FTBMAN

I agree that he wont find a better staff to play for, hopefully they get the most out of him. WaCo, can you explain how Ash is eligible to play without sitting out the mandatory 1 year after transferring from SH to DB?

As happy as alot of DB people are to be getting Ashlon, alot of SH insiders will tell you that they are equally happy to be rid of him. Having played ball alongside the kid for almost 4 years, I can tell you that for every big play he makes, there will be a few miscues and a couple of headaches. He's a guy who isn't likely to buy into the team concept, and GC will have to really bust it to get him to work hard. No one doubts his ability or his potential, but its almost as if he wont work to get what he wants. I hate to bash a kid, and im not trying to, I just want to inform Kingsport that he will be far from a savior. Dropped balls, temper tantrums, arguments with coaches, these are the sort of things you'll learn to expect from Mr. Adams. Off the field, you wont find a more personable kid, but on the field, you've got a primadona wideout who will cause alot of problems. I want to see what Charlie Morgan does with him on the basketball court because DB's team concept wont allow for an oversized guard who belongs in the post and loves to jack 3s. Graham Clark tolerated Lamon Williams a few years ago, so hopefully he can make Ash into something that the SH staff couldnt- a team player. BTW, Ash is going into his senior year and according to transfer rules would have to sit out a year. How did he become an exception? To Dobyns-Bennett, I hope that you all have a good season but 9-1 sounds great if SH can pull off a miracle. To Ash, I really, really, hope that you prove me wrong, and that you have a great seasons in both basketball and football. To Kingsport and other DB supporters, don't grill me on this one, I'm just explaining exactly how Ash was when I played alongside him but I graduated and I hope maybe this offseason he made a tremendous change. There's too much potential in that spectacle of a body of his to be lacking teamwork and character.

Point taken. Torey and Shawn did alot for last season's team. BUT, TO BE FAIR, we'll put the young buck on the list of players to WATCH.

5 guys? Here- Justin Sylvester- Dobyns-Bennett Isaac Kinley- Science Hill Christian McFall- Jefferson County Enrique Porter- Knox Karns Skylar Dejesus- Science Hill All 5 could make a tackle on anyone in the region, and while they might not run past him, they can hang with him. Leave it to guys from last season's region to run past him: Lane Dukart, KR-WR for DB last season, fastest kid i've ever covered and even smaller than the Bearden kid. Solomon Duanah, not the smartest, but pound for pound the fastest back in the league last season and a track standout himself. Somebody said Bearden's not the type of school to play freshmen? If the kid is as good as everybody thinks, then they would have played him. Its that simple.

They lost exactly 22 seniors and their QB, HB, and whole offensive line. The defense lost a few seniors but had a deep rotation and should be fine.

Campbell County wont turn heads, but I believe they will win games that maybe other people dont think they are supposed to win.

Oh it would most definitely be a season changing win. Providing they beat South, E-Town, and West (Two of those are good bets), then they would go into a showdown in Bristol that would sure be entertaining. TN high beat them on the last play from scrimmage last year, and SH feels as though that was a fluke.

You, my friend, are simply HILARIOUS.

If Science Hill can even SLIGHTLY move the ball downfield 3 times, then I give them a very good chance to come out on top. Their kicker, rising senior Brandon McAuley, was 100% on FGs and PATs last season. Granted, Gilligan didn't use him as much as he could've, this is a clutch kid who can consistently hit from 35-40. He won't wow anyone with his strength, but Coach Hazel has taught him well and he does just enough to get the ball between the uprights. Isaac will have to run the offense efficiently, because he is the only Topper who will consistently get up field against the Rebel defense. Armando Canepa and Corey Macpherson will have to provide him with some help offensively though, as Coach Carter will eventually figure out how to limit Isaac's yardage. Science Hill won't outhit anyone, but if the can get on the sidelines and keep the ball outside the hashs, then there is no reason they can't win this game with speed. I'm going to go out on a limb and say Sh-24, South-21. McAuley doesn't hit a game winner, but he tacks on 3 before halftime if Coach Smith actually puts him on the field.

