The Undefeated '94 Judges: A Legendary Team's Journey to State Victory

The undefeated 1994 Handley High School football team stands as the last to bring a state championship home to Winchester, Virginia. Thirty years later, running back Trey Kern and wide receiver/safety Danny Westfall join BWO to share what made that legendary squad special.

Their championship journey began with heartbreak – a tough loss to Matoaca in the 1993 state semifinals that lit a competitive fire. Built on connections forged since Little League, the '94 team dominated opponents, regularly scoring 30+ points while starters rarely played fourth quarters. The defensive backfield was equally impressive, with Westfall and teammate Michael Partlow combining for an astonishing 25 interceptions.

The championship game itself has become Winchester folklore. Played at Gate City on a deliberately flooded field – "I'm standing at running back and I can't see my feet," Kern recalls – the team abandoned their sophisticated passing attack for power football. When injury struck, teammates stepped up, including Jerome Brooks, who created running lanes that sealed victory in the mud bowl.

Beyond X's and O's, the players credit Coach Ron Linden's calm leadership and their team's unwavering confidence. "It wasn't if we were going to win, it was by how much," explains Westfall. The championship celebration included a late-night return to Winchester with fire trucks escorting them through town.

The conversation expands beyond 1994, touching on Handley's Saturday game tradition, the current state of high school football participation, and hopes for future championship teams. For fans of local sports history, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into what creates championship DNA and why, three decades later, this team's accomplishments still resonate throughout the community.

Transcript

The '94 Handley Championship Team

Speaker 1 0:18

I was already rapping. It's a hindrance. Silence is cassette, so let your voices be heard, man. We brothers with opinions. Now we spreading the word. Bringing light to the dark Revolution is our art. Man, a lot of people talk, but they ain't never walked apart. Gotta shine a light on poverty and fight against injustice and always speak the truth when the enemy's amongst us.

Speaker 2 0:40

Alright, everybody, welcome to BWM. I'm here with Chris Tucker and we're about ready to have the 94 champs on. It looks like we only got one. Right now. I guess Sunday mornings are too early for everyone.

Speaker 3 0:54

Yeah, that 94 undefeated team. They actually went 27 and one or something like that in two years 26 and one or something like that in two years, 26-1. They crushed everybody in their way, lost to Matoka in the region and State Semis 93 season, which was most of their junior year Right, and then bounced back in 94 and blew the doors off almost all their opponents and won the States by a funny game down in Gate City that we'll let Trey and the guys tell you guys about. But definitely excited to have him on. We tried to get him on about a month ago and unfortunately there was a power outage in Winchester that derailed that. But we're back, we're ready. Hope you guys are excited. Man, let's go, because we're excited to have these guys on and tell their stories. All right, cool.

Speaker 2 1:43

Let's get on Trey Kern. He's the one that's jumped on the early bird, obviously a hardworking man. So let's get Trey Kern on here. Hey Trey, you hear us, I can hear you loud and clear. Hey man, how are you? I'm doing great, doing great. Good man, good good, I'd say you're the only one who jumped on Where's all the people.

Speaker 4 2:08

I coached middle league football and I was just running yesterday and I made sure I got to bed early, so I felt good for you guys.

Speaker 2 2:15

Well, we appreciate it. I know it's hard to get everybody. There's a lot of people, so hopefully maybe more will jump on here in a minute. Yeah, but since you're on, you know we're talking about the 94 state championships. That will take you back way back, if you can remember, because I can barely remember. But, um, let's start with uh, because what you guys lost the year before to who was it? Um, in the playoffs?

Speaker 4 2:41

yeah, it was a bit tough, you know we played against the.

Speaker 4 2:43

Hamlets and that was a crazy game. I think you know we were used to winning, you know we were undefeated through the regular season and you know they were just more physical than we were and I think we all kind of lost our cool. You know that's the only game in my career I got a personal foul penalty, really. Yeah, you know, we kind of knew. You know, towards the middle of the you know second half that we weren't going to win and they were kicking an extra point and the starting quarterback, he was the power of his chance, he, we had jumped off sides so they blew the whistle point and the starting quarterback, who was the power of his defense we had jumped off sides and they blew the whistle. I never heard the whistle. He stands up and I'd be clear, right, but their guys are pressed. That's the only personal foul I ever got, that's okay.

Speaker 2 3:44

Right.

Speaker 3 3:44

Tony, you weren't there, I was there.

Speaker 2 3:46

Well, you live and learn. Hold on Danny's here. Let's get Danny on. Oh great, yeah, Danny, he was excited. I was waiting. I was like I can't believe Danny's not here. Hey, Danny, you got on. Welcome, welcome. Trey Dunn started off with a token game.

Speaker 5 4:05

Oh nice.

Speaker 2 4:06

But welcome. Yeah, I want to take it back because what I'm leading to is because I know a lot of you guys played together in Little League, right coming up. You know a lot of you right? Yeah, trey and Danny.

Speaker 4 4:21

Danny was one of the guys that came on later. He wasn't part of our little league program but you know he stepped in. He had a really good freshman team and Danny was fantastic in that and of course Dipperman came late as well. But Jerome and Michael, vine and Neroon, we were all part of the women's program, yeah right.

Speaker 2 4:48

Which I feel that probably really helped you being together at a young age and building continuity and all that kind of stuff. Do you agree?

Speaker 4 4:58

Absolutely. I mean, we had battles in Little League. Jerome Brooks was fantastic playing for the Little League Bears and, yeah, we had a fantastic team with the Redskins. We had Kevin Kelly and Jared Portland with our teammates and me and Michael and Brian, so we won three straight Super Bowls.

Speaker 2 5:24

See, that's not even fair. Y'all have to load in your teams.

Speaker 4 5:30

Well, my dad was a commissioner, so I don't know Right.

Speaker 3 5:35

Tell Tony to be quiet. He had a few of your guys' backups on his team in Little League Right.

Speaker 2 5:43

But so from that loss we'll go back to the Patoki. How did that motivate you guys losing that game? Because, like you say, you guys weren't used to losing. You know what I mean it's like. How did that propel, you know, motivate you for going into the next season, into the 94 season?

Speaker 4 6:02

You know, actually, dan, if we go back and talk about that game, one thing that happened to us that really hurt our team going into the Matoki game was we practiced on Thanksgiving Day in the snow and something happened and Danny freaking broke his wrist with his hand and he was hands down. One of our top guys, you know obviously. So he's trying to play that Matosha game with one hand. He comes out, he can stretch the ball with one hand. Somehow he pulled that step off. He got the best hands of anybody ever played with and Mike's probably not going to like me saying that, but I think, danny, you know, if you're the guy to catch the ball, danny really, really had a fantastic hand. Of course, him and I were roommates as well.

Speaker 3 6:48

I've actually heard that a lot as great as Mike was. Also I heard that Danny was by far the best receiver as far as hands and route running.

Speaker 5 7:00

Mike's not here to defend himself, but we had some great battles in practice and, you know, perfect complement for one another and you know we wouldn't have obviously gotten to where we were without, you know, overall, just the talent that we had, not at the receiver, only at the receiver position, but also at safety, with both of us being at safety as well. I mean you know he had, I want to say, 13 interceptions senior year I had 12. So I don't think you can find a safety duo with 25, 26 interceptions roughly in one season. But yeah, as Trey was saying, as far as the Motoki that kind of fueled, you know, the fire I think, heading into our senior year. And again it was unfortunate that the they were a great team I mean Matoka really was and put a good game plan together.

Speaker 3 7:58

It was raining that game too, wasn't it?

