Govolsknox

Although no longer in 3A, many of your sons suited up against this fine young man from an excellent family that is in a significant battle right now. Please keep him and his family in your prayers and may God touch their family in a profound way.

I would like for all to prey for a former Warrior stand out that is going through a very difficult battle right now. He is an outstanding young man as well as his family. May God touch their lives in a profound way.

Very good players. Do any of these guys have a chance to play on Saturdays at some level? This team was grossly underestimated by casual observers. Quality players, quality coaching ( very few mistakes) and a quality representation of values. Honestly reminded me of CAK as far as the sportsmanship when they were clearly overmatching their opponent. My highest regards for these well raised and well coached young men.

without having seen a roster, that is pretty much what I would have guessed. By-in-large, you can just tell a difference with a group of seniors vs. sophomores and jr's. I hope CCS can really make a game of it this year; this sounds like their year. I think CAK is a year away. Potentially 2 years away, but the Warriors have a very good QB that is a Junior. Otherwise I might give a toss up to next year or the year after. That size and strength was noticeable. Does CCS have a legitimate shot at giving CPA a run for their money? I think if they see Grace again I favor CCS (having watched both)even though Grace won the first meeting.

I agree with your initial assessment that the CCS O line was the biggest difference. It is counter intuitive when you look at the stats in the two games, but CAK was actually able to move the ball somewhat. It didn't translate to points, and the CCS D line was superior, but the real difference (IMO) was that CCS was able to enforce their will on CAK's D line. CAK would make a play or two, and then it didn't matter as CCS would go for 20. Generally CAK was a very physical team this year, but CCS was substantially stronger on the lines. They were flat out the better team. Perhaps some of that may relate to the fact that CAK only had 5 seniors (one was a great kicker but not on the field on every play) and another missed the season except 2 plays that I counted. Not sure how many older kids were on the CCS team, but just giving the eye test, CCS was visibly bigger and stonger in the lines.

2 good teams but based on knowing the stats of Grace's receiving / QB corps, combined with knowing the coach's offensive strengths, if the talent is anywhere close to equal, I'll take Grace every time in a track meet. Your mileage may vary. I can't say whether GCA currently has the personnel to run it, but there is not a better pass oriented offensive HS coach in the state. If you care to take a look at some offensive stats from his history you'll see what I mean. (Per GCAPride) The rest are from various stats over past years under CRB system: Cooper Riggs QB GCA 196-336 2523yds 58.33% 25 TD’s 140.6 QBR https://www.unapproved website.com/athlete/charlie-high/clEpq_TwEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/football/stats.htm https://www.unapproved website.com/athlete/davis-howell/clEoI_TwEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm https://www.unapproved website.com/athlete/quinn-epperly/clE5sPTwEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/football/stats.htm https://www.unapproved website.com/athlete/josh-smith/clEm6vTwEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm https://www.unapproved website.com/athlete/josh-smith/clEm6vTwEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm https://www.unapproved website.com/news/LneuEQaRk0OxTG1jAhgpMg/davis-howell-nears-national-high-school-receptions-record.htm USJ went 9-4 in 2016 under Bradley and went to the Division II-A semifinals

This game will be a handful, but I think Grace has just enough to pull it off. They have to play better on defense than this past week, or for that matter, late in the season. I'd like to see Grace put some points up and make this more of a track meet. I like their chances better that way than a close defensive, low scoring game.

While I am pulling for Grace, I too have observed that in D2 a lot of these privates get beat up on by larger programs. You have to dig deeper than the records to get any idea of the caliber of the team. I've observed that this, on average, is very different than the old model where many of the privates played with the public schools.

LOL, ok my friend. Whatever you say. I would pick CPA in the bracket as well as the match up, agreed. However, CCS is a quality team. What they do, they do well. I'm pulling for Grace, but I actually would pick CPA or CCS over Grace in the third round. Not because that's what I want, but watching the teams play. I do think Grace matches up better with CCS than CAK did, just as I think CAK matched up better with Grace than CCS. Doesn't matter, just my opinion. Yes, I'd say 8-2, with one of those a giveaway (deserved by Boyd but still a collapse from 31-7 and going in for the winning touchdown having a fumble) is a pretty nice, "bounce back" season for CAK. I like it better than 0-10, and I think the prospects for next year look very very encouraging for the Warriors. What kind of bounce back do you see for the Irish next year?

Congrats to Boyd on a very good season. Of all the, "away" venues I've been to, Boyd was probably my favorite atmosphere. The exact year escapes me but it was around 2010 CAK played there and what a great venue. It was almost carnival like in a good way. Reaction, do you guys have a lot coming back or was this, "the year?"

I think you know that if CAK is out, I will pull for CRB and the Rams. I was at your game tonight (and watched the Warrior Network CAK game afterward) as I was not able to make the trip to Chattanooga. CRB's offense looks a LOT different than it used to be. Much more of a running attack and far less passing. 44 is the real deal and 12 complements him extremely well. The QB throws the ball well and the receivers run very good routes (no surprise with CRB). I have to say that while I'll be pulling for Grace all the way, they have their work cut out for them. They are going to have their hands full in round 3. Best wishes that the players and coaches perform their best and leave it all on the field. Hard to ask for any more than that.

Congratulations to CCS. They were truly the better team. This was my least favorite match up for CAK in round 1. CCS is a very good team, and it will take a good team to knock them out. For CAK, congratulations on a fine season and especially to the 5 seniors on this year's team. You've made Friday nights a lot of fun for many of us! Best wishes with your future plans. Next year looks bright with CAK only losing 5 players, and a LOT of playmakers coming back. On paper at least, next year is more likely to make a run than this year. I'm very proud of what the Warriors achieved this year. Only one game did they lose that I believe they should have won. The other two losses were to a better team (both CCS). Just too strong on the O and D lines. Best of luck to CCS the rest of the way. They played with class and represented their school very well in their play and their sportsmanship.

