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Halls has 3 things going for them. Depth Speed Defense Final Halls 28 Maryville 21

I hope you're hungry...

August 22nd, 2008 Halls Red Devils (2nd round playoff team last year) vs Maryville Rebels (defending state champs) It was close (38-30) last year, at Maryville Game is in Halls this year, and Halls returns a LOT Both teams will have exceptional defenses It will be a HUGE crowd and a great atmosphere Halls was the last team to beat the Rebels before they went on their 60 game 4A win streak... ...and may be the last team to beat them before they go to 5A? Best game in East Tennessee week 0

Maryville 21 Halls 28 Oops, wrong thread... /rolleyes.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":rolleyes:" border="0" alt="rolleyes.gif" />

Thanks for clarifying your position. Sorry if I offended you. I did not mean to. No, I don't think you're a pessimist. I think we return more starters than the Rebels and it will allow us to get going quicker in the game. I also think we will emphasize the run even more with the loss of Daniel Dayton at WR, especially early in the season until someone steps up as a playmaker in the passing game. When you add in our depth at RB and very, very strong o-line, I can easily see a scenario where we jump out on them 14-0, are winning at the half 14-7, and end up winning 28-21. I can also see a scenario where MHS does the same to us, I just think it is less likely. Neither team, IMO, will blow the other one out. They're both too good. Years past won't matter much in this game as the boys on this current Red Devil team KNOW they can beat the rebels. We matched 'em score for score at their place last year until we failed to match 'em one last time in the 4th quarter. We also did it without our starting QB the entire 2nd half. The rebs had more depth. Depth will be to our advantage in ths game. Did anyone else notice what a great second half team we were last year? It's the depth in the program that caused it. We're even deeper now. NO more Halls players going to MHS to play. Halls has a great football tradition that is on the return in 2008 with Coach Julian and the boys. The defense will be the strength of this Red Devil team this fall. That bodes well come playoff time. The home crowd will be huge 42 days from now. I hope everyone in town comes out. I expect we have a better chance of losing another game into the season moreso than losing to Maryville. In fact, I too expect we will likely let our guard down at least once during the season, as the schedule is tough like you said and I don't think anyone is "likley" to go undefeated this year in conference. "If" someone does, Halls has as good a chance as anyone of being the team that does it. The stars just seem aligned to me; thats all. Best case 10-0 Worst Case 7-3 Most likely, 9-1 or 8-2. I just feel a win vs Maryville coming and that will MATTER more than an undefeated season in the scheme of things. >>> Playoff seeding, Notariety, etc.... Optimism is high in my home. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> The "Nike Team" will be 0-1. See you at the games...

Thanks. I ended up editing it as I found myself getting kinda preachy. Again, my apologies. Looks like the cards are selling... /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

The boys are excited. As for the earlier dialogue about our chances vs Maryville... ...I say we'll take the lead in the game from the first drive and never relinquish it. It may not be a "probability" to many of you, but most would admit that, this year, it is certainly a "possibility". /huh.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":huh:" border="0" alt="huh.gif" /> As for me, I'm a hopeless optimist. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> My apologies to the rest of you in advance. Oh, and Gooooooooooo Red Devils! August 22nd can't come soon enough for me.

I would add in James O'Laughlin to that mix of guys who will meet with success carrying the ball. Chad Blakely also had a good "Red & White" game. I like our DEPTH at RB.

If all goes well, weather dependent on 11 August. Ceremonially, perhaps in the next week or two?

Halls has it's share of playmakers, but what will make them exceptional this fall is overall team speed and depth. Very senior laden class coming back from a second round playoff team.

No

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By no means does the season hinge on the Maryville game, but it will sure set the tone for where the Red Devil program is and where's it's going. It'll be nice to garner the upset before Maryville takes the leap to 5A. I honestly believe the game on August 22nd will be very close and one of the best matchups in Knoxville all year. I also expect a HUGE crowd for the game.

Well put! I'm very proud of the current coaches, players, and boosters.

Plans were submitted for approval last I heard. It's been about a week since I heard that though...