Speaker 5 8:00

Yeah, it was. There was some. It was kind of drizzling and rain. It was cooler and you know, obviously my injury really wasn't a factor. They were able to double-team Mike in that situation. They were able to load the box as well and you know really blitz at will on Brian and that put a lot of pressure. You know, overall on our offensive line and just a good game plan on their part, and just you know overall on our offensive line and just a good game plan on their part, and just you know just bad circumstances on ours. You know, heading into the game, and Tony.

Speaker 3 8:33

If I'm correct, I believe James Farrier was on that defense, so that's no small task to have to defend Trey, do you remember Danny?

Speaker 5 8:44

I remember Kirk Ovea was one of their coaches and that son of a gun. I mean, hey, I know there's a lot of Redskins fans on here, but I go for a ball and he yells to me and says, hey, kid, you can't even catch with two hands, let alone one. And I said you just wait if I'm healthy, kirk, and you know, unfortunately they got the better of us that day, but that goes to show the passion, even from these coaches, when you're playing one another in a playoff game like that. Right, yeah, right.

Speaker 4 9:16

One quick story I got from that. They had a tight end Uriah Taylor was his name, I just remembered and they had a quick runner with an intact hand. Yeah, but I'm trying to guard him. And he's going down this thing that I can't run with and he catches a pass and Tyrone Bowles is like man, what's wrong with you, trey, why can't you handle him? I said, tyrone, if you think you can do better, you go ahead and step out here and guard this dude. Yeah, right, and Tyrone goes out there. He gets beat down the field, he goes all right, you got it, man, you got it.

Speaker 2 9:55

Yeah, shit. See, that's good stuff, guys. So we'll start off with an article going into the 91st season, guys what was your biggest? Challenge as a team and individually. Trey, you go first.

Speaker 4 10:13

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I missed that question.

Speaker 2 10:21

What was your guys' biggest challenge for the 94 season as a team and individually season as a team and individually?

Speaker 4 10:25

I feel like it's kind of weird to say, but we knew we were going to do it. We had a majority of the guys back. We did lose some key players, but we were going to work in the offseason and we definitely lifted weights. I ran tracks and tried to get more speed. We came in with a sense of confidence that this is our year.

The Matoka Loss that Fueled Their Fire

Speaker 4 10:53

This is all time style type of thing. We just played together so long. We had such a great coaching staff. When we switched the offense up a little bit, which was coaching, we couldn't tie it in, instead of being in a four-wide spread. We really helped our running game for our senior year. For me, as a running back, we ran the ball in my back that year.

Speaker 5 11:19

I'd say the biggest challenge and Trey's hit the nail on the head there was a lot of confidence going into our senior year and it really was one of those teams probably one of the only teams I've ever played on since maybe a little league team where it wasn't if you were going to win, it was by how much you were going to win by.

Speaker 5 11:40

And the probably the biggest challenge was there was only one football to go around and we all had, you know, look, I think anybody that's a great athlete. You know you got to have confidence and there's a fine line between you know, confidence and cockiness. But at the end of the day you got to back that up with your play. And you know we all complemented each other perfectly and the coaches again did a great job of distributing the ball in the right moments. But that was probably the biggest thing is we all wanted the ball at any given time and I think we were all dogs. When the game's on the line, give me the ball. And when you've got that many guys that have that mentality at one time coming together, it's the perfect storm.

Speaker 2 12:26

Right, right, yeah. So I guess what you guys are getting at because I've been there coaching is that when you know your team's keeping you guys humble right, I guess it was more probably the coaching staff a challenge to keep you guys humble because you knew you were good. That's the biggest thing, man.

Speaker 3 12:46

And they were. That was like 30 points a game.

Speaker 5 12:49

Oh, at least I'd have to calculate it up. But it was, yeah, at least over 30 points a game. And we were Michael and I, trey, all the starters, for the most part Brian. We were all taken out by the fourth quarter. Beginning of the fourth quarter.

Speaker 4 13:02

Right, yeah, we very rarely played the fourth quarter. Beginning of the fourth quarter. Right, yeah, we very rarely play the fourth quarter.

Speaker 5 13:05

Yeah, ron Linden would not, and that you know. Respect right there, you know again to the opposing coaches, he would take us out and you know we wanted to keep running the score up, like some teams do. I'm not going to name them in the panhandle, west Virginia.

Speaker 3 13:23

Well, they got smoked the other night. They got smoked the other night.

Speaker 5 13:25

They got smoked. Yeah, I think Goose Egg on the board up there. Again, we won't name names, but we could have put up 70 points a game. I mean there's no doubt in my mind.

Speaker 2 13:36

Oh, I believe, easily, easily, a lot of teams.

Speaker 4 13:41

Too bad, justin. But I can remember when I was a kid we played a fall field team that was really good, like second, third name of the year, and Danny and I hooked up Glad to play the first half. We're going to hook the lateral and I score from 50 or 60 yards out. We're up 24-0. We get the ball, start the second half, we got 31-0. And I'm it's like halfway through the third quarter and he pulls us and they come back. They end up scoring three touchdowns and it's like two or three minutes to go and he's like we got to get the starters and warm back up. You know, warm back up, we're back in the game but we haven't played for. You know, we kind of cooled down but he didn't have to run the score up.

Speaker 3 14:29

You see, tony, that's what happens when they put the 97 guys in. Now, here we go. I'm just messing with you guys, javon. You guys don't get in your feelings Real quick. I want to shout out people like Brian Vardaro and Brian Cavill and everybody else, the unsung heroes that don't get a lot of love, but they were a big part of your team too.

Speaker 5 14:48

Yeah, I think that whole offensive line and I'd trade as a running back and I think we all know the offensive line and running back group. They want them hip by hip, side by side. They work together in unison there and we couldn't have the success without them. Side by side, they worked together in unison there and we couldn't have the success without them. I would like to put a vote in for them to nominate that whole offensive line for the Hall of Fame.

Speaker 3 15:12

They were y'all's hogs. They really were.

Speaker 5 15:16

And Keith Covert. They all deserved it. Kevin Kinley and you name the others. They all deserved to be in there.

Speaker 2 15:23

I like that.

Speaker 4 15:25

I got to talk about that just briefly because we started getting a consecutive 100-yard game streak going and my dad's team had the record in eight games from the 1960s and 17s. So after we got about five games we started to pay attention to that staff. But it really wasn't just like it was me my mom would have like a Monday night spaghetti dinner and we'd have the whole offensive line. Everybody would eat, we'd watch the film from the previous week and really just some camaraderie. And when we ended up breaking the record, um against, uh, warren callum, actually when we broke the record, uh, it was like we did, it wasn't just, it wasn't like a me thing. You know, it really was a team thing.

Speaker 4 16:16

And uh, keith clover, brown, vadero was to me the strongest dude on the line. I mean keith keith was a tactician, uh, vadero was was a tactician, videro was only a junior, cavill was only a junior, but Cavill was fantastic. And then you had Kevin Finley who played center all the way from the time we were 10 with Brown, all the way until we were seniors in high school. It was the Brian and Carlo and Finley had ESP. So I'm with Danny man, that offensive line was really an unsung part of that team, for sure.

Speaker 2 16:51

Right, right. Well, they always are. But we always say, as football guys, it starts in the trenches. You don't have a line on either side of the ball, you can't get there. I don't care how good you are as a running back, it starts with them big guys up front. I love that man. They do deserve it. I'm with you. I wish Andy was on here. Mr Hall of Fame, let him know, put it in his ear. Get all them guys in there. I love it. Guys, this will help with the kids in there. I love it.

