And then, there were two.
That’s the’ Big-11′ high school football landscape heading into this weekend’s VHSL state semifinal slate of 12 games.
Twenty-four teams are still alive in six classifications. Nine of those 24 are undefeated, 7 have one loss and 8 come in with 2 or more losses. 6A Thomas Dale, 5A Stone Bridge and 1A Galax have 4 losses each.
Locally, our two remaining entries both play on Saturday, albeit at times conducive for fans to see both. Here’s the lineup.
HOPEWELL (11-2) AT LORD BOTETOURT (12-1) SAT. 2:00 pm: The biggest high school football game to ever come to Daleville. Head coach Jamie Harless has brought the Cavaliers to unchartered waters. The winner advances to the Group 3A state championship at Liberty University on December 12th.
SALEM (12-0) AT JEFFERSON FOREST (12-0) SAT. 7:00 pm: One of the most anticipated playoff match ups since week-one of the regular season. Neither has disappointed in rolling with ease to their respective 12-0 records. The most challenging job Saturday night may be waiting for whoever runs the scoreboard. The winner advances to the Group 4A final at Liberty University on December 12th.
This week kicked off the regular season for most of our ‘ Big-11 ‘ basketball teams. Keep up with your favorite team as The Star sports crew brings you continuing coverage from all of our local area high schools.
On to one of our rare looks at college football, where the noise this week was the resignation of UVA head coach Mike London and the even noisier announcement of Justin Fuente being named the successor to Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech.,
While it’s way too early to speculate on the goings-on with the Cavaliers, it has been an interesting few days digesting the turnaround Fuente orchestrated at Memphis.
That being said, let’s take a closer look at “behind the numbers at Memphis.”
Fuente posted a 26-23 record in four years at Memphis, with 9-3 regular season records in 2014 and 2015 dramatically turning around what had been 4-8 and 3-9 records in 2012 and 2013, respectfully.
Memphis wins in 2014 and 2015 came over the likes of SMU (twice), Tulsa (twice), Tulane (twice), Cincinnati (twice) and University of South Florida (twice). The 2014 season saw Memphis open with wins over Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee. They also had 2014 wins over Temple and Connecticut
A bowl win for Memphis in 2014 came in the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl played in the Florida Marlins baseball stadium in front of an announced crowd of slightly over 20,000. That game, which featured nine turnovers in a two overtime 55-48 win by Memphis over Brigham Young, was better remembered for its post-game brawl between members of both teams that saw punches thrown and helmets slung, leading to the infamous call of ‘Miami Beach Brawl.’
So much for lower tier bowl games.
In 2015, Memphis’ first two wins were over eventual 1-10 Missouri State and 0-12 Kansas. For the record, Missouri State’s only victory this season came over Chadron State. Know where Chadron State is located? Hold off on the Atlas, it’s in Nebraska.
And, 0-12 Kansas had the dubious distinction of losing its homecoming game by 55 points, and entertaining the Jayhawk crowd by losing their next home game 49-0 to West Virginia.
The three Memphis losses this year came in successive games, by sizable margins to Navy and Temple along with a loss to Houston for the second straight year.
In Memphis’ defense, they did garner a signature win over Ole Miss as well as knocking off Bowling Green this season.
Best wishes to Coach Fuente in Blacksburg. It’s way too early for report cards to go home.
Now, in continuing with our holiday gift guide tradition and late-night product reviews, we bring you one that will literally bring tears to your eyes: The Great American Steakhouse Onion Machine.
In what appears to be an upside-down stool with blades, the GASOM appears to slice up a cantaloupe-sized onion into what is described as a restaurant inspired delicacy. Oh, brother.
Suddenly, the pitch changes with a good-looking babe having ditched the gadget in favor of a machete-like knife. We’re told that precision cuts are needed (easier said than done) on this onion monstrosity.
Eventually, the onion falls apart to look like a jellyfish, before we have to add six spices, batter, an egg concoction and head to a deep fryer after freezing the onion for an hour. OK, Alan Funt, where’s the hidden camera?
$19.95 for the gadget, deep fry basket and colorful cooking guide.
I’m giving the GASOM a neutral rating. Positive for the excitement of cooking, negative for the cost of ingredients, time involved and the potential need for a fire extinguisher, band-aids, salve and heartburn remedy.
Until next time, I’m asking The Chief to take me to Outback. Meanwhile, send your blooming questions to [email protected]
Bill Turner
