redbirdfan

The two teams with the best shot to make it to da Boro from West TN will be doing battle on Friday night as the #2 ranked Lady Rebels of Obion Central will host the #5 ranked Lady Trojans of Dyersburg. This will be the 2nd meeting this season between the two squads as OC won at D'burg by four points back in early December. Both teams have already won 20 games this season= OC is 20-1 and D'burg is 20-2. Tip-off is set for 6pm at OC's Central Station this Friday night.. Getcha Popcorn Ready!!

No there lil fella-- just glad to see Hubbs making good and actually playing his middle school ball there in Dyer Co. He's didn't play middle school at Covington or in Gibson County or lauderdale County so it's a good story. Everybody's happy for the hype..

Rumor has it- there could be some major shakeups at OC for 2012. A nice little 3 year run has put some folks in the stands down at Troy and not just to leave at halftime after the band plays. OC graduated a lot from the 2011 squad and those guys will be hard to replace -- But like a Bridge over troubled waters- They will Rise like a Phoenix from the ashes of despair Looking forward to the OC/UC matchup in August of 2012--- Getcha Popcorn Ready!

And Hubbs is a local kid too..

Not to burst anybody's bubble here on these state rankings- but It's nothing more than a popularity contest. it's usually based on last season's performances- Nobody in East TN has seen anyone play in West TN and the same can be said about Middle TN teams being seen only by those in Middle TN. I've seen repeatedly time and time again how a team gets ranked in the TOP 5 in the state but never makes it to da BORO and the elite eight of the state tournament. So let's keep things in perspective- don't blow a gasket if your team is not ranked where you think they should be. Around mid-February- we have this little event called tournaments and that's where teams can prove where they should be at. The Main objective everyone has is to win the last game they play..

From what I've gathered from a real reliable source- Williams will not play- he is out for the season. Whether he was in there or not- the task at hand doesn't change- OC has to STOP the Charger ground game- and continue to run the ball on offense behind LD Fair to set up that passing game which was the main ingrediant for success last friday in memphis over Fairley. If the Rebels can contain the running game, create some turnovers and make plays on the offensive end- they could possibly pull out the victory and Covington can go back to making more MC Hammer videos..

No- I think they'll be fine- It'll be tough to repeat and go back to back state titles like the GC Lady Pioneers did but McMinn should have enough to get back to da BORO and after you get to the Elite 8- everybody's got a shot.

Don't know GC-- OCCHS has had some kids quit as well.. So past the top 3 scoring threats, don't know who will step up and fill some of the other spots-- they have some talent- just need some experience. As for State-- yeah if they play like they are capable of, they have a good shot, just like last year's team that won 32 games but fell to Liberty in the Regional Semifinals- that's the 4th straight year OC has not advanced past that crucial game with a sub-state berth on the line. D'burg will be tough- have most of the scoring back and their point guard.. Could be interesting in 13AA

With heavy graduations last season- District 13AA could be wide open this season the teams must try to figure how to make deep post-season runs to get past the Libertys and Bolivars but BEFORE that-- who is coming out on top in this District? . Seems to be Wide Open.

Defending State champs who lost a Miss Basketball Finalist in Jenna Adams but will more than likely have another one in the making in Last season's State Tourney MVP in Elizabeth Massengill. Over 1,000 points and over 500 rebounds in 2 years and can score inside and outside as well.. Some talent returning and they have the makings to have another deep run in post-season.. Should be interesting..

And He's A LOCAL kid too..

With Hoop time beginning next week- It's time to start our 13AA previews and predictions- 2010-2011 was a bit of down year for 13AA in the fact that no teams from this district were representing in the last year's State Tourney. What's this season's outlook for 13AA and who has the edge??

Is the Mighty Lady Rebels of Obion County not playing in this little play day??

IS DA HYPE Justified??? I hear Phelps is the Real Deal!

You tell them Rat-- that's why you are the Guru of High school Sports! As for this game-- Maybe the Charges won't let the DAWGS OUT!! WOOF, WOOF, WOOF! - But they are tough at home and sense that this could be the year.. This should be a classic between two well coach, defensive minded teams.