Speaker 2 17:24

Oh yeah, so guys. So this will help with the kids. Answer this question how did you guys handle your academics in sports while you was in school, high school, college? I know you guys played college level. How did you guys balance your schedule, your academically in your sports? I?

Speaker 4 17:42

don't know I'm not doing the answer, to know I'm not doing anything.

Speaker 2 17:49

My sister did my homework.

Speaker 5 17:52

At the end of the day, obviously we've all done well for ourselves in life and our professions. But sports, I think we showed up to school because we couldn't play if you didn't show up At the end of the day, I think we showed up to school because you know we couldn't play if you didn't show up. So you know the day it was, you know our excitement was to go to school for practice afterwards. I mean I have some great, we had some great teachers and you know certainly you know they're a big part of that too and shaping our, you know our lives and but you know it's a balancing act. I mean you've got, especially during summer camps, especially in college, you've got three practices a day. And you know, for those when you go to college, you know that are listening and they're in high school and they aspire to be there. I mean you're doing so in the winter, for example.

Building a Championship Mentality

Speaker 5 18:45

You get up at 5am, you have to go work out and you're there for at least two to three hours and this is not only weight room workouts but you know conditioning as well. So you're running and and they would hold you until five minutes before your first class started and you'd have to rush to get to class. You haven't even eaten yet and you have to get you know. Next thing you know you get done with your morning classes. You're grabbing a quick bite to eat and you've got to go to you know whatever your position group meeting that you have, whether it's the running backs with Trey or wide receiver group and then you've got to go to more afternoon classes. Then you have to go to your afternoon practice.

Speaker 5 19:27

Then you get done, you get back, you get cleaned up, you go eat and then you have to go to a special teams meeting at night. So it's a full-time job and I don't think a lot of people recognize that. And for college NIL, I am all for it. I know the way that it's shaped and they need to put some regulations in, I think. But at the end of the day they deserve to be paid for what they do.

Speaker 2 19:52

Yeah, I agree, that's good. Kids need to know, like you just said. Hey, it's a job, yeah, it's a full, it's actually two full-time jobs. Like you say, you start way early and you're not done until 10, 11, and turn right back around and do it all over again. The kids don't understand the grind they got to go through, through, the higher levels they get.

Speaker 3 20:15

Do you guys keep up at all with the current teams or recent teams and the guys that are in college and things of that nature to see how everybody's doing, or are you guys kind of busy with your everyday life to worry about that? Uh?

Speaker 4 20:29

for me. I'm, I'm football night, I'm on the local sports hockey. I keep up with I mean yeah, I mean I know who's good and who's not good, like stephen daly, but he was to me one of the best that's ever played. So I'm really I didn't get to see how he did yesterday in the end, but Malachi Emo I was pretty close with.

Speaker 3 20:50

He's still William Mary.

Speaker 4 20:52

Well, he just graduated.

Speaker 3 20:54

Okay.

Speaker 4 20:55

Yeah, but he had a fantastic career, one of the best to play Jeremiah Wilson he's coaching now. I was a big, big fan of him. Man, what a punt returner. Right Went to Maryland. So yeah, I mean anybody for Hanley, pretty much for local, especially Hanley for me. I'm watching and definitely following their careers for sure.

Speaker 3 21:20

That's why Jason didn't get on. Right, that's why Jason didn't get on.

Speaker 5 21:28

Right, Just try to keep up with him. I know Trey, A lot of those kids he coached in Little League too and that's a lot of Dedication there For work purposes. It's tough for me to get there and haven't had that opportunity, but would love to have coached On a basis. But I keep up with the guys you know remotely and go to the games you know here and there on Saturday, with certain matchups when I have an opportunity to watch these guys.

Speaker 3 21:55

So a lot of talented guys good first win for him Friday night. Yeah, absolutely I haven't even heard of that high school, but that's cool.

Speaker 5 22:03

Yeah, eastern View and Culpepper, they're a good program, right.

Speaker 4 22:07

I talked to Reid Pross about that. He thinks they're a seven or eight win team, so that was a quality win off of that.

Speaker 2 22:14

Yeah, I agree, right, yeah, yeah, exactly. So, guys, let's jump back.

Speaker 3 22:23

How was it for you guys? My fault, Tony. One question I know a lot of people like to ask.

Speaker 4 22:28

How was it for you guys playing for Coach Ron Linden? For me, I absolutely loved Coach Linden. He was a very, very simple guy and, of course, one of his famous speeches was in the state championship game and I tried to use it with my little league kids yesterday. It didn't quite work out for us but you know, we were up 12-7 at halftime and the mood of the team in that game was, you know, we couldn't get our offense going. It wasn't, things weren't really going our way per se, and he kind of calmed everybody down and said hey guys, we're up 12-7. If they don't score, they're going to win. And it was like the simplest thing. But it's like, hey, yeah, let's just play some defense and stop them. And hey, we got the game. So you know. One other quick story for a couple from coach linden.

Speaker 4 23:24

For me personally, um, I really wanted to be a big time when I went back. I wanted to play in college and the first game of the season we played broad run. I had like 35 yards rushing, maybe six or eight carries in the game and I never spoke up. But I wentennon and I said, hey, it's my senior year, I've worked really hard. I'd like an opportunity to get the carries. You know I was a good inside runner. My speed was maybe not top, top notch, but still good. And he said, trey, you've earned the right. And he looked at Derek Dowd and he said, hey, he's going to get the ball, we're going to give Trey the ball. So the following day we played fall here and I had 169 yards in the first half and, you know, really showed myself then in the rest of the rest of the world. That's when the 100-yard game streak started. So Coach Lennon really had his players back. As long as you were true to him, he'd be true to you and I loved it. He was great.

Speaker 5 24:26

I can second that. At the end of the day, they say you're a reflection of your leader. It's calm under pressure, and that's what we were. Also, the other sign of a great leader is surrounding yourself with talented people, and his coaching staff was phenomenal and he had that trust. They had that trust in him and you know that ultimately was. You know, every position group had great coaches. Offensive coordinators, defensive coordinators were fantastic. Everything Our trainers were fantastic. You just couldn't ask for just a better team coaching staff as a whole. So rest in peace to Coach Lennon.

Speaker 2 25:12

Right, yeah, so guys, so going into we're not going into it, but into the 94th seed, going into the state championship. Let's just jump straight to it. Right? You guys have what blown out everybody through, regions, regional, all that, and we get to states. And then what gate city? We've got to talk about the feet. What happened? The mud race?

Speaker 4 25:39

I can tell you guys are running back. I'm standing in the middle of the field and I can't see my feet. I'm completely entrenched in water.

Speaker 2 25:48

Right Before the game you're saying Is this before?

Speaker 4 25:53

I'm warmed up. I just can remember distinctly being comfortable in my stance and running back and looking down at my feet. I couldn't see my feet. I stand and run back and look down at my feet I couldn't see my feet, and so you could get a little bit of traction on the wide parts of the field, but in the middle there's nothing. Yeah.

Speaker 5 26:14

We went to warm up. It was in between the hashes.

Speaker 2 26:18

So my question, let it be more direct. So what were you guys saying? Because obviously, it didn't rain the night or that day, did it? No, it was drizzling. Yeah, it was like a haze or whatever. So what were your oldest thoughts? Like, okay, what the hell? Why is this field so wet? They hosed it down. Well, I know that, we know that, like in the moment, I'm trying to show you what they were thinking, what the hell's going on here.

