hokies931

What a team Oak Ridge had tonight. If not for Thomas fumbling the ball and his own teammate running over 50 yards for a touchdown to tie the game, we could have had a nailbitter on our hands. Oak Ridge almost completely took away Riverdale's running game, and what do they do, win with their passing attack. No offense to Franklin, but I think this was the state championship game tonight unless Riverdale overlooks Franklin which I doubt. Franklin's best chance is if its below 20 degrees and snowing next Saturday night. Again congrads to Oak Ridge on one heck of a team, if not for that one play who knows what would happen although the Riverdale coaches did an unbelievable job of adjustments to basically shut down OR in the second half. Riverdale 35 Franklin 7

Not to be mean here but this a message board, and the topic is Oak Ridge vs Riverdale. You guys ever hear of a thing called a messenger, like aol or msn or yahoo, why not start talking on that instead of putting about 10 pages of your conversation on this thread.

First I want to start out and say to all the Oak Ridge fans, yes there are quite a few cocky Riverdale fans on here who make guarantees about this and that. I myself am a Riverdale fan, but not a cocky one at all. To try to help you get in the head of some of these people and why they say such bold statements, just look at the past Riverdale scores from this season and you will see why they feel their team will always win in a blowout. It was almost a weird feeling at the Cookeville game on Friday night being up a few touchdowns, but it almost felt like Riverdale was losing since we all have gotten so use to winning games by 40 points or more. I haven't seen Oak Ridge play all season, so I will not pass immediate judgement. I believe someone made the statement that an Oak Ridge tailback would rush for over 150 yards in this game. Now I am not cocky, but I would put all the money in my bank account against that statement unless your line is made up of 5 guys over 300 pounds and your tailback runs a 4.3 and weighs over 220 pounds. Riverdale will make turnovers though. Cookeville got one early in the game(although I never knew when a ball hits a player in the chest and drops straight down its considered a fumble) but couldn't capatilize. I think a Cookeville fan said it best, that his team did not capitalize in the red zone. If you get in the red zone you have to score touchdown's. You must get the lead early on Riverdale, once they get the lead first, or break that first big play, they are almost impossible to beat. From what I had heard last year your whole team was filled with seniors, but obviously being a great program like Oak Ridge is, you have reloaded in talent similar to what Riverdale does year after year. I said it last week and I will say it again this week, to beat Riverdale you have to have three things. 1. You must get the lead early on them 2. You must have a better than decent passing game because Riverdale will give up big plays from passing if they don't sack your QB beforehand. 3. You have to play as a team, with a huge heart. Cookeville had number 2 and 3, they just did not get the lead early and from their Riverdale played with confidence and held onto the game. I am a huge Riverdale fan, but up to this point, the most adversary this team has faced is being tied at halftime against Smyrna. No one knows how this team would react if it were to get behind early in the game. Unlike some other Riverdale fans I expect a very hard fought good game on Friday. But if Oak Ridge doesn't have all three of those things happen on Friday, I expect Riverdale to win by a few touchdowns. Good Luck to Oak Ridge and have a safe drive down to the Boro. In response though, i do want to pose a few questions for Oak Ridge fans. I gave a few of Riverdale's weaknesses, what are some weaknesses if any would you say your Oak Ridge team has???

This thread seems much more civil so I think I will talk about the game on here. Its almost ludicrous for someone to know exactly what will take place in this game since our teams are seperate parts of the state unless you have seen both teams play. I was wondering a few things about the Oak Ridge team that maybe a few of your fans can answer. First of all how would you compare your team to last season? I think Riverdale has definitley improved alot since last year's game, they got to the state last year because of our coaching staff. I read on the other thread to this game that Oak Ridge has passed for over 400 yards in the last two games. If thats true, it sounds very impressive, and to beat Riverdale you must be able to pass the football while protecting the QB. I think the Cookeville fans had to learn the hard way who last week basically said no one in the state could shut down their Tailback Paxton who I don't believe came very close to the 50 yard mark for the game. I think the Cookeville coaches had a great game plan as far as trick plays go for last week's game, I just think they used them to late. To beat Riverdale you have to get up on them early. I don't believe they have ever trailed in a game all season, I could be wrong, someone correct me on that if I am. A big play early and getting the lead on them, who knows how they would react. They are a big play offense, but Cookeville proved with a great defensive scheme of staying in the run lanes you can control them and take away the big play. From what I heard Oak Ridge lost alot of talented players last year but it sounds like similar to Riverdale in most years, your team has reloaded with young talent and goten better with each game. My second question for Oak Ridge fans since I have mentioned a few ways you can beat Riverdale, is what does it take to beat Oak Ridge? Any certain weakness area? I look forward to a great game in the Boro next Friday.

