faninthestand

Nothing like experience at this time of year. First time for Indy to be playing for playoff spot and position the lat two weeks and the collars are getting a little tight. Franklin and Dickson County have all but assured a playoff spot (positions to be determined. Franklin only needs 1 win in last 2 weeks (centennial) to lock down a spot - DC can loose both due to Indy / Brentwood looser next week having a 3rd region loss. Battle will be down to the last week with DC / Ravenwood setting up all sorts of tie breaker scenarios. Gotta Love Region 6 - Teams 1 through 5 all tough matchups for each other and others outside the region. Contenders step up this time of year - Pretenders start to fade.

The way Centennial turns the ball over - a wet sloppy ball will only make it worse! Brentwood Big!

Centennial needs more than a spark to get a win. It's really a shame that a Williamson County High School has sunk so low as to simply hope to keep the score from becoming a 21 to 27 point loss. Relative to looking better this week in practice - of course, it's against yourselves! And rumor has it - Grassland doesn't want to play Centennial, Grassland doesn't want to weaken their strength of schedule points

The question was not can the refuse to "Sell" lunch to any one - it was can they refuse lunch to anyone. Enough already of the "Hamburgler" issue - from what I saw of the game - the QB position for Indy was not the cause of the loss. The cause of the loss was the defense not being able to stop DC from putting up big yards, big points, and chewing clock. Indy's QB play was more than capable of winning the game - had the defense had an answer for DC running offense.

Brentwood rolls in this one. Centennial can't stop anyone this year from scoring early and often. Brentwoods offense will gain confidence as the game rolls on. I am still struggling with how bad Centennial is playing this year - just watched Franklin play CNE, and if CNE beat Centennial - their is no way Centennial gets close to Brentwood. Would love to see Centennial have some sucess in the county, but until the leadership (coaching) changes - the underlying loosing attitude remains.

Franklin is giving up 8 pts per game through 7 games. That average will drop with games against Centennial and Columbia, but may take a hit with the power running of Dickson County.

All you can do is imagine (teams from teh same region meeting in the State Championship) - teams from the same region can no longer go further than the quartefinals without meeting each other again. Happened in 2002, 2004 and 2005.

I agree that Brentwood is going be better next year - just too young this year and missing that mean spirited group of years past. I have the utmost respect for Coach Crawford - and truly wish Johnson was still at Franklin working with Donnie Webb, the respect these coaches have for each other is incredible and the donnybrooks they coached in 2003, 2004, and 2005 were ones for the ages! No doubt can't ovelook Brentwood - simply by having Crawford at the helm - just think they are going to come up short this year.

In no particular order - (still too many games to play out for postition) but my four Region 6 - 5A playoff representatives would be: Franklin Independence Dickson County Ravenwood Leaves Brentwood out for the first time in a long time. I left out Brentwood after seeing them play against Franklin and the fact that they lost to Dickson County.

Coaching and execution did not get Ravenwood the win in the playoffs last year against Franklin. Yes they haf to be well coached during the game to be in position, however - poor execution is what allowed Ravenwood a 3rd try at the onside kick, which they finally executed. One of the few high school rules that allows a team to make a mistake and try again! Yes team's create some of their own good fortune - but many times it is the unforced mistakes (15 to 18 year olds) made by your oposition that create a big year for a team. Repeating a winning formula over two and three years is the true measure of a "Program" arriving, anything short is great effort - good fortune - and the strange bounces the oblong ball makes!

No disrespect to CNE but I hope Franklin rolls out to a huge lead by halftime - mainly to get young Nichols into the game at the QB position to get some good work in. In my opinion getting Nichols ready for next year and moving Sellers to a running back position would make Franklin stronger next year. Currently teams can scheme Franklin without too much difficulty - and developing a passing attack is critical.

In no way has Centennial - Franklin done anything to diminish the Brentwood - Franklin rivalry. Consider: Centennial has never beaten Franklin in Football. Franklin and Brentwood have had some incredible battles including 3 years of meeting twice (once in the regular season - once in the playoffs) from 2003 to 2005. Brentwood knocked Franklin out in the 2003 playoff on a last series interception and went on to win State, Franklin knocked Brentwood out in regular season 2004 on an OT FG snapping Brentwoods 20 game winning streak - then in the playoffs; then in 2005 Brentwood wins the regular season game on a blocked extra point and Franklin wins the playoff game 14 -7 on their way to the State Championship game. It's just hard to believe with the history these two schools have had in many sports, that last fridays game was lacking that same feel.

Bsst of luck to this young man. Hope to see CHS rally around this injury and step it up - similar to UT and the Harrellson / Johnson injuries.

Heard a rumor that CHS lost one of it's LB/RB due to a broken leg in the Dickson Co game. True? and who was it - heard also this player was a real motivated tough kid that was the guy on both sides of the ball that tried to keep everyone pumped during the games. Hope if this is true the young man is OK. Don't give up CHS.

No doubt the next 4 weeks will need to be played out before anyone can claim this weeks Indy / DC clash determines bragging rights in 6-5A. Near past history - Everyone thought Franklins win over Brentwood in 2004 in overtime claimed the Region title, but low and behold when the dust settled after week 10 - Brentwood / Franklin / DC all shared the Region Crown with 1 loss. Brentwood went on to be seed 1 due to tie breakers. Hang on for the best string of games - all with playoff implications!