Speaker 4 26:51

With my coaching and just the way I play. I'm not worried about excuses, right, whatever the field is, it's the field, they got to play on the field. It certainly was not to our advantage. I mean, brian Palmer, he's more of a throw the ball well, so he's struggling to throw the ball. I think his stats were three or four for 22, with one touchdown and like three picks in that game. Right.

Speaker 4 27:22

I mean, but you know we had to lean on the running game the way it worked out. But you know I didn't worry about making excuses about what it was. This is what it is, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 5 27:35

Now Trey's a running back, so they Right. You know they're different.

Speaker 5 27:41

Hey, that's what they want to do at the end of the day is we're going to run the ball more in those conditions. That's great, but Mike and I were like what the heck is going on with this field? This is, and we're having to pick spots out by the numbers on where we can run our route depth too, so we actually can get footing, and you know, it was just impossible. So it prevented our passing game from really being able to showcase how good it was, and that's unfortunate. I wouldn't change anything though, because to me it was a storybook ending and it really was something out of a movie, even when we're driving in on the bus, right and the crowd, and you know, just, you know they had, you know, some of the banners that, ultimately, our athletic directors had to go over and say, look, you got to take those down because they're pretty bold, we're not stepping foot on this field, and so that was something else. It was a pretty nasty, nasty crowd, it was nasty conditions, and, but you know we persevered.

Speaker 4 28:43

I wish I got to say one thing real quick. I wish Jerome Brooks was on here right now, because in the second half of that game we had three receivers out there, but we realized that one of the receivers was pretty much a wasted spot. So they pulled our slot guy off and just put Jerome in front of me and it was like we were drawing nothing to dirt, like we had our play, but all it was was I was drawing. You know where we're going? You just hit the first office because we're the guy, you see, and Jerome was just treating people, yeah, and I can still see him sitting down in a three-point stand running from him, and he goes, just follow me, man. Yeah, and I can still see him sitting down in a three-point stand running from him, and he goes, just follow me, man, yeah.

Speaker 2 29:28

That's awesome.

Speaker 4 29:29

I thought you would, I thought I would do it, and we ended up popping some big runs at the end of that game to run the clock out. And that was all because of brother Brooks man, he was drilling people.

Speaker 2 29:43

So would you say he's one of the unsung heroes of that game.

Speaker 5 29:46

Oh, yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 2 29:48

Jerome yeah, jerome yeah.

Speaker 4 29:51

Back in the day I don't think you could ever say he was not unsung because he was talking and saying something. I mean he was going to kick off and he was talking. But yeah, it definitely was a big part of that, huge part of that final couple of rounds we had that's awesome, though, like you say, y'all just going back to literally I-formation and Pabst.

Speaker 2 30:15

Pretty much that's it.

Speaker 3 30:16

That's all we can do, and they had who was their quarterback Shoemaker? He went to Wake Forest, right yeah.

Speaker 4 30:24

He played basketball yeah.

Speaker 3 30:26

Josh Shoemaker. I believe you guys played against a lot of talented individuals. Who was the toughest team you guys had in 94 that you had to play against?

Speaker 5 30:34

Wilder County.

Speaker 2 30:37

Dan Ganey was quick with that.

Speaker 5 30:40

No doubt in my mind, they had 3 three thousand yards.

Speaker 4 30:46

So, yeah, real tough offense to be struggling with defensively Right Out in county, yeah, and then Dan in part Mike was hurt, so he was about half playing on offense and then, of course, he filled in late in the game on defense and calls the fumble. He didn't really help us, but that was one of Danny's. Danny showed how much of a many-be player he was because he really torched them. They thought, you know, they're going to bring some lightning and hurt them. Then Danny stepped right up.

Speaker 5 31:20

Yeah, that was a big game for us and you know it was 44 to 38. They were driving the ball, they had the ball last and they were. I don't know, trey, what yard line they were on, but they were in our territory, they were probably what 30-yard line. 20-some yard line.

Speaker 4 31:37

Yeah, they looked like they were at four.

Speaker 5 31:40

And you know, at that point it's a concern. You put up 44 points, you might lose the game, and that's how good of a running attack that they had. And so Mike had been asking all game long. I got coach put me in, coach put me in, so he's got this. Was it a cast, I guess?

Speaker 4 31:57

It's a huge, huge thing that's wrapped around his right arm.

Speaker 5 32:01

With padding and stuff, that the only way he could be legal to play. So you know, you have to kind of put together with knee pads and things like that and then tape it up with athletic tape. So it's this huge club. So he comes in for the one play. Guy breaks a huge run. He's probably got like a 15-yard run. He's already in the secondary. Mike comes around and clubs with that arm and forces a fumble for the only play he played on defense and I recovered it and that was all she wrote. But those were the type of moments that lead to those type of miracle seasons to go undefeated, and just another example of how great Mike was as well.

Speaker 4 32:41

The funny part of that was the guy who ran the ball was named Chris Alcala and he was a really good player. He was a honey-cugging shepherd. When we went to Shepherd and he still held his hand. The guy was holding his hand like a little raffle Right.

Speaker 3 32:55

Yeah, the club and that was at their school, right that?

Speaker 5 32:58

game. Yeah yeah, it was Friday night game. Yeah yeah, yeah, it was a Friday night game.

Speaker 2 33:02

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So that leads into a good question. What do you feel? Because I know you guys felt, you know, going in the season, like, oh, you know you guys are good, you're hot, the team's great, but what do you feel like was a turning point, like in the season, where, man, we can win this thing, or did the beginning of the season that, man, we can win the whole thing?

Speaker 5 33:20

When Dwayne Borden intercepted a ball truck and ran it for a touchdown on defense.

Speaker 4 33:29

How far did that intercept? I remember that. Yes, like this orange county, that's right, that's right.

Speaker 5 33:35

We're like it's meant to be. We're meant to win this whole thing You're like.

Speaker 2 33:39

hold on if truck scores on a defense.

Speaker 3 33:44

That was regionals.

Speaker 4 33:46

Yeah, that was regional finals at Hanley and I tell you, of all the games we played, I think I had the biggest crowd. I mean, that game was packed. You know, they were undefeated, we were undefeated. And yeah, when they threw a screen pass and Stumpy intercepted that and ran it back, it was a wrap, right.

Speaker 3 34:06

But I think you guys blew them out, didn't you?

Speaker 5 34:09

No, yeah, they didn't put a third on the board.

Saturday Traditions at Handley High

Speaker 2 34:12

Yeah, you guys smoked them. Was it 38-0, I believe, or something like that.

Speaker 4 34:16

I think they did score on the second team at the end.

Speaker 5 34:18

Oh, did they score.

Speaker 2 34:25

That's right. They did score At the end of the game. The damn 97 class, tony, I know Adam Brantley and all them here I got you. Y'all beat Orange 38-9.

Speaker 5 34:30

Well, we didn't play in the fourth quarter again of that game, yeah, Any of our playoff games. We were already out in the fourth quarter, except for Gate City, and I think we can can all agree would have blown them out in a good condition neutral site.

Speaker 3 34:48

uh, right, you know those conditions forced. I was on your freshman team that year and I've I've never felt any energy, the way you guys had that stadium rocking those two years your junior and senior year and just the atmosphere the band, the cheerleaders, like it was amazing atmosphere. You guys made it feel like you were the pros and we all looked up to you like you were the superstars.

Speaker 2 35:06

Well, I just say it felt like a college atmosphere because I was a sophomore at the time and I'll just say, when coming in as a freshman and seeing you guys like Trey, you and LaRouge, I'm like these guys look like grown-ass men, like they are huge to me.

Speaker 3 35:26

Well, Trey, you always got compared your calves to Daryl Green.

