Week Four
Playing a good team the week after they’ve lost? It can be tough.
Tazewell’s Bulldogs face the challenging task of going to Big Stone Gap to take on Union, while Richlands travels to Abingdon to play the Falcons.
Union is coming off a home loss to Graham while Abingdon was beaten at home by Gate City.
Southern Gap and Graham have the weekend off.
Tazewell (1-1) @ Union (2-1)
Last weekend: Tazewell lost to Grayson County 32-20; Union lost to Graham 14-12
2025: Union 49-7 Recap: Quarterback Kam Bostic threw three touchdown passes and ran for one to lead the Bears at Witten Stadium. The only Tazewell score came on Kaden Williamson’s kickoff return with 1:58 left in the game. The Bulldogs were held to 36 yards of total offense. Union compiled 332 total yards of offense.
2024: Did not play; 2023: Union 27-6 (playoffs)
Notes: THS QB Ty Whittaker was 23-of-37 for 314 yards with three touchdowns in last week’s loss, and Chase McDonald caught five of those for 111 yards. But … the Bulldogs’ defense gave up 390 total yards and 32 points.
The Bears opened with wins by identical 42-0 scores over Lee High and Daniel Boone, Tenn., before being held in check by Graham. Still, Union generated 360 yards of offense, and QB Abe Hall passed for 240 yards. Junior speedster Elijah Lomax, who leads the Bears in rushing, missed the game due to injury.
Richlands (0-3) @ Abingdon (1-2)
Last weekend: Richlands lost to Lee High 33-0; Abingdon lost to Gate City 41-28
2025: Richlands 48-24. Recap: Senior quarterback Andrew Boyd passed for 360 yards and five touchdowns as the Blue Tornado beat Abingdon for the first time since 2019. Richlands led 28-24 after three quarters before outscoring Abingdon 20-0 down the stretch at Ernie Hicks Stadium.
Boyd was 17-for-27 through the air, including scoring strikes of 82 and 70 yards to Landon Absher, and TD passes of 7, 36 and 57 yards to Wynnter Boyd.
2024: Abingdon 56-6; 2023: Abingdon 37-7
Notes: Multiple starters have been out with injuries, but still, there’s no way to sugarcoat it: the Blues are having big problems. The offense has scored six points in three games, and none since the first quarter of the first game. The defense has given up 103.
The Falcons opened the season by blowing out John Battle (62-6), before a close loss at Christiansburg (37-34) and last weekend’s home setback to Gate City. Quarterback Eli Brooks was 11 of 22 for 206 yards and an interception, while Judge Dillow caught seven passes for 140 yards for Abingdon.
