The first year of the “Behind the Gobbler Call” blog was an overwhelming success and experience for everyone here at Gobblers Sports Network. Giving back to the community remains the number one priority and getting to bring you a different type of coverage from our various Gobblers teams was an absolute blast.
With that being said I’m proud to announce that our coverage will be expanding for the fall sports season. As you all may have seen, we’re planning on doing a 5 game “test run” for Volleyball games this fall. Jeff Elliott will handle the Play-by-Play duties for each broadcast and will be joined in the Broadcast Booth by Micah Morris.
So, without further ado, I bring to you the 2023 fall season preview!
Starting with Volleyball! In their first year under new head coach EMU legend Colton Frey, the team posted a record of 7-12 which was a steady improvement from the previous season. Out of the nine wins last season, three came against Valley District foes Harrisonburg and Rockbridge.
This year as we announced in our previous blog, we have a few new schools joining the Valley District this year, William Monroe and East Rock.
The 2023 schedule features a long list of teams that are coming off of playoff appearances. Nothing is better for your team than getting to face high level opponents throughout the year. You find out who you are very quickly so to speak. As Coach Grogg always says, “This next game will determine the rest of your season”. Which I think is relevant to any sport. Especially in a sport like Volleyball where you play a couple times a week where you don’t really have a high margin for error being in the district that we’re in.
Yet despite the hefty schedule, I have all the faith in Coach Frey and Co. The program continues to push in the right direction and before you know it, they’ll be right where they want to be, in the heart of the Valley District playoffs.
The BHS Football team opens their season at Home against Fluvanna Co on August 25. Micah Morris will handle Play-by-Play for each broadcast and will be joined by Jeff Elliott (away games) and Karl Magenhofer (home games).
We’ve opened up against Fluvanna ever since 2019 and at this point, I’m accustomed to seeing them week 1 of every season. The Flucos always bring with them a plethora of great athletes which is always something we must prepare for. The Flucos are coming off a tough season, which will give them all the motivation to come into our home and ruin our opening night. I’ve experienced seasons like that before and it isn’t fun. It makes you want to give even more than you did the year before to put a W in the win column.
Our next home game is against Fort Defiance. We lost a really close one against them last year on the road. One of those that you wish you could get back. However, there are plenty of lessons to be learned from games like that. You can almost take more from those losses than you can for wins.
Spotswood is coming off an impressive 8-3 season. We lost a tough one on the road to them last season. Getting to play the game at home gives us a boost this time around. We had great success the last time the Blazers came to Broadway. I expect them to give us everything we can handle as usual this year. It’ll be a great matchup, definitely one you’ll want to circle on the schedule.
William Monroe reminds me of yet another tough loss we had last year. Their offense featured a very mobile QB that we didn’t have the answers for that night. We fared well against them in 2021, the last time they came to Broadway.
Lastly on the home slate is Harrisonburg for Soldier Tribute night. I don’t need to explain why this one is so important. The feeling you get while playing on that night is second to none. And getting a win the past two nights has been an unbelievable feeling. Not only do you get to put a W in the win column, but you get to do it on the most important of nights. I’ve got chills thinking about this one already and I can’t wait for this night!
The first game on the road schedule is quite the opponent. Strasburg has always provided us with a challenge the past few years we’ve been playing against one another. The defensive scheme gives you headaches and trying to account for their athleticism is a whole different story. Nevertheless, I love competing against them and I can’t wait to make the trip to Strasburg this season.
Going down to Waynesboro is one of the longer bus rides we’ll have this season. Reminds me of our last matchup down in their house in 21’. We scored in the final seconds to bring us within a win. One of the more exciting moments in my time here with the program. Yet the heroics fell just short. Our last-ditch effort for a win was stuffed and we dropped a close one on the road. Going down to Waynesboro always brings with it moments I’ll never forget. I got to dress for the first time ever in the final game of 2019 there. So one could say that game was the beginning of the story for me personally.
Speaking of long road trips, Rockbridge! The Wildcats are a tough bunch that always gives us fits every time we clash. I’ve got tough memories of our road clashes with the Wildcats but, I’m confident in the group to go and get one this year.
We make the trip to Bridgewater for our next road clash. Need I say more?
The only school on this list that I’ve never played a regular season game at is East Rock! I love traveling to new places and getting to play at a new field. Especially with the Eagles. You’ve got a team that you always know will bring the house. They made the playoffs last year and I’d expect nothing less from them this season. If our previous 7v7 matchups are any indication, we should be in for a good one in Elkton!
Overall, the atmosphere of high school sports is back once again! I’m overjoyed to bring these stories to you once again this season. I had a blast last year and can’t wait to see what this season will become!