I for one was in shock when I heard the Lexington score this past Friday night. I thought the Big Red had another playoff run in them this season.. It just goes to show why they don't play games on paper-- Lexington will always be in the thick of things in future years because they always have talented kids playing down there.

The Rebels contained the ground game of Marcus Holiday and Fairley last week for the most part- and shut them down in the 1st half while taking a 26-0 lead to the locker room at intermission. LD Fair had a huge night running the ball for OC to give the Rebels only the 2nd playoff win in school history. Turning the page to this Friday night- Once again the Rebels will have the same game plan on Defense and that's STOP the RUN-- Covington rushed for over 500 yards when the two teams met in Troy back in mid-October and 330 of those yards came in the 2nd half-- one back topped 200 yards and two more each had over 100.. Dunn is the type of QB who is not flashy but he won't make mistakes to hurt his team- actually had 2 TD passes vs. OC-- We hear Carlos Williams may be back in this one which will make a deep team at RB even deeper.. Despite all of that- The Rebels could have possibly put the Mid-October game away but came away with only FG on 2 occasions and a couple of other possessions didn't even score-- A dropped Pass in the end zone didn't help either.. OC knows they can score on Covington- just can they keep the Chargers from scoring on their home turf. Again Defense is what wins championships and the team that Brings it on Friday night will be punching their ticket to the State Quarterfinals.. Should be a Good one!!

Marcus Holiday is a solid RB for Fairley- As a Soph. he ran for around 150 yards and 3 TD's in knocking off the Rebels 34-28 in a 2009 1st Round Playoff game. Despite missing the first three games this season due to injury- Holiday still rushed for 1200 yards and 19 TD's. Once again the Rebel Defense will be tested. It's simple- STOP THE RUN! - The offense for OC- Avg.41 points/game and over 400 yards of offense per contest- has shown they can put points on the board. And they'll have to do it vs. a Bulldog Defense that is only allowing around 120 yards per game. At this point in the season when you get to post-season- the teams that survive and advance in the playoffs are the ones that have solid defensive game plans and execute them. This again will be the task at hand on Friday night at Crump Stadium. The Rebels look for the 2nd playoff win in school history and a return match with either Covington or D'burg- the two teams to hand them losses this season - in Round Two of the Playoffs- but first things first, -you've GOT to go to Memphis and knock off a very athletic squad from Fairley-- Best of luck Rebels-- STAY HUNGRY!!

The Obion Central/Fairley game will take place at Crump Stadium which is next to Central High School in Memphis. The Address is 1301 Linden Ave. If you take Exit 30 off of I-240 South (Madison Ave. Exit) Turn left on Madison Ave. and then Right on S.Cleveland St. for 0.3 mi then turn right onto Linden Ave. the Stadium will be on the left. Should be an interesting matchup.. Kickoff is at 7pm.

All District winners/ and runner ups. are automatic qualifiers which means they will be seated above the wildcard teams no matter what the record is.. Example: A team out of Memphis let's say with a 6-4 or 7-3 record but won the district will be seeded ahead of a wildcard team that did not get one of the top two spots in another districts but may have an 8-2 or 9-1 record. I still think it's very odd that these districts which are classified by 3 classifications and then split to six classifications for the playoffs.. This potentially hurts a team when it comes to seeding for the playoffs.. Just my two cents.

Both teams score points in bunches-- OC is avg. around 43 points/game while the Trojans score at a 36 p/g clip but one has to look at the opponents both teams have played this season and how the teams do vs. quality opponents(by this I mean opponents with a winning record) D'burg may have trouble defending the pass which is what the Rebels excel at (avg. 257 passing yds/game) and the Rebels have had troulbe defending the run from time to time which is what the Trojans will do ( 4 different players each with 2 TD runs last week vs. Ripley) Whoever defends the other teams strengths will have a leg up. I think OC was humbled by the fact that Covington ran it all over the field against them for over 500 yards which woke up the defense and made the Rebels realize they still have work to do. Both teams have lost to covington and D'burg also lost to a very good Brighton(6A) team. Both teams defenses will be tested and it appears to me that though the Trojans have a very good balanced run game they don't have the explosiveness of a Covington which should give the Rebels the edge on this special Thursday night/Senior Night game in Troy. getcha Popcorn ready.. Or hot chocolate depending on the weather

