Friday, October 30, 2009
Too much heart not always good
Here's the heart of the matter.
High school football just isn't that important. Not in comparison to someone's health.
Jared Van Acker and Josh Hollifield have been balancing the two issues for the last week or so.
Van Acker, the head coach at Galax, coached in last week's game against Covington despite spending much of his time during the week at Twin-County Hospital.
The Galax coach woke up last Wednesday with chest pains, which did not subside after he went to school. A teacher across the hall, a trained EMT, took his blood pressure and advised him to go to the emergency room.
An Illinois native, Van Acker said he was diagnosed with a heart murmur when he was a sophomore in high school.
"I've seen a cardiologist ever since I was 13 or 14," Van Acker said. "Every year for the rest of my high school career and through college football I had to get approval from a cardiologist to play until I blew out my knee."
Van Acker said this week he is feeling better, and was scheduled to take EKG and stress tests later in the week. Galax (1-7) plays at Bland County tonight.
"Maybe it's the season getting to me," he said. "I definitely thought, along with most everyone else that we would have a more successful season."
That hasn't been the case at Eastern Montgomery, where Hollifield is an assistant coach and helps compile the team's statistics.
At 6-2, the Mustangs are poised to have their best season ever. EastMont's 35-28 victory over Giles two weeks ago was a landmark victory in the history of the program, but Hollifield wasn't around for the finish.
The EastMont coach suffered a mild heart attack during the Oct. 16 game and was hospitalized.
"I'm doing much better, just had to change the diet and a couple of things," Hollifield said this week. "Have to try to stay calmer on the sidelines."
Next time you're about to blow a gasket at a high school game, remember that advice.
FRANKLIN COUNTY 27, George Washington 17. A win gives Franklin County its first Western Valley District title since 2005.
WILLIAM FLEMING 28, Halifax County 20. A win by Fleming tonight would put the Colonels on the verge of securing a Division 5 playoff berth.
NORTHSIDE 34, Lord Botetourt 13. Northside is eyeing a Blue Ridge crown and a first-round bye in the Region III Division 3 playoffs.
STAUNTON RIVER 27, William Byrd 22. Staunton River has legitimate playoff hopes for the first time since 1996.
PATRICK CO. 23, Bassett 17. Patrick County has two running backs close to the 1,000-yard mark in rushing yards this year.
TUNSTALL 18, Martinsville 14. Martinsville is 1-7 with six straight losses but is not out of the Region IV Division 3 playoff picture.
PULASKI COUNTY 24, Blacksburg 20. The winner of this game still could grab a Region IV Division 4 playoff berth.
CHRISTIANSBURG 27. Cave Spring 26. Cave Spring still has hopes of earning a share of the River Ridge District title
SALEM 21, Hidden Valley 20. Hidden Valley has come close to beating Salem on several occasions but has never broken through.
AMHERST COUNTY 44, Jefferson Forest 14. Amherst has rolled up 164 points in its last three games.
R.E. LEE-STAUNTON 36, Rockbridge County 6. Rockbridge will close out a tough season next week at home against Stuarts Draft.
RICHLANDS 24, Carroll County 14. This battle for first place in the Southwest District is the biggest game Hillsville has seen in many years.
LEBANON 20, Marion 7. Marion seeks to end a three-game slide in a tough place for visitors to win.
CHILHOWIE 23, Holston 20. Both teams are playoff bound regardless of tonight's outcome.
GEORGE WYTHE 37, Rural Retreat 12. Wythe has cleared its biggest hurdles en route to a Hogoheegee District title, while Rural Retreat is almost a lock for the playoffs.
GALAX 12, Bland County 8. Both teams are trying to avoid finishing in the Mountain Empire District cellar.
GRAYSON COUNTY 14, Narrows 13. In a season of Timesland turnarounds, Grayson is looking for a third straight win after 17 consecutive losses.
JAMES RIVER 21, Bath County 20. James River must win tonight to have any shot of a Region C Division 2 playoff berth.
COVINGTON 34, Craig County 13. Covington is looking for a first-round playoff game at home and a winning season.
RADFORD 48, Auburn 6. A win earns Radford no worse than a share of the Three Rivers District title.
GILES 27, Floyd County 21. Picking against Giles in Pearisburg always is a risky move.
GLENVAR 34, Eastern Montgomery 27. Glenvar almost certainly needs to win one of its last two games to have playoff hopes.
NORTH CROSS 41, Covenant 26. A difficult schedule has primed North Cross for another run at the VIS Division III crown.
BLESSED SACRAMENT-HUGUENOT 31, Roanoke Catholic 14. The back end of Catholic's schedule is considerably tougher than the first part.
BRUNSWICK ACADEMY 32, Carlisle 20. Carlisle has seen one opponent postpone a game because of flu, another cancel its season entirely and a third fill its roster with athletes from other schools.
Last week: 23-5 .821
Overall: 184-52 .780
