donathan5507

A buddy and I cannot remember the name of a former Marshall County player.

He played tailback. Maybe 2000-03. Seemed like he was there for the better part of a decade. Extremely talented and very shifty. Wore #9 I believe and I think his first name was Mario.

Can't remember his last name for the life of me. Anybody know who I'm talking about?

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...somebody wake me up when a West TN team beats a Williamson County team in the 5A semis.

Congratulations to Franklin...going to be a great game in the 'Boro on Saturday.

How does Franklin rate compared to last seasons Indy team.....or Ravenwood from the year before? It's hard to visualize how good a team is with nothing to compare them to. And someone posted about a runningback carrying 5 Brentwood defenders down the field....I don't think that would accurately represent what Franklin does on a consistent basis. Otherwise, they would have blowout Brentwood.

This Franklin team is the best team to come out of the region since 2005. 2006 Ravenwood was good, but people forget that their defense wasn't much of anything after the first round of the playoffs--they gave up 28, 29, and 28 in wins against Antioch, Hunters Lane, and White Station before Smyrna dropped 35 on them in the title game. Franklin hasn't given up more than 14 points since October 3. They have an unbelievable amount of experience on both sides of the ball....their QB (a Mr. Football Finalist) has been playing for the better part of three years and has a lot of playoff games under his belt. He may not wow you with his statistics but he rarely makes mistakes and is extremely well coached. The receivers make plays when they need to and they have great chemistry with Nichols.

The running game is scary. Lee and Ford are both juniors and both have had outstanding seasons in one of the state's toughest regions.

I would say Franklin's biggest strength is line play on both sides of the ball. The O-Line is absolutely outstanding--one of the best I've seen and the defensive guys (led by JD Jervis) wreak havoc all game long. This team has no discernible weakness and has every tool necessary to bring home a gold ball. That said, there are a ton of variables in a football game.

Although they have experience, Franklin hasn't made it this far under Clayton, so you don't know how they will react. However, I've watched them for the last four years and I felt like the quarterfinals were the big hump for them...they have gotten over that hump and there's no reason why they shouldn't move past White Station on Friday night.

I'm an Independence fan, but my allegiance is solely to the Rebels right now. Good luck boys...represent 6-5A well!

You had better bring your 'A' game every Friday night. There isn't a single easy win to be had, plus the playoff race will be even more competitive. There will be one guaranteed 5A playoff team and two guaranteed 6A teams. Since the rest of the spots are decided by tiebreakers, I would expect a lot of teams across the state to find as many easy wins as possible...that will NOT be in the case in 11-AAA. All of the teams consistently play some of the toughest non-region schedules in the entire state.

I very much look forward to district games next year...shouldn't be a bad game anywhere.

Brentwood

Franklin

Centennial

Hendersonville

Indy 35-24.

Good way for the Eagles to close out the season.

They're going to have to work really hard in the offseason if they want to get back to the playoffs. With realignment, things will only get tougher.

Congrats to the seniors who played in their final game--hard to imagine watching Independence football without Berry, Shephard, or Smith. Those kids have all been getting minutes since the first year of varsity football.

14-14 halftime.

Anybody have a final for this game?

This is earth shattering news here G. Football is all about blocking and tackling, and also running the ball. Brilliant! I may be wrong, but have you ever coached football? I doubt it. I would venture to say that blocking and tackling is practiced at every practice (in pads of course). Coaches always practice this, but sometimes it comes down to execution. I am not saying coaches are perfect, but you can practice blocking, tackling, passing, catching, kicking, etc at every practice, but it still boils down to the kids making the plays.

 

So tell me what is different about this year? There are some different coaches, but the HC/OC and DC are the same. What has changed? Players. I am not saying anything bad about this team. I have tried not to compare this year to last years team, but they lost a lot of seniors that had a lot of varsity experience. They have a lot of good players with not much varsity experience. That is key. They will be better next year because of the experience.

 

You have really over simplified running the football. You can have the best Oline and no running back or a great running back and no Oline and it won't work. It takes a combination of a good back and Oline. Teams and talent run in cycles. What happened to Ravenwood last year? Rector, who by all accounts is one if not the best coach in the region took his team to back to back championship games and then was 4-6 last year and missed the playoffs. Didn't see posts on here questioning him and his program. Sometimes teams don't have enough players no matter who the coach is. I am sure if you talked to the coaches they would tell you they should have tried different things, but it is easy for someone on the outside to second guess them.

