Duckmax

I believe Southside is going to surprise some people this year. It's true they only have 4 returning starters, but remember there second team played a whole lot last year. My preseason pick is the region will go to Southside or Bolivar.

Congraulations to Giles Co. That was a great game. I hated the outcome, but it was a great game. South Side's secondary did show up for this one. I really thought the game would turn after that great goal line stand by South Side- but it wasn't to be. We shot ourselves in the foot a couple of times (two turnovers inside the 15, stepping out of bounds at the 2 on kick off return) but the bottom line is Giles held us to 7 points- something nobody else has done. Hats off to Giles. I will pull for you against Lipscomb. Congraulations to South Side 11 & 1, Undefeated Regular Season and the best team in South Side history.

My Picks: 1A: Lake Co over TCA. JCS over McKenzie. 2A: Camden over CPA. Humboldt over Westview. Milan over Peabody. 3A: SouthSide over Giles. Crockett Co. over Covington. Dyersburg over Haywood.

I don't know who those guys were impersonating South Side's secondary. If the SS secondary plays like they played tonight, you may be right. Hopefully the secondary that played the entire regular season (and against some good passing teams) will show back up. If not, we are in trouble. Oh well I guess anyone can have an off night (Crockett/Haywood comes to mind). Well SS has now had theirs.

Final Score: South Side 42 Cheatham Co. 35. That is, by far, the worst game South Side's secondary has played all year. Cheatham was fired up and played hard all night. Hats off to Cheatham QB. HAWKS 11 & 0!

The Eastern teams you mentioned will probably be there. On the Western side, I believe it will be either Crockett or South Side, and probably South Side. The East may win, but Crockett or South Side will not be held to 7 points, it just won't happen. Both have way to many offensive weapons to consistantly shut down them all. Their defenses allow a little over one touchdown a game (many of those scored on the second team(s). Who ever represents the West, these two, or a team that was good enough to get past them, the West will be well represented. If your picks take either of these two as lightly as you seem to, I doubt the lunch you speak of will be necessary. There is a very good chance the state championship will be decided itn the Semis..... in Alamo.

I use a Canon Digital Rebel XTI with a f2.8, 100 to 200mm zoom lens and a Canon Speedlite external flash (usually have the "film speed" setting at 800). To "zoom" in further, crop it in the computer. At 8 to 10 mega pixals you can crop quite a bit without to much quality reduction. For me, this works great. Note you will need a lens capable of low f stop so you can increase the shutter speed to stop the action. I usually have it set to "Tv" where I set the shutter speed (and film speed) and the camera sets everything else. This has worked best for me.

Jontamion has started at tailback all season. The injured player was our starting fullback- Tavoris Bates. He was injured in game 4 (ACL) and was out for 4 weeks (actually coaches held him out for 5). That caused concern because at the time of the injury he was only 70 yds. behind Jontamion in season stats. The concern wasn't well founded as back up Ken James stepped up has done a great job. James and Bates in games 9 & 10 were changed out to keep both rested. As far as stats, I believe Jontamion is well over 1,400 yds (quite an accomplishment as defenses concentrate on him and he rarely sees the 4th quarter.). You'll find James & Bates combined number is similar, which I believe speaks to our offensive line. The couple of times our ground game has been slowed, it opened up the passing game. If you saw the Lexington game, their whole defense keyed on Jontamion and he still had 192 yds. What is not in the stats is our recievers were open all night long, but it simply was'nt neccasary. Jontamion is a great back, and a great individual. I have never seen him take credit personally- he always deflects it in favor of the line. But then again the whole team is that way. This is really a very special group. There is not an "individual" on the whole team. I believe that spirit will take them far, probably to Murfreesboro. GO HAWKS!!

South Side just has way to many offensive weapons and a defense that has dominated all but Henry Co.. I'll take South Side by 28. GO HAWKS!!

