VikingVoice

topvol, stack it up any way you want. Three consecutive posessions the Toppers were within ten yards of the endzone and three consecutive times they didn't get it in. You can blame a dropped td pass in the endzone. You can blame Bowles for not going for a field goal when he had plenty of time to get the ball back for another posession. Bottom line, they didn't score when they had the opportunities and the biggest reason was the VIKING D! Besides, what are you doing hanging out at this thread anyway? Don't you guys have your home opener to look forward to? Good luck against the Chiefs. I hope you get back into the win column.

The Stone Castle opened on October 8th, 1936 under the name of Bristol Municipal Stadium. It originally served as the home football field for Tennessee High and Virginia High as well as the old Slater and Douglas High Schools. It was also the home field for King College when King had a football program. Just judging by the architecture, it's probably a little older than J. Fred.

Whoa there Boonie, you are talking about our house there! I didn't realize we had a connoisseur of castles in East Tennessee. What do you think a castle looks like? Have you ever been to a castle? Hey and I'm not talking about the one at Disney World either! Name 5 other places in the State of Tennessee that are a cooler place to play a high school football game football than the Stone Castle. (Neyland and what used to be Adelphia doesn't count either!) Every place you name is going to be just like every place else, just older or newer, nicer or dumpier. But no place, and I mean NO PLACE is like THE STONE CASTLE!

I thought of one.... Your football program features a picture of the basketball team and it's schedule.

Soneone has some anger issues that must go back a couple of years. I saw THS play ALL of their '04 games and in the East game that you mentioned, that was the FIRST game of the season that the starters saw any action in the fourth quarter. As for this season, there is still way too much football left to be played. And you are right. There is a team in Morristown, maybe even two, that will have something to say about wheter or not the Vikings get another shot at Maryville. There is also a team in Bloomingdale and Mountain City that will have something to say about it. We're not lookng past anybody.

That's funny....I don't care who you are. Expecially number 7.

Wow, seems a little early in the week for ALL of this smack being talked. But whether it is Monday or any other day that ends in "y" there is no sense in talking THIS kind of trash. Let's remember something here...These are KIDS we are talking about. Someone's son, brother, grandson, and newphew. These are kids who enjoy playing a game at it's purest form. They are not paid. They play for the love of the game. I don't know young Mr. Throp personally, but I know his dad and he's a good man that wouldn't talk about any kid this way. I've seen Josef play on the hardwood and on the gridiron. I respect his game and the way he plays which is hard and with a lot of hustle. Iv'e never seen him conduct himself during a game in a way that would embarass himself, his family, or his school. If you have something against a kid because he beats you, do us all a favor and keep it to yourself. I don't care who you root for just remember you are rooting for kids and would you want someone to say the same thing about a kid close to you? I look forward to the game and watching both of these teams settling it on the field.

Thanks for the update. I hope the kids gets a shot.

I was very impressed with #40. The Toppers need to get the ball in his hands more along with David Alexander. Matter of fact the two of them should be their primary playmakers. Maybe they are trying to spread it around too much. #40 and #6 are difference makers.

Could be the best game of the night in the Mountain Lakes. Look for a very physical game. If I were not going to be in Erwin, I would like to be at this one.

I can't remember the name of Maryville's quarterback from their title winning 2004 team. All I remember, aside from the flawless game he and his teammates played against Tennessee High in the semis, was that he had verbally committed to NC State, then signed with Spurier and South Carolina. What is his name and how is he doing? Also, Morristown West had an incredible defensive lineman on their 2003 team. I believe he either went to a juco or a prep school for a year and then on to Alabama. What was his name and how is he doing? That kid was one of the most jaw dropping awesome high school football players I have ever seen in person. Just curious, I would like to know how these kids are doing. I hope they don't come back to haunt the Big Orange, especially since Tennessee missed out on them.

Picks look good to me.

Mikey, I wasn't necessarily talking about the combined score of the last five years. More so the "physicality" of the game. They are always a hard nosed team of big strong kids. There was a game in the castle about three years ago that the Vikings only led by a field goal at the half. They must have gotten a fire set under them because they poured it on in the second half. Sure this one looks like a runaway, but the Vikings better not be looking down the road. It would make Unicoi's season to win this one.

Outside of some newspaper preview articles, I haven't heard much about Unicoi County. What can they throw at the Vikings? Is there a danger of a Viking let down after the big win over Science Hill? Will they be looking ahead to their upcoming matchups with DB & South? I know one thing is for sure, I'm glad this one is on the road. Unicoi County always plays Tennessee High tough in Erwin, but plays the Vikings even tougher at the Stone Castle. What can we expect from the Blue Devils?

After going 0 for the Tri-Cities, the Cyclones are hungry for a win. It seems that more so than any other team in the area Elizabethton is one of those that improves the most as the season goes along. We have had some classic battles with them in years past and the toughest games haven't been the regular season games, but when we see them again in the playoffs. THEY ARE BRUTAL THEN! If history repeats itself the rest of their schedule better look out. North is off to a great start, but they are stepping up to a different level of team this week. A team that has faced three of the best teams in the area. If they are to be a playoff team in the Mountain Lakes, they will have knock off one of the perrinial playoff teams. This one could go either way.

I don't know a lot about the Smokey Bears, but I do know this. Science Hill is loaded with talented athletes and they have good size. They are a playoff team waiting to happen. This is one of those games they need to win. Hopefully they can bounce back.

D-B, has the all time winningest record in the state. So they are definately in the elite class. And doesn't the 4A road to the title game run through Maryville? These two teams have scrimaged in the past few years. I would love to see them meet up in the regular season. For that matter, I would love to see Maryville move up to the 5A ranks. I'm pretty sure they could hold their own. They probably wouldn't win the title every year like they practicly do now, but they would hold their own.

This was one for the ages. A very exciting game. While neither team played perfect and made their share of mistakes, you could not ask for more out of a high school football game. You had big plays. How bout that 60 yard screen play for a touchdown and that 20 yard TD with a defender in your face and two men covering your receiver in the corner of the endzone as he makes a catch falling backwards and holding on?!!! Not bad for a team that "can't throw the ball". You had a punt downed at the one foot line and yes after looking at the replay it did land in the field of play not the endzone. Great job by the punter and the player to down it. Oh, and there were two safeties on the ensuing possesion that were not called. Plus you had three consecutive 1st and goal stands by the Viking defense. For the Toppers you had the interception return for the touchdown. For both teams there was a lot of hard hitting all night long. This game really came down to two things...Coaching, Stubbs and company had a better game plan and executed it better. And the Viking Defense...They refused to let Science Hill into the endzone. This past Friday was the first true test of the season. DB & South loom large. As far as a long playoff run and a return trip to the Knoxville area. There is still a lot of football left to be played.