And much of the same in 2005 when SH dropped 50 on CC at Jacksboro

Check out the other region 1-5A board. Alot more discussion going on on that one

What position will McFall play this season? I know he was exclusively a tailback, but is it true that they have been recently trying him at QB? And if so, will that affect him taking snaps in the defensive backfield if he ends up the starting QB?

It is definitely a gamble for sure. Isaac has spent his last two years playing tailback, corner, and kick and punt return. There was a rumor that Coach Overbay will have him playing safety this season in addition to Coach Smith having him at quarterback. In high school, my personal opinion is that having your best athlete at QB is a good move because normally that player will turn roll outs and play actions into gains down field on crucial plays such as 3rd down conversions if he can't find an open receiver. The only thing I would worry about is depth. Who will the Toppers turn to if Isaac got hurt? They can replace him on defense, but his back up quarterbacks will be Daniel Norris, a sophomore who has been hyped and shows some ability but won't have the speed to do the things Isaac does, and Tyler Pritchard, a small but classic drop back guy who has alot of arm strength but not much experience. These two guys will fight to run the show once Isaac leaves after this season, but neither one is ready right now.

1) Dobyns-Bennett- Coach Clark is a proven winner in this conference 2) Jefferson or Sevier County- Sevier had an off year and will reload and Jeff Co will be consistent 4) Knox Bearden or Science Hill- Bearden lost 27, Gilligan wont let his guys finish lower than 4th after last year's 6 game losing streak. If no one other than Isaac steps up, expect the Toppers to be in for a tough year. 6) Campbell County- Gave Bearden a game, beat Science Hill, but this season will drop games to DB, Jeff CO, Bearden, and Science Hill. Will beat Karns, and upset Sevier County. 7) Knox Karns- beat Science Hill last year, returned 2 fumbles for long and late TDs to break open the scoring. Not so lucky this season

Every summer there is a rumor that Ash will be transferring to another school or quitting football and focusing on basketball. And every summer Ash comes back to the team and suits up and plays. It wouldnt be a good idea for him to transfer going into his senior year because wouldnt transfer rules force him to sit out? If so then he would run out of eligibility. Anyway, Ash is the Toppers best receiver on PAPER. Isaac Kinley is they're best receiver on the FIELD, and he will actually be taking the snaps this season. Losing their best receiver would be a moot point this season because Isaac will be running the ball much more than throwing it.

The coach brought a new system and force fed it to the players over the summer last year. They went into Death Valley with roughly 120 offensive plays and way too many formations. They couldn't memorize the plays, let alone run a sophisticated version of the spread. South came out in the traditional spread and laid it on. Conditioning will definitely be a factor as the Toppers weren't ready to play last season. South is always tough and in adequate shape, but will the new kid be able to run the offense? Not asking him to be another CP, but can he be efficient? I know the Toppers will improve in 08. The slide they went on last season, starting with the TN High loss, would be mathematically impossible to repeat again. Losing 6 in a row with 5 of them by a TD or less wont repeat itself. The fumble marathon that Karns capitalized on definitely wont repeat itself either. There are alot of people who want to talk about conference play, but there are key matchups for Science Hill against South, TN High, and MO West (If they're on the schedule again this year) early in the season. These are tough 4A's that will definitely give SH a run for their money. Two of them may even be considered favorites against the Toppers.

Hey i just started a Rebs @ SH thread and i needed to get some starter stuff so the ppl in JC can know what we're up against when you guys come to town in week 0. Can anybody hook me up with anything useful? Returning starters, young guys who might get some PT, and how did the Rebs spring go?

