Augielio

I watched Northside against Dyersburg on Friday, and Northside looked very powrful, handed it to Dyersburg, which is going to be a strong team. Northside was especially effective on offense, has really good team speed. Love did a fine job at QB. Defense was good but not outstanding. Northside broke several big plays, both passing and running. Good team size and, as I said, excellent speed. Looking at their schedule, I think the Indians will be favored in every game.

Why doesn't someone say/write the obvious: West Tennessee teams have the most black players?

I am a 73 year old retired high school coach. I have attended high school games each Friday night for 50 years. Jalen Hurd is the best high school running back I have ever seen, I don't care if he is a 5th grader.

Look, it's much better that we be friends and Trojan supporters together. I have seen Covington twice and Milan 3 times, and I believe that Milan will win, based on coaching and physicality. Covington has not impressed me. Arkel Coleman will be the best player on the field, if he is well from his injuries in the Huntingdon game (Milan's best effort this season). Powell will need to have a good night. And, yes, I am going to the Milan-Covington game. No hard feelings, and I think that Bart, though no James Counce, may well have outcoached every opposing coach he has faced this year. For example, though outmanned badly, we led Covington at the half. We shut out Trenton in the second half, and, in his best job, Crockett County scored on its first possession (and consumed the entire first quarter in doing so), but never scored again.

I don't know who you are or how long you have watched football, but I have been a Trojan coach, statistician, and supporter for nearly 50 years, have most likely watched more Trojan games than you have or will. What legitimate right (other than being able to hide behind an avatar) do you have to criticize my loyalty? I have seen Dyersburg play 3 times this season (Covington, Trenton, Crockett County). I always pull for them; Stowe and his staff have done an excellent job. I, too, doubt that the Trojans can beat Covington. As for Williams' prowess, I would only comment that I have seen Covington twice this season. (For the most part, both opponents played zone coverage, not man-to-man, common defense against Wing T teams. I have been to 3 Henry County games this season and look forward to following them in the playoffs. Each Friday night, I select what I think will be the best game in West Tennessee and attend. For 20 years, I kept statistics for Dyersburg. That was long enough. I put in my time. 90 % of the time, this was an honor and satisfaction (and the pay was not good !). But it was also time-consuming work. I resent being called a turncoat by someone like you (Wallace Milam)

Heck he probably won't get the ball in his hands but 4 or 5 times this game?. He very rarely runs the ball out of the backfield and Covington does not throw very often as everyone is aware of? I'm not saying that he's the sole reason why Covington will win or lose this game.He's the "best athlete in the southeast, and only gets the ball in his hands 4 or 5 times a game" ? Why is that? Perhaps it would clarify things if someone posted his statsfor 2012 thus far--carries, yards, yards per carry, catches, receiving yards, yards after catch, and, defensively...tackles, interceptions, punt returns and other special teams stats. I've watched Covington in 2 games, including the Dyersburg game when Covington was shut out for a half, and I did not notice him. Also, there was a reference by someone on this board that Williams is placing baseball for Ole Miss. What does that mean?

Covington has not yet played Ripley. But as far as the matchup against Milan goes this is how I are it. I just don't see Milan having the speed on both sides of the ball that Covington does. I don't see them being able to throw against arguably the best and fastest athlete in the southeast. (quote) Who is this secondary superman? ("best and fastest athlete in the southeast"--that's a big map,my friend.) As for team speed, I believe Milan is at least as fast as Covington (Dyersburg was at least as fast.) I think Milan is stronger, has more depth, and is better coached. I predict the Bulldogs by 2 TDs, but it will be a good one and I look forward to it. Wallace Milam, Dyersburg, TN No Avatar

