2023 Champion – Graham
GRAHAM G-MEN
Region 2D
2023 Record: 12-2 overall; 5-0 Southwest District
Playoffs: Lost in the Class 2 semi-finals to Radford
Head Coach: Tony Palmer - 10th season overall; 10th season at Graham
Career Record: 97-18; Record at Graham: 97-18
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - vs. Bluefield, WV
September 5 - vs. Galax (Thursday)
September 13 - vs. George Wythe
September 20 - at Union
September 27 - at Virginia*
October 4 - at Marion*
October 11 - Open date
October 18 - at Lebanon*
October 24 - vs. Pulaski County (Thursday)
November 1 - at Tazewell*
November 8 - vs. Richlands*
*Southwest District game
NOTES: Palmer has Graham firmly established as a Southwest Virginia powerhouse like they were in the days of Glynn Carlock. Palmer in his 10th season needs just 3 wins to hit 100 for his career. That could come in Week 3 versus George Wythe. Graham is 27-2 over the past two seasons with losses only to Union and Radford. The G-Men aren't going anywhere. They return first team all-state wide receiver and defensive back Chris Edwards; first team defensive lineman Omari Hill, second team defensive lineman Daniel Jennings and second team linebacker Yubrenal Isabelle. Isabelle figures to take over the featured running back position from the graduated Ty'Drez Clements. The irony of that is that he's staring at Graham and he's the son of arguably the best player Bluefield High School ever produced his father Yubrenal Isabelle, Senior. The elder Isabelle was WV state player of the year in 1996 and played linebacker for George Welsh at Virginia.
TAZEWELL BULLDOGS
Region 2D
2023 Record: 8-4 overall; 4-1 Southwest District
Playoffs: Lost in the Region 2D semi-finals
Head Coach: Ja'me Harris - 8th season overall; 8th season at Tazewell
Career Record: 33-37; Record at Tazewell: 33-37
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - Open date
September 6 - at Riverheads
September 13 - at Richlands*
September 20 - vs. Fort Chiswell
September 27 - at Princeton, WV
October 4 - at Grundy
October 11 - vs. Virginia*
October 18 - vs. Marion*
October 25 - at Giles
November 1 - vs. Graham*
November 8 - vs. Lebanon*
*Southwest District game
NOTES: Tazewell is one if by air and two if by air and why not. They return Quarterback Carter Creasy who was 4th in the state in passing last season with 3,183 yards and 36 Touchdowns.
RICHLANDS BLUE TORNADO
Region 2D
2023 Record: 0-10 overall; 0-5 Southwest District
Playoffs: None
Head Coach: Ronnie Davis - 1st year overall; 1st year at Richlands
Career Record: 0-0; Record at Richlands: 0-0
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - at Gate City
September 6 - vs. Union
September 13 - vs. Tazewell*
September 20 - at Abingdon
September 27 - vs. Lebanon*
October 4 - at Ridgeview
October 11 - Open date
October 18 - at Virginia*
October 25 - vs. Galax
November 1 - vs. Marion*
November 8 - at Graham*
NOTES: Richlands has been lost in the woods since Greg Mance bolted for a job in South Carolina. Last year's 0-10 record was the first winless season in school history. Richlands has lost 12 straight games. Davis is an 1983 Richlands graduate who spent 20 years as an assistant; 1 year as the Athletic Director at Graham; and coached at Virginia High with Radford coach Michael Crist.
VIRGINIA HIGH BEARCATS
Region 2D
2023 Record: 4-7 overall; 1-5 Southwest District
Playoffs: Lost in first round of Region 2D Playoffs
Head Coach: Derrick Patterson - 10th season overall; 4th season at Virginia High
Career Record: 44-40; Record at Virginia High: 20-13
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - at Patrick Henry-Glade Spring
September 6 - vs. John Battle
September 13 - at Radford
September 20 - at Ridgeview
September 27 - vs. Graham*
October 4 - Open date
October 11 - at Tazewell*
October 18 - vs. Richlands*
October 25 - vs. Lebanon*
November 1 - vs. John Marshall
November 8 - at Marion*
*Southwest District game
NOTES: From 9 wins in 2022 to 7 losses in 2023.
MARION SCARLET HURRICANE
Region 2D
2023 Record: 5-6 overall; 3-2 Southwest District
Playoffs: Lost in the first round of the Region 2D playoffs
Head Coach: Jack Finn - 7th season overall; 3rd season at Richlands
Career Record: 29-32 overall; Record at Marion: 6-16
2024 Schedule:
August 30 - vs. Chilhowie
September 6 - at Central-Wise
September 13 - at Lebanon*
September 20 - vs. Gate City
September 27 - Open date
October 4 - vs. Graham*
October 11 - vs. Abingdon
October 18 - at Tazewell*
October 25 - at Grundy
November 1 - at Richlands*
November 8 - vs. Virginia*
*Southwest District game
NOTES: Significant improvement from 1-9 in 2022 to 5 wins and the playoffs in 2023.
LEBANON PIONEERS
Region 2D
2023 Record: 3-7 overall; 1-4 Southwest District
Playoffs: None
Head Coach: Hunter Norris - 1st season overall; 1st season at Lebanon
Career Record: 0-0; Record at Lebanon: 0-0
2024 Schedule:
August 29 - at Honaker (Thursday)
September 6 - vs. Patrick Henry-Glade Spring
September 13 - vs. Marion*
September 20 - vs. Castlewood
September 27 - at Richlands*
October 4 - vs. John Battle
October 11 - at Rural Retreat
October 18 - vs. Graham*
October 25 - at Virginia*
November 1 - Open date
November 8 - at Tazewell*
*Southwest District game
NOTES: Move from the Hogoheegee to Southwest resulted in going from 6 wins in 2022 to just 3 in 2023.