flip96

There shouldn't be any trash talking by any players for either team on here, you have to let your pads and the scoreboard say what you want said. Keep control of your emotions and let us mature adults handle the trash talking.

I've noticed that there aren't any comments from anyone from Claiborne on here, they must be waiting for Friday night.

Claw the dawgs!

This is the game that everyone on both sides of the river dreams about every fall. The hard work in the off-season dosen't mean to much if you can't give it you're all in this war. Cumberland Gap is coming into the game with a record of 3-1, with a 2 point loss against 1A power Coalfield. Claiborne comes in with a record of 3-1 with a 38 point loss to 3A Knox Carter, who is playing great ball. Both C.G. and Claiborne played Chuckey-Doak with the points edge going to Cumberland Gap, but just barely. So the teams seem to be evenly matched going into Friday night.

So whats going to make the difference? One, which coaching staff can make the best defensive adjustments and two, turnovers. Don't get me wrong, one or both staffs might not have to make adjustments if the defense is playing tuff, but its the little things that matter in this game so look to see who makes the right adjustments early. Turnovers, do I even have to explain it?

I've been involved in this rivalry for a long time and that goes for the majority of people on both sides of the river. The players don't like each other, the fans don't like each other, and I am sure their is respect but not a great love between the coaching staffs. Its about keeping your cool, playing hard and smart. So LETS GET THIS GAME ON!

MY PICK:

Cumberland Gap - 20

Claiborne - 7

The reason: C.G. offense (Hoskins passing game) better than Claib. def. backs, Coach Cline better game plan and adjustments than Coach Liles.

Goal is to win the region, dream is to beat your rival.

When and where are some scrimmages in east tn? Teams such as Rutledge, Knox Halls, Union Co., etc are some teams I would like watch in some scrimmages before the season starts.

The story in the Johnson City paper was very good. It has Byrd's stats on there which are vey impressive. I have seen Byrd play 6 or 7 times and I know that he could play the next level as a kick or punt returner. I hope he stays healthy and gets some offers because he deserves it.

The Las Vegas camp is only one of four tryouts for the Elite 11. The actual camp is in California, and right now around 600 players have been invited to tryout at the four locations. There have been more than 12 players for each position invited, but to be invited shows you are a top player in that position. For anyone to say that they are actually part of the Elite 11 in their position right now has been mis-informed or they are just "hyping" themselves up. I hope all the TN boys that have been invited to the tryout do well.

I really doubt Unaka will be a "good" team this upcoming year. They should be about average, probably will make the playoffs because a team in their region moved to 2A. No way they have a freshman benching that much, nobody in the state has a freshman benching that much.

Being invited to the Elite 11 in Las Vegas means that he is being invited to tryout for that group. There will be many of the top QB's from all over the country at the tryouts. Another Tennessee boy going out there is Corey Russell from Powell Valley (Cumberland Gap in the fall). I have not heard of any other TN boys going but good luck to the 2 boys who have been invited.

What region teams opted out? If they did then it is considered a forfit and adds a win in ur region standings and a loss in the region for the other school.

Seen both teams play, if Unaka throws their ace they should win. If they don't throw their ace, its a toss up.

Powell Valley threw their 3,4, and 5 guys. Saved 1 and 2 for sub-state. Unaka didn't throw their number 1 either, probably same reason as PV, saving for Fridays sub-state.

The school will open up this fall, it is nearly completed on the inside and the landscaping will be done by the end of the summer. All the athletic fileds will be ready to, actually they are close to being finished also. The two schools that will be combining will be Powell Valley and Forge Ridge. Oh, the school is located in Arthur, TN.

Cumberland Gap Panthers

Aug. 22 - @ Rutledge

Aug. 28 - Open

Sep. 05 - South Greene

Sep. 12 - Union County

Sep. 19 - @ Chuckey Doak

Sep. 26 - @ Claiborne

Oct. 03 - @ Happy Valley

Oct. 10 - Thomas Walker, VA

Oct. 17 - Hampton

Oct. 24 - @ Gatlinburg-Pittman

Oct. 31 - West Greene

[Edited by flip96 on 4-26-03 12:06P]

Who does Jared Elliot play for and is he being recruited by D-1 schools or being sent letters by these schools? There is a big difference. Is he going to or been to any NIKE camps this Spring? The NIKE camps are always a good way to identify good prospects for D-1.

The other three TN QB's on ESPN's list are David Wolke from Smyrna, Michael Edmiston who plays at Lincoln Co., and Antonio Heffner from Memphis Melrose. All four QB's are being recruited nationally, and I do know that Antonio Heffner has been offered from LSU, Ark., Miss., and Miss. St. already.

Corey Russell from Powell Valley (next year will be Cumberland Gap) is a top QB from the state. He threw for 2600 yds., 19 TD's, 4 int., and just over 60% comp. rate. He, like everyone else is recieving letters to schools, but he also is listed on espn.com as one of only 4 QB's out of the state as being recruited nationally.

Another good QB in the state that should be recruited but be recruited as an athelete is Mark Byrd from Cloudland. He would do good on any speacial team as a punt or kick returner.

How long has South Pitt. and Marion played? Just wondering.

If this bunch of garbage about this kid is true, then maybe Unaka won't be afraid to play cloudland next year. We played Unaka last year, and were talking to their coaches after the game and they were scared to death of cloudland, then I heard that they wanted to forfeit the game. What a bunch of babies!!!!!!!!!!

The boys did have a good year. They could and should have beat a few more teams in the regular season, but they (team) know that more than anyone. They did a good job and everyone in the Valley is proud of them. By the way, pvindiansbro, don't you have better things to do than to sit around on a Sunday night and say things like that about the offensive line.

Boys, good luck next year at Cumberland Gap. You know I will be rooting for you. I'll miss ya.

Mark Byrd should get the vote. The other 1A backs mentioned are good enough to win it also, but Byrd broke a state record after missing two games. This gives him the uppper hand.

Cloudland has and will continue to keep scoring a lot of points. If they play Boyd, I say its a high scoring game but I think Cloudland wins. As far as beating Ezell in the finals, thats a different story. We will just have to see how much better they get with their zone defense in the playoffs, that will determine if they beat Ezell or not.

Did Mark Byrd get the record last night? If he did what was his yards for the night?

Good luck to Mark Byrd tomorrow night. The kid deserves the record and the line and other backs deserve it too (they are pretty good themselves). I think individual state records always says a lot more about a team. So good luck Mark, Cloudland dosen't need to be wished good luck, their playing Unaka. So Cloudland I hope you don't have any injuries tomorrow night.

I didn't know he was that close to the state record. Its really impressive considering: 1) he missed two? games.

2) Cloudland dosen't run a option type offense. I have seen the kid play a few times and the way I can best describe him is that he is not a sloppy runner, but a very controlled runner. What are the team stats for offense?

Just wondering what the indivual stats are for the Byrd kid from Cloudland? I know they have to be impressive and I also know he missed a couple of games?

EastTnsportsWriter:

Thanks you for the votes, we do appreciate it. I understand where you are coming from, but what I said on the post earlier was intended for pujo. I was just blowing off some steam. But, you need to work on your writing skills there mister sports writer! Also, you need to take some anger managment classes. Pujo, shutup!