Trojan Fan

The ballot is turned in so it's too late to recommend...which is fine with me. I don't have a good enough feel for the top players and wouldn't want to go out on a limb. So, I figured why not highlight a couple of kids and throw their stats out there and the rest of you do the same. Throw out the stats for the best DII-A players you know or from your school and what they've done this year. For SBEC, their top senior has been WR Trey Skinner who is playing football for the first time in 3-4 years. 38 catches for 688 yards and 4 TDs. 114 KO return yards on 5 returns and 2 picks to go with 42 tackles on defense. He'll be playing in the Liberty Bowl all-star classic that invites 80 seniors from the TSSAA schools in the Memphis area. The top player at SBEC and clearly a guy to put at the top of the Mr. Football watch list for next year is Jr. QB Josh Kimberlin. He's: thrown for 1,611 yards and 8 TDs run for 812 yards (6.8 ypc) and 13 TDs returned 14 KO's for 495 yards and 2 TDs racked up 96 tackles on defense to go along with 2 picks and 3 fumble recoveries Linebacker Dustin DeVaughan who is entirely too small to be playing on the o-line, but does it anyway, had 105 tackles and would have to qualify as the team's "fire-up" leader and maybe the strongest player on the team pound for pound...maybe the strongest period. These guys along with the whole team did a great job pulling a team together that lost a ridiculous number of seniors from last year who contributed most of the stats from last year, got a new coach and completely new offensive and defensive schemes, are playing more people both ways than I can ever remember, and have lost their starting TB who also starts at LB possibly for the season a couple of weeks ago. Now, brag on your guys...tell your story. I'd love to read them all.

Do threads ever get locked on CoachT? Serious question. I don't spend much time here and haven't noticed. I'm not sure I see this one doing anybody much good. At the very least, I'd say it's run it's course. JMO.

All the favorites won in the last regular season game and here is your final bracket. It's playoff time! 12 schools, 4 Eagles, 2 Bears, 3 kinds of cats, Sparta, Troy, and a mythical eagle/lion. Saddle up, boys. Let's have some fun. Safe travel everybody. I assume all the Eagles will be flying to their first round destinations? #6 E/M- Ezell-Harding Christian School Eagles @ #2 W1- Southern Baptist Educational Center Trojans Winner @ #2 E/M- Davidson Academy Bears #3 W1- Harding Academy Lions @ #4 E/M- Franklin Road Academy Panthers Winner @ #1 W2- St. George's Independent School Gryphons -------------------------------------- #3 W2- Jackson Christian School Eagles @ #3 E/M- Donelson Christian Academy Wildcats Winner @ #1 W1- Evangelical Christian School Eagles #5 E/M- Zion Christian Academy Eagles @ #2 W2- University School of Jackson Bruins Winner @ #1 E/M- Webb School of Knoxville Spartans

No doubt, I'm getting older but I'd swear I looked at the right bracket when I made this out. Now, it's not the same bracket or I'm senile. Thanks, Ezell. I think you've got the odd-numbered year bracket that's currently out there. Looking at the PDF on the TSSAA web site, it's dated Oct 27, 2010 (yesterday). I wonder if they did a switcheroo on me?...would make me feel better about hopefully not being senile. http://tssaa.org/Handbook/football.pdf (page 5 even-numbered years) I'll re-do those matchups. #5 E/M- Zion or FRA#6 E/M-Ezell/Zion @ #2 W1- SBEC/Harding/ECS Winner @ #2 E/M- Davidson #3 W1- Harding/SBEC/FACS @ #3 E/M- DCA#4 E/M FRA/Ezell Winner @ #1 W2- St. George's -------------------------------------- #3 W2- JCS/Fayette @ #4 E/M- FRA/Ezell #3 E/M DCA Winner @ #1 W1- ECS/Harding #6 E/M- Ezell/Zion#5 E/M Zion/FRA @ #2 W2- USJ Winner @ #1 E/M- Webb

http://www.coacht.com/boards/index.php/topic/208849-dii-a-west-2010/page__view__findpost__p__2544456 If it's just the empty AA bracket you're looking for, follow the link from this link. Page 6 of the PDF.