1. I checked your avatar but did not see any entry for "Andy f.Alexander." I'm old and I guess my eyes are failing me. 2. I checked your avatar and did not see any entry for Andy F. Alexander. However, I am old and my eyes may have failed me. I see you have called in Big Purple Machine as backup. Ask him to give you a quick lesson in high school offensive formations; though he watched them play, he was under the impression that they ran from a Wing-T. (It's a Pistol formation.). As for paying attention to Dyersburg's season, I am now past 18 (by 55 years!) and feel that I should spend my time doing what I choose regardless of advice from the Swo family. In fact, now that I am retired (46 years teaching, 10 years as assistant football coach, 15 years as team statistician at Dyersburg), I select any football game in West Tennessee and attend on Friday nights. I have seen Union City play 3 times, Milan 3 times, Dyersburg 3 times, Henry County 3 times, and some others. I don't think Dyersburg can beat Covington next time or any time this season. The district is very weak. I also think Milan will handle Covington fairly easily next week (plan to see it) As for the personal attributes you assigned to me, I will offer a few corrections: 1. since I am now 73 years old, my acne is getting better--age and Clearasil, I guess. 2. I have an M.A. in history from Vanderbilt, where I was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow and graduated summa cum laude. I was a consultant to the House Select Committee on Assassinations investigating the Kennedy and King assassinations in 1976-77 (go ahead and Google that!) and have given over 500 speeches in colleges and before clubs (including a speech at the Kiwanis Club in Union City about four years ago). There is much more I could add, things I have done when there were no purple cars passing, but I know it wouldn't be as impressive as the dozen or so Bingo games you have won. 4. I am ugly old guy, especially since I had a wreck 6 years ago, had knee replacement surgery, gained 50 pounds and now hobble about. Never have worn glasses, And pocket protectors had not become prominent when I was at Vanderbilt.At the request of an Ohio athletic federation, I am finishing the writing of an article about the problems of defending the modern high school and college offenses. Be glad to send you a copy next month when I finish.

Dear Mr. Swo, that's supposed to be my question. Wallace Milam is my name; I don't use avatars because I think people should not post things in public places. criticize coaches and teenagers without using their real names. How did Mr.and Mrs. Swo choose your unusual first name?

Nobody has ever accused Union City fans of being overly-modest. I guess rose-colored glasses are not much more expensive than the regular ones. (Wallace Milam, Dyersburg, TN--I don't hold with avatars)

This may be the first short post on ths board with so many errors in it. Where to start....If you think a one-point loss to a district rival was a good thing, do this: run that by Coach Morris and see how he feels about it, if it was a good thing or not. Now. some brief notes on offensive formations. 1) South Gibson did not (and does not) run the Wing T; their offensive is the Pistol; (2) Crockett and Covington are, indeed, Wing T teams but Huntingdon runs what is really a Single Wing with Warbritton as a tailback (They call him the QB.). As for the new linemen, you say once he puts on his purple, "you can forget about running the ball. I believe he was on the field last year when Huntingdon ran up 300 yards on the ground and wore the Bulldogs down in the second half. Signed, Wallace Milam (no avatar; don't have respect for people who hide behind avatars and criticize high school players and coaches without using their real names.. Respectable newspapers don't allow that crap, you know.

Please stop this; stop embarassing yourself. thw good fans of Milan (and and there are many) and West Tennesseans. Please just zip it and take your lumps until next season. Of course you'll "never stop believing" what you see as plain but others don't. No one doubts that of you. But, who else on this board gives a flip what you think? High school teams can't defense excellent passing attacks, and Milan certainly didn't. Milan has a fine football tradition, no thanks to people like you. Oh, and by the way, didn't Milan have to forfeit a few games just a couple of years ago? Of course, that wasn't Milan's fault either.

No fan in his right mind could have enjoyed that game, anyway. The air horn (clearly audible on TV) was bad...very bad...but no more so than the game itself. 2A may wish to consider playing flag or two-hand-touch next season.

Consider yourself blessed.

My football background: assistant high school coach for 10 years, college recruiter for 2 years, scout for 20 years, watch 20-25 games each week (one at least in person and the others on tapes from various schools). I am 72 years old and have been around football for 60 years. What is your football background, by the way? USJ's defense is hard-itting when? When they are playing other D2 schools. Which teams on my list do you think the Bruins could beat? Just keep the kids inside when real football is played. You can be secure in the little Division II world, I suppose. You will very likely beat St. George's again, playing basketball on grass. How many schools are after Mayhall? What are his dimensions? his 40 time? Oh, and your PA announcer would drive Job nuts. He was clearly born under the sign of Michael Buffer or some soccer broadcaster.

