Clintwood to face four-time defending regional champion J.I. Burton for Region D, Division 1 champio

For the second straight season, the Clintwood High School football team has used a late-season push to reach the regional title game.

"We feel like we’re playing pretty well right now," Clintwood coach Rick Mullins said. "We think, hopefully, we’re kind of peaking at the right time."

The Greenwave (7-4) will play four-time defending regional champion J.I. Burton (10-1) in the Region D, Division 1 championship today on the campus of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. at Carl Smith Stadium.

Clintwood reached last season’s Region D, Division 2 championship game before losing to Powell Valley.

Virginia High School League realignment pushed the Greenwave to the Division 1 ranks, but Mullins’ team has still found its way back to Wise for the 12th game of the season.

Part of Clintwood’s success can be credited to a tough schedule. Six of the teams that Clintwood faced during the regular season made the playoffs and three of them (Powell Valley, Gate City and Burton) are still playing.

Still, a return trip to the postseason for Clintwood was in doubt. The Greenwave suffered a 42-0 loss to Volunteer on Sept. 14 that started a skid that saw the team lose three of four games.

"It ended up arguably as one of the toughest schedules. There were no gimmes through the year," Mullins said. "We had to play hard every week … That [loss to Volunteer] was the low point of our season. We had some things going on that week with some of our players and Volunteer played really well. They took us to the woodshed. It opened our eyes and it probably ended up helping us."

Clintwood still needed a win over Appalachia in the regular-season finale to clinch a playoff spot, and responded with a 37-0 victory. The Greenwave also manhandled Appalachia last week in the first round of the playoffs.

Chris Robinson (904 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns) has been the catalyst for the Clintwood offense, along with fullback Derek Robbins and quarterback Heath Counts.

Meanwhile, 5-foot-11 junior linebacker Alec Osborne has been a dominant force on defense.

Osborne’s racked up a team-high 89 tackles and also notched five sacks.

"He’s had a super year defensively," Mullins said. "I am sure when you watch film of us, one of the things that sticks out is Alec on defense and how hard he goes. He has a great nose for the football. He has a knack for being at the right place and the right time. He’s just had a great year."

Burton posted a 28-18 victory over Clintwood on Oct. 26 in Norton that clinched the Lonesome Pine District title for the Raiders. Burton was bitten by the injury bug late in the season, but looked pretty sound in a 48-6 beating of St. Paul last week.

Once again the game will be played as part of a doubleheader with the Region D, Division 2 title game.

"The atmosphere is absolutely super for high school kids," Mullins said. "Last year, we had a great crowd and the weather couldn’t have been any better. It was just a great atmosphere and I don’t think it will be any different this year."

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