#5 E/M- Zion or FRA @ #2 W1- SBEC/Harding/ECS Winner @ #2 E/M- Davidson Possible same bracket as last year with Zion at SBEC and the winner going to Davidson. Both SBEC and Davidson are considerably lighter than they were last year. They're so used to playing each other but it might seem like two new teams with the new coaching staffs and the roster turnover. From a personal standpoint, it would be a fun one. I hope SBEC can get through a probable dogfight with FACS on Friday. #3 W1- Harding/SBEC/FACS @ #3 E/M- DCA Winner @ #1 W2- St. George's Possibly an FACS@DCA rematch from last year. DCA/SGIS looks like a really interesting possible 2nd round matchup. Harding's got their offense going and could be fun vs. DCA -------------------------------------- #3 W2- JCS/Fayette @ #4 E/M- FRA/Ezell Winner @ ECS/Harding Franklin Road/ECS looks like an intriguing matchup to me. #6 E/M- Ezell/Zion @ #2 W2- USJ Winner @ #1 E/M- Webb Agreed with above, w/ no offense to Ezell or Zion, a matchup of last year's CG b/w USJ and Webb could be a really good final. To have it in the quarterfinals would make it a serious marquee matchup. The potential ECS/Webb semi-final looks good as well. ECS and USJ played a good, close game earlier in the year that could be an interesting barometer vs. USJ to help predict the result againt ECS. Obviously, still have to let things play out this Friday to be sure but as noted above the bottom half of the bracket could be really fun to watch. The potential FRA/ECS matchup is overshadowed by the potential USJ/Webb game but it looks really sneaky good.

http://tssaa.org/Handbook/football.pdf Scroll to page 5 for even-numbered years.

One upset in the West last night. Harding got a big win over Jackson Christian 33-20 that, while not a division game, gave the Lions a boost to their overall record that clinched a playoff berth for them based on potential tiebreakers. The JCS Eagles lost a tough one but they find themselves no worse off with their playoff hopes. The winner of the JCS/Fayette game in Jackson next Friday will be the 3rd place team from West 2 and earn a playoff berth to go on the road somewhere to the east. Fayette took their lumps against ECS 42-7 in a dominating Eagles win w/ 5 more TD passes from their soph QB. West 2 is pretty much done. St. George’s has clinched the #1 seed and will have a playoff bye. University School of Jackson has the #2 slot sewed up and the Bruins will be at home hosting a lower seeded East/Middle team in the 1st round. As noted above, Fayette and JCS will decide the #3 slot and the last playoff spot on Friday in Jackson. West 1 is up in the air. The 4 teams still in it play one of the other 4 on Friday. ECS and Harding go at it. The winner will be the division champ and get a bye in the playoffs. Harding lost earlier to SBEC but the Lions would have the tiebreaker over ECS with a win over the Eagles. Let’s see, we’ve got Eagles vs. Lions while St. George’s is the Gryphons, a mythical Eagle/Lion mix. Do they get creativity points or can we call them double mascot thiefs??! Back to West 1. ECS and Harding are in for sure based on tiebreaker scenarios as best I can determine. I welcome corrections. SBEC/FACS is for a playoff spot. Here are the scenarios: ECS and SBEC win: 1.ECS 2. SBEC 3. Harding ECS and FACS win: 1.ECS 2. Harding (hth winner over FACS after Hardin and FACS win best overall tiebreaker) 3. FACS Harding and FACS win: 1.Harding (would have hth over ECS) 2. ECS 3. FACS (would have hth over SBEC) Harding and SBEC win: 1. Harding (would have best overall record b/w the 3) 2. ECS (hth over SBEC) 3. SBEC

Before last night, I'd have said either ECS or USJ and given ECS a little "potential" boost based on injuries (see my post in the other thread). St. George's, while undefeated, has played multiple tight games and just doesn't seem physically imposing yet they're awfully tough at every position. Last night they obviously blew the doors off FACS. That was an attention getter. If they head into the playoffs with confidence and clicking then it goes back to more or less a wash....and while all 3 are well coached I make no secret of admiring what Ken Netherland has done in his career and particularly spreading his offense out a bit this year to take advantage of his strengths. I say all that to come back to the conclusion that they're all 3 good clubs and so, so close...too close to say at this point. Truly, the draws they get and how they matchup against other teams will play a big role in how far they progress in the playoffs. I think all 3 can beat anybody in DII-A yet none of the 3 are so dominant in every phase of the game that they can't be upset by a team that's less accomplished.