Where's all the talk on this board? Where was the student sections? Where was the rivalry? Yes there was a good crowd (numbers wise) but lacked the enthusiasm of years past. Yes the players will tell you this past week of preparation was high - Franklin week, or Brentwood week; but on the field it seemed to lack living up to the past epic battles. But most disappointing is the lack of talk on this site about this rivalry? Would love to hear from some of the oldies but goodies on their thoughts from Friday Night. Fromthetop? BigDogDaddy?

First chance to reply with my thoughts from the game - was in Knoxville for the Florida game. Independence running attack - the best I have seen this year against Franklin. Consiglio and #22 (can't remember his name) brought the full load. Great instincts, good feet, and tough as nails. As too tough as nails - I was less than impressed with the Quarterback for Indy. Don't get me wrong - He was better than what Franklin could produce from this position, but as far as what I expect from a High School Quarterback - toughness after you throw a pick, I didn't see it. In fact, what I saw was a quarterback that side stepped and back pedalled into the end zone as the Franklin DB came down the field with only the QB to beat. AS big as the QB is, he didn't step up to make a hit or even attempt to slow the progress of the Franklin DB. If he wants to be recognized as one of the best 6-5A QB's in past few years - he needs to want to punish a DB for bringing the ball back after a pick. Franklin O-Line needs to step it up if they are to contend for the playoffs. Too many holding calls, false starts, and plain poor blocking. If the QB play at Franklin is going to improve - it starts with the O-Line proving some protection and giving them some time. Great crowd - great adjustments by Indy.

I think Independence see's it's first of 2 losses this season (the second will come at the hands of Ravenwood) The only other potential loss I see for Indy would be a toss up game with Dickson County

I think Dickson County is the team that gets a 3rd or fouth seed in Region 6 - 5A. They win this week then it will come down to matchups with Franklin and Independence. Top 4 in Region 6: Franklin Ravenwood Indy - Dickson Co. Teams left out: Brentwood - young and injured Columbia Northeast - Centennial

Centennial students have always had passion for their teams, unfortunately not rewarded for that passion. I lived the dream with my first two sons before my third went to Franklin. Hopefully Centennial can fight through being young and given a scheme that matches their talent level. I'll be interested to hear the results of this one.

Don't look for late hit's from Franklin - that's not their style. In fact I overheard a conversation that a comment was made to how clean the Father Ryan / Franklin battle was by both teams. Don't get me wrong - I am sure both Franklin and Independence will bring the full load - but they will be clean hard shots, with no extra curicular activity needed.

With Coach Lussiers history - I gotta believe practice this week will wake up the Irish from the nap they took against Franklin. Give Franklin credit though, they outplayed, played more physical, and played with more emotion last Friday. I would be willing to bet you see that same level from the Irish this week. Father Ryan wins big vs Briarcrest.

Had Indy played anyone solid in 5A, I would appreciate the starters being out of the game early, but a 3A team and two underperforming 5A programs leaves me with considerable doubt as to how Indy will perform against a true 5A team. I agree that Indy will be well prepared and rested with the bye week - but it also could be a detriment, particularly when they seemed to have things clicking. Sometimes bye weeks can take the Momentum out of a team, and give them too much time to "thinK" about the upcoming game. In Indy's favor is they will be the first team Franklin has faced that throws the ball as much as Indy does. (Thought Ravenwood would, but with Becker out...) This will give everyone an indication of how strong the Franklin D is with the only question to date being - how good are the DB's in coverage? I personally am looking forward to the environment - which brings up one other question - how will Independence handle the pressure, being the first "big game" in their short history? Good health to All.

It's been a while since my last post - but to all the old time posters, good to be back! Stats to consider: Indy is averaging 38 points per game, but the teams they have played have allowed others to score 34 points per game in their other contests. Franklin is averaging 23.5 points per game, but the teams they have played have allowed others to score 12.7 points per game in their other contests. Edge goes to Franklins Offense. Indy defense has given up an average of 7.67 points per game, but again their opponents have only scored and average of 11.1 points per game in their other contests. Franklin defense has given up 7.25 points per game, their opponents have averaged 29.0 points per game in their other contests. Edge goes to Franklins Defense. Overall - Indy's opponents record not including the Indy results is 1 - 7. Franklins opponents record outside the Franklin results is 8 - 2. Again, Franklin has played a much tougher schedule to date - Edge to Franklin. All that said, the results are what happens on the field, 15 to 18 year old players, County Scrum, toss out the stats, hope everyone stays healthy. I believe Franklin comes out on top by 7.

It may be unpopular in GC if Tim leaves, but before anyone at GC gets to hyped about TJ leaving - remember you pilferred him from Franklin after he demonstrated his ability to turn around a program. Franklin was the first to give TJ a chance as head coach - all others are jumping on the band wagon of his success. If Tim does indeed leave for BGA - I am sure it is for quality reasons, and not a decision that was easy for Tim. Is GC having their Banquet this weekend - or soon, I hear that this may be the reason no announcement has been made yet at BGA - Tim asked for the same concession at Giles when the Franklin Banquet had not yet been held last year.