PowerSweep

FRA would be regarded by most everyone to be the underdog in this matchup but I think if they play mistake-free they could pull off an upset.

KublahKD I definitely see this game being much closer than last year's championship game. I see it one of two ways, it's either going to come down to who has the ball last in a shootout or either team has a couple of turnovers that helps the other win by a couple of scores. I really would not expect either team to blow the other team out unless something really unexpected happened. As far as radio coverage I'm not sure yet... but you can get updates from the Knoxville News Sentinel preps editor, Jesse Smithey on his Twitter page Friday night. http://twitter.com/#!/prepxtra

SmokeStackI... what part of ECS and Webb playing "in classification" do you not understand? Simply because Ensworth and a couple others in DII-AA decided to play up doesn't mandate that ECS and Webb do the same. Maybe they couldn't hold a candle against DII-AA "heavyweights", maybe they could. We'll never know because they are playing where the TSSAA put them.

Yeah... I even posted in another thread when I felt it was a team who would be traveling I-140. I felt sure I had solid info at the time but then I heard otherwise. Maybe if it is maybe what you said then get ready for some DII folks to quickly dismiss the team that will maybe travel I-140 as a legit measuring stick. I'll be the first to admit that they are most probably not the #1 DII team but at least they're willing to schedule it! Stay tuned...

APB... that's where I'm getting some conflicting info. I've heard two different slots for the matchup you're talking about. I first heard Week 0 and then heard late in the season. I guess we'll have to wait and see but nevertheless, I'm glad to see this happening.

They will all play each other over the next two seasons. Great job by all 4 of these schools to work it out and make this possible! Games like this are great for HS football in Tennessee.

This sounds great... kudos to all 4 teams for working this out!

Without a dog in this fight it's going to take a super effort from Polk to stop CAK. Alcoa was very successful at getting pressure on the QB which disrupted their timing on patterns etc. Plus Alcoa's DBs are very athletic which helped as well. Even with that, CAK was able to move the ball on a very salty and talented Alcoa defense. In the end, Alcoa made key plays and physically seemed to wear CAK down late. I understand Polk has had a great season but who have they played that runs an offense similar to CAK? They really will have their hands full trying to cover CAK's very talented WRs consistently. The QB is pass first but is also a dangerous runner if he decides to pull it down. I haven't seen Polk play but have watched highlights from their website. In what I've seen on offense, I'm not convinced they run the wing-t as has been previously stated. I mean, they actually run some wing-t plays, but there have been some tweaks and changes made to them. I'm not saying that's a bad thing at all, but it's not traditional wing-t. Also, without seeing complete offensive series by Polk, it's hard to say if they actually call plays that utilize the wing-t's ability to deceive a defense in how you call a series of plays to create an advantage of with motion and formations. I'm going to try and get over to see the last quarter of this game. Hopefully it will be injury free for both teams and a win by the Warriors.

Well, this one should be a great game! Two teams that played for it all last season will meet again in the quarterfinals. Both teams have graduated key players from last season. I know USJ's outstanding receiver and some lineman graduated while Webb graduated 18 seniors. These two teams appear to have opposite strengths in that USJ will throw it around with their tremendous returning QB while Webb likes to utilize their 3 small but very quick RBs to run a very precise and disciplined wing-t offense. Basically I see this matchup boiling down to who is better able to limit the others' offense. I feel that both teams will score on each other, but it will come down to who can make some key stops or turnovers. I know USJ will be primed for revenge as the Spartans pretty much took them out of their game early in last year's championship game game. USJ never got their passing game going as Webb continued to apply pressure from the edge on the USJ QB while Webb's DBs pretty much shut down the USJ receivers and didn't allow them to get open very often. USJ had a hard time stopping Webb's run and also gave up some passing yardage too. USJ could find some openings in their passing game as Webb graduated 3 out of the 4 DBs from last year's team with two of those being all-state safeties. That group last year was very good at covering the pass and pretty much shut down anyone who tried to throw on them. Their DBs are very young, 2 sophomores and 2 freshman, so it will be a huge test for them to stop a very talented USJ QB. On the other hand, USJ will have to find a way to defend an offense that presents 3 RBs who can really fly. You really never know which one has the ball as Webb does a great job of running their wing-t offense using a lot of mis-direction and they carry out all ball fakes which confuses things even more. I really believe the x-factor for Webb's offense is the passing game. They don't throw it a lot but when they do it's in the capable hands of a 4-year starter at QB with some talented skill athletes who can make plays after the catch. Webb's offensive coordinator is very good at making adjustments and has shown he doesn't mind throwing it around when teams load the box to defend the run. I thought USJ was very well coached and the players were tough and played extremely hard in last year's championship game. There was no quit in USJ, so I know the Spartan players will remember this and respect them as a team who could put them out Friday night. In the end I believe Webb's overall team speed will be the deciding factor. Their skill positions are well-stocked with speed but they are also very fast at all LB positions and both DEs. However, USJ can certainly put the Spartans out if they find themselves able to move the ball and slow down Webb's running game. Turnovers will be a huge factor in deciding who wins this game. I really believe this one could go either way but I'm hoping for a Spartan victory and an injury-free game. Let's also hope that all USJ fans along with the team and coaches who are traveling across the state to have a safe trip!

Govolsknox... how about Sharp? I thought he was a starter at guard. Good luck to ya'll this week!

Thanks for the correction The possibility still exists for FRA to beat St. George's as well if they don't come to play.

I was also very surprised to see DCA get beat last night. After watching them against Webb last week I really felt they should have won last night. As for FRA, I mentioned in another thread that I felt they could be a spoiler in the playoffs. They have two really good backs and play really hard. They will not quit and I watched them play Webb right down to the very last play where they could have scored to tie or win the game. ECS had better not overlook FRA or they'll wake up Saturday morning wondering what happened.