#7 Kirk Armet (CB/QB) #4 Jontamion Forrest (FS/TB) #45 Ken James (DE/FB) #6 James Ellison (CB/WB) #56 Richard Stone (BE/OT) #77 Antonio Golden (DT/OG) #79 Bruce Tipler (DT/OT) #2 Tavoris Bates (LB/FB) #81 Chris Sipes (LB/TE) #51 Gerald (Bubba) Plemmons (LB/C) #10 Murphy Wilson (CB/WB) #53 There is no #53 #59 Michael Cain (DE/OG/K) #51 See above #12 Justin Day (CB/SE) #82 Michael Newbern (CB/SE) #81 See above #65 Owen James (DT/C) You might want to add: #5 Malik Fryer (LB/TE) #55 Demario Rose ((DT/OG)

Note in week 1 you show Sheffield winning their game with Haywood, then Haywood moving on to the second round? In the West/Middle (I know nothing of East/Middle), I agree with most of your brackets. My West/ Middle brackets would be as follows: David Lipscomb vs. Fayette Ware - David Lipscomb Lexington vs. Spring Hill - Lexington Giles County vs. Bolivar Central - Giles County Jackson South Side vs. Cheatham County - Jackson South Side Crockett County vs. Frayser - Crockett County Trezavant vs. Covington - Covington Dyersburg vs. Mitchell - Mitchell Sheffield vs. Haywood - Sheffield David Lipscomb vs. Lexington - David Lipscomb Giles County vs. Jackson South Side - Jackson South Side Crockett County vs. Covington - Crockett County Sheffield vs. Mitchell - Sheffield David Lipscomb vs. Jackson South Side - Jackson South Side Crockett County vs. Sheffield - Crockett County Jackson South Side vs. Crockett County - Jackson South Side Knox Catholic vs. Jackson South Side - Jackson South Side

South Side's Jontamion Forrest added to his already very impressive stats with 192 yards & four touch downs last night against region rival Lexington.

South Side is firing on all cylinders. South Side D has dominated all but Henry County and gets better each week. Jontamion continues to prove he is one of the best backs in the state. Bates is back. Last week SS had touchdown receptions by 3 different recievers. Lexington has done well this year, but South Side has way to many weapons. South Side is very much aware Lexington is the only thing standing between them and a perfect regular season 10 & 0 - something that has never happened in SS history. I going with: South Side 42 - Lexington 13 . GO HAWKS!!

The turning point for FW was South Side. South Side crushed them. Since that game they havn't been the same.

4th or Semi Finals. The winner would go to the Boro for the State Championship game.

I hope you're right. Both teams have to make it to the semi finals. If you are right it will be one of the biggest games, not seen in a while, more like ever. I've seen both play. Both are VERY GOOD. Again I hope you're right.

FINAL SCORE South Side 42 - Bolivar 6. I was close! GREAT JOB SOUTH SIDE!! 9 & 0 !! Only one to go to a PERFECT REGULAR SEASON!!

Regarding 3A: I know little about Mid/East Tn Teams, other than some are generally very good. At least two West Tn 3A teams have a good shot- South Side and Crockett. I would love to see these two in the semis (the winner of that game represent the west). Both teams still have a hard road to get to that point, but if they did -- what a game!. Being as my loyalties are to South Side, I'll say The Hawks vs. either Knoxville Fulton or Catholic in the Boro!

This is a hard game to call. I believe Lexington may have a better overall team, but FW is good at Lexington's main weakness (passing). Psychologically FW seams to have lost it's edge. That may be the differance here. I'll take Lexington, in a close one .

No one is underestiamting Bolivar. I spoke with some SS players weds. night and they know Bolivar has a good team, and has improved over the season. It's just South Side has been kicking seriou butt this year, including three 4A teams.

There was a thread about this game earlier, but low involvement (I think it is on page 3 or 4 now). I'm not sure Bolivar has that much magic. The Hawks are flying high and only Bolivar and Lexington stand in the way of a perfect regular season. I believe South Side just has to many weapons for Bolivar to stop. South Side 42 - Bolivar 14 . GO HAWKS!!!

No, it wasn't. That's why I said majority. The second team went in after the second half's first series at Northside, Chester Co., JCS, McNairy for sure, and possibly Fayette Ware as well. I hope they are in there at Bolivar! GO HAWKS!!

Covington 21 - Crockett 17

South Side 42 - Bolivar 14 . GO HAWKS!

No that is not typical. In the majority of the games this year (and I have been to all) the second sting was put in after the first series of the second half.