(1997) Appy at PV - Julius Jones and more!

In this footage from one of the best games ever played in Southwest Virginia, the LPD, and between the Appalachia Bulldogs and Powell Valley Vikings, you are treated to two touchdowns from some of the best players on each team. The first touchdown is a long rainbow pass from Virginia Tech recruit Travis Turner to standout tight-end Jamie Jessee. The second touchdown is a nice, shifty run from Notre Dame commit and current NFL running back Julius Jones.

The Powell Valley Vikings would go on to win the game 20-14 following an interception from Travis Turner, sealing the deal just as the Bulldogs were driving down the field during the last seconds in the fourth quarter for a potential game-winning touchdown. The Vikings would remain undefeated, finishing the season at 14-0 and capturing a state championship. The Bulldogs would not be defeated following this game, finishing the season at 13-1 and capturing their second straight state championship. Ironically enough, the Gate City Blue Devils would also finish the season at 12-2 with losses only to Powell Valley and Appalachia, earning themselves a state championship as well.

Three state championships coming from a small portion of Virginia, with the only losses of those teams coming to one another. How often does that happen? In 1997, football in Southwest Virginia had reached its peak. We may never again see such an incredible package of teams in our area, filled with highly sought-after college recruits and fan bases that filled stadiums to the brink of explosion.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• 1997
• Powell
• Valley
• Vikings
• Appalachia
• Bulldogs
• Travis
• Turner
• Jamie
• Jessee
• Julius
• Jones
• Lonesome
• Pine
• District
• LPD

[ScoopDaddy488]

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.

[SWVAFootball]

@ScoopDaddy488 Indeed.  That was SWVA football at its finest!

[alejondro69]

@ScoopDaddy488

Neither beat Gate City, All of Gate City's state championship teams we're unbeaten minus the most recent one (2010)

[SWVAFootball]

@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]

@SWVAFootball yeah yeah yeah you're right, i got them confused with another team. wooops haha.

[SWVAFootball]

@alejondro69 LOL No problem. It happens!

[preston300ful]

Travis turner is the head coach but now Powell valley is called union

[ScoopDaddy488]

@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]

@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.

[alejondro69]

@SWVAFootball

Haha man i am just excited to see this "Union" high school. They look like they are gonna be pretty darn good!