Surely this is a pathetic attempt at humor. USJ and Division II small schools play flag football. No hitting and no intensity. USJ took one crack at playing with the public schools. I have watched USJ play once and watched tapes of both St. George's games. I will watch this afternoon's rematch because I am a huge football fan. There are only 29 Division II, small school teams in the state--in the Land of the Blind, the one-eyed man is king. See how many of the Bruins are offered scholarships. There are many teams in West Tennessee for whom Mayhall could not start. What happens out on Kirkland Field on Friday nights gives real football a bad name. Only tuition-paying parents and the Jackson Sun are impressed. As for other teams who could beat USJ, leaving out Memphis, which would have a dozen, my list would include: Arlington, Covington, Huntingdon, Lexington, Liberty Magnet, Obion Central, Chester County, Dresden, Henry County (USJ would not cros midfield and would not have enough players left to finish the game), McKenzie...and that's without any serious surveying. USJ is not even the best team in Jackson or in Madison County...on the black? Maybe. Just keep the delusion going, don't go out into the real world--there are some players out there who would hurt your kids.

One of the truisms for this website has been that Powell played a tougher regular season schedule than did Henry County. The numbers show this is without foundation. The stats show that both District 3 (Powell) and District 10 (Henry County) were both extremely weak this year. After watching the highlights of Powell's season, I was captivated by the ineptness of the opposition. Was it because Powell was so overwhelming? I checked online videos of other District 3 teams playing each other. The ineptness was still there, especially on defense. I would say that District 3 has the weakest DEFENSIVE TEAMS I HAVE EVER SEEN. Against many of the teams there, blocking was actually optional on many plays. Here, in tabular form, is the District 3 record this season: ANDERSON COUNTY OVERALL: 3-6 OUTSIDE DISTRICT 3: 0-3 CAMPBELL COUNTY 3-7 1-1 CLINTON 0-10 0-2 KNOX CENTRAL 3-7 0-2 KNOX HALLS 1-9 0-2 HARDIN VALLEY 6-5 1-2 KNOX KARNS 6-5 1-2 OAK RIDGE 6-5 2-3 _____________________________________________________________ 5-17 outside district DISTRICT 10 CLARKSVILLE HIGH 6-5 1-2 CLARKSVILLE NE 7-5 2-2 CLARKSVILLE NW 2-8 1-1 DICKSON COUNTY 8-3 1-2 KENWOOD 3-7 0-2 ROSSVIEW 1-9 0-2 SPRINGFIELD 6-5 1-2 WEST CREEK 1-9 0-2 _____________________________________________________________ 6-15 outside district Not pretty numbers for either district, suggesting that some of the Henry County and Powell stats are inflated. Other conclusions after a detailed study of Powell: 1. DaShawn Mobley probably IS the best running back in the state. Not the fastest but fast enough, good cutter. Definitely the best college running back prospect. 2. QB McPhetridge (#5) is equally valuable (equal to Mobley) to the Powell Panthers.

This has to be one of the most remarkable posts in any thread. You are suggesting that a scout ("one of the best...in East Tennessee") will be a deciding factor in a playoff game. And you write about what Henry County can keep "quite" as far as the game plan is concerned. Are you describing a scout or a spy here? A scout would watch Henry County play and draw conclusions from that; a spy would sneak about and secretly watch practices this week. In case you are not aware of this, the age of videotaping has virtually ended legitimate scouting; HC will be able to get video of every Powell game, and vice versa. Coach Counce and his staff, as talented as any in the state, will capably analyze these and construct a game plan; I am sure Coach Lowe and his staff will do the same. This will be one factor in making a game plan. The larger factor will be what you know your team's strengths and weaknesses are. It is of small consequence to know that the opponent's LBs can't cover curl routes if you know your QB can't throw curls.. The best team to scout is always your own. Will there be some surprise formations and new plays? Probably. But both these teams are going to "dance with who brung them," as they say. Mobley will be Henry County's target, and Powell will rely on him. Most teams do not even scout any longer; their coaches just exchange game tapes. High school football is less about espionage tnan it is about blocking and teackling.