Good question. It may not be a popular comment but I honestly think the West is down a little this year overall from last. St. George's is probably the only team I'd say was definitively better than last year based on performance and who they brought back but they've had very, very tight games with ECS, USJ, and SBEC. Last night's complete dismantling of FACS notwithstanding, I'd say the top of the West is very even. I guess I should also say Harding is improved over last year but they aren't the threat to win it all that ECS, SGIS, or USJ are...maybe JCS is a bit better than last year but after losing in what can only be called an upset to Harding last night, I'm not sure I'd even say they're improved that much...maybe about equal to last year. Considering that Webb seems to be steamrolling this year AND considering they won definitively over ECS last year and just hammered USJ? I see no way that anyone is the favorite over Webb at this point. Before somebody gets all testy with me and say you still have to play the games...I know...just giving an opinion based on what I've surmised so far. I have to wonder if the East is down just a touch, too. I know Davidson lost a ton from last year. DCA doesn't appear to be better than last year. Is FRA, maybe? Zion about the same. Ezell maybe a hair better? Webb folks, how would this year's Webb team fare vs. last year's Webb team? Was last year a little better? I'll say watch for ECS from the West as maybe something of a dark horse if you can call a team that who likely wins their division and gets a first round bye. They've had a really tough year with tragedy, injuries, a brand new coach and style of play...really gone through some adversity. IF Will Jamison and a couple of other key players get healthy for the playoffs?...they could be really tough. Their speed is better than last year to me (when healthy) and their sophomore QB (playing while Jamison is out) has added a passing game dimension that's actually a little more explosive than last year, I think. I wonder if he may stay at QB with Will being another speed skill guy they'll put on the edge if he comes back. The 3 west teams you noted, ECS, St. George's, and USJ are the 3 that are definitely the top 3. Not sure I can see another west squad getting to the semis without an upset and would be really, really surprised to see another west team in the finals outside of those 3.

I can guarantee you South Panola would play either Alcoa or Maryville IF they will agree to a home and home (SP has a nice facility...no concerns there). They played Colquitt County, GA this year for the competition with no return game but rarely will they travel without a return game. They have a heck of a time trying to get anyone to play them so the schedule is always a challenge. I still wish they'd told Rush Propst no b/c he won't return the game and would only agree to play at Hoover when he was coaching there. Kudos, by the way, to both CBHS and MUS who have had home and home series with South Panola. Tell either coach to call SP coach Lance Pogue about next year. They have 2 spots coming open early in the year. I can assure you that a guarantee of a home and home series would nail either matchup down in a heartbeat. They simply don't turn down a competitive home and home against a good non-district opponent.

West 2 St. George's 4-0 (TRA,USJ,Fayette,JCS) USJ 3-1 (Fayette,JCS,Rossville) Jackson Christian 2-2(Rossville,TRA) Fayette Academy 2-2 (Rossville,TRA) Tipton Rosemark 1-3 (Rossville) Rossville Christian 0-4 St. George’s took the 35-21 win over JCS to clinch the West 2 crown and first round playoff bye regardless of what happens in their last division game vs. Rossville Christian. St. George’s stopped a last gasp Eagles drive and then converted one last TD to nail down the victory. The Gryphons are no strangers to tight wins picking up close victories over ECS, SBEC, USJ, and now JCS to remain undefeated. The Rossville Wolves were eliminated from playoff contention as USJ took them down convincingly on Friday night. The Bruins nail down a playoff spot and a first round home game that comes with the #2 division spot. They’ve beaten the only 2 teams that could tie them in the standings. Who are those 2? Fayette Academy and Jackson Christian will once again battle the last Friday of the regular season for the final playoff spot from West 2. Last year’s Mud Bowl (West TN was nasty last year on that last Friday…lots of mud games that week) went Fayette’s way. Looks like we’ll get to see the JCS aerial attack vs. the Fayette ground game that accounted for over 300 yds in their win over TRA this week. The Rebels have been eliminated from playoff contention. We’ll just have to wait another week for the Viking/Eagle matchup. West 1 ECS 3-0 (SBEC,Byrne,FACS) SBEC 2-1 (Byrne,Harding) Harding 2-1 (FACS,Byrne) FACS 1-2 (Byrne) Bishop Byrne (0-4) ECS rolled FACS convincingly on Friday. It appears that we’re seeing a good passing game develop for the Eagles to complement their speedy running game. Not good news for everybody else especially if they get completely healthy by season’s end. The Eagles are definitely a playoff team now but still need a win over the Harding Lions the last week of the season to clinch the #1 seed and the playoff bye. A Harding upset could give the Lions the division crown w/ an accompanying SBEC loss to FACS or it could leave a 3 way tie b/w ECS, SBEC, and Harding with overall record becoming the tiebreaker. Nothing we’ve seen so far would lead you to believe Harding would beat ECS but that’s why they play the games. SBEC and FACS will be playing the last weekend for a playoff spot as well. After next week, we’ll revisit the standings with overall records, etc. involved to give some what-if scenarios. One thing is for sure. FACS must beat SBEC to make the playoffs. SBEC might have to beat FACS to get in as well if they lose to USJ next Friday. A loss there and to FACS would cost them based on overall record in a 3 way tie vs. Harding and FACS.