First of all I just want to say I was really impressed with the Cookeville coaching staff. They were undersized, slower, yet they didn't allow a big play all night on defense against Riverdale. To me this game right here shows how good Riverdale really is. Cookeville ran at my count around 10 trick plays and still only scored 7 points, held Riverdale in check most of the night on defense and still gave up 28 points. I do want to comment on the one Cookeville touchdown. First I must say Cookeville had three very impressive drives on the night, alot of trick plays involved, but nonetheless moved the ball very well on Riverdale. On the other hand, i was on the corner of the field where Cookeville scored their touchdown and it should have never happened. Cookeville had a 4th down and 10 at the Riverdale 11 I believe. On the play, Cookeville's QB overthrew his reciever by a good 10 yards, and Riverdale was called for holding on the play. The problems was the reciever was pushed, not held, and it happened two yards from the line of scrimmage which is legal, add to that the ball being overthrown 10 yards. I know where the ball ends up on a holding call does not matter, but pushing within 5 yards is legal. The reason I mentioned this is the referees ended the Riverdale defense scoring streak, not Cookeville. But I still commend Cookeville on their effort, and their coaching was awsome tonight. Your crowd too almost seemed louder on big plays than the Riverdale side on big plays. Congradualtions Cookeville on a great season, with that coach you guys will be back here shortly. Go Warriors!

I just wanted to first commend all the Cookeville fans first for not only supporting your team, but also doing it in a good and healthy manor. I will make no secret it about it that I want Riverdale to win, but just from reading the papers and learning more about your team, I would love to say Riverdale will win in a blow out but I really doubt it. Halfway through the year I thought to myself it would take a team that had two qualites to beat Riverdale this year. One, they have to be a good passing team, and second, they have to be the ultimate group that plays as a team. I think its safe to say Cookeville falls into that second category. I think as a Riverdale fan and seeing them so dominant all year might explain some of the other fans on here saying RHS will blow Cookeville out. I really don't think any mean any harm in it, its just hard for some to believe a team could actually beat Riverdale this year. You Cookeville fans have more school spirit then any team I have seen on Coach T ever. I think this game could go one of two ways, I think either Riverdale will be to much for Cookeville to handle and win the game 35-7, or second Cookeville brings an array of trick plays and creates three or four turnovers that allow Cookeville to win 14-10. If Cookeville is to win the game, it has to be a very very low scoring, and as you saw last week in the Smyrna game during the first half, its possible to slow Riverdale down by creating turnovers. Anyways I hope my 35-7 prediction is right. Win or lose, I will be back on here tomorrow, hopefully talking about a Riverdale win, but if not congradulating you great fans from Cookeville. Go Warriors!

I like the confidence the Cookeville fans have in their team. Hopefully no fans out there of a team who makes it all the way to third round who won their region would predict their team to lose by a bunch of points. Its hard for me to make a prediction based on the fact I have never seen Cookeville play. The only thing I can do is go by common opponents and as many of you Cookeville fans pointed out your team has gotten better with each game. Someone pointed out Riverdale's team back in 99 stats wise to this one and how they got upset. Thats a great point but I think you also have to look at the fact Rankin is still a run oriented coach, but has definitley become even more diverse in play calls over the last few years than ever before. I think back to the week 2 matchup with Smyrna on a 3rd down and probabaly 25 with under a minute to go before the half, Rankin threw the ball for a long gain. Up untill around the 2000 season, Riverdale was very predictable and Rankin didn't utilize all his weapons very effectively like he does now. Smyrna showed the blueprint how to beat Riverdale in the first half last week. On defense you have to limit their big plays, and create turnovers which Riverdale will do from time to time. On offense you have to have somewhat of a passing game and go with a balance ball controlled attack which is easier said then done. You MUST, I can't stress this enough, get an early lead on Riverdale. Once they get that first score or break that first big play, its lights out from there. They get more confident, they feed of each other, and more big plays will come from there. This is a big play team. Yes they have long drives but big plays make them go. If Cookeville can cause at least 3 turnovers, not let up any big plays over 50 yards and play ball control football they can win this game. The only problems is only one team has done that to them all year, and it was for one half, and the score was still tied. Being a Riverdale fan, of course I am going to believe my team will win. I still have to go by what Murphy Fair said a few weeks ago that no one in the state is within 3 touchdowns of Riverdale. I like the confidence though Cookeville fans, and I look forward to a great game.

