Cecil Joyce’s five take-aways from Week 5 of the high school football season:
Resilient Blaze: Had Blackman (No. 1 on The Tennessean’s Midstate Top 10) lost to Independence, it wouldn’t have been the biggest upset of all time. However, most heads were turned by the fact Independence once led 42-14 over the talented Blaze — and that was in the fourth quarter. What turned heads the most is arguably one of the best comebacks this state has seen in a long time — if not ever.
Blackman scored 29 points in the game’s final 11 minutes to avoid the upset and pull off a dramatic 43-42 win. Independence fans must have been torn emotionally between playing that well against the state’s No. 2-ranked team to blowing a huge lead and missing out on what would have been the program’s biggest win.
Making its case: If a 5-0 start wasn’t enough to make believers out of Springfield fans, the Yellow Jackets’ sixth win — an impressive 39-8 victory over White House — certainly was. White House entered the game unbeaten as well and perennially goes deep into the playoffs.
Veteran quarterback Timmie Barbee has Springfield’s offense rolling, and the Yellow Jackets defense allowed just 42 yards rushing to a team that loves to run and generally does well on the ground. This week’s matchup at home against Henry County should settle the 10-AAA race early.
Sometimes it’s the opponent: Speaking of making a statement, McCallie did that loud and clear in Friday’s 62-34 win over four-time defending DII-AA state champion Ensworth (No. 2 in the Midstate Top 10).
In a division that is loaded with talent and is still anybody’s to win, McCallie arguably put itself at the top as favorites with the impressive showing. McCallie accumulated 556 yards of offense in the win. Ensworth wasn’t exactly paltry on offense, passing for more than 300 yards and rushing for 175. Ensworth quarterback P.J. Settles’ big day (15-of-28, 301 yards, two touchdowns) was overshadowed by McCallie’s huge offensive output.
History lesson: History was made earlier in the month when Pickett County hired the state’s first female head football coach. It was made again Friday night when the Bobcats and Brittney Garner pulled off a 41-34 win over Jellico, making her the first female head coach to earn a victory in Tennessee. It was Pickett County’s first victory this season and avenged a 34-8 loss to Jellico last season. Garner is now 1-2 as Pickett County’s head coach
It’s not (all) about the offense: Offensive numbers have been downright gaudy this season, and Friday was no different. However, there were some bright spots defensively.
Lipscomb Academy shut out Goodpasture 42-0. Marshall County held Franklin County to one touchdown and 127 yards in a 42-7 victory. Westmoreland allowed just 27 yards rushing in a 28-7 win over Gordonsville. Oakland limited Brentwood to less than 140 yards in a 49-7 win. and Cookeville held Lebanon to just over 140 yards in a 69-6 win.
However, the most impressive defensive performance of the night came from La Vergne, which held Whites Creek to just 38 yards in a 49-6 win. Whites Creek had minus-51 yards rushing in the loss.