Tough, tough week for ECS. After the death of golfer Luke Pruett, they came in missing OL starter Hunter Cooper and starting WR Grayson McComb both injured in the car accident that took Pruett's life. On top of that, QB Will Jamison and LB/TB Davis Childers were already out of the starting lineup due to injury. They stepped up into DII-AA to play CBHS and came out on the bad end of a tough 14-6 loss to the Brothers. Salute to the Eagles for playing through a lot of pain (both physical and emotional) and giving the Purple Wave a great game. They'll move back into district play next week against FACS in a big West 1 game for both squads. The Crusaders lost a tough one to Fayette Academy, 13-10, in a non-district game that both gives FACS concern heading into next week's big district game against ECS and major encouragement for the Vikings as they head into a must-win West 2 game against district rival Tipton Rosemark. That has the makings of a good one and it could well eliminate the loser from playoff competition. I love this matchup. It should be a hard-nosed physical battle in the trenches. High drama just off Hwy 64 on Friday night. SBEC headed to the Mississippi Delta to play Greenwood's Pillow Academy, ranked #3 in Mississippi's top private school division. Generally speaking that class school is equivalent to the size of the bigger DII-A schools in Tennessee. SBEC nearly pulled off the upset losing 31-28 in a heartbreaker on a 4th and 1 controversial incompletion at the Pillow 40 with about 1:30 left. It was a big offensive show for the Trojans who have begun to light it up through the air in recent weeks. An off week looms. Bishop Byrne will face Harding in a West 1 district battle next week as the Lions took the week off. The Red Knights faced a USJ onslaught giving up 41 in the 1st quarter in an eventual 55-0 Bruin win. It's a tough year for a proud Byrne program but we've not seen much dropoff from a talented USJ squad that lost some key players from lsat year's squad. University School of Jackson will celebrate homecoming hosting West 2 opponent Rossville Christian next week who took the week off this week. USJ looks to hold on to 2nd place in West 2 w/ a win. St. George's also comes off an off week this week and will host also rested Jackson Christian in the spotlight game of the week which doubles as a big West 2 district matchup. SGIS looks to remain undefeated and a game up on USJ while the Eagles look to vault themselves into contention for a top 2 spot in West 2 with an upset of the division leading Gryphons. Fireworks through the air in store for this one?...or will we see SGIS go to the ground like USJ did against JCS?

You are most kind. This is a great division with great kids, coaches, and schools and some great life instruction happening....and I can assure you it's not just the kids who are learning. I feel blessed to get to enjoy it. Here's what the TSSAA says in their handbook (see below). It appears that overall record (after head to head record) is the first tiebreak regardless of who you played. I know SBEC is about to play Pillow Academy from the MAIS on Thursday and I wonder if that's going to bite them at playoff time. Pillow is awfully tough. Playing those two tough squads could bite JCS as well in a potential tiebreak. Who knows, though?....could put them in a matchup that sets them up perfectly to succeed. For the purpose of district/region standings, the following tie-breaking procedures shall be applied and all regular season games, both district/region and non-district/non-region, shall count. If at any point when the following tiebreaking procedures are applied, one team has beaten all the other teams that are tied for a play-off position, that team shall be rated above the others. After any position in the district/region standings has been determined, the tie-breaker procedure shall begin all over again to determine the next position. This procedure shall be repeated to determine all places in the district/region. 1. The team with the greatest number of victories. 2. The team who plays the greatest number of team who win 50 percent or more of their games. 3. The team who has the greatest number of victories over teams winning 50 percent or more of their games. 4. The team whose opponents have earned the most victories. 5. The team whose opponents have received fewer defeats. 6. The team who has the greatest number of victories over teams in its own class. 7. Ten yard-line overtime procedure at neutral site Monday night at 7:30 P.M.

