Tazewell football will take to Bulldog Stadium for the final time in 2022 Friday when the Bulldogs host Fort Chiswell. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m.
The game will air on NFHS and it can be heard on the Bulldog Radio Network with Chase Collins and Jimi Watson on the radio call.
SENIORS
This game will serve as Senior Night. Tazewell will honor: DT Colton Buckwalter, OL/DL Ricky Compton, WR Braxton Dowdy, DE Gavin Duty, WR/DB Cassius Harris, LB James Huffman, DB Ethan Pugalee, DB Dakota Quesinberry, C Nick Sizemore, and DE/WR Carlin Stone.
Compton will be making his 21st straight start on the offensive line for the Bulldogs on Friday. The senior offensive guard has an offer to play football next season at Ferrum College.
ABOUT THE DOGS
Tazewell enters Friday’s game with a 5-4 record overall and a 3-1 mark in Southwest District play. The Bulldogs are averaging 27.0 points per game and 332.6 total yards per contest. Tazewell has utilized a balanced attack, rushing for 133.9 yards per game and passing for 198.7 yards per game. Defensively, Tazewell is coming off one of its best games of the season. Last Friday, Tazewell held Marion to 109 yards rushing and zero yards passing.
SCOUTING THE PIONEERS
Fort Chiswell has posted a 2-6 record overall. The Pioneers are 2-2 in their last four games with wins over Giles and Auburn. They lost a close contest to Galax (21-13) and were defeated last week by undefeated Grayson County.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Friday’s game will mark the 4th meeting between Tazewell and Fort Chiswell, as the Pioneers owns a 2-1 all-time record against the Bulldogs. Fort Chiswell has been very successful offensively in the series, averaging 38.3 points per game in the 3 previous contests. Last year, Tazewell defeated Fort Chiswell at C.F. McKenney Stadium 34-28 in a five overtime thriller. The series will continue next year as the two teams have agreed to another 2-year home and home deal.
MAGIC NUMBERS
Tazewell owns a 22-1 record during the Coach J’me Harris era in games in which it scored at least 28 points. It owned a 4-0 mark in those games last season and is 5-0 this year. Tazewell owns a 16-0 record during the last six seasons in games in which their opponent scored less than 20 points.
GROUND GAME PRODUCTION IS KEY
Since 2019, Tazewell has rushed for at least 140 yards 16 times and posted a 15-1 record in those contests. They have won 14 straight games when rushing for at least 140 yards.
TOUGH DEFENSE AT BULLDOG STADIUM
The Tazewell defense has been outstanding in home games this season and is allowing just 163.8 yards per game (86.5 yards per game rushing and 77.3 yards per game passing). Tazewell is 3-1 at home this season.
DOUBLE DIGIT TACKLERS
Brock Alley recorded 12 tackles and several big hits against Marion last week. Alley joins Kaizon Taylor and Cassius Harris as Tazewell defenders who have recorded double digit tackles this season. Taylor recorded 12 ½ tackles against richlands and 12 ½ tackles against Riverheads. Harris recorded 11 tackles against Riverheads.
THE LATEST ON HARRIS
Senior wide receiver Cassius Harris has had an incredible career and currently ranks third on the VHSL All-Time Receptions list with 204. He is four receptions behind Brad Wooten (208) for second place and he is 23 receptions behind the All-Time leader Jared White (227) from Lord Botetourt. Harris currently ranks 9th on the VHSL All-Time Receiving Yards list with 2,811 yards. He trails Lord Botetourt’s Jared White by 73 yards for 7th place All-Time. Harris had 12 receptions for 195 yards last week and has topped the 100-yard mark in four straight contests.
CREASY ON TARGET
For the second time this season, Carter Creasy completed 80% of his passes in a game. Against Marion, Creasy was 23 of 27 passing for 275 yards and three touchdowns. He has at least three touchdown passes in 8 of his 18 career games and has 45 career touchdown passes. The sophomore QB has also thrown for at least 300 yards in seven games.
