HISTORY WITH HAYES: Clintwood, J.I. Burton Renew Rivalry

For those who still pine for the good old days of Southwest Virginia football – when fans would pack the stadium hours before kickoff, passionate fan bases would invest all their
emotions into a rivalry and crushing hits would be doled out on the field – then showing up at Lawson-Fitchko Stadium tonight in Norton would be suggested.

Clintwood and J.I. Burton will renew what is currently the premiere rivalry in the Lonesome Pine District, a league that has the richest tradition in the area and has the title trophies to
back it up.

There is plenty of history between the Greenwave and Raiders.

Back in 2007, Clintwood suffered a 28-18 loss to J.I. Burton in the regular season, but bounced back with a 24-20 win in the Region D, Division 1 title game.

Last fall, Clintwood posted a convincing 27-13 win over Burton in the regular season and then held off the Raiders for a 22-19 victory in the regional championship.

This year could be no different. Both teams are 7-1 and have put up impressive numbers. They also have guys that have seen this rivalry develop.

Explosive J.I. Burton running back Martinez Miles and Clintwood defensive end/tight end Nick Robinson have both been stalwarts for their respective clubs the past four seasons.

So, Norton would be the place to be tonight if you want to experience a playoff atmosphere a few weeks before the playoffs actually begin. Just make sure to get their early.

The following is a look at events that occurred this week in high school football history:

Oct. 31, 1958
Randy Robinett scored Tennessee High’s lone touchdown in a 13-6 setback to Dobyns-Bennett. … Don Price’s 9-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the difference in Saltville’s 6-0 win over Tazewell. … Lebanon’s Joey Gillespie scored two touchdowns in the Pioneers’ 19-7 victory over Damascus.

Oct. 25, 1968
Wayne Stophel was the star for Virginia High in the Bearcats’ 26-20 win over Tazewell. Stophel rushed for 124 yards on 17 carries and scored twice, including hauling in the game-winning touchdown pass from John Henner with 1:09 remaining. John Rainey accounted for all three of Tazewell’s touchdowns. … John Bartee returned the second half kickoff 87 yards for a score, highlighting Honaker’s 13-7 victory over Castlewood. … Lebanon posted a 26-0 win over Graham thanks to three touchdowns from David Reid.

Oct. 31, 1975
Virginia High’s Kenny Wilson scored on a 14-yard touchdown run and also caught a touchdown pass from Mark Cunningham in the Bearcats’ 20-14 win over Tazewell. … Mike Crewey rushed for 173 yards and a score and John Wilson intercepted two passes in Marion’s 51-0 beatdown of Grundy. … Tony Ashe threw two TD passes to David Pennington, but it wasn’t enough as John Battle suffered a 20-19 loss to Graham. … Tennessee High managed just 112 yards of total offense in a 14-7 loss to Dobyns-Bennett. Kenny Bourne’s TD run in the fourth quarter was the lone highlight for THS.

Oct. 31, 1980
Behind two touchdowns from Doug Poore, Tennessee High took a 27-0 win over Dobyns-Bennett. Dan McCall and Mike Riazzi also scored for the Vikings. … David Wiles threw two touchdown passes to Ronnie Kinser and also rushed for a score to highlight Sullivan Central’s 40-13 blowout of Sullivan South.

Oct. 26, 1990
Andy Robbins returned a punt for a score and also hauled in a touchdown pass from Robbie Duncan to lead Powell Valley past Gate City, 40-18. … John Marshall’s 37-yard field goal in the final moments gave Coeburn a 19-16 win over Appalachia. … Shane Farmer needed just five carries to amass116 rushing yards and a touchdown in Lebanon’s 47-14 victory over Richlands. Lebanon finished with 421 rushing yards .… Patrick Fleming’s two touchdowns led Clintwood in a 20-6 win over J.J. Kelly. … Chilhowie rolled past Castlewood, 40-0, as Chris Sturgill and Greg Joines each scored two touchdowns. … John Luttrell gained 124 rushing yards and R.C. Scott returned an interception 82 yards for a score to highlight George Wythe’s 28-7 win over Carroll County.