bigdeal

I was on the sideline at the game at GP Friday and it had to be the muddiest field I have ever seen. It was like those mud games you see in movies, just totally unbelievable. Those conditions really helped GP b/c it neutralized AC's superior speed and didn't allow AC to have a passing attack. I also questioned the officiating, it seemed as if GP's offensive line was usually a yard off the ball by the time the quarterback ever got the ball from center. It was either a false start or the GP center was just that slow snapping the ball. But I'm not here to make excuses for AC. GP just flat out wanted this one more. AC had there chances in the 2nd half. I think they took possession of the ball inside the GP 30-yard line 4 times in the 2nd half and was unable to put anything on the board. I wish GP the best of luck against Fulton this week. As for AC's year, I just want to congratulate the senior class of this team. For the past 4 years, this class has been overlooked by coaches and fans alike due to the junior class below them. This senior class showed lots of leadership and determination. If you go back to this past summer, I'll guarantee you that pretty much no one expected this team to do what they did this year. The Mavs had a heckuva year and should have nothing to be ashamed of.

I'm really looking forward to watching this matchup Friday night. This should be a great "smashmouth" football game with both teams lining up to run it down the others throat. I look for the trio of Mav tailbacks (Sanders, Mounts, Miller) to have a big night against GP. The Mav defense will have a big challenge to try and stop GP's ground game. This game will come down to the kicking game and who makes the fewest mistakes. I just hope the Mavs aren't looking too far ahead to a potential rematch with Fulton in the quarterfinals. Anderson County 31 Gatlinburg-Pittman 21

Well Anderson County wants Fulton again bad too. The fans and players both remember how classless Fulton was in their antics following the overtime thriller. If AC can get through Sullivan North and the winner of the Kingston-GP game, then they will probably play the winner of a potential Fulton-Austin East game in round 2. The next few weeks should hold in store some great high school football action. Go MAVS!!!

I believe this game will be closer than the game last year between the Mavericks and Sullivan North, but still should be an easy win. Sullivan North has an improved team according to one of my sources that is an alumni from there. Anderson County is still short at quarterback and defensive back due to Rob Wright being out with mono and Chad Deal's recovering ankle injury. Sean Mounts should play well enough at QB to advance the Mavs to round 2. The offensive line must get back to the dominating play of several weeks ago in order to advance far into the playoffs. Anderson County's defense needs to get back on track after allowing Scott County almost 500 yards total offense last week in the 50 yard field fiasco up in Scott County. Anderson County 41 Sullivan North 8

Well the Mavs and Highlanders played half-court football Friday night. I'll have to applaud the officials for keeping confusion to a minimum during this confusing game. For those who don't know, Scott County had a problem with the lights on one side of the field. Instead of postponing the game to Saturday, the officials elected to use the lit side of the field. It worked by switching sides of the field when the offensive team reached the 50 yard line. This has to be a first. If anyone else has heard of something like this I would like to know. I also don't see how Scott County won only one game this season. Their quarterback is probably the best that the Mavericks saw all season. Scott County was definetely better than Gibbs, Lenoir City and Loudon in region 2-3A. They put more points (regulation) and yards on AC's defense than any team this season. Now the new season starts against Sullivan North this week. I'll post more on this matchup later in the week.

Well I'll have to eat some crow and remove my remark about the officiating. I've just have heard the rumors over the years about some occasional homecooking up there in Huntsville. I might have been confusing it with what you always here about Cocke County (you know, they're all kin up yonder). But if you know otherwise Answer, I'll take your word for it. It should be a special one for AC defensive coordinator Tony Lambert. As an alum from Scott High, this will be his first visit as a visiting coach. So I'm sure old Maddog would love to have his defense give him his second shut out in as many weeks so he can have some bragging rights with the folks back home.

Well I think this one maybe closer than what most people think. First of all the hometown officials should help keep things close. Secondly, the Mavs maybe looking ahead to the playoffs just a bit. This one will be close at halftime with the Mavericks outlasting and outpowering the Highlanders in the second half. Anderson Co. 33-Scott Co. 16

Just wanted to see what people thought about this great matchup in week 10 in region 2-3A.

I definetly think that the 3A State Champ will come from 2-3A. I'm hoping that the Mavericks can pull it out. I'll agree with Answer in that 2nd place looks like the place to be for AC. But AC has to pull for an Austin-East win over Kingston in week 10. If Kingston were to beat the Roadrunners, then AE is 4th and AC would probably play them in round 2 and Fulton would get Kingston. If AC can't win it all, I'm pulling for the Roadrunners. They have tons of class over there at Austin-East unlike what they have at Fulton. I was on the field after Fulton beat AC, and the Fulton players were classless in celebrating there win by taunting the Mavs with several explicatives. There lack of class (several personal fouls in the waining minutes) was also one of the reasons AC was able to come back last year in round 2 against Fulton.

Answer, My brother is doing alright. He's supposed to be able to put weight on it in about 2 more weeks...so he's hoping that he might get to start holding field goals again. Thanks for asking. By the way, do I know you?

AC tried to schedule a game with Halls or Powell, but didn't want to play. Seems like Knox West is the only non-3A team in Knoxville man enough to schedule the Mavs. It's a real shame because we had some pretty good rivalries going on with them. Guess they're just scared to get beat by a 3A school.

I have heard that Anderson County's non-region opponents for 2003-2004 are Greeneville, Knoxville West and Clinton. I'm pretty sure about Greeneville and Clinton, but West may not be correct.

Just wondering what everybody thought about this matchup between the Mavericks and Lenoir City. I think Anderson County will come out a little flat after a key Region 2-3A victory over Austin-East last Friday. But the Mavericks will prove to be too much for Lenoir City to handle. AC needs to work on their passing attack the next two weeks to give their quarterback some confidence heading into the playoffs. Wright showed some improvement against AE with some key passes in the first half to contribute to the 17-0 halftime lead. AC 38-Lenoir City 7

I'll have to agree with oskie on this one, Tony Lambert is the man!!!

Fulton is a great team, but they have made the mistake of winning region 2-3A. If you win region 2-3A, you give yourself a tough road to travel to Murfreesboro because you will more than likely have to play Austin-East and Anderson County again in the second round and quarterfinals. Ask Anderson County how tough that is from 2001 when they had to use a miracle to beat Fulton in the second round and lost to AE in the quarters. It's extremely tough to beat a good team twice in the same season. The team that finishes second in that region has the cat bird seat if things play out like last year (AE was there in 2001 and won it all).