On the issue of coaching, Sutton and Ridgeway had nothing to be ashamed about. Their defensive adjustments stopped HC in the second half, and they seemed to change their blocking schemes. On the other hand, HC had put together a formidable game plan at the outset. The read option and FB slants wrked well. I was impressed by the resilience of the Ridgeway players. They were down by 21 in the early 3rd quarter, on the road, against an undefeated team which was favored. But they picked it up and made plays. Walton is a tremendous runner and gamer (Davson? not so much) but the most impressive Ridgeway player on this Friday night was QB Jamil Golden. Harassed, sacks and chased for his life, he found himself throwing more pases than anyone ever dreamed. Golden has a rifle arm and is deceptively fast.

Two observations about a game which was really well-played and, in the second half, more suspenseful than we Henry County fans wshed. 1. Henry County's pre-game preparation was just remarkable. Running the read opion and the FB trap allowed them to score 2 TDS, and--had Najee Ray not fumbled twice deep in Ridgeway territory, HC could have had 2 more TDs. Halftime score might have been 28-0, and Caleb Counce's catch and run for TD in first series of third quarter would have made it 35-0 with a runaway in sight. 2. Ridgeway's coaching staff did a great job of adjusting the defense. The plays which Henry County had broken in the first half did not work after the intermission. Ridgeway made it close and made it interesting. There was no quit in the Roadrunners. Key plays for HC. Offensively, this had to be a long completion on 3rd down to move the chains and keep a drive alive when the ground game had been stopped. Ridgeway gambled that we would not throw on 3rd and long, but the pass was completed On defense, there were many plays but not more important than the sacking of Ridgeway QB Golden when he rolled out on 4th down inside the Patriot 10. Golden is not an easy QB to corral, with his 6 foot, 200 lb plus frame. The Patriot rusher (couldn't see his number from where I was siting), literally climbed him and wouldn't let him get the ball out. Another observation: you won't see many high school defenses as tough as Henry County's. High school secondaries don't usually work together as well as Hilliard and Company. Interceptions were hard to get against QB Golden because he has a rifle for an arm. The passes got from Point A to Point B awfully quickly. An enjoyable and wonderful game to watch. Greying and ageing for the coaching staffs.

Henry County will try to get the ball and keep it. Since Ridgeway hasn't stopped running attacks all year, I think HC can do that--8 o 12 play drives. FB on quick opening plays. HC will concentrate on stopping the two TB types--off tackle and counter trey. Golden is a good rollout QB and he is difficult to get down, but the HC secondary is far better than anything else he has seen. It's always a bit of a worry when you pick against speed, but, if you demanded numbers, I would have to say HC-47; Ridgeway 20.

[[/quoOF SCHEDULES AND VENUES No doubt that the Ridgeway teans has played a schedule of tougher OFFENSIVE teams--and they took it in the chin from those teams. Ridgeway's defense gave up 291 points this season--24 per game and 17 was the lowest total allowed. The wide open offenses of Memphis were not challenged by Ridgeway. Now, look at the other side of the ball, the side which Memphis teams chronically ignore, which is why they do not accumulate gold balls. No teams in any level of the playoffs has faced EASIER defenses than has Ridgeway. Memphis teams are notorious for the defensive weaknesses, and the defensive efforts shown by Collierville, Southwind and the like will be nowhere around on Friday night. Not only will Henry County's defense be much better than what Ridgeway has been facing, but the whole philosophy of defense will be different. Ridgeway doesn't actually have a defense--it has some very good defensive players, but that does not constitute a defense. No one defending Memphis ever mentions special teams. Their is no comparison here. Memphis teams practice special teams on days when the wind blows straight down--and it shows. Ridgeway has not been to Paris to play. In fact, Ridgeway has not been much of anyplace to play except at their comfy Halle Stadium down the road. 7 games at Halle, 1 at Melrose, 1 at Kirby, 1 at Whitehaven and a long road trip out to Collierville. This will be a game outside Shelby County, a rarity, Oh, there was that venture down to Skyline in Dallas. It was a disaster but then Skyline would have trampled any team in this state. I think Ridgeway will be affected by the large crowds of white people looming up across the field. Will it be a good game? Possibly. It will certainly be a game of contrasts and I look forward to it. te]

