In Group A, Division Two, the Gretna Hawks match up with Goochland in Saturday's second game in Salem around 4:30 p.m. Gretna is making an appearance in the title game for the 6th time in the past 9 seasons.
The Hawks are also plenty familiar with Goochland. The two teams have met three previous times in the playoffs, all in the regionals. Gretna won in 2007 and 2008 while the Bulldogs won the 2006 meeting. The winner in each case went on to win the championship.
Adding a little more intrigue to tomorrow's showdown, Gretna Coach Kevin Saunders and Goochland head man Joe Fowler are both graduates of Radford High School, learning much of what they know about football from the legendary Bobcats Coach Norm Lineburg.
"We grew up in the same neighborhood. I'm a lot older than Joey so that says something but Joey played jayvee football for me when i coached at Radford and did a very good job. He was a tough kid," said Gretna head coach Kevin Saunders. "I've known him pretty much from the neighborhood and it's just one of those things that goes back to Radford and growing up there and knowing somebody and we've stayed in touch. Just been one of those things."
“He and I grew up together and he's got an unbelievable football team,” said Goochland Head Coach Joe Fowler. “They've got some really good lineman and some really good athletes and are really well coached. we feel like we've got a chance and that's all you can hope for at this point in the season.”
Fowler's Goochland team has scored at least 40 points, 10 times this season, which should provide a challenge for a Gretna defense that has allowed more than 14 points just once this year.
“This is my third year with them. These guys were here when I first got here and they were younger. They understand the system and how I want them to play defense. I run the defense and so they make me look good. they do a very good job of playing their role. They understand what they're supposed to do and as the game goes on they get better. They pay attention and they are very smart. They're a bit under rated on defense. they're just not a bunch of big stars. They're really physical and they run really well and they tackle really well,” Saunders said.
“We played pretty good this season. We've played as one on defense and there's really no standout players. We've all played as one and that's shown this season,” said Gretna center/defensive tackle Coleman Osborne.
Gretna circled the wagons following two midseason losses, winning five in a row, including the semifinal victory over Amelia County, in which the Hawks scored 20 unanswered points for the win.
“It makes us feel like we've redeemed ourselves from those losses and playing better after those losses,” said Gretna wide receiver Tony Miller. “Everybody is going out and playing their hardest. Even if people mess up, they pick themselves up and start playing well again.
The Hawks have had this game circled since last December, when they dropped a 27-17 decision to Gate City in the title tilt.
“It's been big. we told ourselves at the beginning of the season that we wanted to get back to the state game and last year losing was tough up there but it motivated us a whole lot this year to go back to the state game and try to win,” Osborne said.
The Hawks are also plenty familiar with Goochland. The two teams have met three previous times in the playoffs, all in the regionals. Gretna won in 2007 and 2008 while the Bulldogs won the 2006 meeting. The winner in each case went on to win the championship.
Adding a little more intrigue to tomorrow's showdown, Gretna Coach Kevin Saunders and Goochland head man Joe Fowler are both graduates of Radford High School, learning much of what they know about football from the legendary Bobcats Coach Norm Lineburg.
"We grew up in the same neighborhood. I'm a lot older than Joey so that says something but Joey played jayvee football for me when i coached at Radford and did a very good job. He was a tough kid," said Gretna head coach Kevin Saunders. "I've known him pretty much from the neighborhood and it's just one of those things that goes back to Radford and growing up there and knowing somebody and we've stayed in touch. Just been one of those things."
“He and I grew up together and he's got an unbelievable football team,” said Goochland Head Coach Joe Fowler. “They've got some really good lineman and some really good athletes and are really well coached. we feel like we've got a chance and that's all you can hope for at this point in the season.”
Fowler's Goochland team has scored at least 40 points, 10 times this season, which should provide a challenge for a Gretna defense that has allowed more than 14 points just once this year.
“This is my third year with them. These guys were here when I first got here and they were younger. They understand the system and how I want them to play defense. I run the defense and so they make me look good. they do a very good job of playing their role. They understand what they're supposed to do and as the game goes on they get better. They pay attention and they are very smart. They're a bit under rated on defense. they're just not a bunch of big stars. They're really physical and they run really well and they tackle really well,” Saunders said.
“We played pretty good this season. We've played as one on defense and there's really no standout players. We've all played as one and that's shown this season,” said Gretna center/defensive tackle Coleman Osborne.
Gretna circled the wagons following two midseason losses, winning five in a row, including the semifinal victory over Amelia County, in which the Hawks scored 20 unanswered points for the win.
“It makes us feel like we've redeemed ourselves from those losses and playing better after those losses,” said Gretna wide receiver Tony Miller. “Everybody is going out and playing their hardest. Even if people mess up, they pick themselves up and start playing well again.
The Hawks have had this game circled since last December, when they dropped a 27-17 decision to Gate City in the title tilt.
“It's been big. we told ourselves at the beginning of the season that we wanted to get back to the state game and last year losing was tough up there but it motivated us a whole lot this year to go back to the state game and try to win,” Osborne said.