Actually they did very well against one of the Blount Co. powers in the last scrimmage of this preseason. I think it was pretty much universally agreed that on that day they came out on top. Obviously not anywhere close to how a real game would end up but they really showed me and a lot of people from Blount Co. who were at that scrimmage that they can play some ball. Also, I agree they could be potentially better next year but they'll have to replace 3 out of 4 starters in the d-line and 4 out of 5 in the o-line. They will be returning all offensive skill positions except QB and all LBs and DBs. Early in the season makes the line issue more of a concern than if this year's team lined up with them.

The one that's traveling I-140 will be shown no respect by its' fellow DII member school fans as they will say that they should not be used as a measuring stick between whichever Blount Co. power it's playing against because they aren't anywhere close to as good as the top DII schools. To those people who will no doubt come out of the woodwork when this is announced, I say... at least the team traveling I-140 stepped to the plate and is willing to play!

Govolsknox... I think we can both agree that DI and DII schools end up with some athletes by other means than a family paying tuition at a DII school or being zoned to a certain DI school. DI schools get these kids through family moves or student change in guardianship, transfers, hardships or open zones while DII schools get them via need-based financial aid. Each benefitting albeit from different methods however the end result is that DI and DII schools attract students.

The FB #34 also does a great job of laying the lumber on blocks that open holes too!

Govolsknox... I couldn't agree more with the fact that 2-3 outstanding athletes can make a huge difference. You clearly understand how DII works with need-based financial aid and how it's not like the DII schools across the state are loading up with 75% of their starters who came to that school just because they qualified for enough aid so they could. The reason I spelled it out the way I did is because, contrary to what you stated, I don't believe most everyone who follows HS football knows or understands that DII schools don't offer "athletic scholarships", that "aid" is need-based or that non-athletes receive need-based financial aid too. In the end, I do agree that the difference between DI and DII in conversations usually comes down to the fact that the DII school has some athletes on their roster that wouldn't have had an opportunity to be there if it weren't for aid. However, as you know, there are many cases where a DI school "attracts" students to their school without financial aid and they can also end up with 2-3 outstanding athletes that make a huge difference.

Would have loved to have seen CAK go the DII-A route 2 years ago but I digress...

Good post rollredroll... I believe Webb is right in line with your 5-20% average with several of those students not being athletes. Instead they are from families who want their child to go to a very good college prep private school and take advantage of the tremendous art, drama, music etc. programs that Webb offers.

You're right, it would be a very competitive series between CAK and Webb. Last year and this year, Webb has probably fielded two of their very best football teams in several years so maybe you wouldn't have won but we'll never know for sure because they stopped playing each other in varsity football yet they play each other in practically everything else. Nevertheless, Webb is always trying to schedule local teams and over the past 9 years or so they haven't lost to a Knox County public school, which at different times included Bearden, Powell, West, AE, Halls and Central. I think Halls and Central are on the schedule for next year again but as a Webb supporter I would have really liked to get CAK back on the schedule. Webb also has Catholic which leaves one spot open. I've heard rumors about who is going to fill that spot, and if true, it will be a huge upgrade to next year's schedule. In regard to the 75% of a DII's school starting lineup being on financial aid, I really don't know for certain about other DII schools... but Webb is way below that percentage. Also, just a point of clarification... DII schools do not offer/give scholarships, instead it's need-based financial aid that is determined by a third party entity located in another state. I know it may be parsing words to some but scholarship could imply that Webb decides who gets aid and how much. In fact, I have never heard of a student at Webb having their complete tuition paid for. Like I said, it's need-based and is usually just a percentage using many factors that the third party uses in their calculations. Anyway, sorry this really isn't on topic but good luck to CAK finding someone to play. I would love to see ya'll pick up Catholic!

I agree... CAK, Catholic and Webb should always be on each other's schedule every year. Webb used to play Bearden and for whatever reason that series ended. CAK and Webb play in 2007 and 2008 but for whatever reason it didn't work out to keep it going. I know Webb has asked Farragut the past couple of years but it didn't come together. FootballDad... why no DII schools?

If Dorian is completely healed from his ankle injury I give HV a shot. Bearden had better be ready because HV can hit you with the pass and the run especially if Dorian is healthy. There defense has shown they can limit teams like Powell and AC. I think this will be a close game and a tough 1st round matchup for Bearden.

You're right, all 3 of Webb's starting RBs are between 5'5" and 5'7" so from a defenses perspective it's very difficult to see them in the backfield behind the o-line. Add to that how quick they are and sometimes the defense just can't react in time. I thought DCA had some very good athletes and a well balanced offense. I see them advancing past the first round with a shot at winning again in the quarter-finals against ECS if they can run/pass like they did against Webb. DCA moved the ball better than most anyone they played this season. As for Webb repeating we'll have to see about that. I feel like they can score on anyone and generally have done a very good job stopping the run. Their young secondary will be the key throughout the playoffs. Good luck to the Wildcats

As I predicted, Devrin Young had a big night. Glad to see Bearden win last night. So I read the game story in the paper today and found out that Catholic's D1 QB didn't start the game. He didn't play last week and didn't start last night. What's the deal with that?

First round picks USJ vs Zion - USJ (USJ will pass and run at will) DCA vs JCS - DCA (Expect DCA's balanced offense to score enough to win this one) FRA vs Harding - FRA (FRA has a very good one, two punch at RB and playing at home) SBEC vs Ezell Harding - Ezell Harding (Ezell has lost their last 4 games but I think they take this one)