CPA4Ever

Schools that aren't dominant really don't really care how a sports program becomes dominant, they only care about how that dominance can be ended. CPA has always been about attracting, not recruiting, players. They are one of the few non apologetic Christian world view curriculums and they strive for absolute excellence in everything they do (not saying they are the only ones that do that). That combination, with excellent coaches that focus more on the kid than the wins, attracts parents of athletes to the school. Plus winning breeds winning. Another interesting thing is almost every good private school CPA plays has over 20% African American players that have recruited from the public schools. Nothing wrong with that and I think it is great these kids have the opportunity to go to great schools. However, as evidence of CPA not focusing on recruiting, but attracting, they have this year, I think, 3 African American kids (and 1 starter), out of a roster of 80+. That is not because they don't want them. It is because they don't build a roster by recruiting from the area public schools. In contrast, I was at the Boyd Buchanan game and at least 1/3 of their roster of about 50 were African Americans. I do not know the stats but I wonder what percent of the overall student body at Boyd Buchanan is African Americans? Again, this is facts, not a racist comment. The point is that when you see a large number of African American football players at a predominately white private school you know the program is being built by recruiting. You see it at Ensworth, BA and others. And I repeat, it is great for those kids and there is nothing wrong with it. Most (not all) of CPA's players are from "CPA families" that have had kids go to the school since elementary and middle school. The culture, atmosphere and tradition attract the families of these athletes and there has been a stream of success. Bottom line, the TSSAA has proved for many years that they (and the schools that lose and complain) do not like dominance by any team and will change the rules to break that dominance. This latest change moved CPA to D2AAA.

Can't wait?? Time to get a life.

CPA to finals for 7th straight year. Defense is dominant.

CPA defense tough. Both teams getting penalties but CPA is overcoming them with passing game. 20-0 CPA leads at half.

You're right. My bad.

Hey, Boog, not what I said. Just think coaching is the #1 factor in HS football success, and this game features two of the best and one is the GOAT.

And one more interesting element of the game. BB RB Keck is the adopted son of long time and current CPA assistant coach, Danny Keck.

Should be a great game and could go either way. When I analyze a game that appears to be a matchup, I give the advantage to the best coaching staff. For this game, I can't do that: - Rankin - 17 state titles; 13 out of 16 at Alcoa and finals in 1st year at BB. Wow! Winningest coach in TN HS history. Only lost finals at Alcoa to CAK (twice) and CPA (2014 - Rankin has won every title since). Beat CPA and Martin twice in 3A. - Martin - 13 years at CPA: 3 titles (including 2014 win over Alcoa and Rankin). 8 finals including the last 6 in a row. WOW! One of the ironies of this matchup is that when Rankin was at Riverdale, he was one of the early proponents of the public/private split, after losing to BA and watching BA dominate in the public division. He later was a strong proponent for the split that sent CPA and BB to Division II. Now he is coaching in the private division for the first time. Of course, at Alcoa he was a target of a lot of critics that claimed he was recruiting from all over the Knoxville area for years. CPA's defense is stout. In FRA's 11 wins, they averaged 54. They scored 23 total in the 2 loses to CPA. Pearl Cohn is still undefeated. In their 12 wins other than CPA game, they averaged 45. CPA held them to 15. BB has averaged 38 points per game but only scored 14 against Webb. Interesting. 3 common opponents. CPA held DA to 6 and won 38-6. BB beat DA 36-24. CPA beat CAK 42-6. BB won 30-8 CPA beat GP 41-14. BB beat them 49-20. So, lace then up! This will be a classic coaching matchup and, IMO, a tossup determined by penalties and mistakes.

Wow. I was at the game last Friday an didn't even notice he was out. I can't believe that slipped by me. Well, we are better with #1 but still good without him.

excuse me. Please redefine "head and shoulders above everyone". Apparently "everyone" doesn't include the other 4 who they didn't beat.

who's out?

Only won 2 titles in 6 years. That is not head and shoulders above.

He deserves it. Dominate player on the best defense in the Division, but unfortunately stats are all the voters look at.

CPA has a really good record against 3A teams in the past. 2-0 this year.

You are correct. In 2002, CPA lost their first 3 games, but turned around and beat two of those teams (Ezell Harding and USJ) on the road in the playoffs. They beat BB in the championship game 26-20 in OT. They scored on the first play in OT but missed the PAT kick. They then stopped BB 8 straight plays. CPA was called for pass interference on 4th and 10, giving BB 4 more downs from the 5YL. They held three downs then intercepted the second 4th down pass to win. The BB QB was Will Healy who became head coach at Austin Peay a few years ago and is now an assistant at UCF.