Tazewell football is back at home this Friday when the Bulldogs face their second district opponent this season in Graham. The Warhawk Bowl kicks-off at 7 p.m. at Bulldog Stadium.
The first high school football game between Tazewell and Graham was played on October 8th, 1927 at Graham. The game ended in a 0-0 tie.
The Bulldogs and Graham have played each other nearly every season since. There have only been three exceptions since 1927 that interrupted the series. In 1928 the game was not played and in 1943 World War II interrupted the series as the Tazewell County schools did not field a football team that year.
In 1938, Graham protested the presence in Tazewell High football’s lineup of Okey Lucas, Harvey Senter, and Darrel Poole.
When Tazewell refused to play the game scheduled for October 14th, 1938 at Tazewell High School without those three players in the lineup, Coach Shearer of Graham took his team off the field, onto the bus, and went home.
The game was initially ruled a forfeit and Tazewell was awarded a 1-0 win. Graham protested the result to the Virginia athletic executive committee.
The Virginia athletic executive committee found that Senter and Lucas were ineligible, but did not render a decision in the case of Poole.
The executive committee officially declared Senter and Lucas ineligible for the first semester, on the basis of transfer and attendance rules. The committee’s ruling was that the game would be declared “no contest”, and would not be entered as a forfeit on the record of either team.
This year’s game will be broadcast on the Bulldog Radio Network and Facebook Live with Chase Collins and Jimi Watson on the call. Air time is 6:30 p.m. You can also watch the game on the NFHS Network. Ticket prices are $6.
“I told our team that we don’t have to play the perfect game against Graham, we just have to execute plays when it counts,” said head coach J’me Harris. “Obviously we have to take care of the football. We can’t have the turnovers. I was pleased with our progress last week. Our defense was tough and we made some improvements rushing the ball.”
THE SERIES
Record vs. Graham: 37-60-5
First Meeting: Oct. 8, 1927 (0-0 tie at Graham)
Last Meeting: Sept. 3, 2021 (Graham won 34-6 at Graham)
Record in Tazewell: Graham leads 26-23
Last 3 Meetings
9/3/21 – @Graham 34 Tazewell 6
3/26/21 – Graham 20 @Tazewell 19 (o.t.)
11/16/19 – @Graham 42 Tazewell 14
GAME NOTES
This will mark the first time since the 1985 season that both teams enter the game undefeated.
Graham has won 8 straight games in the series and 14 of the last 15 games.
Tazewell’s 46 points against Virginia High was the 17th 40-point outburst in the J’me Harris era. It marked the second highest output by the Bulldogs in a series that dates back to 1928, only behind the 55 in 2019.
The 342 rushing yards by Bulldogs on Friday night were the most rushing yards in a game since a game on October 25th, 2019 against Marion. Last year against Graham, Tazewell was held to 8 yards rushing.
Sophomore QB Carter Creasy has thrown a touchdown pass in 10 straight games for the Bulldogs. The last time he didn’t throw at least a single touchdown pass in a game was on September 3rd, 2021 against Graham.
Senior WR Cassius Harris rushed for 206 yards and four touchdowns last week. During his career, Harris has a 200+ yard rushing game and a 200+ yard receiving game (10/22/21 vs. Marion 9 rec 238 yds).
Sophomore CB/WR Logan McDonald had an interception in his first start at cornerback and he also added a touchdown reception.
The Tazewell defense held the Virginia High offense to 204 yards and 14 points. The defense accounted for 2 sacks, 3 tackles for loss, and an interception. Junior Brock Alley led the defense with a sack and two tackles for loss. Sophomore LB Reece Mullins tallied the other sack.