This is a little bit off subject, but did anyone else notice who went to the Riverdale game on Friday night that the crowd was really not loud at all. I know it was kinda cold but thats not excuse. Usually when Riverdale plays on the road, their fans make it feel like a neutral site game, but on Friday Smyrna did that to them. Maybe the fans have just been spoiled by winning so much, they are not as loud. Just thought I would point that out because I didn't really find the crowd to provide them with much of a homefield advantage. The Smyrna crowd was as loud or maybe even louder when they made a big play compared to that of Riverdale's crowd.

I disagree with the part about rushing for over 200 yards. Now if you were a passing team and said I expect to pass for more than 200 yards on Riverdale I might agree but rushing?? I could be wrong but has anyone even run for over 100 yards in a game on Riverdale this year. Smyrna probably came close in their first matchup with Riverdale because of Orona but other than that I doubt it. Cookeville's best hope is that this is an inbetween game for Riverdale. Smyrna is in the same county and is probably now their bigget rival so it was a huge game, and a Warriors win on Friday would mean a potential matchup with Dobyns-Bennett which has been talked about now almost since the first week of the year. For that reason I would not be suprised if Riverdale plays a conservative first half similar to that of the Smyrna game. I haven't seen Cookeville play all year so I will stay away from a prediction in this instance. It sounds like your team had a great year, and Congrads on knocking out Lebanon who was playing great these past few weeks. On the other hand for anyone to run for 200 yards on Riverdale would take one great effort and I don't see it happening. Coach Rankin said back in week 3 of this year that if Riverdale won the state it would be because of defense. Riverdale's defense won the game on Friday by keeping them in it despite the offense kicking themselves in the foot. Good luck to both teams, hopefully its a good game.

Lets just say after the events that took place in this game late in the fourth quarter with the attempt to take Dave Thomas out, Smyrna vs Riverdale is probably going to take over for the next few years as the biggest rivalry in the county. I understand there are probably many fans out there who want Riverdale to lose or are tired of them winning, and I understand that, I am that way in many other sports and get tired of certain teams winning. To call the two hits on Thomas as late hits which I said in the last post does not give the play the justice it deserves. They were more like tackles of Dave with repeat shots to his head and trying to hurt other parts of his body by any means necessary. The first thought that came to my head was of Florida Florida State when Darnell Dockett pulled someone's knee out of place or something to that extent. Smyrna's coaching staff did a great job of coaching this year. They should be commended on a good year, but they lost control of their team. Dave could have seriously been hurt on either of those plays, and their is no place for that in high school football.