Speaker 4 35:30

Oh yeah, I always think about my calves and I wish I could spend it with them. I mean, I did work hard, but it was pretty much genetics.

Speaker 2 35:42

I could definitely tell your son. Out there in basketball, me and Wayne are like look at the cat, that's his son. I'm sorry, go ahead, dave.

Speaker 5 35:51

I was just going to go back to, like you said, the atmosphere, the crowd. They traveled to every game. It was a community victory every single time and and everybody, just kind of galvanized, came together and backed us and, um, we really appreciated that. I mean, we had the guys that were had their shirts off in, like you know, 30 and 40 degree weather, with the judges, you know, painted on their chests and they're just crazy. That was like, uh, you know, mike sawhawk, and those guys, fred haymaker is the judge, uh, you know, so I, I remember they. They were just so enthusiastic and and, um, it means a lot to the players on the field. I wish we could get that same type of energy.

Speaker 2 36:32

I'm gonna say, yeah, how can we, how can we get that back?

Speaker 5 36:35

I know it's tough I feel like some people just sit there and it's a clap. Right right, right To me, that's not so strong.

Speaker 3 36:45

It feels like the band only has 10 members and that gets very different.

Speaker 5 36:50

I want intensity and passion from my crowd.

Speaker 2 36:52

Right, exactly, yeah, well, I say that, danny, going to other games, like Clark County, you know other areas, school, james, like to me. They show up To me. I'm like why are they more energetic? The crowd gets into it. So I don't know what's up with our Hanley crowd here lately. But, like you say, it's just a little. Somebody makes a big play, so I don't know how can we get that energy back.

Speaker 3 37:18

Well it's been 30 years 31 years since Hanley's won states man. We've had a lot of great players and great teams, but nobody's done it like you guys and the team of 84. So we got to figure something out over there.

Speaker 4 37:30

Yeah, right, yeah, we got a good coach right now, man, we do.

Speaker 2 37:35

Yeah, I will say, yeah, that they do have a great coach right now. I really like him. Yeah, good guy do have a great coach right now. I I really like him. Yeah, good guy lining connection, so he's to me, he's gonna turn it around big time.

Speaker 3 37:47

And I won't say, partying on friday nights and being up early on saturdays for the games is an excuse, because it's always been that way. But how was it for you guys, being the only team that I've ever known that plays on saturdays when college is playing, but to come out under those steps and the sun's beaming? It was amazing, at least just to be there for you guys. So how did it feel playing on Saturdays at home?

Speaker 4 38:11

I mean I liked it. That's all we ever knew. You know I grew up with the kid coming to watch games on Saturdays. It was always just a special thing at Hanley and you know it changes your weekend, of course. But you do get an opportunity to go out and watch other games on Friday night, you know, and kind of stay out of training, watch a high school game and get up and Coach Leonard would have donuts and orange juice for us next time we came into the locker room early and then you know we'd get out and run for special teams and you know you got to really comfortably go into playing a football game on.

Speaker 4 38:45

Friday I definitely think we had a home field advantage. You know, just intimidating when people drive up and see the school it looks like a college. Right. I think it's a good thing. Of course, I'm all for having lights so they can play whenever they want to play.

Speaker 2 39:02

Oh, that was my next question Like what do you all think about the lights?

Speaker 4 39:07

Light those jokers up. Man Use that turf.

Speaker 5 39:11

The cool thing about it is, you know the Saturday games is, you know you're the main event, so everybody else is done. It's like Monday night football. So there's, everybody else is done. It's like Monday night football. So we got to put on a show and that's. You know, I feel like. And then that energy you get coming out from underneath the steps and the band's plan and and you know even the national anthem with the flag and all that on the steps. It's just that's a tradition like none other and you like none other, and you know that's why it's handling. Right right.

Speaker 4 39:43

Hello man, I'm playing right now. What's that? The way Danny's saying it. I'm like I'm going to go out there and play right now. Right, right.

Speaker 2 39:53

Right, but that's a tough question, lights or not. But to me, if they put you have options, then you play, still do Saturdays, in my opinion. Hey, you're a Saturday tradition, play a few rivalry games or something on Saturday, but at least you have the option. Like Tracy, I'd love to see that field lit up on a Friday night.

Speaker 4 40:15

I think it would be amazing.

Speaker 5 40:17

It would be a huge crowd for the first Friday night under the lights game at Hanley. That would be a huge crowd for the first Friday night under the lights game at Hanley. That would be a huge event.

Coach Linden's Leadership Style

Speaker 2 40:25

Yeah, and it's funny because we've talked about this a while back when it came up. Now, do you think speaking of attendance is Saturdays hurting attendance? Now these days, because parents are so busy Like Trey, you know, so much goes on during Saturdays Me and Chris talk about like like we think that hurts attendance just because people not that they don't want to go, they just can't make the game Travel sports has really changed the whole scheduling of a family and they just don't have that free time anymore to keep that tradition alive on a Saturday because there's I mean travel sports.

Speaker 5 41:04

They may be in manassas or leesburg or even down in richmond sometimes, it's right, whole different dynamic compared to what it was in the in the 90s right yeah, tony, tony, to your point.

Speaker 4 41:15

you know, I've been coaching little league football and our games are, you know, right in the middle of the night on the side and, and, and. You want the kids going to the game to see the high school they're going to play for. Yes, you want that. So you guys are playing on set, yeah. So, man, yes, I would say it would be great to have. You want your kids to see the team they're going to play for.

Speaker 2 41:39

Exactly.

Speaker 4 41:40

They learn from watching the game. Yeah, kids, to see the team they're going to play for. They learn from watching the game. They become a bigger fan from doing that.

Speaker 5 41:47

Yeah, I think, right there, that's the biggest case for lights at Hanley, even if you had to do portable lights or something like that not to take away from the aesthetic of the front of the school and so forth with permanent lights. I love the tradition, don't get me wrong. Like you said, do it for some traditional matchups James Wood or something like that. But yeah, I think the lights are much needed.

Speaker 2 42:15

All right, I think we're going to start with something.

Speaker 3 42:17

again A lot to do with the housing being so close on Jefferson and Hanley Boulevard. Move and people not.

Speaker 2 42:27

To me, if you live there on that street, you should be at the damn game anyway.

Speaker 4 42:31

Yeah, good point Right.

Speaker 2 42:35

You should be there. I agree. Yeah right.

Speaker 3 42:41

And Trey, you're coaching Little League Winchester, Frederick County Parks and Rec, or something. Yeah right, Trey, you're coaching Little League in Winchester, Frederick County Parks and Rec or something. Yeah, yep, and you play on Saturdays. Now we used to play at nighttime all the time when we were little.

Speaker 4 42:49

Well, yeah, we don't even have that field anymore. You know, the soccer league took our old field. So you know, we play at Daniel Morgan. We did play at Hanley for our first game, which was nice, my, and we did play at Hanley for our first game, which was nice. My team yesterday played in Jefferson High School. So you know, I tell you though, man we've got, we're having a hard time to get two teams as 10 and 11-year-olds. When I was coming up, when our time was coming, we had six, right, yeah, that kind of tells you there the interest You've got to get the interest up at a young level.

Speaker 2 43:30

And I think and we all have kids and I think I've started to notice when I coached football years ago, you know, when my boys were younger, same age, 8, 9, 10, 11, you know, through the WFYFL, that's when the whole CTE, you know, came in and then parents started getting scared not signing their kids up. But now I'm starting to see, I think kids are starting to come back now and play. Like there's a lot of basketball players from Hanley who are out there playing football this year who haven't played since they were in Little League, like Amari Brown's out there, amari is killing it out here and Kyron Oglesby is playing. My son was going to play. He was out there but then unfortunately Tristan went down and he changed his mind. He's like, well, maybe that's a side I shouldn't play, but I wish he would have played because, because the scrimmage he was in he had like 12 receptions, four touchdowns and whatever.