I agree with the previous post as I had a chance to observe D'burg last night in a 58-12 dominating game over a poorly coached Ripley squad. Trojans defense is very tough vs. the run and Obion will run out of the spread set quite a bit with Fair. Dyersburg had problems from time to time with the passing game of Ripley which was basically throw it up and see what happens. The Tigers actually scored both of their TD's off of pass plays but the Trojans still came away with a couple of interceptions but once again this won't be Ripley they are playing as the Rebels have a more structured passing game led by QB Trey Phipps who has thrown for around 2500 yards and over 30 Touchdowns this season as he lit up the Haywood team last night. Dyersburg reminds you of Covington in the fact that they have multiple guys who run the ball well. Rod Caesar, Willie Toles, Brandon Boyd and QB Hayden Alford each had two TD runs last night. They run a lot of counter plays, some trap plays and sweeps that will keep teams off balanced. OC had trouble with Covington's inside trap and Sweep plays the week before to the tune of over 500 yards rushing. My opinion is Dyersburg not quite as athletic as Covington but will still be a tough opponent for the Rebels who observe Senior Night and also with both teams coming in at 5-1 in District play (DHS is 7-2 overall and winners of 6 straight, OC is 8-1 overall) the winner could have an inside track at securing a home playoff game. Both teams are playoff bound and who knows, they could turn around and play each other again in the opening round of the Playoffs.

The last two undefeated teams in the district in 13AA Milan(3A for playoffs) and Covington(4A in the playoffs) will do battle tonight at Johny Hale Stadium in Milan. Neither team with a district loss and this is where it gets a little complicated for OCCHS Rebels and their supporters when it comes to the playoffs and if they will be at home or will have to travel to Memphis in Round one. After some extensive research, here is how the system breaks down. For starters the top two teams in the district are automatic qualifiers. Should Milan win over Covington tonight the Dawgs are district champs and Covington will finish #2 provided they defeat Ripley next week.(likely will happen) The Chargers will finish 2nd in the district and will be an automatic qualifier(thus like Milan in the 3A playoffs, the Chargers will host in the opening round in the 4A playoffs) Now when one factors in the Memphis districts and the top two qualifiers(let's say it's Mitchell and Fairley) NO Matter what the overall record is (4-6 , 3-7, etc.) the top two are automatic qualifers and will thus HOST an opening round game. So with that said - let's say OC wins out over Haywood tonight and Dyersburg next week and finishes at 9-1, they still could be a #5 seed and thus would have to go on the road in round one(most likely to Memphis) Now this is where it become more complicated or comical depending upon how you look at it. Should Covington defeat Milan tonight and thus a tie takes place at the end of week 10 between Milan and OC in the district, then you would look at overall record (Milan would finish 8-2 and Obion Central at 9-1) thus making the Rebels 2nd in the district and an automatic qualifier and a host in the opening round. Yes, complicated as this all seems this is how it could break down. I for one am still puzzled that teams from different classifications are in the this same 10 team district (13AA with 6 4A teams and four 3A teams) but a lot of districts are that way. In conclusion, hope this helps those folks especially in the 4A ranks for the playoffs on what could possibly happen when Round One of the Playoffs begin. So, Obion Central Rebels supporters and fans, this is why you want Covington to win at Milan tonight and make sure you win your games this evening with Haywood and Dyersburg next week.. Clear as Mud huh??

Spread Set, High Powered Offenses will fill the stands but defense wins championships. You can't allow over 500 yards rushing to the opposition and expect to win the game. Don't blame this on the coaches- they can't play. I just hope the team chemistry improves and nothing "implodes" the rest of the way. The Rebels still have a chance to win out the rest of the regular season and get a high seed and some playoff games at home to begin November. They just have to correct the mistakes, learn from them and continue to work hard.

tbiggs I was very impressed with the Covington game plan coming in and you could tell they scouted OCCHS well on both sides of the ball. Multiple backs that can run the ball and hats off to the guys up front who blocked fairly well for them. Perhaps these teams could meet again in the playoffs(which now more than likely will take place at Covington) If that be the case the Rebel defense better come to play because the Charger Wing T offense was very impressive. Should be an excellent matchup with Covington at Milan next week in what will be a battle for the District 13AA regular season championship.