Thanks. I'll double-check my intution next time.Looks like the new field house is about to get underway.It was exciting to see so many parents get involved at the Red & White game.Looks to be a fun Fall.

The defense was very good. A few players remain dinged up, but no career ending type injuries all spring. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" /> The offense will improve the most between now and August with the return of the boys who were playing baseball. Stadium Club raised over $7,000.00 Monday night and lots of upcoming freshman parents are now getting involved in the program. Agreed on the return thing. Gibson read the QB well. The other poster is correct on the return being dead. Same rule applies in the NCAA. Let's get ready to tailgate later this summer. /hungry.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":hungry:" border="0" alt="hungry.gif" />

I had to quote myself after the Red & White game as Z+7 scored the Red Team's only TD on a fade to the corner of the endzone. /thumb[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":thumb:" border="0" alt="thumb[1].gif" />

No offense taken. I played MLB in HS. All I was saying is Zabowski is ideally suited, because of his height, to catch those passes that are thrown at or near the sidelines or corner of the endzone. I believe the Red & White game starts at 6:00, but don't quote me on that.

It's a slant when the line of scrimmage is outside the red zone, but yes, in the manner you suggest (inside the 20) it is a fade. Either way, his height would make this an ideal pattern for him to get down pat before August. /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> I appreciate the respectful way we talk to one another in here. The DB thread has turned into some real bickering and in-fighting. We've got a lot to look forward to IMO. See y'all Monday night...

I saw his "potential" when he was still running track. Agreed he has the size and likely the hands (from playing basketball). I've seen him haul in a couple of nice passes, but that was late in the scrimmage against DB's "twos" and in our own internal scrimmages. I agree that where he is (as a reciever) is more a matter of experience than anything and he has the "potential to develop into a threat. IMO, he needs to move to the ball more and not just rely on his height advantage. He could be an excellent target for slants to the corner of the endzone. I like the way our TEs are catching the ball in traffic.

Agreed. A lot of our offensive players are still out. We've got a ding or two in our house as well.

Agreed on all. There were lot of bright spots... Depth Blocking Overall physicality Conditioning (for this time of year) Some areas that stand room for improvement... Wrapping up on tackles Defenders shedding blocks The deep threat

Thanks for the update. I talked to Zack yesterday and his attitude remains great. He told me he wanted to pad up over the cast and get back out there. What a well grounded young man. The fact that he's out there watching with his cast on tells me a lot. He wants to be out there. Depending on how his arm heals and how "momma" feels will be the only possible drawbacks to his return. By the way, I'm not inferring anythying by mentioning "momma". She a very nice lady and whatever a family decides, they decide. I just happen to know that my own wife would have a LOT of say so, if something like this were to occur in my family and rightfully so. My gut tells me he'll be back playing in the fall from talking to him. # 45 continues to look very good at TE. I kinda wish we could have seen some of the guys who are presently playing baseball work out with the team this Spring, but in another respect, I'm glad we didn't. It'll leave a few surprises for August. It also gave the coaches an opportunity to look at our team depth in a way they would not have been able to otherwise. Overall, we couldn't be in much better shape headed into Summer IMO. Last practice before the Red & White game is today. Meet y'all on the High Ground...

Agreed on all. I believe most of our missed tackles, as sporadic as they were, came fairly late. Either when our "ones" were getting pretty darn tired and fresh offensive guys got rotated in against tired defenders (I saw this happen twice late in the scrimmage), or, in a case or two, where we put in fresh "twos" who were simply outmatched by their "ones". That said, those kind of things happen in games too. It's all part of game management and being "deeper" than your opponent. The scrimmage, from that perspective will give our coaches an idea how deep we are and how much substituting we'll need to do this fall. I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir, but most football afficionados know that 4 out of 5 times, the team that wins the 4th quarter wins the ballagame. I like our depth. Both offensive lines got away with a LOT of holding with the sparse officiating a scrimmage allows for. This contributed to their offense getting a few corners on run plays IMO. Despite this fact, I want to see our boys get better at shedding blocks.