On the eve of the biggest football game in Buffalo Gap history, Jim and Robert talk about what it takes for the Bison to bring home the school’s first football crown.
But hey, who’s counting? (You are? Or, at least, you should be if you’re a Buffalo Gap fan or just someone who likes to see local schools win state championships.)
Sign we need help: And when I type “We,” I mean high school sports fans. So, allow me to present to you .. wait for it ... wait for it ... someone has released lines on the state championship games. This is what we get for ESPN putting World Series of Poker on every 10 minutes and all that fantasy football shenanigans.
And another thing: Couldn’t help but notice no smack talking between Clintwood and Buffalo Gap fans on the message boards. Nice job. Stay classy.
But wait: Looks like some J.I. Burton fans are still up and running. (OK, maybe they’re not J.I. Burton fans, but they sure whine an awful lot like them.
Wow, Josh Wenger just made another catch. And it’s only Wednesday.
Midweek entry for e-mail of the week: “Mr. Sacco, it would be nice to see some basketball coverage this week instead of all that football.”
Really? OK, starting today we’ll ignore a team going for a state title in football and concentrate on pre-district play tune ups. Yes, that was sarcasm folks.
More e-mail: “I’ve got to agree with you, the PA announcer at Gap was great.”
Thanks, glad to hear not everybody has got a football up their butts and can appreciate some good unintentional comedy every now and again.
How can anybody not enjoy reading about a high school football team that mirrors the community it plays in? And how can anybody not admire an offensive line that A) Opens up holes the size of the Alleghenies for Pickle Nuckols B) Has been protecting the same quarterback for almost a decade and C) verbally assault each other to get hyped up? Yep, that’s the Buffalo Gap O-Line, punch-clock heroes for a punch-clock community.
Wait a second, I think Mitch Acord just said he’s honored again. Yes, you heard me right. He said HE IS honored. Somebody get this guy an autographed football from this 2007 Bison team. Seriously, it’s the least you can do.
OK, my bookie just called me. I got some high school betting to do. (Yes, that was sarcasm again.)
The defense was porous, yet somehow managed to wake up at the right moments to slice the heart out of the Colonial Beach sideline and bleachers.
Not like that’s anything new in Buffalo Gap, where backyard butchery is done en masse and, during tailgating, yarns are spun about that morning’s hunt and the latest kill.
Pickle Nuckols struggled in the first half, but exploded for 223 yards in the second. Which leads the question of the week: Does Pickle ever give up? On anything? Really. Someone. Please. Answer this for me.
Travis Morris was, well, Travis Morris. A quarterback whose skills have grown along with his confidence, leadership and swagger. That’s what happens when you’ve been at the helm of the same offense since you were 8 years old.
Josh Wenger didn’t let a bum back suffered on his first catch keep him on the sidelines for long – proved by his forced fumble, tipped ball for an interception, TD catch and eight tackles.
Michael Johnson got to pump up the crowd after he was able to flip into the end zone when he met two Drifters at the goal line.
“Coach won’t let me do it when I break one,” he said.
Plus, it’s unsportsmanlike penalty. Right, Michael?
“Yes,” he said with a smile.
And then there’s head coach Rob Maxwell. A guy who is not afraid to smile with his players, but takes a business-like approach with the media.
Just some things I noticed Saturday whilst at the game.
Oh, and another thing: I’ve seen a Friday night playoff game at Strasburg High School with the now-retired, yet always legendary Glen Proctor patrolling the sidelines like George Patton, with a crowd so hyped up before the kick off you could feel them waiting for the right moment to explode.
I’ve seen a Saturday afternoon regional final at the Handley Bowl. Bearing spectacle to the wonder that is the Judges, in almost-military alignment, start atop the hill then march down those marble-like steps. A sea a maroon jerseys and blinding-white stones.
Folks, I’d put the energy of a night playoff game at Riverheads and Saturday’s Gap game up against both of them. During the Bison’s win over Buffalo Gap, watching the crowd’s roller-coaster ride end with complete euphoria was something to behold.
And, really, could there have been any more cars parked along Va. 42? Hey, I’m just asking.
Look, Josh Wenger just made another catch.
Mitch Acord, 50, coached 21 or 22 (he’s not too sure) of these Gap players back when they were in Little League. He taught them 60 plays. At the age of 8, folks. They learned them, won a couple of titles in the Augusta Quarterback Club and went undefeated. He had Travis Morris quarterbacking and protected by the same offensive line that would knock down a hungry carnivore for him now. When they were 8, people. And, ready for this, he’s “honored” when he’s told his name comes up every time you ask someone about this team. Did you read that? HE’s honored. He called it that this team would make it this far years ago. He’s been coaching for 31 years. Is there anyone associated with this team that doesn’t have his number on their cell phone? And, remember, HE’s honored.
Man, now we know where Pickle Nuckols got it from.
From the You-Can’t-Make-This-Up File: If you chatted it up with the tailgaters Saturday at Gap, you now know that there are two players nicknamed “Fat Back” and “Stump” coming up through the Bison system. Did you need to ask? Of course they play on the line.
Sorry, I don’t have a problem with Gap’s PA announcer like some other people do. He added to the small-town ambiance of the game that, much like the mountains, so many people seem to take for granted. Plus, he was funny. So chill out, will ya.
Hey look, even Colonial Beach enjoyed the game at Gap. And they lost.
But you know that already, because you where there. We saw your car along Va. 42.