basketballisbest

Well, I am not a former Ooltewah player or coach, but I just don't agree with all this history stuff that keeps coming up on these posts. Sounds to me like sour grapes from someone who just doesn't like a program or maybe has not had recent success themselves. Give the kids credit for what they do this year. The makeup of this team is far different from last year's team. That won't win it either. The truth is the play will speak for itself on the field; last year's teams and this year's teams have nothing to with each other. A history of football championships will not win a single game this year, and certainly won't help a team in the playoffs. All it is--bragging on the past and no relationship to the present. I have followed 2-5A football the last several years, and it appears to me that Ooltewah has been one of the better teams in the region. Sorry you feel like you have to make personal attacks instead of just talking about the competitiveness of the game. Let the kids play the games. Good luck to Sevier and Ooltewah.

Did I miss something? What does that have to do with these two teams being very competitive with one another?

Maybe 5A is not as tough at the top and a little deeper in the middle. Making games more competitive all the way around. This may explain why 4-seeds are beating 1-seeds the last couple of years.

Sevier is tough. Ooltewah could find themselves on the sidelines if they don't come ready to play. I doubt that will be the case, though. this should be a war between to very good football teams. Ooltewah will not blow out SC. No way. I'll eat humble pie if they do, but I just think Sevier is too good for that. This game is almost too close to call.

Well, clearly there is space for continued assessment of where the top teams still rank against one another. Obviously, that debate continues, as posters and other high school football fans ponder who is really the best team. It's a whole lot easier to take pot shots and make ludicrous remarks about others' opinions than it is to project your own. An old adage says, "Put up or shut up." Based upon what I am hearing from some posters that the top sixteen would look something like this, because it should only include those teams who are left in the playoffs and losing makes a difference regardless of who you played: 1. Ooltewah -- 11-0 2. Ridgeway -- 11-0 3. Riverdale -- 10-1 4. White Station -- 10-1 5. Wooddale -- 9-2 (lost to WS by one) 6. Sevier County -- 9-2 7. Smyrna -- 9-2 (got slaughtered by Riverdale) 8. Farragut -- 8-3 9. Bolton -- 8-3 10. LaVergne -- 8-3 11. Lincoln County -- 8-3 12. Ravenwood -- 7-4 13. William Blount -- 7-4 14. Antioch -- 7-4 15. Hunters Lane -- 7-4 16. Hendersonville -- 6-5 Can you honestly say, with all sincerity, that Hendersonville, Hunters Lane, Antioch, Lincoln County, and LaVergne are better than teams like Dobyns-Bennett (10-1), Gallatin (10-1), and Franklin (9-2)? You would have to be out of your mind to think that. If those teams were to play any of those three, they would lose 9 out of 10 times. That is the whole point.

In fact, I would say that anyone of the four remaining teams here could be in the semis: Farragut, Ooltewah, WB, or Sevier County.

I agree. Ooltewah will not win this one big, if they do win it. I believe the home field advantage does give them an edge, but I'm not sure I would give them a big edge. Sevier is a team that is going to feed on the Owls' weaknesses. But Ooltewah will win it in a close one.

Why comment in response to someone who doesn't even have a clue? You obviously don't want to have an honest debate, so we'll discuss around you.

I would argue that there are 16 teams playing, not necessarily the top 16. This is another reason I believe the playoffs should be seeded. Of course that was another post. Just because a team loses does not mean they are suddenly no longer one of the best 10 teams in the state. I would agree that once you are out of the playoffs, you can't be number one.

I believe another undefeated will bite the dust this Friday. Wooddale by 10.

Now, I can appreciate that.

Sevier County's regular seasons stats (are these accurate--found them on the Sentinel website: 2006-2007 Regular Season Team Statistics team stat Comparison Sevier County / Opponents Total First Downs 151 115 Third Down Conversion --- --- Total Offensive Yards 3149 1391 Offense (Plays-Average Yards) 486-6.5 382-3.6 Total Rushing Yards 2080 939 Rushing (Plays-Average Yards) 344-6.0 272-3.5 Total Passing Yards 1069 452 Passing (Comp-Att-Int-Avg) 75-142-5-7.5 40-110-10-4.1 Sacks 21.0 12.0 Field Goals 1 3 Touchdowns 38 13 (Rushing-Passing-Defensive) 27-9-2 8-3-0 If this is correct, what are the stats for Ooltewah so far so they can be compared?