In the spotlight game of the week, USJ left no doubt they belong in the top 2 of West 2 with a convincing win over rival Jackson Christian. They must have seen something on film from Crockett County's big game running the ball against JCS. The Bruins scored literally on every possession but the one that ended the game rolling up 282 yards to go with 197 through the air in the 52-23 win. JCS will need to recover and get their banged up players healthy again to finish the season as they still have an opportunity against SGIS and a big game against Fayette to end the season and likely determine a playoff spot. St. George's took a solid 34-13 win against Fayette winning this one a little more comfortably than the nailbiters of the last 3 weeks. They picked it up in the run game this week as Ryan Doolin had 147 yards and a couple of TDs. TRA and Rossville Christian played yet another classic garnering the win 24-20. Seems like the Rosemark Rebels have won the last 3 in this series and all were exciting, down to the wire affairs. I bet it was a fun one to watch. TRA rolled up over 200 yards on the ground in this one w/ a fumble recovery TD providing the margin. West 2 St. George's 3-0 (TRA,USJ,Fayette) USJ 2-1 (Fayette) Jackson Christian 2-1(Rossville,TRA) Fayette Academy 1-2 (Rossville) Tipton Rosemark 1-2 (Rossville) Rossville Christian 0-3 The ECS Eagles rolled as expected 50-0 over Bishop Byrne and worked on the passing game a bit garnering 3 passing TDs out of QB Brent Rooker getting some game time to add to their QB experience along w/ the Jamison cousins. Big games down the road against Harding and FACS await. SBEC moved into 2nd place in a scintillating offensive matchup vs. Harding as they took the 40-28 win. Big night for Jr QB Josh Kimberlin w/ 271 yds through the air and 139 on the ground. Coach Carter has really made great use of his quick backs and big receivers to offset the lack of line size and the new offense seems to be rounding into shape. 241 receiving yards from Lions receiver Matt Brown kept this one interesting as Harding had their own offensive fireworks. FACS, who was off, still has to deal with ECS, but the annual season closer against SBEC now looms larger than ever as it likely affects the 2nd and 3rd place playoff spots in a big way. Those non-district games begin to loom larger as the potential tiebreaker of overall record comes into play. West 1 ECS 2-0 (SBEC,Byrne) SBEC 2-1 (Byrne,Harding) Harding 1-1 (FACS) FACS 1-1 (Byrne) Bishop Byrne (0-3)

