orangemoundwest

I know this is off the subject, but did anybody watch any of the Longview-Lufkin High School game on fox sports net last night?

I agree, It would be good for both teams and Memphis football.

TraderB, Since you have seen both teams, how do you see the Houston-Whitehaven game going? KDub, I think Ridgeway will beat Millington tonight. Just a hunch.

I am seeing it like that too from my distant view. Starting with around the second round of playoffs Points will be coming at more of a premium. My bet is that the stronger defenses will have the best chances to advance.

Maybe Melrose and Ridgeway can schedule each other next year.

KDub, Both teams stingy defensive numbers may be the result of the overall level of competition in previous games. The last few games in this region will be interesting. I think the better defenses will prevail. As the season and playoffs progress, it sounds like the respective defenses need to step their game up, especially against the better teams..

I have no problem with Ridgeway moving to number 1. However, I don't understand the ECS move. Also I agree, Olive Branch and White Station are too low.

Todd Dodge has been the coach for years. They run and have been running for years the same offense in all the feeder Jr high schools. During the off season they are working on their own year round Man it's run like a college program, is the only high school in Southlake, and has outstanding facilities. We're working on our third head coach in three years. That makes it much more difficult to be consistent. However, if we can put up maybe 20 to 25 points a game, we would be hard to beat in Tennessee 4A.

TraderB, Execution, execution, execution. We have a bye week coming up and the less formidable portion of the schedule following. Hopefully Toney can get healthy and we can work on our problems on the offensive side of the ball. In order to be effective in the spread, it is imperative that the skill positions read the same thing, make the proper adjustments, and take what the defense is giving. We are simply not there yet. We have the players to be very good, but have work to do. I have had the opportunity to watch the Southlake Carroll team which is the mythical national champion. They run the spread better than any high school team I have seen. The position they put DBs in is almost unfair. Melrose is as talented at the skill positions as Southlake, but from an execution standpoint, a long way apart. IMO, repetition is the key and hopefully the several weeks before playoffs will help. You are correct, we have to take pressure off the defense to better our chances of making it through the playoffs. We have to get better, period.

Thanks formerCoach81. We're in the driver's seat going down a long rugged road. I hope we are up to the task. It's going to be tough.

The first two spots are pretty much locked with Melrose - 1st, Fairley - 2nd. The 3rd place leader is currently Raleigh Egypt. East and Kingsbury are in battle for 4th. However Raleigh and East have not played yet. If East can defeat Raleigh, they have a good shot at 3rd. East has yet to play Kingsbury which further complicates the mix for the last two spots.

So far East has one region win which was against winless Northside. Their playoff hopes rest in their last two region games against Raleigh Egypt and Kingsbury. At best, they can be a third seed. East is currently 1-2 in the region with the 2 losses against Melrose and Fairley. We still may get that Munford-East matchup that would be watched with interest.

Toney did not start but came in later. He injured a shoulder against Hamilton.and I heard that he did not look sharp tonight. He is the one that threw the interception that Fairley scored on. The defense is winning the games for us right now. The kicking game went south tonight too. A bad snap and a bad kick.

TraderB, Melrose won 12 6. Currently I don't have many details. Fairley's TD was scored on an interception.

formerCoach81, As far as the previous Coach you talk about, I can't support a number of things he did or allowed to happen under his watch. Having played for Melrose during a time when humility, pride. and class were a premium, it was hard to watch and hear things like what you stated above. As a matter of fact, I think I know the state semi-final playoff game you are referencing that took place in the Nashville area. I was at that game and listened to the oppossing coach voice his displeasure during the post game interview. Melrose was defeated by White House in the finals the next week. The coaches and kids that have been at Melrose since have really worked hard to do things the right way. He is gone now and the Melrose program is better for it. I still make it to Memphis, check out games sometimes and have tapes sent to me. My parents still live in Orange Mound. It's tougher this year as I have a son playing high school ball down here. I saw Henry County play once last year, but have not seen them this year. I would not say they can't beat us, only that it will not be easy coming to Melrose and doing it. I am looking forward to seeing how things play out. I have enjoyed our dialogue and fully understand your problems with that previous coach. I hope we can earn your respect by doing thing the right way. I look forward to future kicking it around with you on CoachT.

OMN, How is Toney?

formerCoach81. The Buffalo Bills? Man that's cold. We actually do have a couple of championships. Anyway this conversation started out with you saying that Melrose would not make it to the semi-finals then changed to the finals. Now you say if they do make it to the finals, there is a top 25 team waiting on them.W which means you now see a chance (however remote) that they could get there. Secondly, I never said this year's team was as good as last year's team. I agree they are not. However, they don't have to be. They only have to be better than who they are playing on that night or day. This is a Melrose reloading year, primarily Sophs. and Jrs. Their best football is yet to come. They will have a season of games under their belt by playoff time. I have the utmost respect for the Maryville football program. We have lost to them the last two years and I offer no excuses. They won the games and deserved the victory. Period. This years Maryville team is good as they always are. However, even their fans say they are not as good as their last couple of teams. As far as a national prep poll goes, I don't give them a lot of credence. I live in the Dallas, Texas area and have had the opportunity to see a several teams tihis year not ranked in the polls that IMO would come to Tennessee and soundly defeat Melrose or Maryville. formerCoach81, You are very welcome to your opinion and it is respected. However, when your logic is based on statements like "you have heard these teams are good" and "Melrose has blown too many shots at it so Melrose won't make it back" and "They won't always come around". it's hard not to notice a lack of substance. It almost sounds like a little hateration I don't know how far Melrose will make it this year. But they won't lose because they have been there too many times, or won't always come around, or you HEARD some other teams were good. It will be because some team came to Melrose or Murfreesboro and beat them. Period Just my opinion

I am in agree ment with you guys. This is as close to a must win as you can get without being elimanated from playoff contention for Whitehaven. Whitehavens schedule has been much tougher than White Station's also. I have to give the edge to Whitehaven in a close one

Ok, so the bottom line is you havv heard these teams are good and Melrose has blown too many shots at it.. Hmmmm. so Melrose won't make it back. Hmmmm. The won't always come around. Hmmmm.

I agree. Henry County played us extremely tough last year and appear to once again be a very good team. I hope we can hold our end of the deal and make it that deep in the playoffs.

Yes the semi-finals would be the game before the finals pitting the West Tn. rep vs the Mid-State rep. The quarter finals woud be against a region 7 team. I understand your clarification. So if Melrose can make it to the Semi-Final's which would also be played at Melrose, what mid-state team(s) do you see as making it to the finals?

FormerCoach81, I can't argue with your view of the Melrose polish and letting teams hang aroound. However I was wondering,.......For Melrose not to make the semifinals, a team in region 7 will have to come to Melrose and beat them. Which team in region 7 do you think will be the one?

I read on an unofficial website that it was because they played an 8th grader in the game.

Me Too! I heard he was subject to a questionable hit or two.

Yes I read the article. My brother says it was a game that he is" trying to forget". We lost composure. This rivalry is so much more intense than many not affiliated with the schools understand. It has been like that for at least 50 years. Toney went out in the 4th quarter with an injury. After the late hit on Justin Holloway near the Hamilton bench, the intensity and loss of composure escalated. My brother concurred with Coach Alexander, in that it simply got "out of hand".