 

Are you really a fan of IHS or are you trying to rally support to get rid of the coaches? Coaching HS football is a lot different than rec baseball or whatever else you have coached if anything. If you haven't coached at the HS level you have no clue what it takes to be a good coach.

Sparty, where have you been? I've been getting killed out here.

okay here it is - heated discussion on another thread -

last home game of the year---one so called supporter of INDY ( out of playoffs and with 3 wins ) stated that this game is meaningless and that the coach should start "certain seniors " that night ?

so i ask you do you agree and think that is fair -

I so no - play them at some point in the game if situation agrees - I think you owe it to the starters and the seniors whom are starters to send them off with a win as for most this wll be the last time they ever play organized ball-

what do you think?

donathan5507@gmail.com

Shoot me an e-mail.

Now here I've gone and done what I know I shouldn't...gotten into a debate that is pointless with folks who readily show that they are unable to get the point.

 

It is the intangibles of any athletic endeavor that most often puts a team into the highest levels of success. When you plant the seed of doubt in a kid's mind, doubt of their right to a position, or the doubt of the team in a coach's ability to make the best decisions for that team, you are chipping away at their confidence...and a team lacking confidence in themselves and in their coach is destined to lose more games than a team that does not have that issue.

 

You have consistently chipped away at this team, its coaches, and its starters. Kids read these posts...their confidence is affected.

 

 

If it is a "meaningless" night, you want the kids that are not good enough to start to play, right? Thats Rec ball. Wow, can the team go to Chucky Cheese's after the game too?

 

Build for next year. You cant do it by playing senior kids who were not good enough to help THIS year.

The fact that you're even insinuating that I personally have done anything even remotely close to chipping away is extremely insulting to me. I have been there for this program every step of the way...from the 2004 scrimmages against Glencliff and Stewart County to last December's heartbreak in Murfreesboro. If you have a problem with something that I have said, give me a call or an e-mail. Those that truly know this program know exactly who I am and exactly how to reach me. If you do not know how to do so, then let me know and I'll give you all of the information which you need.

Look forward to hearing from you.

I for one also have been possitive and a supporter of the starting QB. My biggest issue was the backlash of so called support ans the call for another kid to qB the team and the bitterness. The one thing I have said and it was factual that the offense lacked not due to qb but one dimensional no running game and that defense giving up to many rush yds ,that's not bashing but sayinh obvious on a sport opinion discussion forum.I mean look at the post above saying indy got lucky last season,weak division,playoof foes weak nplayoff game vs franklin we lucky as ball went thru defenders hand,and into arms pf our reciever ans millington blew the game ans deserved to lose- he didn't mention one good thing.

IS IT FAIR to play sr's just cause they 3e seniors and gave to the program - No NO No its not meaningless at all, ask the first team starter whom worked all season Hard to keep his position, ask the first string starters if its meaningless ask the senior starters if its meaningless, you want to win your last game for almost all seniors this is last time they will ever play football,its not time to have a RUDY or be sentimental letting seniors start. So guess coach henrie in bball should do same etc.

Yeah get all kids in game if the score us in your favorn this is not a recreation league.

I will be glad all this qb stuff is put to rest because the ones havin negative words are the few whom are selfish and think they're son should qb.

Coach Henrie did that with the 2007 seniors on senior night against Columbia...

Why would you start, or even play for that matter, kids that in no way will help the future of the team? The last game of "meaningless" season should be about working toward next year. This is the game where your young kids get in and you see what they can do at the varsity level. This is a great opportunity to gain insight and experience for younger players.

 

Man, I have never seen such backward thinking from people.

 

The kids that "deserve" to play are the ones that the head coach feels should play...and he will put them in when he feels appropriate.

 

All this bleacher coaching and complaining is harmful to a program. You think kids are not reading this stuff? Way to plant doubt and devisiveness into a program. Some of you have done it all season. I think the Independence program "deserves" for this mess to graduate and go away.

 

I could care less about this program, I've just read these threads all season, and it sickens me what a few dissenters can do to a program. You made what was already going to be a difficult season much harder and probably cost the team a win or two.