Speaker 4 44:29

I know he was good at Daniel Morgan.

Speaker 2 44:31

Oh yeah, christian. And Quincy.

Speaker 4 44:33

Yeah, quincy, my oldest, played for a while, those boys, man, those boys can play.

Speaker 2 44:38

Yeah, they're all right. They're all right they get it from their mom. But that's my thing. It's like I think I'm starting to notice just slightly. I think kids are getting back slowly into football because they're for a while it was just mainly parents like no, I'm not signing them up because of the whole what will smith? You know the movie that came out?

Speaker 2 45:00

oh, dude, I'm telling you it didn't scare people like I literally talked to parents and they'd be like no, I don't want to say you know, yeah, so that's, but I, I think it it's starting to come back like it's building flag football.

Speaker 5 45:14

I know I think that helps too that helps and that's, you know, it's, uh, I think, bringing the interest again and and it's going to be in the Olympics as well. So I think that's going to help continue to draw, you know, the younger kids in to want to play. Good point, dad, I didn't think about that.

The Muddy State Championship Game

Speaker 4 45:30

I will say this Everybody looks at football, especially in the Little League, and you say that there's some sort of big concussion problem. Well, I've played for 10 years't I I can't hardly remember any concussion. My son asked me today how many times he tells me concussions. They don't run fast enough to get concussions yet right, and it's not until I remember when I start lifting weights and get explosive. That's when you can get guys knocked out, but it really don't happen much when they're young, yeah.

Speaker 2 46:03

I mean, I remember too. I could say everybody remembers Mano. Right, that takes me back.

Speaker 5 46:10

Mano Lusk. He played for A&M?

Speaker 2 46:12

Yeah, I coached him.

Speaker 2 46:14

He lit some kid up and the kid did not know where he was. Yeah, we were at Dade and Morgan. He thought he was at his elementary school. But I added I was like, yep, go to the doctor. And then my son, christian, got one at it and all we were doing was with the tackling dummy and all he did was it was a freakish thing he rolls up on it, goes and hits his head on the ground. So sometimes it's just freakish stuff too, but my main thing is just teach them properly. When you get them into football it's just freakish stuff too, but my main thing is just teach them properly. When you get them into football it's like they definitely. To me, a big thing is technique and you know knowing how to tackle, Because a lot of these coaches out here you know this Trey being out there in day 82, it's a lot of them just go out there and hit somebody. No safety, nothing. You know what I'm saying Hit somebody.

Speaker 2 46:58

Yeah, yeah, I mean, I get it. We're all old school, we love the big hits, but it's like teach them the proper way, first and foremost, you know, to protect themselves. For the most part, who?

Speaker 3 47:10

is your vocal leader for the team. There you go, yeah, I was going to break.

Speaker 5 47:17

He's not on the call right now. Yeah right, Vocal leader Andy was call right now.

Speaker 4 47:27

Yeah right, Vocal leader Andy was a big one. Yeah, I mean, Jerome Brooks was a pump you up type of guy. You know Mike had that confidence, that swagger. You know Mike's one of the best that I've ever played with. I mean, you know, offensively, defensively and Mike could play basketball, baseball, tennis. He's one of the best athletes to ever come through handling. I mean, he just is. I love the fact that he had 25 touchdowns and I matched him with 25 touchdowns in the same year. That's kind of always a cool stat to throw out to people. Oh, okay, but we're not even talking about Brian Parler. I mean, he was our starting quarterback and ran our offense, so he certainly needs to get credit as a leader and a vocal person as well.

Speaker 2 48:20

Right yeah, so were you quiet, trey? You just said you were that silent assassin.

Speaker 4 48:26

Yeah, I didn't talk much. I was definitely more quiet and shy when I was in high school. I got out of that into college, but I was just trying to focus and make sure I didn't screw up. Right.

Speaker 3 48:41

What was your single game? High Like almost 280 yards, right 270 something.

Speaker 4 48:47

Actually, no, the funny thing is it was my senior year, the last game of the regular season, we're playing Warren County, and they knew that that was the game that would break the consecutive 100-yard game record from 1967. The consecutive 100-yard game record from 1967. Right, notoriously I would get off to a slow start and, like the first carry or two, I get stuffed, you know no yards and they start running their mouth. You ain't getting that record today, kerm. You ain't getting that record today, right. Well, the coaches figured something out. We were on a counter play and I come back to the left-hand side and it turns into how fast can I run? Because this sucker is wide open, right, and I ended up running for it was like 210, in the ballpark of 210.

Speaker 4 49:35

I didn't have any huge, huge games. That was the only time I ran over 200 yards in high school. I had a couple games at least one game in college where I did but shoot. I only averaged 12 carries a game, 14 carries a game. I mean we threw the ball a lot, so I had almost nine yards a carry. But yeah, we had such a good balance and you know, you stop our passing game. Well, we run the ball, you stop the running game. Well, we pass the ball, so I think that's why we were so dangerous. But it was great to run over top of Warren County and you know, I need to break the record in the first half or the second half. Which one do you want? Right, right, danny, what was your?

Speaker 3 50:21

game for receiving. I was going to say yeah.

Speaker 5 50:26

For receiving. I had the Hanley record for the most receptions in a game and this was actually junior year. Against Waynesboro I had nine receptions and then that's the week before that Thanksgiving where I broke my wrist that Trey was talking about. So that was kind of my breakout game that didn't last. That record, of course, was broken senior year. Mike, I think, had like 14 receptions or something against Loudon Valley, but I'd probably say the first game ever against Sharando, our senior year, that was my best game. I had about 150 yards, two touchdowns and I had three interceptions at safety. I only played safety one year at Hanley and I think I'm in the top five in interceptions all time. So give me more time. I probably could have been right there, uh, with interceptions, but um, yeah, that's probably my best game. Uh, was Sharando my senior year.

Speaker 2 51:22

Nice, nice. So what is your guys' fondest memory? It don't even have to be the 94 season looking back Mine.

Speaker 5 51:35

So Virginia Tech agrees we're heading to the state championship game. They agree to let us practice on their field at Lane Stadium, which is fantastic To walk through the tunnel from the locker room to the field.

Speaker 5 51:50

Was Beamer there, beamer was there. Only players get to do that, and so when you get that chance to be able to walk through that tunnel, and so I remember, we get into their locker room and they got this really nice locker room Virginia Tech logos in the middle of it and you know, it looks like something. It looks like something out of a movie, right, and you're just like what? So we're all in awe, we're looking at the lockers and a big football movie came out right around that time. You guys remember Rudy?

Speaker 3 52:21

one of the best movies I watched it the other day.

Speaker 5 52:24

They got those wooden stoolsools and I pull that wooden stool into the middle of virginia tech logo and I stand on top of and I start reciting that listen up, men, we're gonna go inside, we're gonna go, and everybody just I think it just kind of broke through the you know, the being in shock and awe of being in a college locker room in that situation, and I think that's what you need, that you know you can't be uptight and wound too tight when you're in those situations and got to go play loose and that's what we did. So that was one of my fondest memories there Awesome.

