donhaney

Giving up 13 total points to Huntingdon and Westview is a tribute to an outstanding defense! Surely that wasn't some off handed comparison of Richland to those two programs? Camden is prety much mirroring Lewis County week to week in the region. I don't think Richland could score over once against the Lions and they will have a difficult time keeping Camden under 38.

Not a nickle's worth of differance right now between Camden and Lewis County with Waverly an impressive third.

It is indeed sad to see the Mustangs fall as far as they have. With our region pretty thin, they should be competiting for the playoffss every year, no questions asked. I don't know the answers but I wish you suceess in discovering them and hopfully seeing the Mustangs back in the chase in the future.

In 1980, we were 30-91 passing for 457 yards with 11 interceptions. In 1979, we threw the ball 136 times and completed 55 for 763 yards. As someone mentioned earlier, the differance being that in 1979, we had talnet that was more suited to mix it up with the inimitable Benny Lay at quarterback. In 1995, we were 48-93 passing for 1136 yards. 16 TD's and just 4 interceptions. The tight end caught 20 passes, ten for scores and averaged 31 yards a catch. Again, we were much more suited to throw the ball that year. Glad to answer the quizzes, I just so happened to have 42 years of stat books lying in the den where I am about to undertake the once again daunting task of getting everything up to snuff and putting them on my own computer. Here are a few more years of interest... 1981, regarded by some as the best of the three straight undefeated teams, (I not being one of them)... 26-74 passing, 456 yards. 1985... 245 pass attempts, 119 completions. This was at a time when we had little rushing game and lived and died by the forward pass. It was some pretty innovative stuff for the time.. overall record 5-6 1988... Coach Sharp's first year and before the wing-t offense. Just showed that he could air it out as well. 152 passes, 72 completed... 1032 yards, 13 interceptions...overall record 3-7 Final year... 2002: I failed to discuss this one earlier but this was a season when we certainly had a great chance to win it all. We were 48 of 82 passing which again translates into around 6-7 attempts per game. We had the most underrated fullback in the history of our wing-t, Ellis Dailey, a strong performance by David Sharp. good wings in Skelton and McKnight and a fine defense. We had McKenzie down 13-7 with about 2 minutes remaining and 90 yards from paydirt. They drove down and converted about 3 fourth downs, we dropped an interception... they scored and then we get a safety on the ensuing kickoff. Mckenzie lost to Mitchell the next week in Memphis. Mitchell was very average. So what does all this mean? Not much I guess, just how ever one decides to use the numbers to support their side of the debate. Yes, I would like to see us more balanced year in and year out but sometimes you have to utilize the talent to the best of your ability. I remember watching Bear Bryant after he went to the wishbone and they rarely threw the ball but won a national title or two along the way. I actually think Coach Sharp and the staff would like to throw some more but when the rushing game is working the way it has, you don't want to get off kilter, in my humble opinion.

I think we could have won a state championship... maybe in 1995? Definitely in 1979 and 1980. But only one can hoist the gold ball. The 1979 and 1980 team is probably long forgotten by most fans around here, especially those who are young. But I've seen them all since 1966 and that is two teams that could have won it all. Although we might disagree on things, I prefer this topic more than one which would have us discussing an 0-10 or 1-9 record. Agree?

We get this every single year. The reason we haven't won a state chanpionship is because we have lost to teams who were better than us later in the year. We lost to Huntingdon in 2003 by four touchdowns. Is it because we couldn't throw the ball? We threw 120 passes during the season and completed almost 50%. Against Huntigdon we were 3-14 with 2 interceptions. It's obviously not because we couldn't throw, we had thrown well all year. It was because we were playing against a supremely talented team that was better than we were. If we are fortunate enough to go 12-0 this year, we are going to most likely face Goodpasture. If you beat them, you would play Alcoa. These are two teams that are loaded with talent at every position. If we were to lose to them, would it be because we couldn't pass? LOL Only the lesseer informed would ever make that assumption. And that's no disrepsect towards Camden because they will stand in the way of us making it to 12-0, just a comparison thingy... We win because we have kids who are of less talent but of great desire and heart. Look at Dakota Crews for example. He's about 5'8 and 180 pounds and is a starting middle linebacker. What he lacks in size and talent, he more than makes up for with heart. He runs about a 4.9 forty yet leads the team in tackles. For years and years, Lewis County has had that type of athlete. Linemen who are built like fireplugs and backs who run 4.8 fortys... Count me as one who is proud of our atletes and the offense that has made us one of the most successful programs in the state since 1979! If Dan Marino's kid ever shows up in Lewis County, we will probably start throwing the ball 20 times a game, until then, I'll take 9 backs averaging over 6 yards a carry.

