Southern Gap High football stadium taking shape

By CHAD COOPER, [email protected]

The Southern Gap High School football team’s home is rapidly evolving from a construction zone into one of Southwest Virginia’s newest sports venues.

One of the most noticeable recent developments is the installation of the stadium’s artificial turf playing surface a couple of weeks ago. The field features black end zones with Eagles written in Vegas gold, while a Vegas gold border surrounds the playing surface, giving the facility a distinctive look that reflects the school’s colors and identity.

The large video scoreboard has been installed and now looms over the fieldhouse at the far end of the field. Bleachers have also been placed on both the home and visitor sides, along with a massive press box on the home side.

School officials expect the stadium to be completed in time for Southern Gap’s first-ever home appearance when the Eagles host Patrick Henry in a preseason scrimmage on Aug. 15.

One week later, history will officially be made when Southern Gap welcomes Holston High School on Aug. 21 for the first regular-season football game in school history.

The Eagles’ inaugural home schedule features several marquee matchups. Southern Gap will host Ridgeview on Aug. 28 in the first Black Diamond Miners Bowl, a rivalry game between two schools representing Virginia’s coalfield communities.

Former Black Diamond District rival Honaker will visit Southern Gap on Sept. 25 for Little League Night, while neighboring Richlands travels down Shortt Gap to Buchanan County on Oct. 2 for Senior Night.

Homecoming festivities are scheduled for Oct. 23 when the Eagles host River View, W.Va.

Southern Gap’s first away game will come Sept. 4 at Rye Cove. Additional road contests include trips to Giles on Sept. 11 and Tazewell on Oct. 9.

The final two games of the inaugural season will take place away from home as Southern Gap travels to Eastside on Oct. 30 before closing the regular season Nov. 6 at Wise Central.