What was great was that Appalachia and Powell Valley both won state that year, and both beating a larger rival school Gate City, who also won the State Championship that year, all within 25 miles of each other.
@alejondro69 You are actually incorrect. In 1997, when Gate City was state champions, Appalachia defeated them 22-16 and Powell Valley defeated them 25-6. That year, Gate City, Appalachia, and Powell Valley all were state champions. Gate City's only losses were to Appalachia and Powell Valley, Appalachia's only loss was to Powell Valley, and Powell Valley was undefeated.
@alejondro69 Yeah I am with SWVA lol, Gate City took them off the schedule for a few years because of them winning Group AA state while losing to Appalachia who won Group A1 which is the smallest classification and they felt it was distasteful to their record, or so I have been told. The first kick in the nuts in the season was losing to Powell Valley which won the Group A2 title, Appy iced the cake lol. All were great teams tho, Houseright was a beast for GC.
@dakotakaren Powell Valley won 20-14. Appalachia was driving down the field during the final seconds of the game, preparing to score and potentially tie or win the game, when Travis Turner threw an interception and the Vikings sealed the game. It was one heckuva contest!
@SWVAFootball Oh it was, I can tell you, I was in the 8th grade, I was always a Tennessee Volunteer fan, but I didnt get big into college football, till I moved away because this was so much larger. These were people you truly knew, that was the hardest loss I ever watched of Appalachia I cried like a little girl on the way home ha ha. It was amazing how much these two schools meant to their respective communities. This atmosphere has shaped my lifre forever. Never will forget.
That was the MOST HYPED GAME EVER in southwest Virginia.. It lived up to the hype! Do you have any more footage from that game. I would like to see the crowd that was there.
@SWVAFootball Put the whole game on here man, I am a dawg living down here in tuscaloosa alabama, I been wanting to see this game again for a long time. I was there as a young lad, being the traditional appalachia mean ass hoodlum kid.
Travis turner is the head coach but now Powell valley is called union
preston300ful 1 month ago
What was great was that Appalachia and Powell Valley both won state that year, and both beating a larger rival school Gate City, who also won the State Championship that year, all within 25 miles of each other.
ScoopDaddy488 7 months ago
@ScoopDaddy488 Indeed. That was SWVA football at its finest!
SWVAFootball 7 months ago
@ScoopDaddy488
Neither beat Gate City, All of Gate City's state championship teams we're unbeaten minus the most recent one (2010)
alejondro69 6 months ago
@alejondro69 You are actually incorrect. In 1997, when Gate City was state champions, Appalachia defeated them 22-16 and Powell Valley defeated them 25-6. That year, Gate City, Appalachia, and Powell Valley all were state champions. Gate City's only losses were to Appalachia and Powell Valley, Appalachia's only loss was to Powell Valley, and Powell Valley was undefeated.
SWVAFootball 6 months ago
@SWVAFootball yeah yeah yeah you're right, i got them confused with another team. wooops haha.
alejondro69 6 months ago
@alejondro69 LOL No problem. It happens!
SWVAFootball 6 months ago
@SWVAFootball
Haha man i am just excited to see this "Union" high school. They look like they are gonna be pretty darn good!
alejondro69 6 months ago
@alejondro69 Yeah I am with SWVA lol, Gate City took them off the schedule for a few years because of them winning Group AA state while losing to Appalachia who won Group A1 which is the smallest classification and they felt it was distasteful to their record, or so I have been told. The first kick in the nuts in the season was losing to Powell Valley which won the Group A2 title, Appy iced the cake lol. All were great teams tho, Houseright was a beast for GC.
ScoopDaddy488 6 months ago
We should have won damnit lol, got so many chances and blew it, go dawgs. We was some bad mofo's that year woo.
ScoopDaddy488 7 months ago
and now they are "the union high bears"........
dakotakaren 8 months ago
@dakotakaren Yep, they sure are. Seeing this footage when the rivalry was at one of its peaks makes the whole ordeal seem even more surreal.
SWVAFootball 8 months ago
@SWVAFootball hey bro you wouldnt know who won this game would ya?
dakotakaren 7 months ago
@dakotakaren Powell Valley won 20-14. Appalachia was driving down the field during the final seconds of the game, preparing to score and potentially tie or win the game, when Travis Turner threw an interception and the Vikings sealed the game. It was one heckuva contest!
SWVAFootball 7 months ago
@SWVAFootball Oh it was, I can tell you, I was in the 8th grade, I was always a Tennessee Volunteer fan, but I didnt get big into college football, till I moved away because this was so much larger. These were people you truly knew, that was the hardest loss I ever watched of Appalachia I cried like a little girl on the way home ha ha. It was amazing how much these two schools meant to their respective communities. This atmosphere has shaped my lifre forever. Never will forget.
ScoopDaddy488 6 months ago
And Travis Turner is the new coach at Powell Valley.
djtrumpet11 1 year ago
@djtrumpet11 Oh how times have changed. :-)
SWVAFootball 1 year ago
Gate City was not in the LPD in 1997.
psunitt 2 years ago
Thanks, corrected.
SWVAFootball 2 years ago
That was the MOST HYPED GAME EVER in southwest Virginia.. It lived up to the hype! Do you have any more footage from that game. I would like to see the crowd that was there.
RowdyBusch51 2 years ago
I have the entire game on film, from beginning to end. I can upload more footage if you'd like. Hell of a game!!!
SWVAFootball 2 years ago
@SWVAFootball Put the whole game on here man, I am a dawg living down here in tuscaloosa alabama, I been wanting to see this game again for a long time. I was there as a young lad, being the traditional appalachia mean ass hoodlum kid.
ScoopDaddy488 7 months ago