Storms collide in SWD

By BRIAN WOODSON

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

RICHLANDS, Va. — Improvement.

That is the buzz word each week as Richlands begins preparation for another opponent.

This week was no different as the Blue Tornado prepared for their Southwest District opener slated for tonight at Marion.

The records indicate a lopsided affair. Richlands is 6-0, while the Scarlet Hurricane is 1-5. The Blue Tornado aren’t believing it.

“We challenge our kids each week, we are going to get better or worst as a football team,” Richlands head coach Greg Mance said. “That is the first talk they hear on Monday, we have got to get better this week. We have got to clean up the little mistakes we are making, we have got to have a great week of practice.

“It is about us moreso than who we are playing. Our kids take pride in improving, you are either getting worst or getting better.”

Richlands seems to be getting better. The Blue Tornado is 6-0, having scored 37.5 points per game — and at least 31 in all but one game — and have allowed just 12.5, and that includes a pair of shutouts.

Add to that a special teams that is led by steady senior Reece Strong — who is also the quarterback — who has made five field goals, been perfect on extra points and is averaging 40.0 yards on eight punts.

“I am really pleased right now because we are improving each week and that is the name of the game,” Mance said. “We are real close, we have not peaked yet, but we are getting close each week. We are starting to clean up the little mistakes like the penalties, we are starting to clean those things up and we are playing more physical.

“Offense, defense and special teams, we are putting pressure on the other team and that is what it takes to be an outstanding football. We have big play capabilities, our kicking game is outstanding with Reece … We have got the ability to be really good in all three phases of the game.”

While Richlands has had just one close call —a 24-22 win at Union — the Scarlet Hurricane has a 51-0 win over Northwood, a two-point loss to Graham, and have been no closer than 14 in their other four defeats.

Marion is led by quarterback Marshall Wagner and tailback Ethan Richardson, both of whom showed against the G-Men the ability to make plays. While Mance pointed out the ‘Canes can score, preventing the other team from scoring has been a problem.

“They have been working extremely hard in practice. Marion’s record is not real good, but they have a lot of good athletes,” Mance said. “They throw the ball and they run the option-read, which presents problems for your defense, especially if you are aggressive.

“You have got to stay home, you have got to be disciplined. Defensively, they struggle to keep people out of the end zone, but they are getting better…You look at the record and watch them on tape and they don’t look like a 1-5 team.

“Their kids are playing so hard and they are playing together and they play with a lot of energy. We challenged our kids, we have got to get better this week and that is what it is all about, it is about us improving.”

Strong leads the Richlands offense, having completed 63 percent of his throws for 858 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Devon Johnson has rebounded from a slow start due to injury to pass the century mark in his last four games, and now has 725 yards and 11 scores. Colten Staten has added 317 yards and two touchdowns.

While A.J. Johnson will be out with a sprained shoulder — and he has 16 receptions and five touchdowns — Todd McGlothlin has caught 11 passes and three scores. Frank Taylor, who spells Devon Johnson and Staten in the backfield, will also sit out this game.

It might appear that Richlands isn’t as dominating as it was last season when the Blues finished 13-1, losing to Poquoson 23-17 in the state title game. It even took Richlands until this week to move into the Associated Press Top 10 among Group AA teams.

Still, the Blue Tornado is intent on returning to Lynchburg and completing unfinished business — which is the team’s motto this season — with the goal being to win that elusive state title.

“We are getting better, that is the thing I like about this football team. They want to improve,” Mance said. “Last year I still think we had that sour taste in our mouth when we felt we had the best team and we didn’t get to bring the state championship home.

“I know Devon (Johnson) has talked numerous times about how he wants to finish his senior year with a state championship ring. That is one of his goals and that is one of the reasons his dad brought him here is to get him to the next level and win a state championship.

“I think all of our seniors share in that goal and that is why they are working so hard in practice.”

Richlands will conclude its regular season with four SWD foes that currently have a combined record of 4-17, and three of those belong to Abingdon. Mance thinks those records are a matter of youth for Marion and a difficult schedule for Carroll County — Richlands’ opponent next week — which includes losses to undefeated Christiansburg and Grayson County, who are the top-ranked teams in Virginia in their classifications.

“I think everybody is young across the district, you look at Marion, they have a bunch of young kids playing, and I think they have gotten better each week so I really think they are going to win a bunch of games here down the road,” Mance said. “Carroll has lost to three really good football teams so I think their record is a little deceiving, sort of like Pulaski.

“Pulaski has played some really good teams, you look at their record and you think they are not very good, which they really are.”

Carroll County can wait. Richlands is looking for its 23rd straight SWD victory, and 26th regular season game in a row, and Marion is standing in their way.

“We have just got to take it one week at a time,” Mance said. “All our focus and energy this week is on Marion and that is all we have talked about is improving as a team.”

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com