Clearly you haven't been reading these threads all season, because I have done nothing but support and defend this team and the coaching decisions. I was the one calling for Heckman to start over Smith last season and again this year. I'm the one that got in arguments with sleeper3773 and hsfbfan1 because of my opinion. I am not a dissenter...I love the Independence program and I wish everyone involved nothign but the best. I have seen several coaches in football (and in other sports) choose to give seniors the starting nod on senior night. They don't have to play more than the first series...I have always liked the gesture and I have thought it was a nice moment for those kids to get their time in the spotlight.

I love Coach Eubanks and I know he will turn this thing around next season. The current group of juniors may be the best to come through the program. He will build this thing up to an extremely high level. That said, I don't think the world will come to end because you give the starting nod to a senior.

I respect that he and I am sure about 15 other seniors put a lot into program,but this is not rudy.

So I guess coach should start all the senior class then.... Look its evident you have your reason why don't you request other players why name one.

Best players should start period

Okay, fine.

EVERY senior should start. This is a meaningless game. This is their last chance to take the field at Eagles Stadium. They don't have to play the whole game, but I believe in giving each senior his chance to start in the season finale.

I have my reasons? Have you paid ANY attention to any Indy threads all year? I've always backed Heckman. I have always thought that senior night is a special night and these kids deserve the opportunity.

Nick deserves to start against Columbia.

He's a senior, I always support that kind of thing. He's put a lot into this program and this will be the last time he ever laces them up. Hard to believe that he is about to finish his career at Indy, when it seemed like just the other day when he was coming into the scrimmage against Glencliff as a freshman.

i dont recall many saying that except a few RHS AND FHS fans- i do like your approach one game at a time- all i was stating is that yeas you are taking care of business and winning games you should, but I am still not sold on CHS making a dent come playoff time until they prove something to me. Dont get me wrong, i am on your bandwagon and if asked I will tell you i hope you do make the trip down 840 to 24 = Boro. however, teams in our region are down, your non conf win was versus Siegal and a 3 point game where as BHS dismantled them 31-17.

For me and others may argue last year, i thought the game that INDY needed to win and show me they were a team to make a run deep in the playoff was the Brentwood game-----

regardless enjoy the team and the spirit it has infused at your school

Teams in the region are down?

You're insane.

Top to bottom, this is the best that region has been since 2006...possibly 2005.

Franklin and Brentwood are two teams with state championship potential. Centennial has the athletes and the speed to make a deep postseason run. Ravenwood has the best coach in the entire midstate.

Indy isn't great but they have one of the four best players in the region on their team and if the offense gets going, they can be a problem to deal with. Columbia has some budding young stars and has played some teams close (only lost to Ravenwood by 5 after leading for most of the game). Heck, even Northeast has won four games this year...from 05-07 they won 3 games total. Dickson isn't very good but the power running game can cause major issues (ask Centennial).

Barry Cunningham (QB from Clarksville Northeast) is on the UT roster.

Independence

Class of 2007

Emory Martin--started at Lenoir-Rhyne, transferred to Samford and is ineligible this season.

Class of 2008

Ryan Consiglio--UTC (walking on, hopes to be placed on scholarship in January...2 tackles in three games played this season).

Jeff Veres--UTC (also walking on, has played in two games this season)

Scott Pettigrew--Buffalo. (Started at ILB in their game last week against Army. Is the team's 9th leading tackler with 17 (11 solo, 6 assist).)

Isaac Baugh--Buffalo (redshirting this year)

Nate Stout--Campbellsville

Rodney Coffey--Campbellsville

Jonathan Robinson--Campbellsville

Brentwood by 17.

If Scales and Cent is that good this year why were they not in the playoffs last year?

A lot of other young talent that hadn't quite developed yet.

Most people around this region have felt the next couple Centennial teams had potential to be top-tier region teams. The only thing that hurt CHS for most of its existence was coaching, not talent.

That problem appears to be fixed now. I don't think they are anywhere close to where they need to be defensively, but I believe that Centennial will be an absolute force to be reckoned with in the next couple of years.

Columbia could catch the Cougars looking ahead and play them close for a half, but Centennial is the better team and will ultimately prevail, setting up a huge matchup against Franklin.

Centennial 27

Columbia 17

So does this solidify the 4 play-off spots?