I can't see them being tested until week 10 and I don't mean any disrespect towards other teams. They are 5-0 and have... At Houston County Adamsville Waverly At Riverside Then the big matchup with Camden. Waverly looks like their defense is playing well but they are going to have to score more than 10-14 points to win. Holding Lewis County to 21 would be quite a feat. If they find some offense in the next two weeks, granted, they could provide a challenge and to be honest, the Panthers need a challenge before week 10.

I appreciate all the predictions by the Richland fans. It gave me excellent talking points in my newspaper column this week.... thanks!

Lewis County is 4-0 not 3-0.. just setting it straight.

Chris Hatton is a superb football player, no doubt about it but for those that think he is the only thing to stop against Lewis County... ouch! One of the reasons for the return to excellance is the incredible balance displayed by the Panthers. Hatton is the second leading rusher thus far. Ryan Greve, a 6'2" 210 pound junior is averaging 10.1 yards per carry and leads the Panthers in rushing, giving them the biggest threat from the wingback position since probably 1995. He had a 91 yard run against Loretto. Hatton looked more like himself against Loretto averaging 10.5 yards per carry, scoring twice on the ground and once via the pass. Note: This has nothing to do with who's the best players..etc but I have been talking about the Panthers depth in the backfield all year. I was doing the four game totals last night and found it quite amazing that they have had 17 different backs carry the ball in the first four games! Eleven of those have better than a 5 yard per carry average.... eight who have scored touchdowns. Pretty good depth.

I'll say one thing to you fine Camden folk. If Coach Ward doesn't have the thrid team in by the third quarter, expect Loretto to blast him at the end of the game for "running the score up on them." We played freshmen almost the entire fourth quarter and they scored twice which led to the dreaded charge of we ran the score up on them! Their quarterback is a good scrambler and they have one good receiver...pretty one dimensional. They can't stop the run so you should win handily. Have a safe trip, I know it's a long one.

Good comments Grinch... as I said earlier, Richland almost always plays us well so I expect it again this week. Only one thing I would disagree with on though. This won't be the toughest game of the season. That will come in week ten. Camden has a greta football team this year. Now that game could be a classic!

Richland is one of those teams that usually plays Lewis County close. For whatever reason, this is just the way it is. There is no rhyme or reason for this happening but it normally does. No matter how bad Richland is or how good Lewis County is, they normally have a close, hard fought game. That's all I'll say about that.

Actually I am a knowledgeable poster and not a fairly knowledgeable one but I appreciate the backhanded compliment. Losing four fumbles against Hickman County did keep the game close. We fubled six times while Hickman County had two fumbles. You can exagerate the turnover differance four weeks later but facts are facts and I have the facts in front of me. As for Coach Sharp playing Hickman County being a "no brianer." I would respectfully disagree with you. We have no reason to play Hickman County in that it means much more to former players than it does to the current program. Year after year of beating Hickman County means expectations are such that you should never lose to them. It has come to be expected as an annual victory. A "giant killer" you say... lol You are giving the program much more prestige than it currently deserves. If we were beating Maryville or David Lipscomb or Goodpasture or a perennial power, then he might be a giant killer. Beating Hickman County is 100% expected and to lose to them, as happens once every 12 or 15 years means undue pressure on a program that gathers nothing with a win. If this sounds harsh, sorry. When Hickman County becomes Class AA, then the game means something, until then... I would prefer us playing Columbia Central.

You didn't cause a mess at all. If you read my response, you can see that I commented on the turnovers. To me, that and some untimely penalties were pretty much the only problems. I don't think any Panther fan thought they would continue to lose 2-3 or 4 fumbles every game. Tonight against Loretto, the fumbles stopped and the offense clicked rolling up over 400 yards. They will be okay...

Some of these Stewart County folks just kill me! I keep hearing how they lost the game themselves.... duh! When you fumble six times and throw two interceptions, one can correctly assume one thing. You can't handle the football!!! May I interject something? If Lewis County didn't have two touchdowns called back, didn't have 10 penalties for 100 yards and didn't lose two fumbles, it might have been 77-7? I don't usually do this because I try and respect all programs but..... Camden will beat you like a dirty rug... as bad as Coach Ward allows. If their starters play three full quarters, oh I'd say... around 50-0! I anxiously await next week's set of excuses.

I don't believe I have ever seen one continue to issue so much poor mouth after getting beat 45-7!! If Lewis County actually isn't "that good"... then how bad is Stewart County?

