Bulldogs must tame the single wing Headline

By LARRY HYPES

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

TAZEWELL, Va. — The Dogs are eager to fly but face a single wing that has already soared past a trio of opponents.

After a much-needed bye week, the Tazewell Bulldogs return to the Dog House to host the Giles Spartans Friday in a non-district contest. Giles (3-1) is coming off a 49-12 romp over the Narrows Green Wave.

The Spartans, coached by Jeff Williams, opened the season with a 10-0 win over Blacksburg, lost 20-10 to powerful Christiansburg, and coasted past Covington, 42-12.

“Giles is not just a good team, they can be outstanding at times,” says Tazewell mentor Brandon Tate. “From we have seen on film, we have been very impressed not only with the offense but with their defense. This team is just that — they work together and that produces wins. Their record proves that.”

Brad Kessinger rolled up 219 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns against Covington to lead the offense. Ethan Mitchell gained 83 yards in the Narrows win, also scoring three times. Kessinger is averaging almost 130 yards per game on the ground for Giles, which seldom throws the ball in its run-oriented attack.

Tyler Nelson spearheads a talented defensive unit and is a key on the all-important Giles offensive line. Bubba Workman, the center, is essentially the offensive “quarterback” in the unique alignment.

Outstanding punter Garrett Lee has a booming 47 yards-per kick average to give the GHS special teams a leg up on most opposing teams.

“I saw Lee at a kicking camp,” notes Tate. “He is the real thing – a lot of colleges are going to be interested in signing him. In high school or at any level, a good kicking game is a huge part of the team. Field position means a lot.”

Tazewell alternated a pair of quarterbacks in the last contest, using veteran Cody McCann primarily for the first three quarters and then bringing in freshman Malik Davis in the final stanza. Davis scored his first varsity touchdown for the only Bulldogs’ tally in the closing minutes. Mikal Moore had another solid game at the halfback slot.

Kyle Sheets, Jarred Ball, and the Tazewell defenders played well at times during game at B-Burg, holding the Bears to three early field goals despite a great field position advantage for Blacksburg for most of the opening half.

“We saw some things in the Blacksburg game we are going to build on,” notes Tate. “We are getting better, getting stronger, and working hard.

Even though some of the scores might look out of balance, consider the strength of our schedule. We play some tough teams and Giles is another one right at the top coming up this week.”

Tazewell opened the 2011 campaign hosting George Wythe and the dazzling Maroons won 63-3. Tate’s Bulldogs led in the fourth quarter the following week against Graham at Mitchell Stadium but the G-Men pounded out a pair of late touchdowns and grabbed a 21-12 victory.

The youthful Bulldogs lost 30-7 at Blacksburg, their third non-district contest in a row.

Giles has outscored the opposition 111-44 while Tazewell is on the short end of a 114-22 differential.

No team in Southwest Virginia and few anywhere run the famed, old-school Single Wing offense better than Williams’ club, who first used the no-quarterback offense during the heyday of Steve Ragsdale. He coached a trio of state championships, most recently in 2005, when they stopped Manassas Park 35-34 to complete a sizzling 13-1 campaign. Giles also won the 1981 title, 33-32, at home over Park View-Sterling. The Spartans were a perfect 14-0 in ’93.

This is the silver anniversary of Tazewell’s 1986 state championship, when that season’s 12-2 Bulldogs, who beat Nottoway 16-7 in the big game, lost just once at home all year – 24-12 to the Giles team. The two rivals have not played each other for the past few years.

Kickoff at Bulldog Stadium is at 7:30 p.m.