What’s On Tap . . .
The Bulldogs travel to Ernie Hicks Stadium Friday for “The Backyard Brawl” to take on rival richlands. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. ET.
The game will air live on the NFHS network. It can be heard on the Bulldog Radio Network with Chase Collins and Jimi Watson on the radio call.
Backyard Brawl History . . .
Friday’s game marks the 98th meeting all-time between Tazewell and richlands… richlands leads the series at 53-42-2 … The two programs first faced off against each other in 1926 and have met at least once every year since then except in 1943 … richlands has won 18 out of the last 19 meetings in the series, including a 27-26 victory at Bulldog Stadium last season… Tazewell will be playing at Ernie Hicks Stadium for the 32nd time… The Bulldogs are 13-18 all-time in games at Ernie Hicks Stadium, including a 21-19 win in their last visit.
1959 Game . . .
In 1959, the Tazewell Bulldogs defeated richlands 46-34… The 46 points still stands as the most points scored by a Tazewell team against richlands… richlands actually outgained Tazewell in the game 373 to 339… Tazewell’s Todd Heldreth returned a punt 85-yards for a touchdown, threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Elmer Able, returned a kickoff for a touchdown, and scored on a touchdown run… Tazewell’s 6’3”, 195 pound, running back Buddy Fisher scored a fourth quarter touchdown to ice the victory for the Bulldogs… In 1959, Fisher would lead Tazewell County in scoring and lead the Bulldogs to the County Championship and a tie for the Southwest District Title… The 2011 richlands team holds the Backyard Brawl single-game record for points scored with 69 points.
1981 Game . . .
In the 1981 game, Coach Colobro and his Tazewell Bulldogs defeated richlands 34-0… that game is the last time richlands has been shutout in the series… For Bulldog fans the 34 points was a welcome site as they hadn’t scored more than 14 points in a game since a 1979 victory over John Battle… Rick Noel kicked two field goals and rushed for 98 yards in the victory… Tazewell’s Harris Hart returned a fumbled punt 25-yards for a touchdown and caught a 15-yard pass from QB Jimmy King… King also tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Raymond Walker… Tazewell’s defense held richlands to 3 first downs and 82 total yards for the game… The 34-point margin of victory is still Tazewell’s largest margin of victory in the series… The last time Tazewell was shutout in the series was 2019. The largest margin of victory in the series occurred in 2006 when richlands defeated Tazewell 61-0 at Ernie Hicks Stadium.
Spring 2021 Game . . .
In their last visit to Ernie Hicks Stadium, the Bulldogs snapped a 17-game losing streak to richlands… Gavin Nunley connected with Josiah Jordan on a 68-yard touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs a 21-12 lead with 2 minutes left in the game… Tazewell held on for a 21-19 victory… Chancellor Harris had 100 yards rushing on 19 carries… Cassius Harris returned the second half kickoff 88-yards for a touchdown for Tazewell’s first touchdown of the game. Tazewell’s longest winning streak in the series is 6-games… Between 1985 and 1990, Tazewell Coach Dave Litz won the first 6 games he coached in the Backyard Brawl.
Coaching In The Backyard Brawl. . .
Ernie Hicks has coached the most games in the series with 37 games… Dave Litz has coached the most games for Tazewell in the series with 12 games… Greg Mance has won the most games in the series with 21 wins… Bob Miller and Dave Litz have won the most games for Tazewell in the series with 6 wins each… Ernie Hicks has the most losses in the series with 21 losses… Bobby Wyatt has lost the most games for Tazewell in the series with 7 losses… The following richlands’ coaches have never lost in the series: George Brown 1-0, Bill Peery 1-0, Woodrow Robinson 2-0, Jeff Tarter 1-0, and Terry Wess 1-0… The following Tazewell coaches have never lost in the series: Holmes “Pard” Boyd 2-0, Nick Colobro 3-0, Buddy Dodson 2-0, and James LaVanchie 1-0… Tazewell’s Jerry Perry is the only coach to have never won or lost in the series, tying his only game 0-0 in 1973… Tazewell Head Coach J’me Harris is 1-4 in the series.
Carter Creasy. . .
In two games against Grundy, Tazewell Sophomore QB Carter Creasy is 38 for 58 passing for 661 yards and 9 touchdowns with 0 interceptions… He has also rushed 31 times for 112 yards and a touchdown in his career against the Golden Wave… Creasy has passed for 300+ yards in a game six times during his career… He has thrown 3+ touchdowns in a game six times during his career… In last year’s Backyard Brawl, Creasy was 19 for 34 passing for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns with one interception. He carried the ball 25 times for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Rare Territory . . .
Tazewell Senior WR Cassius Harris moved over 170 career receptions last week … Harris has posted 173 receptions in his career, ranking ninth all-time in VHSL history … Harris is the only player in program history to have a 200-yard rushing game and a 200-yard receiving game in a career … Last week against Grundy, he had the 10th 100-yard receiving game of his career… In last year’s game against richlands, Harris caught 7 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown.
Defense Steps Up Again and Again . . .
The Bulldogs’ defense has been playing at a high level lately and last Friday was no different … The Bulldogs limited Grundy to only 14 points, holding the Golden Wave to their lowest point total of the season… Tazewell enters Friday’s game allowing 235.83 yards per game… Against the Bulldogs, teams are completing 44.58% of their passes for just 68.33 yards per game… Junior LB Kaizon Taylor leads the Tazewell defense with 46 tackles, 2 sacks, 9 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble… Junior LB Brock Alley has 32 tackles, 2 sacks, and 5 tackles for loss… Freshman DT Jashon Taylor has added 5 tackles for loss… Sophomore DB Logan McDonald leads the Bulldogs with 2 interceptions.
