Published: August 27, 2008 08:48 pm      

Cramps could cramp Haysi’s hope against Green Wave

HAYSI, Va. — It happens. It just hadn't happened to Haysi until Friday night.

The Tigers, a team plagued with injuries since the start of pre-season practice, fought leg cramps almost to a man in last week's 32-18, season-opening win over visiting Grundy.

Every time you turned it around, it seemed, another Tiger was down and dealing with a leg cramp.

"I've been to games where it seemed like someone got leg cramps on every play, but I've never had a team with so many," Haysi coach James Colley said after Friday's contest. "I don't know what it (was).

"We give them Gatorade and water. We run sprints. We didn't have cramps in two scrimmages and we played both of them in the heat of the day."

Colley did a little research this past weekend and found there are other factors involved besides just fluid intake and potassium levels.

"I looked up some stuff on the subject, and it also depends on who could have a vitamin deficiency,” Colley said. “It includes magnesium, chloride levels, salt intake, it's a combination of things."

Haysi cannot afford to lose anyone else, to leg cramps or any other physical maladies, on Friday when Clintwood comes to town.

The Greenwave have virtually every player back from last year's team, which lost a close one in the state finals.

"(Clintwood has) the skill players, they've got the linemen, they're smart and they have a high football IQ," Colley said. "We're going to be in for a battle.

"This is one of those games where we have to be ready to play, and we're going to have to be on our "A" game to have a chance."

The Dickenson County rivalry is known as the Miner's Bowl. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Sandlick Elementary School.