No division games this week but lots of compelling inter-division games that added to the "what do we know" category. USJ took on ECS in a matchup of preseason division favorites that have both lost very close, hotly contested matchups against St. George's in what was easily the most interesting West II-A matchup of the weekend. UM baseball commit Jake Overbey had a big game at QB (we're all kind of used to that by know, aren't we?) accounting for 320 total yards and 3 TDs leading USJ to the win. ECS was at the USJ 6 yd line...6 yds from paydirt and a likely win but a timely takeaway by USJ ended the threat. What did we learn? USJ and ECS are both very fine football teams and it's still probably a toss up b/w these two and St. George's as to who leads the way in the West. The healthiest of the 3 when the playoffs roll around may be the one that has the best chance to end up as the best in the West and go the furthest in the playoffs. St. George's at SBEC. Coach Ken Netherland became the winningest HC in TSSAA history w/ his team's victory over the Trojans. How he got it was interesting. The Gryphons, coming off 2 big, big wins got far more than they bargained for. SBEC outgained a banged up Gryphon squad by ~80 yards and took the game to overtime. Down 16-10, SGIS forced a fumble at their 1 yd line ending the game and SBEC's chance to win it with 1 more yard and an extra point. What did we learn? Probably the St. George's has a fine football squad but they aren't unbeatable. SBEC might be better than initially thought, and when not completely outsized, can matchup against a good team. I suspect we'll see SGIS get their feet back under them and relax a bit more now that Coach Ken got his win and they're through a pretty tough stretch of schedule. The confidence gained by the Trojans on both sides of the ball has to help. Harding rolled over Rossville Christian 38-6 as expected. Fayette Academy got a nice win over Bishop Byrne 47-16. FACS over a salty Tipton Rosemark bunch 33-19. Undefeated Crockett County took a 47-39 win over Jackson Christian, as the Eagles had a furious rally to cut a 4 TD deficit to 1. Both teams rolled up ridiculous amounts of yardage (923 total) in what had to be a very entertaining game for any non-partisans. This guy thinks the Eagles will have something to say about the West 2 division before it's all said and done. Don't force me into saying what that role will be, though. Not just yet. What did we learn? I honestly don't know. Clearly this team can score some points. I don't know much about Crockett County other than they've not lost yet. Somebody else chime in. Next week's big games? Harding @ SBEC- big matchup in West 1- A win for either goes a LONG way towards nailing down a playoff berth. Harding, for all practical purposes, would be in with a win and would have a very likely playoff hosting berth locked up. USJ @ JCS- Big, big game for these two rivals in West 2- A win gives either a HUGE leg up on hosting a first round playoff game. Rest assured St. George's will be watching this matchup very closely. With a win in their pocket vs. USJ, they know JCS still poses a threat and a loss to the Eagles could throw the whole division into a big, fat, and immensely entertaining mess.

Big win for St. George's who is, at this point, the class of the West in DII-A...albeit by a slim margin. A 1 pt win over West 1 favorite ECS last week coupled with last night's 23-17 come from behind win over USJ, the West 2 preseason favorite, on the road in Jackson puts them in the driver's seat to win the district and garner a #1 seed. Coach Ken Netherland tied the state record with his 355th coaching win in the Gryphon victory. Jackson Christian beat TRA pretty handily and coasted for an Eagles victory in district play. Fayette Academy got their first win of the year over Rossville Christian 20-0. Nice win for the Vikings. West 2 St. George's 2-0 (TRA,USJ) Jackson Christian 2-0(Rossville,TRA) University School of Jackson 1-1 (Fayette) Fayette Academy 1-1 (Rossville) Tipton Rosemark 0-2 Rossville Christian 0-2 ECS rolled against county school Bolton 45-6. The Harding Lions took a pivotal win against First Assembly Christian School 34-27. I haven't found any details but I expected a competitive game and apparently it was...and likely entertaining with all the points scored. Harding took what was likely a very big step towards securing a playoff spot. SBEC got up and rolled over Bishop Byrne 45-8 in a must win for both squads. Don't be surprised if the SBEC/FACS end of the season matchup is for a playoff spot. The SBEC/Harding matchup on Oct. 1st looms large for both teams. West 1 ECS 1-0 (SBEC) Harding 1-0 (FACS) FACS 1-1 (Byrne) SBEC 1-1 (Byrne) Bishop Byrne (0-2)

H.R. Greer of SBEC is a scholarship player at Ole Miss. He's a RS Soph and got his first meaningful snaps last week at fullback. I do see Charlie Bryant from FACS on the Memphis roster and he played a good bit at DT last year and started several games. I suspect he's on scholarship. There are several kids alone on the Memphis roster from SBEC, FACS, Bishop Byrne, and CBHS that are all walk-ons but sounds like y'all are looking for scholarship players? USJ, FACS, Harding, and ECS are all represented on the Rhodes College roster. SBEC has a player on the Mississippi College roster.

