BRISTOL, Virginia – Thursday was the first day of school for Grundy High School students, and the Golden Wave football team happened to pass an early test.
Head coach Keegan Bartley’s side played well on both sides of the ball to highlight a practice game at John Battle that also featured the host Trojans and the Chilhowie Warriors.
“We leave here excited,” said Bartley. “Some of the results weren’t what we would have liked, but we’re really happy with our performance.”
The format of Thursday’s event began with each team’s core players playing a series of 10 games against the other team’s No. 1 seed and vice versa.
Afterwards, the opponents each played a quarter against each other.
It ended with a 10-minute quarter between the junior teams of Chilhowie and Battle.
People also read…
Below are three players from each team who made a statement in the friendly:
Taylor will wear the pigskin for Wave
Trey Taylor of Grundy.
Emily Ball, Bristol Herald Courier
Grundy has a long history of talented running backs who have racked up tons of yards, and Trey Taylor could be the next to help continue that tradition of gaining ground.
The agile, 6-foot-tall, 165-pound junior ran for 102 yards in 13 attempts and caught two passes for 23 yards in Thursday’s practice game.
What role could Taylor play for the Golden Wave this fall?
“We’re going to keep doing what Trey did,” Grundy coach Keegan Bartley said. “If Trey has a successful year, we should have a successful year. That’s how I see it.”
It’s a big responsibility, but Taylor is up to the challenge.
“This year I’m just trying to step up and be a leader,” he said.
Grundy’s Trey Taylor carries against John Battle in a scrimmage on August 15, 2024 in Bristol. Taylor had a strong performance for the Golden Wave.
These words are not empty.
“His work ethic this offseason has been great,” Bartley said. “He’s really into it and loves the game of football. Mentally and physically, he’s in the best shape of his life.”
Shaiem Gordon had a 71-yard touchdown run against Battle and split the runs with Taylor on Thursday.
“I think he and I,” Taylor said, “it’s a good one-two punch.”
Meanwhile, quarterback Logan Lester showed his usual strong playmaking skills, Carson Deel scored a touchdown run against Battle, lineman Luke “Quake” Shelton played well in the trenches and Braxton Helton was relentless on defense.
Helton was fearless, made several stops behind the line of scrimmage and played with a lot of emotion.
“Braxton Helton has always had the heart and fire of a champion on defense,” Bartley said. “Tonight he finally put it all together and you could see he was having fun and enjoying it, and the team loves to get caught up in his enthusiasm.”
Grundy will play in a VHSL charity game in Richlands on August 22.
Gonzalez helps Chilhowie
Chilhowie’s Justin Gonzalez gains yards against Grundy.
Emily Ball, Bristol Herald Courier
Justin Gonzalez scored a game-winning field goal on the final play of the Warriors-Trojans quarter, giving Chilhowie a 9-6 victory over John Battle.
“It brought back memories of last year,” Gonzalez said.
He had actually been there and done that.
Chilhowie’s Justin Gonzalez scores a field goal in a scrimmage against John Battle on August 15, 2024.
Gonzalez kicked a 29-yard field goal as time expired, giving Chilhowie a 17-14 victory over the Holston Cavaliers in the final game of the 2023 regular season that put the Warriors in the Region 1D playoffs.
Not only will he be Chilhowie’s reliable kicker this fall, but he will also start as a running back and outside linebacker. Chilhowie lost its best runner and scorer from last season (Ian Sturgill) to graduation.
“He’s definitely going to play a bigger role this year – offensively and defensively,” said Chilhowie coach Reid Sturgill. “But that hasn’t stopped him from working on his kicking game. He’s getting better every day.”
Gonzalez rushed for 200 yards on 18 attempts in the practice game, threw an 80-yard touchdown run against Grundy’s reserve team and made two of two field goal attempts.
“Overall, it was a pretty good night, but you can never be satisfied,” Gonzalez said. “There’s always room for improvement. I’ll still come to practice (Friday) and try to get better.”
The 5-foot-10, 195-pound Gonzalez wears the same No. 4 as former Chilhowie running back Greg Sanchez, who played on the Warriors’ 2017 and 2018 state runner-up teams. They also have similar running styles.
“That’s his role model,” Sturgill said.
Gonzalez hopes to leave his own mark.
“I just have to step in and do the right thing for this team and this community, make them proud and do my job,” Gonzalez said.
Chilhowie’s quarterback Asher Chapman and wide receiver Noah Hill had some nice hits Thursday, while sophomore Garrett Dickison scored a touchdown run against John Battle.
The Warriors will host Tazewell in a VHSL charity game on August 23.
Sturgill tries football
John Battle’s Caden Sturgill looks down the field as Chilhowie’s Justin Gonzalez (4) approaches during Thursday night’s scrimmage.
Emily Ball Bristol Herald Courier
Caden Sturgill is a son of spring and is now becoming one of the boys of the fall for the John Battle Trojans.
The baseball player, who plays catcher for Battle’s baseball team, is playing football for the first time in several years and will be the starting quarterback for the Trojans.
The last time he played on the football field was when he was about 12 years old.
“When the (COVID-19) quarantine started, I moved away from it,” Sturgill said.
What motivated him to give the sport another chance?
“The coaches told me to come out and play and try it out, and I’ve fallen in love with it ever since,” Sturgill said. “Plus, the great group of guys we have out there was a big influence on me getting back into it. I also wanted to play four sports in college (along with golf, basketball and baseball) and thought football was the missing piece of the puzzle. Coming out and playing was one of the best decisions – if not the best decision – I made during my high school years.”
Sturgill had some good moments on Thursday, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to Braylin Moran in the first game against Chilhowie.
“Caden has done a really good job of keeping his cool,” said new John Battle boss Jake Hess. “He’s a competitor in everything he does. He embraces the challenge of learning this offense. The learning curve is steep and he’s done a great job of owning the team, taking charge of the team and when it’s his turn to speak, nobody else says a word. I’m really proud.”
John Battle’s Caden Sturgill takes the snap and gains some yards in a scrimmage against Grundy on August 15, 2024, in Bristol, Virginia.
Battle’s Elijah Childress intercepted a pass while Marshall Green scored two touchdowns for the Trojans.
The Trojans will play in a VHSL charity game at Fort Chiswell next week.
Training game by John Battle
Chilhowie’s Dawson Tuell stops Grundy QB Logan Lester during a scrimmage on Aug. 15 in Bristol.
John Battle 6, Chilhowie 0
JB – Moran 17 pass from Sturgill
John Battle runs for some yards on the ground in a scrimmage against Grundy on August 15.
Chilhowie 9, John Battle 6
Chilhowie 6, John Battle 0
Preparation plan for Friday
George Wythe Jamboree (George Wythe, Graham, Galax, Grayson County, Narrows, Mount Airy, Holston, Rural Retreat, Floyd County), 4 p.m
Training game: Tazewell at Lee High, 6 p.m.
Training game: Sullivan East, Hampton at South Greene, 6:30 p.m
Training game: Wise County Central in Lebanon, 7 p.m.
Training game: Abingdon in Radford, 7pm
Training game: Tennessee High at Virginia High, 7:30 p.m.
Training game: Honaker at Marion
Training game: Castlewood near Twin Valley