What a great and informative post. Hours of research. Thank you for that, sir.

Wilson made good points and I frankly didn't do a good job of explaining myself. I believe this division is changing big time. The introduction of a number of quality programs into D2 will forever change the complexion of it. It takes time for new D2 schools to get scholarship kids in (usually as 9th graders) and build their programs to compete with traditional D2 schools. But I see that as already changing and going to keep that trend. In the publics, many of the now D2 new schools had quality programs. Those schools have now moved to D2. That is going to have an impact in time. Maybe this year, maybe in a couple more. I think you are going to see a stronger East, just like in the public division in the past, going forward in D2.

Fair enough, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Thanks, sir. Alcoa's used to be the best, but CAK has become better once Alcoa changed their supplier, although Alcoa still has great fries. May have to try the CCS food just to opine.... It's good to know from a good source that it's at least bearable if not decent. Let's be honest.....Whatever the game outcome, one still has to have proper food!!! Prayers and best wishes for all playing this weekend to come out healthy. Getting older every season, it just makes me appreciate how wonderful it is to look forward to a few great weeks of action every fall. God bless these young men, coaches, parents, and fans. This is my absolute FAVORITE season of year. There is nothing more pure than HS football.

I'll believe the West when I see it. I think the East / Middle beats up on one another. Been to one too many East vs. West championships where the real championship was East vs. Middle, not vs. West. Not that there's not an exception, but I'm talking about the rule. West chases East / middle, particularly now that the private / public combination has come into play. Lot of formally D1 programs that are making the adjustment into D2. Good luck west....

Not totally sure I understand.....Not that I have a pristine past... So are you saying that I better get food outside the stadium? Or that the concessions are about on par with CAK / Boyd / Webb etc or may I ask that you be a little more blunt? Not much for funnelin these days lol!

Thanks for the well wishes Reaction. Hope you guys come out on top this week too. LLoydBonafide, thanks for the heads up. I'm bad about not carrying cash around anymore. Having two teenagers a few years back changed that habit. It was better not to have it easily accessible!

So can anyone speak to the food / concessions at CCS? I've been to Boyd and what a great atmosphere and really good concessions and variety but never been to CCS.

LOL, yes my friend I really did. By that I mean head to head of a number of teams, i.e. how they played against each other as well as how they matched up against one particular school on one night. And honestly, while I give Boyd full credit (love the program, fans, and concessions!) for coming back in that game, even with the collapse, CAK should have won the game anyway with the running back crossing the goal line for a TD at the end of the game, called a fumble. I won't get in to information I've heard about what the film showed. It isn't relevant as there is no replay in HS ball. CAK shouldn't have allowed itself to be in that position to begin with. Good luck to Boyd this week!

To clarify, I didn't say the two were equal. Grace is the best in the division. I did say that it's all about match ups. I think CAK matches up against Grace better than CCS. Your mileage may vary. Yes, there were few games this year that any local team played on a, "wet track." However, CAK and Grace have been successful both throwing and running the ball; neither have been one dimensional. Of course, we both know it rained on both teams. Grace did a great job of starting CAK deep, deep in near their own goal line early on. I don't think this is what Grace has been doing all year, I think they had a very good game with field position particularly early on. I believe Grace is the favorite to win the division but the favorite doesn't always win, and I think their liklihood, however strong that is, goes down if they play CAK or CPA vs CCS or Webb. If I were Grace, I'd pull for CCS and Webb this week. I see Grace handling anyone on your side of the bracket pretty easily and your real threats coming in the 3rd round, not first or second.

Lots of talk about the, "big picture" and I'm sure it's all valid. But as far as this specific game and the division right now as it stands I see it like this. Grace is 1, CCS 2, CAK 3. Boyd 4. That is my opinion from watching what I can of the teams and the various head to heads. However, I think the rub is that while Grace is better overall than CCS, I like CAK vs Grace better. I think the match up is tougher for CAK vs. CCS. Very doable, but a tough match up. No disrespect, but I would rather be facing Grace this week. Boyd is a quality team but I haven't seen a let down of coaching and play as well as just bad circumstances in a decade of watching CAK. The head to heads of CAK and Grace, Grace / Webb, CAK / Webb, Stone Memorial for both, Notre Dame vs. both indicate to me that Grace and CAK are pretty evenly matched when only against each other. This was also displayed in a, granted rainy night, but both teams use the pass and it rained on both teams. No disrespect to anyone, but if CAK is fortunate enough to get past the next two weeks and eventually rematch with Grace, I think the folks who think Grace wins 10/10 are badly mistaken. Those teams are a very good match up. As far as this week, I have to give the edge to CCS. Home. Previous game. Match up of CCS strengths vs CAK weaknesses. HOWEVER, CAK is healthy, playing better than they were the first go around, and I believe they will pull the upset. Note I said upset. CCS should be favored, but the favored team does not always win. If I were a Grace fan (which I am due to the Bradleys except against CAK) I would be pulling for CCS and Webb. While their hearts may want a rematch with CAK, if they want a trip to state, they should want no part of CAK or CPA. Grace has a legitimate chance to go to state this year, but their chances go down substantially (not away, but down) if they have to play CAK or CPA. From Grace's perspective looking at match ups, they need to pull for CCS to knock CAK out NOW because they're going to have to deal with one or the other (CAK or CPA) and say what you will, one has already beaten them at home.

That would be exciting! A lot of football to be played first, but you never know....

Three words: Bradley Air Force. Congratulations to Goodpasture, but it will be a long ride home.