make the playoffs....maybe I don't fully understand the system.....Thomas Walker went into last night trailing the Dawgs in points & lost to Twin Springs....Twin Springs moves up, I understand that part....I don't understand how Thomas Walker is going to vault past Appalachia next week...a win over the winless St. Paul Deacons certainly can't be worth that much....can it?????