The VHSL playoffs begin for #7 Tazewell on Saturday, Nov. 12 when it travels to #2 Ridgeview in the first round.
Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Ridgeview Stadium and will be streamed on NFHS. The game can be heard on the Bulldog Radio Network, with pregame coverage beginning at 12:30 p.m.
#7 Tazewell (6-4) vs. #2 Ridgeview (9-1)
Friday, November 11, 2022
Clintwood, Va. | Ridgeview Stadium
Online: NFHS ($)
Listen: Bulldog Radio Network
TAZEWELL IN THE PLAYOFFS
Tazewell is making its 22nd appearance in the VHSL Playoffs and for a program-record fourth straight season.
The Bulldogs are 12-20 all-time in the postseason and have won one state championship (1986).
Tazewell is 2-16 in road playoff games.
The Bulldogs have lost 10 consecutive road playoff games, dating back to 1999.
The Bulldogs last playoff win was a 43-14 victory over Graham in 2008
BULLDOGS VERSUS THE MOUNTAIN 7
Saturday marks the 4th playoff meeting for the Bulldogs against a member of the Mountain 7 District.
Tazewell is 0-3 all-time in the playoffs against the Mountain 7.
Tazewell lost at Bullitt Park to Union in 2014 (20-30). The past two seasons they have fallen on the road at Tommy McAmis Stadium; losing to Wise Central in the spring of 2021 (20-39) and losing again in the fall of 2021 to Wise Central (14-43).
ABOUT THE DOGS
Tazewell enters Saturday’s game with a 6-4 record overall and a 3-1 mark in Southwest District play. The Bulldogs are averaging 29.1 points per game and 352.8 total yards per contest. Tazewell has utilized a balanced attack, rushing for 140.5 yards per game and passing for 212.3 yards per game. Defensively, Tazewell is allowing 25.3 points per game and 242 total yards per game. The Bulldog defense has held teams to 89.7 passing yards per game and 152.3 rushing yards per game.
SCOUTING THE WOLFPACK
Ridgeview has posted a 9-1 record overall and a 6-0 record in the Mountain 7 District. The Wolfpack are Mountain 7 District champions. Ridgeview enters the game averaging 33.3 points per game while allowing just 13.6 points per game. The Wolfpack scored 20+ points in every game this season. Grundy (20) and Bluefield (44) are the only two teams to score 20+ points against Ridgeview this season. Last season, Ridgeview advanced to the Region 2D Championship game before falling to eventual state runner-up Graham (21-49). Ridgeview is making their 6th appearance in the VHSL playoffs. The Wolfpack are 4-5 all-time in the postseason. Ridgeview is 2-3 at home in the playoffs. Saturday marks the 5th playoff meeting for the Wolfpack against a member of the Southwest District. Ridgeview is 2-2 in the previous four playoff meetings with a Southwest District foe.
COMMON OPPONENTS
Tazewell and Ridgeview each played Bluefield, Grundy, John Battle, and richlands during the 2022 regular season.
Bluefield: Tazewell lost 20-46 | Ridgeview lost 24-44
Grundy: Tazewell won 28-14 | Ridgeview won 34-20
John Battle: Tazewell won 39-16 | Ridgeview won 42-6
richlands: Tazewell won 56-37 | Ridgeview won 33-6
MAGIC NUMBERS
Tazewell owns a 23-1 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 6-0 this year. Tazewell owns a 17-0 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 17 times and posted a 16-1 record in those contests. They have won 15 straight games when rushing for at least 140 yards. Cassius Harris leads the Bulldogs with 485 yards rushing. Kaizon Taylor has added 350 yards on the ground this year. For the season, Tazewell is averaging 4.7 yards per attempt on the ground.