Speaker 4 53:03

That was great. That was great. If I'm thinking about a memory for myself, or just the season in general, the first thing that comes to my head is a selfish thing, but I had hurt my foot against Orange County and I'm hoping to get back. I couldn't practice all week against Nottoway. I played the game, but in the state championship game I re-injured that same sprained arch in my foot and I'm getting helped off the field and I'm thinking, please get better. I got to finish the game and something.

Speaker 4 53:40

Somehow I got over it and I started. I was walking off the field and I shook the trainers off and I ran to the sideline because I didn't want everybody to think we were down, like we were going to lose, like we're getting beat. So then I, you know, hopped around and just be able to get over that injury and then get back in and make a couple of big runs. I, you know, I just remember feeling so fulfilled, uh, when we ended up winning that game as a team and just the feeling of winning the state championship was, uh, that was really special. And then fire trucks and everything coming into town. It was really late. Uh, right, that that was. That was special feelings right right I don't think that was so.

Speaker 2 54:17

That was just you not wanting to let down your teammates. That's being, you know. I mean, that's just being competitive, you know. But oh, so we'll go to. So how was the celebration coming back? How did the town react? And the community? You guys winning the 94 state championship? I'm sure you all got free breakfast at the Triangle Diner, oh yeah.

Speaker 4 54:45

I'll tell you, the thing that was not good was after the game was over. We had no hot water, zero Ice, cold water. I mean we're dirty as we've ever been. I had mud in my ear for three or four straight days. I still find stuff in my ear, that's true.

Speaker 2 55:04

So you're talking about at Gate City, at the school where you guys.

Speaker 4 55:10

They gave us no hot water. It was terrible. Yeah right, that ride back took forever. It seemed like I mean you know you're hurting from the game, but the celebration was great. We got back late. It was real late, though it was really late.

Speaker 2 55:28

Yeah, do you know what time it was.

Unsung Heroes of the Championship

Speaker 5 55:30

It was like 12 o'clock, yeah, it was probably one or two in the morning. Yeah, yeah, everybody was there to cheer you on and people traveled. I mean it was just amazing how many people traveled all the way down there too and you know, take that time out of their busy lives to come watch us in a ballgame all the way down and at the edge of Virginia in Gate City. So that's celebration, wise, you're kind of tying.

Speaker 5 55:59

In the CTE earlier I think I had one concussion in my life and that was from Jimmy Gaynor who came and he tackled me after I knocked the ball down at the end of the game and I lost my helmet. It hit me so hard, it was the hardest hit I think I've had, but it was in celebration for the victory. So that's what I remember as far as celebration and just everybody, you know it was just elation across the board in the mud and and you know some of the guys you all had mentioned earlier from the 96, 97 teams they're out there doing mud, angels laying in it and and you know it was just, it was just. Finally it was. You know, we got, we got the championship crowd was was huge in that.

Speaker 3 56:45

I did want to bring that up real quick before we end up jumping off. I always pick on the 97 class. I'm 99 but because of tony and the podcast and everything. But I played little league jets with adam brathwaite justin, thank you and I wanted to know how it was with troy, sloan and spencer and everybody from 97 in practice and helping you guys prepare for the season can't forget.

Speaker 2 57:05

forget, mr Rush, carl Rush.

Speaker 5 57:09

Yeah, I want to shout out all those guys that you know on the depth chart, that you know that are there, and you know the scout team, the practice team, and they're really you know iron, you know you know shapes, iron at the end of the day, and you know you get these guys that are out there. You know they're giving it their all. They're like, man, I'm playing against, you know, an all region or an all state player. I'm going to show them what I can do and that's the type of team mentality you have. You're there to make each other better and we couldn't have done it without them. Ray Ray mud, I mean another guy who's out there in practice. He shows up every single day, he's there every single game. I want to give him a shout-out as well. And you know those guys. I just thank them from the bottom of my heart and we couldn't. I mean, hey, they're champs as well, man, and they deserve it.

Speaker 4 57:58

Right, quick story on Carl Russ. I remember Keith Cover got hurt and he missed the majority of the Osborne game, which was the clinching, record-tying thing that we had going that year. And one of the first couple plays Carl gets beat. And I remember going up there and I wasn't that vocal but I was like Carl, you're going to have to step up, dude. I mean Keith's not here and you can't mess this whole thing up right and he stopped it up and he ended up.

Speaker 4 58:36

He ended up doing a great job that game. So right, of course, with Adam Brathwaite. Um, I ended up working out with him when he got into college. He was a fantastic athlete. He was great in little league and Adam was always very, very tough, uh. So he had a great career and he was great to have on the team. Yeah, I'm lucky enough for this. Right now I got troy sloan's son on my little league team so nice yeah he's looking real good.

Speaker 4 58:58

Uh and uh. Yeah, devon and and and troy and those guys they were, they were right in there, man, they were right in there carrying on.

Speaker 3 59:07

Shout out.

Speaker 4 59:07

Rudy, he was on that team. Yeah, Rudy, yeah yeah.

Speaker 3 59:11

Rudy Yep, I remember I think it was the Now.

Speaker 2 59:15

How could all these great names and players, how could we not win after that?

Speaker 3 59:21

Yeah, it's Unfortunately we should have won my senior year With Lang and Patrick, but oh.

Speaker 4 59:27

That was the man.

Speaker 3 59:30

We had Paul Carpenter, my buddy, throw it past the Lang instead. It was like the Marshawn Lynch thing for me Against the Patriots, like hand the guy the ball. We tried to do a trickery Play with Paul and Lang and it didn't work. But you know, and I was against Nottoway.

Speaker 4 59:47

I was at that game. I went down to that game.

Speaker 5 59:50

I was going to say the team that and you guys obviously made the state championship game. We were down there watching it. But the one that they had the lead against Turner Ashby, and by two touchdowns. And in the fourth quarter, I mean the game's done Right and they get a touchdown. Luckily we go to intercept it, it goes to the hands of the safety, the Turner-Ashby guys behind him catches, it runs for one touchdown. Now it's cut to a one-touchdown lead. Then they kick an onside kick and I don't know, I'm not going to name names the kid turns his back to the onside ball onside kick and it bounces off his back because the kick was so hard. It ricochets back to turner ashby. They, they get it, they go down and score and win the game. Then they win the state championship the next week by three or four, four touchdowns at least. It wasn't even close. Hanley shouldn't want it that year. What year was that, myley?

Speaker 3 1:00:46

should have won it that year. What year was that?

Speaker 5 1:00:48

My little brother was on that team. Senior year Was that with LA. It was LA yep, yeah that was that team? And LA should have won. They should have won.

Speaker 2 1:01:00

Yeah, right man, I remember hearing that I didn't make the, but yeah, I remember hearing that Like I said from my years with Lang and Patrick, we've had amazing athletes, amazing teams.

Speaker 3 1:01:12

Shout out to everybody that's come through Hanley. Yeah, nobody's done it since 94, man, and that's hey, you guys should still be very proud of. You guys have all made the Hall of Fame. You guys have been all Congrats. Your team was the most impressive team I've ever seen in my life as a little kid and like that's why I was so excited to have you guys on, because, like the whole community was all about you guys and you guys have shown us something that we've never been able to put together since. Right.

Speaker 4 1:01:41

I'm getting. I'm getting cold chills right now, man.

Speaker 2 1:01:46

It was. It was a pleasure having you guys on. Now the debate's going to be who was better, 84 or 94? Who's the better team?

Speaker 5 1:01:57

I'm not saying anything.

Speaker 4 1:02:00

They were good. We scored a heck of a lot more points.

Speaker 3 1:02:05

Yeah, I was three when they won but I would say, from what I know and read and talking to even some of their guys, like they might have had the best defense but hey, by 94 definitely had the best offense.

