LipscombBoy

I beg to differ. JCM has been laying in the grass for much of the past two years. Why? I wish I knew. As for Henry County, they have been living on borrowed time all year. Close observers will tell you that Jon "Lob" Davidson is the last great player that put the pads on there. Hardin County will expose them for the farce they are next week. Frankly, I'd like to see an All-Star team from Melrose, East, and Frayser play Hardin County the first round of the playoffs at their chose field. Hardin County players trained all offseason at Bodies-In-Motion. Terry "Stouty" Stricklin put those boys on a workout plan that would make Tony Atlas blush. They'll own Shelby County/Memphis Metro this year. The only sad thing is that Logan Young isn't alive to witness it. This is the best overall Hardin County team since Rory Carpenter went back to Hatton, AL.

JCM is easily one of the best teams in the state at any level. This was a huge win for Hardin County. I know the Tigers are looking to get over to Shelby County for the playoffs. They always tear those boys from Memphis a new one. I'm a former Tiger myself and hope that we can draw an inner city school in the first round. Our speed in those games is always a huge advantage. Tough loss for JCM. But they will bounce back. That $500 million expansion of Rothrock Stadium will really help their program, IMO. I have seen the artist's rendering for the bronze statues of Bo Hardegree and Daniel Brooks to go out in the atrium. Nice touch by the architect! Should be well received.

I personally think that Jo Byrns got a little too cute with their offense and it ended up costing them the game. If they would have come out in the 3rd quarter and made it a priority to run the ball, I think they would have won the game. Instead, they tried a bunch of low percentage passing plays and left the door ajar for too long. Credit WHH for making some good halftime adjustments and taking advantage of opportunities.

Jo Byrns was flawless the first half. They are a very disciplined team and I was very impressed with them. In the second half, they had some assignment breakdowns and it escalated. Before they knew it, they were in a dogfight. Heritage had plenty of chances to win the game and it really came down to two plays on that last drive - the 4th down pass and the TD run. Great, great game by both clubs.

I'm sure that factored into it. But still, you can try flare passes out of the backfield or a short passing game to slot WR's or TE's on out patterns or slants. Any QB at the HS level has been making those simple throws since pee-wee ball. They never tried anything off the LOS to give their kids a chance in space to make a play. I only recall two flares (one for a big gain) and one roll of the pocket (sack). Forrest didn't respect the pass at all and a little variety would have likely put them back on their heels a little and maybe created some running lanes, if nothing else. Heritage drove the field on the first drive and scored. They did little else on offense the rest of the night. From the stands, it looked to me like Heritage was trying to protect the lead and win 7-6. But when you can't get a first down by running the same four plays and your defense is out there the whole game - that won't work. Forrest is a very well-coached team with good discipline. They ground it out on Heritage and finally broke one off that was the difference in the game ultimately.

Forrest dominated both LOS's, IMO. Heritage's coach called a terrible game. You can't keep running dive and off tackle plays all night if they aren't working. Ever heard of the shotgun or a rolling pocket????? Forrest is a well-disciplined team and they deserved the win.

Hardin County by 30. Keep an eye on Richard Baugh and "Boots" Meeks.

You can shoot the messenger all you want. But if you go back 25 years, here are the only WT teams outside of Shelby County/Memphis City to win a title of any kind in football: 1985 - Lake County 1989 - Bruceton 1998 - Milan 1999 - Milan 2003 - Huntington 2006- Jackson Christian Even then, I can only count 19 state champions from Memphis since 1982. And about half of those (or more) were won by either ECS, Bishop Byrne, or MUS. And if you throw in the fact that high school football in Tennessee is so watered down anyway with 5 classifications and the private school classes - it's even more compelling. If you don't agree, then fine. But don't be angry at me for pointing it out. The facts are in black and white.

I heard that Dutch Mantel was on the Harriman sidelines. Can anyone confirm?

I know it is a border war, but McNairy shouldn't even be playing Adamsville. A win over the Cards tells NOTHING about how good McNairy is or how bad A-Ville is. Apples and Oranges.

No way McKenzie will win the State. I grew up in WT, but have lived up here since 1995. For whatever reason the football in ET and especially MT is superior to WT. McKenzie might have a good year, only to have it ended early in the playoffs.

Coach William McAdams has been there since Noah docked the ark at Mt. Arafat. Staff continuity is at an all-time high. Their weightroom and stadium is among the best in the state and certainly WT. They get all the great talent from Pickwick and Gillis Mills. Could this be the year that they break through in the playoffs vs. an overconfident Memphis team and wind up in the Blue Cross Bowl??????

Not making excuses for WH, but a well-executed option attack is hard to stop. While Portland may not have had unbelievable talent at the skill positions, their technique and execution was pretty good and they had smart players who knew their roles. I thought their 2nd string QB stepped into a difficult situation and played pretty well until the game was out of reach. And their downfield blocking was good as well. I think the WH defense would have looked more dominant against a traditional I-Formation team. But you have to give them credit for creating some key turnovers. Difference in the game, IMO.

Somebody told me that it was reported on WBBJ Channel 7 that Rinaldo Pollard stole a car at halftime and drove the length of the field. Can anyone confirm?????

Just make sure you Lewis Countians never speed in Wayne Co. They have about 10 Barney Fife's on patrol there and will nail you for doing 31 in a 30. I hate driving through there.

I'd also like to add that I was not impressed with Gaines at LT. He looked like Tarzan, played like Jane. Looked big (not fat though) and slow. Doesn't get good pad leverage consistently and looks very high in his stance. His footwork left a lot to be desired as well. The kid he was going against beat him several times by getting lower than he did and shedding the block. And he was probably giving up 100 lbs. and 6". I was anxious to see him play tonight and very disappointed. Maybe he just had a bad game, but I would be shocked if he gets any D-1A offers unless he gets an extreme sense of urgency about him and works on his technique.

Bring back John Tucker!!!!! Brian Dance as OC and George Kidd as DC.

Never underestimate Freddy Essary's gameplanning prowess. Another marquee HCHS victory.

WH might have won anyway. But the Portland QB was knocked out of the game on the 2nd or 3rd play from scrimmage and Portland still nearly tied the game up late in the 3rd quarter. WH in no way looked dominant at any stage of the game. But neither did Portland. They kept running the same three plays to either side all night. Although the slip screen fake was beautiful and one of the best HS plays I have seen in years. What will be interesting is when Heritage grows in number to be in the same division as WH. IMO, better athletes on the Robertson Co. side, especially the younger kids in Jr. Pro today. Wonder how the Sumner Co. school board officials that wanted the split will feel if Heritage starts to gain the upper hand in town?

Bad News - Greenbrier was beaten. Good News - Deer season is just around the corner.

Agree. Portland fumbled 6-7 times tonight and until the fumble on the 1 yard line (that would have tied the game), the game was not put away by WH.