1footballfan

In the 3 vs. 4 matchups, here are my picks: Obviously, Maryville will end Rhea Co's season. Knox Central should be able to handle East Ridge if they play like they can. Powell will probably drop one to a much stronger Chatt Central team. And if Cleveland loses some players due to suspensions, and West can stop Barber, they can pull off the upset. If not, they lose. In the second round, I think Maryville will beat Chatt Central, and Knox Central will either have a good game with Cleveland (can't pick a winner), or will beat Knox West for the second time this year.

West definitely has talent. They have two talented backs in Hootie Henderson #34, and Nate Martin #5. They also have a potent air attack with qb Justin Jackson #17 to wr Larry Williford #7. It is a big help to their offense if two Cleveland defensive players have been suspended (#3, and #4). I think they are starters? West's biggest problem will be stopping Levonte Barber, of course I guess that is everyone who has played Cleveland's biggest challenge. If they can pull this one off, I think they have a good chance of a win.

Some definite good nominations. Fulkerson at Karns has done a great job. Pemberton at Catholic has too. Meadows at Jeff Co. has turned that program back around in the right direction. And of course you can't leave out Quarles of Maryville. He always has his kids ready to play.

How could anyone possibly leave out the great Cleveland comeback Friday night against Rhea Co.? Especially since there were some great fireworks to follow. I believe it was referred to as a melee.

See, that is the problem. All we have are a bunch of rumors. That is where I heard about Barber. Does anyone really know for a fact what is going to happen, and if any real actions have taken place. I also heard that Ronnie Carter was supposed to meet with both head coaches and AD's yesterday to sort it all out. Is there any truth to this?

Don't get me wrong. There are no sour grapes here. On that night, Maryville was the better team. That is why they won. It just sounded like FBEmeritus was saying that Central gave all they had and it wasn't even enough to beat a down Maryville team without 4 starters, and I know that is not true. With any luck, and a couple of playoff wins, maybe we can have a rematch.

Emeritus, you are sooo wrong. "Central played their best game of the year to get to OT vs. Maryville." I don't think so. Yes, it probably was the best game that they had played all year, but they still did alot of things wrong. And it wasn't just to get to OT. If they had done things as well as they could have, there would never have been an overtime. I think what you meant to say is that Maryville played to get to OT, because they did. Otherwise, they would have lost.

It doesn't really matter if Rhea County has players suspended or if they are at full strength. I promise you that they cannot beat Maryville. And you can take that to the bank.

I think this will be a good game. It may very well come down to who has the fewest players missing the game due to injury or illness. East Ridge is a quality team I am sure. I think that region 4 is stronger altogether from top to bottom than region 3 is this year. As far as Central beating Cleveland or not... All I have to say is that the Blue Raiders better focus on West first. They are a good football team that can do some things to hurt you. Just ask Knox Central. If Cleveland overlooks them looking forward to a week 2 game, they may not make it to week 2.

Bigg Cat, You are my hero!

Did Barber not get suspended? I heard that he was one of the instigators.

Rhea Co may be tough, but not tough enough. They will only be able to hide the ball with their wing t trickery for a series or two. They may be able to get a score or two against Maryville. But defensively, they cannot slow down Maryville. I say the Rebels win this one by 28.

It is way too early for any of this talk. Each team has to win 3 more before worrying about these matchups.

The purple pounders will win this one. They have way too many athletes and way too much speed for Powell. Don't be fooled by Powell's game Friday night against Central. It was the worst game that Central has played all year (McCallie included). Powell played way over their heads. I would like to congratulate Coach Stephens on bringing the team as far has he has. They have improved 100% since the first of the year. I am sure that next year they will be tough.

I am sure that Sheppard does what he thinks is best for his team. Do you really think that a coach would choose to loose? He has been around the game for a long time, and he knows what is going on. It just seems to be a dry spell for Halls. Don't blame it on the coach.

Biggcat, I think that you are my newfound hero. It gives me such a warm fuzzy feeling inside to hear a grown man apologize for offending another poster. That is what CoachT is all about............The LOVE.

dilweed, I agree with you totally. Kickers don't win or lose games. If it comes down to them, then the offense or defense has failed in some way. You cant blame a kicker (soccer player) when the play before there were 11 football players who failed. The kicking game is probably the most important part of a football game. The reason I say this is that it determines where the offense and defense will play from. Statistically the farther back a team has to come from their own end of the field, the less likely they are to score.

To reply to some of redrage's questions: I do not think that Central is totally over the flu. I have talked to some of the Central coaches, and several key players have missed practices this week due to the flu. I know that Zach Helton has missed nearly all week. I think the back up qb Tyler Scott is also sick, and the Bobcat's third option at qb is Shavar Young, who played it a couple of years ago still has a bum ankle. This could be a key point to the game. Unless one of the sick qbs decides to play sick, it could be a difficult night for the normally potent bobcat offense. As for the biggcat, I think we all know who he is. As a matter of fact, he revealed his identity a while back. He is assistant coach Kelly Robertson. And I do believe that he coached both Matt Lowe and Bobby Dagley at Powell. As for the description of him. He is definitely "heavy" set (extremely) he does have a receding hair line, but I don't think that he has an earring.

I have not heard the Julian to Clinton rumor, but I have heard some rumors about the South-Doyle job. I heard that new athletic director Clark Duncan has talked to Powell assistant Matt Lowe about taking the job. I don't know if he will, but I heard that if he wanted it, it was his. I think that Chandler should get another year to give it a try. He has been around the South-Doyle football program since it began. As for the Carter Halls game, I may have to change my earlier prediction. I forgot that with a win Halls takes the #4 playoff spot (assuming that Central beats Powell). I am sure that they haven't forgotten the week 10 loss last year to Carter that kept them out of the playoffs. Halls wins this one by 6.

To give my take on your questions: I think that Central is over the loss to Maryville. It is a loss, and they have experienced that once this year already. Yes, I think that Powell can run behind Bruhin, but who cares? Have you seen this kid play? He is huge....and that is about all. No, I don't think that an assistant coach from Central will try to fight the AD from Powell. Not that the coach in question has become any classier, but luckily for him that AD is no longer at Powell. Powell has no chance of stopping Jackson, Young and Helton. And I agree, Young needs more touches in tight games in order to win. I don't think that Central played as good as they could against Maryville though. If you watch the game closely, there were alot of mistakes happening. Sure, they cut down on the penalties, but there were some screw ups in assignments. (like the first play of overtime with #40). From what I could tell, it looked like he went the wrong way. The line all looked like they were blocking for a play to the right, Helton opened up right, and Jackson began right until he saw his fullback go left and decided to follow him. Anyway you look at it, Central wins this one. That is unless they have a slip up like they did two years ago at Powell in this same situation.

CCHS will pull this one out. I am afraid that Karns spent their season on DB.

Take it easy on the Dragons. They are having a tough year. How about a sympathy win? I think that 35 straight wins is enough. (ha ha)

There is no reason that Carter shouldn't win this one. They have much better athletes than Halls does. I just hope that Carter still believes that they can win.

I would love to see UC get another win, but it won't happen. Their season will end against Seymour with a loss. Seymour just has too much for UC to handle.

Powell has some good weapons in Cody Watts, Cole Patrick, and Dustin Plumlee. But I am afraid that they won't be enough to stop all of Central's weapons. Central wins this one by 21.