where's the love?

Sullivan Central had to count 25-30 kids at an alternative school where kids from all over the county get bussed there. The likelihood of any of those kids playing athletics is 0%. Central would be a middle/lower of the pack 4A football, but now they will continue to have to play much larger 5A/6A schools and get beat like a drum. Whoever the TSSAA is looking out for, it is definitely not the kids' best interests. It's very disappointing.

I appreciate what you're doing. You're pursuing your dream. I wish you the best of luck, but I do have a question. Why do you hate Graham Clark so much? In two of those three tweets that were quoted, you made your opinion pretty clear. I am just wondering what you have against him, other than his dominance over South.

DB's secondary has given up quite a few yards through the air. With that said, Foreman and Swafford have made some huge plays back there. They have had a few interceptions and a few forced fumbles, that's just during the playoffs. If they do happen to pick one off, it stands a good chance to be taken to the house. If DB wins the turnover battle, I think they stand a great chance to win the game. As do most games, I think it will come down to turnovers and special teams.

I know looking at common opponents doesn't mean a whole lot. When you do look at common opponents, the scores are very similar. DB has scored a lot of points this year. Many have accused DB of running the score up. That has not been the case. In the three games where they scored over 70, the starters were out by the 2nd qtr. If I was a JV player fighting for playing time, I would run the ball, block, etc. as hard as I could. I think it would have been more insulting to those teams if DB just took a knee in the 3rd qtr for four straight downs. You have to play teams that are in your conference. You just can't help the disparity in talent level. DB scheduled non-conference games and beat those teams pretty badly- Farragut and Sevier County.

Offensive line. He played at Appalachian State. He's in his 2nd year with the 49ers.

You forgot about Daniel Kilgore (DB) with the 49ers.

I have been wondering if Maryville will kick it deep on kickoffs. Neither Bearden or Sevier County kicked it deep. It appeared to me that Bearden kicked the ball out of bounds on purpose to avoid the ball getting to #6 or #8. By not kicking it deep, they gave DB great field position, which put their defense in tough spots. By kicking it deep, you just never know what might happen. I'll be curious to see how this plays out.

Art, I don't know you, but I'd like to place an order for tickets if you don't mind.

I was by no means comparing SH to Maryville. I was stating that being challenged by a quality offensive team and with the starters playing all 4 quarters against a good team is a good way to get prepared for the playoffs. That Science Hill team may have rode the back of one player, but he was pretty darn good. They gave Oak Ridge all that they wanted, but didn't have the horses to pull off the upset. Maryville should be the favorite. I am not over-confident in a DB victory, but I believe that they have a puncher's chance to win this game. The breaks need to bounce their way. You never know how they will bounce. I am confident that this DB team will come down and give it their best shot. I know they respect Maryville deeply and are excited to have the chance to play them, but I doubt they will be intimidated by them.

I think Maryville has played a much tougher schedule. DB has tried to schedule as tough a schedule as they can with non-conference games, but TSSAA has done them no favors with the current alignment. I believe the Science Hill game and last weeks Sevier County game have been huge in getting DB ready to play this game. They have been tested and challenged. The kids responded when they had to win those games. Friday will be the biggest challenge of their season. Home field advantage is huge in this game. Maryville deserves it. All roads to a state championship should run through Maryville. It just stinks to give them another advantage in the game.

I completely agree. I think Maryville may be able to contain and limit his yards on the called runs, but he is deadly on busted plays. There was a play on friday where there was a bad snap. Instead of a loss, he took the ball 50-60 yards. He seems to have a gear that other kids don't have. There have been times this year where it has looked like he was running at 3/4 speed and then he kicked it into 4th gear and ran away from everyone.

You're right. Foreman has a great arm. They have ran the ball so well they haven't really needed to throw it all season. Although they have only thrown the ball 5-7 times a game, I think Foreman has thrown a TD pass in just about every game he has played at QB. Also, that catch by #15 was incredible the other night. There are plenty of guys to catch it if they need to throw.

It is the best high school football game that I have ever seen. I have been to Oak Ridge a few other times to watch them play DB and it is an incredible setting for high school football, but that night it was off the charts.

Haha! I've got nothing but respect for Oak Ridge and Maryville. One of the best high school football games that I remember watching was the Knox Central/Oak Ridge playoff game from the early 90s. I have also loved the epic battles that I have witnessed between Oak Ridge and DB. I really would love to see that rivalry game come back.

As far as the game goes, I'm looking forward to coming down this Friday. I know that it is going to be an uphill battle. The only game that I have seen Maryville play this year was the Alcoa game on TV and I was very impressed with their team. It will take a perfect game by DB mixed with some Maryville mistakes, which doesn't happen much, to pull out a DB victory.

If I knew that phrase would have gotten so far under your skin, I wouldn't have used it.

So, what are you saying?

I was just messing with you in the last post. I can understand having a couple different schools that you cheer for. I cheer for Georgia when they aren't playing UT because my wife went there.

Sounds like if you can't beat 'em, join 'em to me.

SS, you still have a lot to say although your boys' season is over. Just saying.

The only bird in season for you and the other obnoxious Greeneville fans is crow!! Enjoy it nice and cold.

As good of an athlete that he is, he is even a better person. He is very level-headed and humble. He is very respectful to adults, coaches, and etc. Regardless of football or not, this young man will be successful in whatever he does.

Greene, it really hasn't been running up the score. They were simply running a very bland offense, but Crockett just couldn't touch DB's ball carriers, much less tackle them. Even when the 2nd string was running the offense in the 2nd Quarter, they were scoring at will. The only way for Db to avoided the scores the last two weeks was to ask the offense to punt on 1st down. That's probably more insulting to the other team than scoring 70+ points on them. I do agree that the lack of competition that DB has faced over the last couple of weeks has not helped them get ready for the post-season.

Cap, I respect your response.

Just some observations from an unbiased observer. South is alot better than I thought they were. They do miss the big play threat they have had over the last few years. I understand the punting issues that South had, but going for it on 4th and short inside the opponents 20 is a pretty crazy call. Even if you feel you have to go for it, why not put QB under center. It would seem that he would have a better chance under center. That's where the momentum turned and the game was won/lost. There were some weaknesses of DB that were exposed. I've seen a handful of DB games this season and they haven't had to pass much. Maybe the QB had an off game, but the passing game was suspect with missing a handful of wide open recievers. The running game is so strong they probably won't need to throw much until the playoffs. They should be able to handle the rest of NETN with their running attack. There is still a lot of time to improve the passing game, but it will be hard to advance very far without a passing attack. The two hits by #32 were very impressive. Just as impressive was that #44 bounced up quickly the first time and came back in after a few plays after the 2nd. Both players are tough as nails. As far as the holding call on the TD that #32 ran, I was standing pretty close to the call and the O-lineman practically tackled the D-lineman. It was pretty obvious from where I was standing. It was a great game. I wish both teams the best of luck here on out.