SOME INFORMATION ABOUT RIDGEWAY 1. i have seen all Ridgeway games this season,including 1 game (DC) live. 2. As everyone notes, they have speed and speed. Walton (#3 is best runner, speed and many moves and powerful legs. Dawson (#1) returns kicks (Why anyone would kick deep to Ridgeway is bewildering) and plays WO. As fast as Walton but not as much leg strength and as many moves. 3. QB Jamel Golden (12), 6 ft. 4, 205 is a droback thrower who can also roll right. (Rolling let is a major challenge.) Golden does not make good reads and will put it up for grabs. 4. Offensive formations: 90% Pro-I with Walton at TB, some spread (Walton at HB to left). Favorable play: TB counter trey with offside T and G pulling. This is to get Walton through the first level. Golden fakes handoff to FB (holds ball up high, then gives to Walton). Screens go to Walton. Play action deep to wideouts off the counter trey fake. Offensive line is accustomed to just getting in the way long enough to allow Walton to pass. 5. Defemse--normally a 4-3 unless you show some exotic offensive formations. LBs are not outstanding. Secondary is very week. Every time they have played have been them deep and also short and outside. White Station, a passing team from the spread, passed them crazy in early season. Play action may not be neessary. 6. Specail Teams--teams have returned kicks,especially punts well and I expect HC to return a punt and perhaps to block one. They do kick their exps. Haven't seen any field goal attempts. 7. I have seen Henry County play Springfield and Liberty in person as well as the Obion Central scrimmage. I look for C. Counce to have a big night, as well as Naje. Probably something like : HC-40' Rodgeway 14. Incidentally, HC will not be the best team Ridgeway sees. In August, they traveled to Dallas and played the Skyline Raiders, who led the 40-0 in the second quarter and beat them something like 47-7. Skyline is rated #14 in the nation and is undefeated and in the Texas playoffs right now. Skyline had half a dozen players as fast as Walton/Dawson. I will be attending in Paris on Friday night. The location of the game will be very important; Ridgeway plays nearly all its games down the road from the campus at Halle Stadium 3

The speed differential between Liberty and Macon County was remarkable. I met sevveral of the nice people from Macon County, who made a 400 mile round trip to play this first round playoff game. One of them made the most colorful description of the team speed difference in one sentence: "Macon County will fight....IF WE CAN GET TO THE FIGHT." Unfortunately,on play after play, when Macon County players "got to the fight," the Liberty players had already gone. I suspect that when Liberty has to visit Maplewood this week, they will find that Maplewood will be there and will fight.

Good grief, still trying to convince someone (anyone?) that MAHS was a quality opponent. If you looked up "pushover" in tne encyclopedia, MAHS would be the picture you would confront. Citing their QB and WR's seasons stats won't work; we all know Mempis' stat keeping. By saying that "Union City allowed less than 100 yards total offense last night," against this talented Memphis team are you trying to say that the UC defense is really getting tough? Give me a break; as I have said, UC is one of the worst tackling teams I have ever seen. When this season has UC played its "A" game? I saw them play Halls, Huntingdon, and Lake County, and I saw no A game. Has it occurred to you that they may not have an A game? Region 7 must have the weakest A teams in the state of Tennessee. when West Carroll gets a bye. Look at the lower half of Union City's quad, the teams they would face if they could keep Lake County from putting another 50 points on them. Those teams, including West Carroll, are a disgrace to playoff football. Take a look at the uppper half of the A quad. There sit Wayne County, Huntingdon, and Perry County. UC didn't bring its "A" game when it faced them earlier in the year. Face the facts: Union City is in the playoffs because they ae in the weakest part of the state for Class A. They lost most of their games, they have no defense and a one-dimensional offense. They have no A game. Your post is an attempt at another receipe for chicken salad. If you had any concern for the UC community, you would have passed up citing the selected MAHS stats and counted carefully to be sure that ALL the MAHS players who got OFF the bus before the game got BACK on the bus AFTER the game. Remember the defecting Cuban baseball players, then remember that that bus next stopped on Chelsea in North Memphis.