I am now a Southern Gap man, but the final score of last Friday night’s Black Diamond Miners Bowl did not bother me.
Ridgeview entered the game as a heavy favorite and one of the top teams in Region 2D this season. The Wolfpack showed why, defeating Southern Gap 48-8.
Sometimes you simply have to give credit to the opponent.
Ridgeview has speed, size and playmakers all over the field. Alex Grant, Colin Hill, Xander Wallace and Braxton Deel caused problems throughout the night. The Wolfpack took control early and never allowed Southern Gap to settle into the game.
Southern Gap head coach Greg Tester is building a football program from the ground up. Players and coaches from four former high schools are still learning how to work together. Ridgeview, meanwhile, arrived with an established program, experienced players and high expectations.
That does not mean Southern Gap should be satisfied with losing. Tester, his staff and the players were disappointed. They will study the film, identify their mistakes and return to work.
That is how a new program grows — and growing pains really hurt.
One difficult night against one of the region’s best teams does not define the Eagles’ season or determine what this program can become.
When I left the stadium Friday night, the score was not what stayed with me.
I kept thinking about the crowd, the moon hanging over the stadium and the pride surrounding Southern Gap High School’s new football program.
Both sides of the stadium were packed. People lined the upper concourse, gathered around the top of the stadium and found places to sit or stand along the hillside. Everywhere I looked, there were people.
I estimate more than 5,000 fans attended. Whatever the exact number, it was an unbelievable sight and one of the largest crowds I have seen at a Buchanan County sporting event.
I have covered Buchanan County sports for almost a decade and spent most of my life involved in local athletics as a player, coach, spectator and reporter. I have attended many memorable games, but Friday night felt different.
The scene brought to mind my playing days at The Cliff in Hurley. I remember the stands being packed elbow to elbow, with longtime sports fans standing along the fence. Those crowds made every game feel more significant and created an atmosphere the players never forgot.
Friday night brought back some of that same excitement.
This time, people from Council, Grundy, Hurley and Twin Valley gathered to support one school. Four communities that spent decades competing against one another are beginning to come together under the Southern Gap name.
That process will not happen overnight. Old rivalries, school colors and traditions cannot be forgotten in a few weeks — and they should not be. Those schools and communities helped shape generations of Buchanan County residents.
But Friday night showed that new traditions can grow alongside memories of the old ones.
People began arriving not long after the final school bell rang. Dr Pepper’s pregame activities started at 4 p.m., but it felt as though fans had been gathering at Southern Gap all day.
The parking lots filled, friends visited and excitement continued building as kickoff approached. It felt like more than another high school football game. It felt like a community event.
WCYB televised the game as part of its Friday Night Rivals coverage, giving the Southern Gap and Ridgeview players an opportunity to compete before a television audience. The TV timeouts made the game last a little longer, but the delays were a small price to pay for that kind of exposure.
Those young men will always be able to say they played in the first Black Diamond Miners Bowl at Southern Gap before a huge crowd and a television audience.
The broadcast also provided an opportunity to recognize one of Southern Gap’s own.
Southern Gap senior student-athlete Megan Hess was named the Mountain Area Ford Dealers Scholar Athlete of the Week by WCYB’s Friday Night Rivals. Hess was presented with a plaque recognizing her accomplishments as both a student and an athlete.
The honor was another reminder that Friday night was about more than the score on the football field. It was also about celebrating students who represent their school and community through their hard work in the classroom and in athletics.
Southern Gap also used the occasion to recognize longtime WCYB meteorologist Dave Dierks for his support of athletes across Southwest Virginia.
Southern Gap Principal Mark Cooper presented Dierks with a plaque of appreciation that thanked him for his dedication to keeping athletes, coaches, families and fans informed and safe.
The plaque read, “In appreciation of your unwavering support of Southwest Virginia athletes and your dedication to keep our athletes, coaches, families and fans informed and safe. From the fields to the courts, your forecasts help us make informed decisions and protect the teams we love. Thank you for being the MVP of our weather team.”
The message concluded with thanks from the coaches, athletes and communities of Southwest Virginia.
It was a fitting honor. Weather plays a major role in high school athletics, and Dierks has spent years helping schools and families prepare for everything from extreme heat and thunderstorms to snow and dangerous travel conditions.
State Sen. Todd Pillion also attended the game, marking the second consecutive week he had watched Southern Gap play. When I spoke with him, he was blown away by the facility.
Pillion described the stadium as a gem of Southwest Virginia and possibly the entire state.
It is difficult to argue with him.
The turf, large video board, mountain backdrop and the way the field sits below the surrounding terrain give the stadium a special look. The facility was impressive while empty. Seeing it filled with thousands of people made it even more remarkable.
Pillion was there to present the new Black Diamond Miners Bowl trophy. The massive trophy includes space for the winning school’s name to be engraved following each game in the series.
Ridgeview became the first school to claim it.
Pillion presented the trophy to Ridgeview head coach Kent Grant and the Wolfpack after the game. WCYB also awarded Ridgeview its Friday Night Rivals trophy, sending the Wolfpack back to Dickenson County with two pieces of hardware.
Southern Gap would have loved to keep those trophies in Buchanan County, but Ridgeview earned them. The Wolfpack played an outstanding game and deserved its moment.
Another memorable part of the night came during halftime.
Dr Pepper selected Southern Gap students Blake Childress, a football player, and Paris Sanabria, a band member, to compete for college scholarships by throwing footballs into two large inflatable bottles.
After 30 seconds, they were tied with one successful throw apiece, sending the competition into sudden death.
Childress made the winning throw and received a $3,000 college scholarship. Sanabria was awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
That is the kind of moment young people remember.
The scoreboard did not favor Southern Gap, but the night was still a victory in many other ways.
It showed that Buchanan County residents will support their students. It showed that fans from four former high schools can gather in the same stadium and cheer for the same team.
On a much sadder note, Buchanan County unexpectedly lost former Sheriff Ray Foster this past week.
I extend my condolences to his wife, Debbie Foster, who writes the “Rocklick News” column for The Virginia Mountaineer, and to the rest of his family.
Ray and I shared a story that came up many times through the years. I believe it was in 1998 when I pulled out and struck another vehicle. Ray told me it was the first traffic accident he had ever worked.
Whenever I later spoke with him while covering the sheriff’s office for the newspaper, that first meeting would usually find its way into our conversation.
Ray served Buchanan County for 16 years as sheriff. He was a good man who dedicated much of his life to serving the people of this county. His sudden passing leaves another hole in our community.
He will be missed.
Thanks for joining me In the Locker Room. Until next week, let’s keep celebrating the victories, learning from the defeats and always standing behind Buchanan County’s athletes.
