Cactus Jack

Maybe the best game on tap for this week. I think AC has it rolling and gets the win at West.

Farragut is better than their record. Having seen Jeff as well, I would have to go with Farragut given the way each is playing right now. Farragut took advantage of a slow start by Oak Ridge to open up a big lead, then just maintained the second half. 

On 10/10/2024 at 12:50 PM, boyfromsi said:

Bearden is much more likely to move to Region 1 than Oak Ridge or Maryville.

I think so too, the last time they did that, they deemed Maryville and Oak Ridge farther south than Bearden. 

Central has shown some flashes of winning. They gave West a little trouble before getting smashed and they usually have some athletes at the skill positions although not as many as during the Rosser Era. Oak Ridge needs to be ready to play, forget the Dragons and move on, this game could be one of those "trap games" people talk about, in between rivalry games of Clinton and Farragut. Need consistent play to be ready for the two Region games on the road that finish the season. Need to decrease the penalties that were so plentiful in the Clinton game. 

On 9/24/2024 at 2:19 PM, SheriffofRedRock said:

Y’all will win but that Jeff Co game keeps looking worse and worse Keith every passing week. Luckily the region ya’ll are in is so weak you’ll win it and the region yall draw is weak as well. 

Yes, the Dumplin Valley Miracle (fumble on the JC 10 going in late) may haunt OR if they don't outright win the Region and have to go in some kind of tie breaker. But OR should win the Region outright now. Yes the Region is weak, I can't believe they took Powell out of it with the last realignment, but it is what it is. 1 Region win will get a team in the playoffs from this Region and it looks like the odd team out will be Campbell County. 

I think Asheville is pretty good from what I have heard, but this game is more critical to the Indians, East has shown some flashes of winning, and the game is at Burke-Toney so it could be a close one, Indians beware!!

That gulf hurricane is liable to be right on top of the game by Friday. Clinton has exceeded expectations so far with a 2-3 record with the losses being to very good teams. Oak Ridge had two hard games to start the season on the road, although Jeff County has hit the skids since. The last two games against Karns and McMinn show a marked improvement in level of play, even though those teams were not as good as the first two. I think Oak Ridge lines will win it up front, but must avoid turnovers and play good in the secondary. Wildcats 28-7.

Powell is pretty good and has improved a lot since the opener at AC... biggest thing is they are quick on defense, especially up front, Gonna be a long night for the Dragons even on the Ron Brown Stadium turf, unless the Panthers start slow.

OR vs Karns, I thought OR put together a pretty complete first half and put the game away. I liked that Coach Rang used the second half to get the backups much needed reps and they didn’t give up a score. 

Hopefully this game is a good springboard for the rest of the season

OR vs Karns, I thought OR put together a pretty complete first half and put the game away. I liked that Coach Rang used the second half to get the backups much needed reps and they didn’t give up a score. 

Hopefully this game is a good springboard for the rest of the season

Good win for the Indians

From what I hear from my Tuscola (Waynesville) friends, Asheville is pretty athletic and has some speed. It seems as if the Indians have kind of righted the ship after the Greenville loss, it should be a good matchup with DBs size vs Asheville speed. 

OR has a young team and it showed tonight, with several mistakes to give Powell short field and scores. Lots of things to improve on for next week. Better blocking for both run and pass. Defensive secondary, close on receivers faster, get some picks. Eliminate delay of game penalties, I thought a big thing that turned the game was the long punt by Powell that flipped the field and backed OR up and gave Powell short fields for starting drives along with one kickoff return fumble by OR. 

On 9/4/2024 at 10:25 AM, SheriffofRedRock said:

OR's offense seems to be flash pan in that its only big plays to the Norris WR. My guess is he will burn by the DBs a time or two but will the Norris QB connect to him? If they do then they will score/have big chunk plays. I think Powell will control the ball and move down the field chewing up the clock. Powell will be able to run the ball on OR. Time of possession will win this game and I think Powell will do that

I think OR can move the ball around to different receivers, both long and short passes.  They have two good running backs that are young but both showed some good stuff against Jefferson County. I think the key is can the OR defensive line root out Pals up front hogs and then can the linebackers make plays on Wheeler. A fast start, which OR did not have at Jefferson County is a must at Pal tonight, if they get Pal where they have to throw, that's where you want them.