Speaker 2 1:02:16

Hey, but 94,. Don't sleep with the anti-defense too.

Speaker 3 1:02:19

I know, but Danny's right there in part. If Jerome was on here he would have not had any of that. Qb Sacker Jason.

Speaker 5 1:02:26

LaRue, that guy Right, yeah, monster.

Speaker 3 1:02:33

He had the record right until Stephen Daly broke it. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but that's good for like 25 years Long time, yep.

Speaker 2 1:02:44

But hey, danny Trey, appreciate you guys jumping on man, taking the time out of your morning to jump on here with us and give us your stories. Maybe we'll have you guys back off or something else, but keep doing what you guys are doing. Man Trey, keep coaching. Danny, keep doing your thing. You guys, we look up to you guys. I do, I'll admit it. Yeah, hey, I didn't did in high school. I didn't want to admit it at the time, but yeah, I did. You guys, you guys were those, those guys in high school. So keep doing what you guys are doing.

Speaker 3 1:03:18

But we appreciate you guys have going on or coming up that you guys want to speak on and the community know about. Coming up just as far as Anything like even your Little League coaching and your teams and anything you guys may have going on with your businesses and stuff.

Speaker 4 1:03:35

Yeah, you can get a little promo Trey oh you can come to Car and Motor Company and get a new GMC or Buick. I'll be right back.

Speaker 2 1:03:44

I mean all right, that's your only freebie. All right, that's the pitch right there.

Future of Handley Football

Speaker 5 1:03:49

Yes, now my kids have graduated high school, they're in college and so forth, and it's moving on to their adult life. So now it's to enjoy a little bit of free time and hopefully get a chance to go see some more Hanley games too. That's another thing I look forward to doing and see a championship in the future, because I think it's inevitable, it's going to happen. It's not a matter if it's when, and so hopefully we can all be there to celebrate them on too. But we appreciate Tony and Chris for having us on.

Speaker 2 1:04:25

Yes, yes, no problem, Danny, no problem, trey, appreciate it on too, but we appreciate tony and chris for having us on and uh, yes, yes, it was. Yeah, no problem, danny, no problem, trey, appreciate it. Very exciting, very exciting, good stuff, guys. Will you guys enjoy the rest of your day and we'll talk to you later? All right, thank you, all right yeah all right fellas blessings. All right, brother, that's it. We just had on two out of the. How many were we supposed to have on About?

Speaker 3 1:04:53

six or seven Things happen.

Speaker 2 1:04:55

Things happen, but you know it is what it is. You know hopefully we can get all them other guys back on, but it's hard to schedule.

Speaker 3 1:05:03

You know a lot of guys at one time and so that's why we try to do it on a sunday, but it is what it is, danny and trey, man, for getting on, like you said in the early morning, and, um, those that didn't make it. It is what it is but, like we said, we're trying to get you guys back on. We can always have a second part to this, but, um, definitely appreciate it, man, and to all the the players over there at haley and the coaches right now man, look, we're all pulling for you and rooting for you. We know Tristan's down. It seems like the quarterback the other night had a really good game. So keep pushing, man, and hopefully we can see another state championship soon.

Speaker 2 1:05:38

Yeah, hopefully it's soon. Like they say, it's not, it'll happen, just win right. Shout out to Isaiah. Baxter and Amari who both came out for the first year and had big impacts in game one on Friday.

Speaker 3 1:05:56

What did Isaiah do? I heard about Amari. Isaiah had a big pick and he was doing his thing out there.

Speaker 2 1:06:00

Nice, nice. Good for them, man. Like I said, there's a lot of like I was telling them there's basketball playing.

Speaker 3 1:06:06

I mean, he had some catches and everything. I think he scored a touchdown. Amari scored also.

Speaker 2 1:06:12

Hey, isaiah Banks, he's just an athlete. Just an athlete. Like I said, telling these kids I wish my son would have played, don't sell yourself short. You never know, they might end up with a football scholarship. You know what I?

Speaker 3 1:06:28

mean. Yeah, shoot, shout out to JoJo because he could be player of the year in the whole state man but just keep looking for me and the leader of that team and that defense man. We're going to be pulling for you guys all season long.

Speaker 2 1:06:39

All right. So, chris, what's upcoming here? We got, so Thursday, mr I'm in here we got a. So Thursday, mr, we were just talking about him. It should be. Mr Paul rush will be this Thursday, so just came back to the Winchester public school system.

Speaker 3 1:06:55

Yes, sir, even Loudon County was in Winchester and Hanley went to Loudon County and now he's back in Winchester so excited to talk about him and everything he's got going on for the community and in the school system.

Speaker 2 1:07:07

Yep, so excited to talk about him and everything he's got going on for the community and in the school system. Yeah, so that'll be our next upcoming guest. And then after that we got Brian Pierce Gonzalez.

Speaker 3 1:07:11

The week after that, bpg Excited to have him on and remember anybody who wants to be a guest or come on and speak about anything. Reach out to Tony myself. Let us know what's going on, and we'd love to get you guys or your ladies too. So let us know what's going on and we'll set it up.

Speaker 2 1:07:30

Right right, yep. So, chris, I'll let you enjoy the rest of your day. I'm here in Norfolk with my son. He's at a camp right now, chris. Hopefully he gets an offer, so I'm going to jump off of here and I'm going to head down there and see what he's doing.

Speaker 3 1:07:46

I'm about to grab my stuff and hit the work for 12 hours, so that's a lot of fun. But yeah, yeah, have fun with that. But no, it was. It was a fun show man.

Speaker 2 1:07:57

I'm glad.

Speaker 2 1:07:58

Yeah, good stuff. So, everybody, please, you know, subscribe to our YouTube channel. You can follow us on Facebook or on Instagram, you know X. So, yeah, please go subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow us on Facebook and, any suggestions, guys reach out to us, send comments. You know you can email, you can send comments. Look, I'm seeing them right here Gerard Smith, you know. And then who is that? Smitty got on Shout out. And then Brandon Lavender hey, go judges. So guys keep commenting. People, you can get on here and comment live during the show. But all right, chris and everybody, we'll see you this Thursday with Carl Rush.

Speaker 3 1:08:41

And I just saw that with Jerron and my buddy BL. Both of them left comments. See, I'm sorry, I'm learning, I, jaron and my buddy BL, both they left comments.

Speaker 2 1:08:46

I didn't even see that. See, I'm sorry, I'm learning. I was like, oh shit, I was like I got comments, I can check, and I'm like, oh hey, people got on here, that's great.

Speaker 3 1:08:54

Love it. Shout out to Mr Smith too. He was a part of that team and a big part of that.

Speaker 2 1:08:59

Yes.

Speaker 3 1:09:01

And BO. I didn't forget about you, buddy, because you was on the squad with Patrick and Lang, and you guys went to States the next year too. We can talk about that down the road too, man. Just let us know what you guys want to do and we'll make it happen, Right right.

Speaker 2 1:09:14

So all right, Chris, I'm getting blown up by my wife now, so that means show's over, Go out there and watch the show at the Norfolk State.

Speaker 3 1:09:21

Tell Mike Vick we said what's up, man, and maybe be a guest.

Speaker 2 1:09:25

All right, Hopefully I'll get him on. All right, bro, Love you and hey, everybody, tune in Thursday 7 pm with Carl Rush.

Speaker 3 1:09:32

All right, love you too, man. All y'all have a blessed Sunday.

Speaker 2 1:09:35

All right, Later everyone.

Speaker 1 1:10:05

We'll be you next time. We'll be right back Outro Music.