boyfromsi

MBA players and fans, Big Congradulations from this new TN resident. This was a big night for TN high school football.

Rebelron, You're already making me feel better. Yes, I like the way we have improved over fall practice. We looked very sharp on offensive against Bearden. Still looking for improvement in our pass coverage, but that will come in time. Good luck again to the Rebs, hope McCord can get back to 100%. We're still going to stomp the Dragons!

Oldcat, you must not have been to the Bearden scrimmage. All I am going to say about that. Clinton game... This is the game where the Cats must set the tone for the season. It is a given that the Dragons will come fired up to play. We need to be just as fired up and play like champions. If our guys do that it's 49-0 Oak Ridge. ...Just waiting to hear from the Clinton fans. heheh

Probably because the smaller schools don't want it.

Wow Catwatch! Those are strong words for such an old coot. Welcome to the thread. TnBreakers pretty much sums up my feelings as well. What is amazing is I have been waiting for several days to discuss the Bearden scrimmage and all we have is your intelligent comments. Let's get behind the team and cheer them on to state!

About 41 here.

Yes, I thought you all came out a little flat, but I try to refrain from being too negative, being a scrimmage and all. I do wish you all the best this season, of course not when you play us! :justwrestle: Thanks for the kind words about the Cats. We should go a long way this year, if we pull together and play to our potential. I hope you all can beat the injury bug as well. I was the guy running the box on the chain gang.

Ok, Here are my impressions from the chain gang perspective. We were a lot crisper in our execution of the offensive. The blocking was better, both quarterbacks carried out their fakes very well. Cory and Spencer ran very strong. First drive was almost all passing with Booker catching the touchdown on a short pass from McMahon. Next score was all run with MaMahon scoring on a keeper from 11 yards out. Score was 14-0 at half. Next half was more mixed on the play calling with Spencer Gulmire scoring from 10 yards out. Later, David Thompson scored from 55 yards as the 2nd unit played in the 4th quarter. Late in the 4th quarter we had 2 quick scores from Daniel Johnson and #46 (whose name I don't have with me here) Defensively, Bearden could do nothing against the Cats defense. The only score was a field goal late in the 4th quarter against our 2nd and 3rd stringers. Overall, it was a good scrimmage. We made good improvements from last week. Still, there is work to do with both our QBs. I thought Scott looked stronger overall, but Cody had some incredible scrambles. The QB situation is probably still not settled. Our pass defense still needs more improvement. This week we couldn't stay onsides on defense which was the main reason that we didn't score more in the first half. It was good to see more balance in the offense this week. Of course Maryville's pass defense had a lot to do with last weeks. But, we need the passing threat to keep other teams honest.

It's alive, It's Alive, IT'S ALIVE!! JPATS is back!! Can't wait to see Jeff County in the playoffs.

Sorry ToHot, Oak Ridge put up 7 TDs on SD's defense. You're hearing wrong.

Hey Old Cat, Did you see the scrimmage tonight?

Ok Willy, here is the score 41-3, Oak Ridge. I'll comment later, but we looked sharp for the most part. Good scrimmage for us.

Haven't heard much from Bearden fans for a while. To me, this is the more critical scrimmage for the 'Cats. I would like to see us be a lot sharper than the Maryville scrimmage, even though we played with a lot of heart. The quarterback race should be interesting as well. Willy, be looking later tonight for the results.

Back to the topic at hand... Both could start anywhere in this state. or in this country for that matter. I thought from the Oak Ridge scrimmage that Thompson was a little more on his game than Rouse, but only a little more. Both were very impressive.

Sigh... 1. Why 17 and 18 were in there on the last d series is a question for the coaches to answer. Most all of the players in the last 2 series were JV. 2. I was the guy on the box, only obnoxious when son scored. 3. I would agree, nothing like a ball game and Big Ed's. Hopefully, when Maryville moves up to 5-A you all will get to enjoy that a little more often. 4. No argument here. For us to go deep in the playoffs, the line will have to improve over the season. I do wish the best for the Rebs, they are a great bunch of kids who still have a lot of talent. They should go far if not win it all again.

OR has 1st and 2nd string offensive and defense, plus a JV squad that usually does scout team work. #23 is a second string halfback on varsity. At that time of the scrimmage both teams were mixing their squads pretty well, even though it was at the end of the Varsity action. JV squad took over 2 series after OR's first touchdown.However, I'm not going to quibble, it was a great scrimmage from a fan's standpoint. I should know, I was on the sideline working chains.

Well...that would not be accurate. Maryville's Varsity beat OR 2-0 plus a field goal. OR JV & 2nd string varsity (my son is 23 who scored the first OR touchdown, he is varsity, not JV) beat Maryville JV 2-0. Overall it was 2-2 with a Maryville fieldgoal. Our players were slightly mistaken. From a fan's standpoint, I don't see how a highschool scrimmage could get much better than what transpired on Friday night.

I was at the game as well. I thought the Wildcats made a good showing. That was the hardest I have seen Booker run the ball; Gulmire had a good game as well. I thought both defenses played very well. Our bookends, Stevens (17) and Henderson (18) really dominated the line when they were both in. I was proud of our boys coming back after a shaky start. The first play was a disaster. I hope your middle linebacker heals up in time for the season (I was there when he seperated his shoulder). I thought Maryville's passing game was awesome. Good luck and success to the Rebs this season.

Hey RebelRon, Maryville will be a good test for us as well. We should give you rebs a better look than last year. Hope to see you Coacht reb fans at the game. Should be a lot of fun.

Pharoah, Especially with passing game we have. That should give Corey & Spencer lots of running room.

If you were at the SD scrimmage, you saw quite a show from Spencer. It's going to be a fun year with all of the weapons we have.

Having watched practice, I am very pleased with Coach Speas. He is coaching D-backs and doing an awesome job.

Well, maybe it's because Cory is set to break the Oak Ridge rushing record. Given our history that is a big deal. But he is not the only weapon we have this time around. As far as the last 2 years, you will see a much improved offensive team this time around.

I stand corrected. Thanks. However, as good as those accomplishments are, you just didn't hear any whining about how unfair the competition is. You said it best about St. Thomas, the are competitive at the 4A level, they do very well, and there is nothing unfair about that. I just don't like the attitude about competition here when there is so much to be proud of.

Online LC, Bolles is a Class A private school in Jacksonville. At their level they are a powerhouse. However, they have plenty of competition from cross-city rival Trinity Christian and North Florida Christian in Tallahassee. All three of these schools have dominated Class A football for the past 10 years. Class A is the only class in FL where privates dominate. However, there are private schools that compete all of the way to 4A (St. Thomas Aquinas, in Ft. Lauderdale). Public high schools compete well at all levels from 2A on up. In fact, Madison County, a N Florida 2A school can compete at any level in the state. They are that good. What I don't believe is that Privates have this overwhelming advantage that can't be overcome. Only in Class A ball in FL, could you begin to make this kind of argument. I can understand why some at the very small, but athletically proficiant schools would think this way. What I don't understand is the 5-A players, coaches and fans who do. It doesn't reflect well on our state.