Unfortunately, some people would rather just attack others on here, rather than give reasonable and plausible explanations for their positions. That just simply indicates that they have nothing reasonable and plausible to offer. Oh well. That's okay. The board is for everyone, almost.

And if Ravenwood keeps winning, they may very likely earn the top ten recognition once again. But right now, I don't think they yet deserve it. We'll see how things play out.

Well, that's a good way of handling the matter. All I am asking is for an honest debate and discussion. I can understand if you disagree, but that doesn't mean that another person's opinion is "farcical" or not worth looking at again.

TG24, you have seen both of these teams before haven't you? How do you see them matching up against one another--strengths and weaknesses?

I would agree that I would love to see a playoff bracket in NCAA, but even if there was, if a team who was ranked number one, before a playoff started, lost in the 1st or second round of the playoffs, they would not drop out of the final season rankings. Come on be reasonable. I agree, if Ravenwood keeps winning, they will be ahead of Gallatin in a final poll, but that is still a big IF.

I simply don't agree. If that were the case than we should just rank people according to won/loss record all season long, regardless of the difficulty of their opponents. That's simply a silly argument to say that a team is worse just because they lost at this time. They certainly don't have a chance to win it all now, but that doesn't make them the 17th best team in the state.

I would encourage all the D-B fans to continue to support your program and your teams. This is a storied program with a great reputation, and no one at D-B has reason to be ashamed. Maybe disappointed, but they do continue to be one of the better programs in the state. It is hard to come in year after year and win it all, especially in the 5A class, where there are more teams capable of beating another team than in any other classification (I'm sure that will get all the 4A's fired up). Year in and year out Dobyns-Bennett is one of the best and can stand tall and proud.

I can't believe you are even considering the possibility that teams not in the playoffs aren't in the top ten. Just because a team is upset doesn't mean they aren't one of the top ten teams in the state. This is an objective point of view considering the entire season; not just the playoffs. You have to look at it all.

Just because they are out of the playoffs doesn't mean they aren't a top ten team in the state.

1. Ooltewah -- 11-0 2. Riverdale -- 10-1 3. Ridgeway -- 10-0 4. Sevier County -- 9-2 5. Smyrna -- 9-2 6. White Station -- 10-1 7. Dobyns-Bennett -- 10-1 8. Gallatin -- 10-1 9. Farragut -- 8-3 10. Franklin -- 9-2 Not listing honorable mentions during the playoffs.

This should be a really close contest. Ooltewah appears to have stepped it up a notch and Sevier County has the kind of talent that gives the Owls fits. SC displays a qb who is elusive, and puts up a substantial number of yards in the air and on the ground. If he is able to scramble and buy time for his receivers, Ooltewah is prone to failing to stick with their opponents' receivers as the opposing qb scrambles. This was quite evident in the Farragut game. In other games, the defense has given up a number of yards in the air as well. Both defenses seem to be pretty tough, overall, and the only two teams they have both matched up against are William Blount and McMinn County. It sounds like from the McMinn game, Sevier was able to force a few turnovers, making the difference in that game. Ooltewah on the other hand held significant advantages over McMinn, both offensively and defensively. Against WB, Sevier lost, but it was the first game of the season, and they seem to be playing much better now. Ooltewah won a "miracle" game against WB, and probably should have lost that game--one of three very tough losses for WB this season. Ooltewah is quick, explosive and at home. I would have to give the edge to Ooltewah for all of those reasons. OHS-31 SC-21

ooltewah doesnt allow to many huge plays against them Well, Farragut would probably say that big plays are what kept them in the game. I would agree that most teams are not going to run through the Owls defense, but they are still suspect against the pass, especially if the other team has a scrambling QB. Sounds like Ooltewah really turned this one up a notch, as far as overall offense. I didn't see the game, but looked at the stats. Pretty balanced and very efficient. If they continue that success in the next few weeks they will be awful tough. I agree with earlier posters (ImaOwl) that indicate that next week will be tough. This Sevier County team is the real deal. Good luck to both of those teams next week!

The playoffs always tell us something don't they. I am sure you will see some changes in my top ten after tonight.