First- Mods feel free to combine this post with the other long DII-A post out there...won't offend me at all. If that's not possible, that's fine, too. I like those longer, ongoing threads. Big night in the West. ECS has a non-district game to regroup after a 1 pt. loss in a mild upset to St. George's. The Gryphons look to build on that win with easily the biggest in-district game of the year so far in the West as they take on preseason favorite USJ. The winner would seem to have the inside track to the West 2 division title. The ball should be in the air a LOT w/ USJ rolling out their typical wide open offense and SGIS spreading things out this year. You can't go wrong w/ this one if you're looking for a fun football game tonight. Jackson Christian and Tipton Rosemark go at it in one that has to favor JCS. Fayette Academy and Rossville Christian face off in what could and should be a very entertaining battle. Get out and see this game if you're close by. USJ and SGIS should be playing an absolute humdinger but the Fayette and Rossville folks know they need to win this one if they have playoff aspirations out of West 2. West 1 has two matchups with SBEC travelling to Bishop Byrne. Both have losses already (SBEC to ECS and Byrne to FACS). To be blunt, both need this game badly to have realistic playoff aspirations. This series is one I have always enjoyed back when the two schools were playing in the state championship games for a handful of years when there were 3 divisions in DII. Byrne has fallen on hard times in football recently and the Trojans are clearly down this year from recent years. It won't be for all the marbles but you'll likely see an entertaining and energetic fight to the finish from these two old rivals. I suspect coach Jack Grannan isn't going to know what to do when he looks across the field and doesn't see Butch Veazey coaching SBEC. They had some great and fierce battles, those two, in our little classification. Live goes on. Good luck tonight to both but especially Coach Carter at SBEC starting off this "new" rivalry the right way. Harding and FACS battle for playoff pecking order as well. The winner here would certainly have a leg up on what figures to be a battle for the 2nd and 3rd playoff spots from West 1 assuming ECS can win this district. Any real opposition ECS may have for the #1 spot would have to come from the Harding/FACS winner...so a big game indeed for both.

I really didn't perceive it that way. MSPowerhouse just came here mouthing and deserves some grief. I'm betting you it was probably a student who probably hasn't given this board another thought since then...such is the circumstance of message board posting. Some sour grapes, there, to be sure. ...but I read a LOT more ticked off posts only about their team more than stuff denigrating Brentwood Academy. If you're expecting every partisan fan post to do nothing but praise the opponent, it's not happening...here, there, or anywhere. If it makes you feel better, all the OB folks I've talked to were thoroughly impressed with BA and think they're awesome. I predicted OB to be down this year (for them) a while back in another thread. It wasn't a hard call to make, frankly. They lost some good players...a good many. I still think they make the playoffs but SP, Starkville, and Southaven are going to be problematic for them. I think that realization is probably starting to sink in. Be fair, too, and realize the volume of posting on that board dwarfs this particular forum. You're going to have people coming out of the woodwork being idiots. Most of the OB posters over there are really pretty respectful. I root for OB anytime they aren't playing South Panola and just hope for good health when they place DeSoto Central and Southaven b/c I know kids and teachers, etc. at all 3. Try not to let your opinion of all of them be tainted by a few punkish-acting folks. One comment particularly rang true to me and that's that Mississippi folks don't really know TN private school ball. Jackson Prep is the only school in Mississippi, I believe, that would even be in DII-AA in TN. Somebody can correct me on that. SBEC, when in the MPSA (now MAIS) was in the highest classification of private schools and probably even now is one of the top 5 private (not including parochial) schools in the state in enrollment and yet only plays DII-A in Tennessee. There's a real disconnect among most MS folks about TN privates. They simply don't realize the school size of the bigger DII schools in TN nor are there the same size metro areas in MS that can give you the population to pull from to populate a DII athletic program the way you see in Memphis or Nashville. They just haven't seen that before. I didn't realize until I got to college and lived in the metro Memphis area. I don't mean make excuses but most folks I know, once educated (and MUS did some awesome educating last year and BA just did some, too) come to realize how it works and that TN doesn't just have small town academies like most of the MS privates are.