Here is what happened with the ejection. Early in the fourth quarter with Riverdale up 21-0 and inside the Smyrna 30 close to scoring, two plays actually contributed to it. Thomas handed off to Miller for a mimimal gain on the play but a Smyrna linebacker took a cheap shot on Thomas well after the ball was handed off which actually injured Dave and knocked him out of the game for the play. After the back up QB played a play, Dave came back and again handed off to Miller. Well after the play was over, another Smyrna linebacker, I believe number 49 kept hitting Thomas in the head while he was on his knees at least 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Thomas began trying to defend himself, and a host of Riverdale players came to his aid, which eventuall led to some trash talking, pushing, and before you knew it, Coach Rankin was in the middle of it trying to push any Riverdale player he saw in the mix back to the sidelines. I was fortunate enough to be on the side of the field where it took place. One Smyrna player actually took a swipe or punch at a Riverdale player that Rankin was trying to push to the side. It almost appeared the punch caught Rankin, but I believe it just missed him. The QB Orona was in the middle of all this action and was actually the one who almost caught Rankin with the swipe. Orona was then ejected and Riverdale went on to score three plays later. I am not trying to make any one from Smyrna mad at all. Smyrna played a great first half and appeared to have a great chance to make this a great finish. But when Riverdale got up 21 to nothing, it was clear the Smyrna team lost their cool, and maybe some of the team felt if they could not win the Championship, they did not want Riverdale too. In all my years of watching football never have I see two absolutely ridiculous late hits on the QB 20 yards behind the line of scrimmage on a straight hand off to the tailback. I understand Smyrna was upset they were going to lose, but this behavior should not be accepted. It ruined what was a very good well played football game to that point. I look forward to reading the paper tomorrow to see what Rankin says cause he was right in the middle of it.

Well At least we know we only have to hear B-Dogg's malarky for three more days cause after Friday night he and his purple rainbows will be to afraid to show their face in the message boards again.

Its just so funny to read all these Smyrna fans saying how they will win the game and how "Purple Mist" will prevail. I hate to rain down on your parade, but wasn't this the exact same story we heard earlier in the year, how Smyrna had the team to beat Riverdale only to get completely humiliated. Oh and to even question Riverdale as far as overlooking Smyrna, Smyrna's players and fans are the one of the biggest groups of trash talkers who have nothing to back it up with. Riverdale coaches and players know how they and their fans act. For Riverdale this week, they consider this game as big as the Championship game. To lose to Smyrna would not be accepted. Same players as two months ago. Both teams playing similar to two months ago. Only the game is switched to Riverdale's field who I don't believe has ever lost there in a playoff game?? Correct me if I am wrong? So Smyrna beating Riverdale, the planets would have to be aligned all in place. Don't be suprised if Rankin has the chance to run the score up if he doesn't do it either. He just might keep his starters in halfway through the third quarter this time to add a few more td's to shut up everyone in Smyrna once again.

I have seen both of these teams play this year a few times and all this talk about Smyrna and Riverdale coming down to the wire, I just don't see it. Yes I know both teams are somewhat different teams from the meeting two months ago, but not that much. When Riverdale is on offense, other than Orona and Marcelus, Smyrna does not have the speed to slow down Riverdale. Last time they met, it seemed ever play ended the same way, with Miller or Thomas breaking into the secondary, and then Orona and Marcelus appear running them down and making the tackle 60 yards down the field. I just don't think Smyrna's defensive line or linebackers can improve that much to where the holes get any smaller. Smyrna's defense improved somewhat throughout the year, but what about the Lebanon game? With Riverdale on defense, Smyrna does pose more problems than any other team they face all year can. Smyrna will have to pass almost every down. While I know how good Marcellus can be, RHS showed they can completely shut down any team's rushing attack and if they do have a weakness its against the pass. The only problem with passing every down is not getting sacked and chased down by Perkins who showed last time he can run just as fast as Orona in a chase. If Smyrna can somehow find a way to utilize Marcellus in the pass game and protect Orona they might be able to move the football. Even at their best I don't see them scoring more than 20 points at the most against Riverdale. So unless Riverdale shows up on the wrong field, or Smyrna added 9 new players on defense, I don't see Smyrna having a chance in this one.

9-6???? Did I get that right? You think the final score will be 9-6 with the same Smyrna defense that has two good athletes on it. Bulldog you have completely lost all credibility in my book on the matter (not that you ever had any cause I believe you were the same one predicting SHS to dominate Riverdale earlier in the year 55 points later) . Yeah I do think Smyrna has a chance but two things have to happen. One Smyrna must play their best game of the year and two Riverdale must play their worst and then maybe this game is within a touchdown. If Smyrna is going to win they are going to have at least score in the 30s and thats no easy task against Riverdale. I think Smyrna plays better this time defensively but so does Riverdale. Prediction: RHS 35 Smyrna 7