#1: Brentwood Academy 1974 I believe this was their last year competing in Class A and they were just unstoppable. Won their three playoff games in routs outscoring their three opponents by a combined 143-29. #2: Trousdale County 1997: Out of all their great teams, this one is far superior in my opinion. They averaged 48 points in the playoffs and gave up three TOTAL touchdowns in five games! That is domination! #3 CPA 2000: One of the most well rounded teams on both sides of the ball I have seen. #4TPS 1970: Since this was way early in the playoff system, I will rank them this low but for anyone that saw them play in person, as I did, you can not imagine the talent on this team. Their 73-0 victory over Lewis County remains to this day the worst defeat we have ever experienced. ***Of these top four teams, I wouldn't bet for or against any of them as to which is best. In my 40 years of watching high school football in Tennessee, they are the best I have seen. I would love to see a playoff with the four duking it out Best of the rest: 1996 DCA, 1979 Alcoa, 1999 South Pittsburgh 1984 Gordonsville and 2001 Ezell Harding.

I don't understand quite exactly but I'll give it a try... There are some fans who expect you to beat people by whopping margins every week. Lewis County is 3-0 and although they have not whipped all three teams convincingly.... on the scoreboard, they have not been threatened in any of the games, including Hickman County. Hickman County is a big rivalry game for both teams and personally, I don't see how it benefits either of them to continue playing? A one touchdown win over a 4-A opponent and we lost 4 fumbles which kept it that close. Wayne County was an 18-0 win and it was never, ever close. Fumbles at the one and nine yard lines kept this from being a blowout in the opening quarter. The game against Stewart County.... you have to realize that they were 2-0, had momentum, thought that they might be for real and this was like their Super Bowl. We beat them by 38 without Chris Hatton ever stepping on the field. So what is wrong with Lewis County? They haven't played mistake free ball... that's about it, in my honest opinion. I would much prefer them making early season miscues and being 3-0 than 0-3. Also, while I am at it and I don't mean to stir the pot with all the other teams in the region but unles someone steps up, this is going to be a 2 horse race and everybody else is going to be far away battling for third and fourth. I think Camden and Lewis County are so far ahead of everyone else in the region that their biggest problem before week 10 is going to be staying awake in some of these games!!

Hey Lion... always good talking with you. Hatton is a-ok. He had a very mild ankle sprain against Wayne County and was given the night off to fully recover. He could have played last night but the coaches felt like there was no need to take a chance on aggrivating it. He'll be back 100% this week against Loretto.

What are you asking

You know, if this had been 13-7, 14-7 or something along those lines, I might believe it when I hear all this talk of Stewart County beating themselves... but it was 45-7!! Geez! And that was without Hatton playing!

I have watched the film of the Lewis County/Wayne County game several times. The Panther defense is playing really well... the linebackers have been way above average and the line play is the best I have seen since 2000. Five interceptions in two games speaks well of the defensive backs. The offense was never stopped against Wayne County. Thye stopped themselves. First drive, a fumble on the Widlcat one yard line.... second drive, a fumble on the wildcat 9 yard line. A touchdown pass overthrown to a wide open receiver in the end zone in the first quarter. A halfback pass where we were nine full yards past a d-back is overthrown... little mistakes are keeping the offense from really cranking out some big numbers. That won't last, I am sure. When the offense catches up to the defense, it's gonna be ugly for someone! I have been writing Panther football for a long time now and have seen just about every team since 1974. I have never seen Lewis County with as much depth. Coach Sharp can easily play three different sets of backs and lose very little in terms of production. Two years ago, I stated on this board to get Lewis County while you can because the future looked bright. The future is not quite here but it is getting awfully close! Sophomores and juniors are all over the field for the Panthers and there are lots of guys getting lots of playing time. Eleven different players carried the ball against wayne County.... this is a team on the rise!!

Personally...yes, I think Forrest is pretty dog gone good! Much, much better than the two teams that Stewart County has beaten. They opened with a 50-0 shellacking of Columbia Academy who then lost to FRA by 13... then they beat a sound Richland team 24-21. Comparing them to Gleason and Greenfield who have been outscored by a total of 133-24 in their first two games is ludicrous As for Lawrence County, I certainly would not trust you when you make such an unfounded statement. It's not like Shelbyville is a powerhouse! Their 62-21 loss to Coffee County says something about that.

To Papakajoe I have heard rumors that Hickman County is going to be really close to being at the Class A level after the reclassification and the new school is built. Anyone on your side hearing that?