It's very early but a good early barometer is a West 1/West 2 battle tonight between ECS and St. George's. ECS lost a good bit of size though they're still bigger than most of the DII-A in the West. They didn't lose the Jamison cousins, though, and that athleticism is leading them this year under the new coaching staff. They're spreading it out and getting to the edge running and throwing and still clearly look to be the class of West 1. My guess, at this point, is that SBEC and Bishop Byrne will battle for the cellar. Byrne lost their top weapon from last year and so far hasn't inspired. SBEC lost a huge senior class and went from having average to above average size to being downright tiny for their class....lost some skill weapons as well giving their new coach and handful of seniors a real challenge this year. I'm not sure that Harding is that much better than last year but they appear to be somewhat improved. As green as they were last year it was bound to happen. I think they'll fight FACS for 2nd place. The Crusaders lost some good ones, too, and also have a new coach (good grief, fruit basket turnover with the coaches)but I think they might be in a little better shape than SBEC/Byrne. St. George's is throwing the ball this year. Holy cow, what's up with Ken Netherland?! From all indications their personnel seems to suit that more this year and perhaps isn't suited specifically to the power running game. They have a good bit of personnel back this year. The game tonight should give us a good idea of where they stand even though the two teams are in separate districts. University School of Jackson came into the season as the favorite in West 2. Nothing I've seen or heard so far would sway me from that opinion though a great showing tonight by SGIS could do that. They seem to be a little bit down from last year (kind of like ECS) but relative to everybody else they still seem to be the class of their division. Right now, I'd say Jackson Christian will battle SGIS for 2nd place behind USJ. They had a solid squad last year that sputtered here and there but had some really good stretches w/ a season that ended in ingloriously in a mud bath at Fayette Academy. I think they pass Fayette this year for 3rd place and possibly 2nd. Fayette and SBEC go at it tonight in a West 1/2 matchup that should give us a little bit more of an indicator of what Fayette's got. TRA gave SBEC a good game in week 1 but in a down year for SBEC that doesn't bode well for TRA's chances this year. I'd say they battle Rossville Christian for the cellar in West 2 again this year. Those 2 schools have played some very entertaining ball the last few years and particularly against each other. Hoping to see a breakthrough for one or the other at some point the next few years. Size and resources makes it tough for these guys though TRA's complex that was put in a place a couple of years ago should really help them sustain and grow. They did a fantastic job out there. Reinforce those visitor's bleachers and we're all set. Alright folks, tell me where I'm wrong. Anybody care to take a stab at East/Middle? I'll be happy to change the thread title.

Name a "solicited" player at South Panola....not just on the current team...ever. Same last names that have been going to South Panola schools for generations. Same typical flippant, unsubstantiated comment that I'd expect from a public school fan that both hates private schools and everything about them as well as any school that has a program that wins more than their school. Can't think of any Trojans in North Mississippi that would have an SP chip on their shoulder. Surely not from Bruce. You clearly aren't an SBEC supporter....at least I wouldn't think so. Let me guess...Millington? Not sure why you'd care if so, but I can't think of any others around here. Correct me if my assessment is wrong. As for MUS, I don't know what they do. I don't know what the rules are or if they break them. I can say I have such respect for the standards of that school and the mission to prepare kids for college in a HIGH stress, incredibly demanding academic environment the whole athletics anger thing just doesn't filter through for me so it's probably best I just don't tackle that particular subject. As far as I know you could be completely justified or completely unjustified to comment. You might not even be accusing them of doing anything wrong...don't want to put words in your mouth. I just know it's a great school.

39-2 South Panola Over 500 yds of offense for the Tigers. Under 50 for the Owls. Clock ran most of the 2nd half and no SP skills saw the field after the first 2 minutes of the 2nd half. Very few starters played at all the 2nd half. I don't think I've ever seen a 37 pt win before where I could say the score didn't adequately convey how 1-sided it was, this was it. SP could have put up 70 if they'd wanted to and the clock hadn't run all half. Having said that, I don't think MUS is that bad. They're still a solid, fundamental squad that will win their share. Being outmanned happens to everybody at some point.

19 starters back for the Tigers. A fair number are juniors, too. Last year's squad might have been the youngest in a decade...not nearly the least talented but probably the youngest. I won't sell MUS short, though. They are always so well coached and play w/ such great chemistry that people miss how talented they are. SP should be favored but you just never know. I hope the series will continue.

I suspect you're right about USJ and JCS both being good this year. My guess is that JCS makes a nice jump from what was already a decent squad. St. George's should be pretty solid if not really good, I think. They lost some but some young guys progressed during the year last year. Harding was ridiculously young last year but you could see some talent that was just overwhelmed with inexperience. I don't know how high a jump is possible but they should improve dramatically. SBEC lost a LOT. They'll be as green as Harding was last year. I honestly don't know about ECS. I know they lost some seniors but they had some pretty good underclassmen skill guys last year. I suspect they'll be pretty solid if maybe not quite as big as last year. I suspect FACS will drop off some, too. Glad to hear Justin is back and ready to go. Hate to see kids get hurt.