Are there any Science Hill fans left out there? Topvol's boy graduated, so nobody is starting offseason threads for science hill and the offseason around Johnson City has been quiet anyway. What is going to happen when the Sullivan South Rebels roll into Johnson City in week 0? There will be a new field general for each squad as we know all about Curt Phillips (hope all is well up North) and the less heralded duo of Tomas Hill and Daniel Sharp will not be returning to SH, as Tomas has graduated, and Daniel will be focusing on baseball. Maybe some South fans can help me out here. I have a few basic questions: After last year's beating, which was orchestrated by Mr. Phillips, who is taking over for South under center? Also, what does the receiving core look like? Will Kitzmiller and Houston Martin be back out wide? They gave SH fits on curl routes all night last year in Death Valley. What does the Rebel defense look like? Coach Carter always has his guys conditioned and ready to play and Gilligan is supposedly working his guys very hard up at the Hill. I've kept in touch with a few of the guys I played at with SH last year and they say they are going to be in shape and disciplined this year. I'd very much like to see my alma mater give South a good ball game and come out with a victory down at Memorial Stadium, Spurrier Field. I started this thread very early because I went through basketball and baseball season patiently and peacefully but now i'm ready for some football

Maryville.... The Rebs would wax

I hope the Toppers get the ball in the hands of some of the smaller guys this year. Kinley will be a matchup problem for a lot of teams but I'd like to see Coach Smith put the ball in the hands of Armando Canepa, Corey Macpherson and Greyson Janeway more often. These are young guys with the right attitudes and they work hard. Hopefully some of that hard work will show as the Topper offense has to improve in order to win games. Look for the defense to be solid but the one lingering question rests on the offensive side of the ball.

That was a sick post. It must have taken some serious time and dedication. I'm out here on the East side of the state and have been keeping up with a few players on your list. Odem and Wattad went to Science Hill which is where I'm set to graduate from this year. Kenyona Swader, Courtney Pigram, Travis Strong, and Dequan Twilley have been playing at the local college: ETSU. They are all great athletes, last season Courtney was the conference MVP, K became a 6'9 monster underneath while also stepping out to hit threes, and Dequan ran the point very efficiently and hit a 25 foot game winner to beat Lipscomb. Travis sat out the year with a torn ACL. They won the conference in the regular season and lost the A-Sun final to Belmont. Boy how things have changed. CP has been running point, along with JUCO junior Jacolby Davis (Meridian, MS) because Dequan left the team at the turn of the year for personal reasons. Twilley has been a huge loss, he was personally my favorite player, and I hated to see him go. CP has bulked up to 190 and is becoming a complete player. It has been great seeing him mature. K will be a loss next season, as will Travis, who hit 6 3's in last weekends win over TN Tech. These are all great young men and it is nice to see them doing things locally.

Whats wrong with Obama becoming president?

Hopefully the Toppers will put four quarters together and win one. Four tries to beat DB and we've failed three times already. A win tonight puts us in a home game for sub-state and that would be great to have as long as we aren't playing Maryville again this year.

Way to put it into perspective, SCRAPMAN. We are so very fortunate to have all of these things, and we end up taking them for granted. In some countries, kids start work as toddlers. There are no sports, there is only work, school if they are lucky. We bicker over who is better and why and all kinds of things, when there are people living on the streets and not able to afford food. Let's keep all of them in our prayers, thank the Lord for what we have, and spend some time with our families. Put everything aside for a couple days and celebrate what we have and thank who gave it to us.

Uh.. I could get stats, but i'm not going to. Stats are nice, but they don't guarantee victories. Cradic dropped 31 on Science Hill and lost. In the Trailblazer Classic, Cradic dropped 40 on Unicoi, and STILL lost. Unicoi simply outscored the stat master and hit triple digits for the 1st time in the 6 years that English has been coaching there. They beat Volunteer 100-91. And to defend this statement, Science Hill doesn't have anyone overwhelming the stat sheet, they have a deep, athletic team. And they have only lost 1 game this season.