On 9/4/2024 at 10:26 AM, HTV said:

Couldn't disagree with you anymore.  

Powell couldn't block anybody in the AC game and that OL made way too many unforced mistakes.  The jury is still out on that one.  

 

I only meant they reloaded with size, but nowhere near as good as last years Pal offensive line. I saw them trying to lay all over the AC guys, you are right there, they are not as good yet....

Dragons should pick up a win Friday if they play well. 

Powell looks like they reloaded on the O Line, which was their strength last season. They have good running backs and the quarterback is a load if he runs. OR defense was shaky against Jefferson County, gave up a lot rushing yards. The Oak Ridge offense can be potent and put up a lot of points fast, and their kicker has good range. The big key for the Wildcats is to get off to a strong start, get ahead and stay there. Be tough to win at Pal though, We will see....

Has to be quite a change from the spread and throwing it all over the lot to the Wing T ground and pound. 

Benny Monroe had some great teams at Cleveland in the late 80s. I remember Awesome Art Mastin on the lines and Swafford and Gash running that Wing T with lots of speed. If Cleveland now has athletes like Benny and the Jets teams had they should blow by Walker Valley.

I watched DB bs Farragut and then saw some highlights of the Greeneville game. I don’t know how many guys they have out, but they seem to have speed deficits on defense, they simply couldn’t catch the Greene Devil receivers or backs. Offense kind of drab and also seems to lack the game breakers at running back and receivers past DB teams have had. I don’t know anything about West Ridge, but it seems they have an opportunity here. For DB, I think this is a must win game. 

Dragons headed to play a PO West team that should have beat Bearden. Don't envy them. Sounds like they put up a fight for a while at Cleveland, its really tough for a young team like Clinton has to start off with two killers the first two weeks on the road. 

That running back for Jeff is darn good, he has very good vision and knows how to set up blocks, follow blocks and when to cut back. Even though the game is at Dollys House, I will take the Patriots. 

Mavs will have their hands full up there at Steve Spurrier Field. SH looks very athletic and big. Hilltoppers are the favorite in that 6A Region.

Just now, FootballFan888 said:

I tried to stream this game on Friday night, but the camerawork was awful. It looked like I could see the entire city of Kingsport with how zoomed out it was. Does anyone know if there is another place to rewatch? 

Pal's boys must be down this year to have been down to Fairygut. The Badmirals looked awful at the Jamboree when I saw them and in preseason highlights.

I watched it too, they need to bring the camera down far enough to get the formation, then tighten it down to follow the play. Its way too wide, I know I filmed high school football for many years. Hard to get numbers that wide too. 

DB looked slow and methodical, they don't seem to have the athletes they usually do, especially in the skill positions, The QB is OK, but he needs help. Run defense is OK, but they got beat over the top some. Greeneville sounds like they are pretty good, they torched Tennessee High, but I don't know how good they are. 

After a slow start, I thought the offense came on and played pretty well, after Stansberry came back in the game. I like the balance the offense has between run and pass. They are going to score some points this season (and may have to). Running backs did well and receivers are getting better, hopefully more targets out there for Stansberry in games to come. O Line did a pretty good job too.

Defensively the inexperience was glaring, plus I think they had a starting linebacker that did not play. They got a little better mid game, but couldn't get a stop later to keep Jefferson County from getting the lead back. Credit to the Patriot running back Thomas #3, he is really good, defense couldn't keep him from getting the corner and at times he just ran right through tackles. Big priority for the defense is tackle better and take better angles.  Maybe a good thing that this is the bye week coming up, can heal up injuries and work on tackling and defense. Pal has the Wheeler kid back now and he is a tough runner, along with that big quarterback, definitely good to have two weeks to prepare. 

Kicking game was pretty good, all extra points and a 40 yard field goal made. Kickoffs most to the end zone, punts high and a able to cover. Kickoff and punt returns good too.