By Tim Hayes
Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: June 25, 2009

As hard as it is to believe, the high school football season starts in less than two months.

Yes, you read that right. Before you know it, prep players from around Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee will strap on the helmets and pads and begin preparing for playing under the Friday night lights.

So, I figured some conversation regarding fall football tradition would whet the appetite for some fans out there.

As part of an upcoming project, I’ve done some research and dug up through the archives for information on all 31 Virginia High School League state champs from this area since the VHSL reclassified in 1970.

I also unearthed some forgotten heroes whose accomplishments were pretty impressive. Here are some of those former legends of the fall:

—- Chilhowie was the VHSL’s first Group A state champ in 1970, getting a balanced offensive attack and steady defensive effort en route to the title. The most memorable play that season came in the state semifinals against J.J. Kelly.

Lining up to kick a field goal, the Warriors pulled off a touchdown pass off a double reverse. Gerald Poe fired a 25-yard TD pass to Tom Bishop. Tom Hill followed with an extra point to seal a 15-14 win.

Gate City also won the first VHSL Group AA state title that fall.

—- Clintwood put together a powerhouse in the 1970s and broke numerous state records with talented players. One of those was 6-foot-4, 220-pound Jerry “Yogi” Mooney, a defensive force.

—- J.J. Kelly won the Group A state crown in 1981 under the direction of head coach Al Stecker.

The defining moment might have came in a 19-14 state semifinal victory over Parry McCluer when Scott Church completed a 28-yard TD pass to Mike Osborne in the waning moments to give the Indians the win.

—- Robbie Duncan might have been one of the toughest quarterbacks to ever take snaps in Southwest Virginia and he led Powell Valley to Group A, Division 2 state titles in 1989 and 1990.

He injured his knee during the season, but toughed it out and did not appear hobbled at all. He fired the game-winning TD pass to Justin Cornett in the final moments of the 1990 state semis and passed for 191 yards the following week in a 42-28 victory over Lunenburg Central in the state title game.

—- The 1989 Graham G-Men had one of the area’s all-time tough defenses. The team opened that season with eight consecutive shutouts before losing in the ninth week to a loaded Salem squad.

Fittingly, Graham blanked Southampton, 16-0, in the state finals with linebacker Chris Patton setting the tone.

More to come later. What are some of your favorite high school gridiron moments from the past?