 

 

Brentwood, Franklin, Centennial, and Ravenwood are in and the rest of the teams have officially been eliminated?

Pretty much.

But not technically. If Dickson wins out (they'd have to beat Franklin and Ravenwood), they'd get in over Ravenwood. Same scenario goes for Northeast. Basically, any team with more than 3 region losses is out. Those two teams play one another this week, which would eliminate the loser. Northeast is almost certainly eliminated. DC would have to pull off a miracle.

Ravenwood 3-2 (Northeast, Dickson)

Dickson 1-3 (Northeast, Franklin, Ravenwood)

Northeast 1-3 (Dickson, Ravenwood, Brentwood)

Likely you'll get

1. Brentwood

2. Franklin

3. Centennial

4. Ravenwood

Indy could really shake the region order up next week with a shocking upset against Brentwood, but I don't see that happening.

14-7.

I listened via 104.5's website...Ravenwood scored first on a TD run. Indy hit a 20-yard TD pass to tie it up before RHS added what would be the game winning touchdown in the 2nd quarter on an 11-yard TD pass.

The second half was extremely sloppy. I think there were five turnovers and very little offensive production. Indy got a huge 4th down stop midway through the fourth quarter and completed a 64-yard pass to the Ravenwood 15 but the receiver fumbled before going down (a call which the announcers questioned) and Ravenwood basically ran the clock out from there. IHS had one last chance with 40 seconds to go from its own 20 but ran a screen on first down that only gained 7 yards and the player was tackled in bounds...Indy didn't use its final timeout, ran two more incomplete passes and that was the game.

The wet field obviously caused this game to be a pretty sloppy one...for Indy, they just need to focus on next week and trying to get some pass protection for Heckman. They are eliminated from the playoffs for this year and will need to make some vast improvements if they hope to compete in 09.

I think that might be a stretch. I would take McCurdy from Brentwood, Mikrut from Franklin, Becker from Ravenwood, and Chaz (based purely on his athletic ability) from Centennial before I would take no. 7. But that's not to put the kid down, just my opinion.

 

I do agree that 2, 3, 7, and 10 are all playmakers for the Eagles.

McCurdy and Mikrut were in that same class of 2005 that I was referring to with T.C.

That was probably the best trio of QB's that we'll see for a long time...all I said was that Alex has a chance to become the best in this region since that group.

In the post-T.C./McCurdy/Mikrut era, I'd rank the QBs as such:

1. Michael Becker

2. Graham Nichols

3. Chaz Scales

4. Alex Heckman

However, Alex has the rest of this season and his entire senior year ahead of him to ascend that list. We will see what happens...Indy needs to get on the right track this week against Ravenwood.

I hate to say I told you so. Anyone who really knows about football can clearly see why this team under achieves. There seems to be an agenda. They run plays to kids who are not the playmakers of the team. It should not matter who the play makers are but on this team it does. There have been countless times all season, certain recievers are wide open. The ball is pulled down an ran versis throwing down field are forced to other recievers. If you read the article in the Tenn(Williamson County Section) you no why this Team want make the playoffs. I hate to be the barrier of bad news but the facts are what they are. I am not sure that, for this team to be a real TEAM, Nick would have been the better quarterback. And buy the way, I am not Nicks father just someone who knows football and understand crap when I see it. I hope this doesnt offend anyone because that is not my goal. I just hate to see a talented team go by the wayside because of selfish play.

Okay, I need a little help here.

I believe this team's playmakers are #2, #3, #7, and #10. I think #8 will be a playmaker in the future and I think #5 may have the best hands on the team.

So,

They have a quarterback who--when all is said and done--may be the best in this region since T.C. Jennings graduated. He's already in the discussion as a junior. He can run, he continues to improve his passing, I don't know what else you want from him. He is one of the top five playmakers in the entire region--why shouldn't he get the ball in his hands on every play?

Against Dickson, he had 21 completions to six different receivers. No single player had more than six catches. Nick Smith had 3 catches for 92 yards (the most on the team) and Jonathan Norman caught two touchdown passes.

You claim that they deliberately give the ball to kids who cannot make plays...which kids? I'm interested into hearing your reponse. However, you were the "barrier" of bad news, so I'm not sure what to make of anything you say.