Published: August 31, 2006 11:45 pm      

Pioneers waiting for Dogs

LEBANON, Va. — Rain or shine, Tazewell will actually be playing a couple of games at Lebanon tonight.

“It’s always easy for players to listen to friends tell them all week how great they are after a good game,” says THS coach Bobby Wyatt, following the Dogs’ 37-7 win over George Wythe in the opener. “We did well but it was only one game. We can’t afford to rest on last week.”

The Dog coach pointed out that Southwest District and Tazewell County foes Richlands and Graham chalked up big wins to open the season. He is working hard to emphasize the dedication needed to keep up with talent all over the area.

Wyatt is equally quick to remind his troops about the sparkling 35-14 victory chalked up by the Pioneers (1-0) over Honaker. So, each team defeated Group A squads by roughly the same margin.

“I’d say we are pretty even right now,” notes Wyatt. “Second games are very important and we have to get our minds focused on our job. One week at a time.

“We know Lebanon has a good quarterback — they are well coached, playing at home, a solid running game — I have a whole lot of reasons to be concerned about Lebanon.”

Junior Skyler Musick piled on 155 of the Pioneers’ 225 yards rushing and dazzled the crowd with a 98-yard kickoff return as LHS rallied to take a 21-14 halftime lead and kept up the pressure.

“We had few jitters early, but we recovered,” noted veteran Pioneer coach John Adams, whose teams are among the most competitive in the area.

Tazewell overcame five penalties on the first drive alone to register its win. Behind the running of Eric McDaniel (133 yards/2TDs) and T.J. Rasnick (120 yards/2 TDs) the Dogs rattled off 30 unanswered points with an impressive first effort.

Quarterback Drew Walker hit 11-of-12 passes for 143 yards, including a six-yard touchdown strike to end Brandon Sheppard as the senior-dominated offensive line gave the backs room to maneuver. Tight end T. J. Salyers was a major part of the offensive show, grabbing five passes for 101 yards.

Jarrod Riddle recorded 11 tackles, while Andrew Rhudy had a one fumble recovery and interception apiece on defense, while linemen Gavin Angle & Co. won the trench war against the GM Maroons.

“We may be playing in a storm this week,” notes Wyatt. “Last week it was

hot and humid. Both games are road games. We are getting a good test early in the season with George Wythe and Lebanon.

“I have been talking to the team this week about preparing for a second game and how we can’t afford to listen too much to what we might have heard.”

Although eight players are going both ways, Wyatt and his staff are pleased with the early play. Tazewell’s conditioning based on hard summer practice paid off last week at Wytheville.

Rasnick was a classic example of playing through fatigue. He had one 65 yard run, played defense, had 14 carries and still was able to kick a 44-yard field goal that sailed over the crossbar with yards to spare.

“Adrenaline” was the word Wyatt used for a great first game. Now comes game two of a 10-game regular season.