TicketToRide

I agree. This won't be easy.

The heartbeat of this team is Rollins and Morton... But they really feed off #10. When he took on bigger G players and knocked them backwards picking up extra yards and first downs you could see the sideline get a shot of adrenalin... Our D line can bring the pressure as evidenced by 4 sacks against Greeneville and winning the line of scrimmage. The Oline gets holes and Maupin runs hard. They are molding into a complete team. Witten is a good in-game coach... And the kicking game especially punting showed big... They are a complete team. They have to manage their emotions and they certainly can.

Most impressive Friday night was Elizabethton taking the ball with 7:43 left in the game and calling running play after running play and driving the ball and running out the clock. Elizabethton seems to be peaking at the right time.

I can't let this go...what an ignorant statement. #1 next to DB ALL bands look small...To disparage Dr. Vermillion by saying he isn't the easiest man to get along with is just wrong. He is one of the best and most respected band leaders in the area. Why do you think the Hilltopper Invitational is so well attended every year? Dr. Vermillion is the reason. To enlighten you, in Johnson City kids join band in the 6th grade and there isn't much Dr. V can do about that. It comes down to how much the middle school (Indian Trail) and the school board commits to band. At ITMS they split the kids up between days and periods and it makes it less fun. Plus, Johnson City has one less middle school than Kingsport and Kingsport supports their band. You must not have a kid or anyone one you know in the band. If you did you would understand the band seniors make up some less than 10% of the student body and are offered over 40% of the total senior class scholarships and grants. Nerdy and other activities are something every school band in the country deal with. It's like saying all athletes are dumb. I will say this...at the collegiate level bands are well respected. The Big 10 is the measuring stick and Indiana has one of the top music schools in the country, including Julliard. Did you realize the Pride of the Southland in Knoxville is well represented by upper East Tennessee. Science Hill alone has 8 kids in the Pride. DB about the same number. You are right in that bad directors make kids quit, but that isn't an issue at Science Hill.

Anyone around South knew that if Carter got athletes and speed to run his offense he would be tough... The DB guys like to rag on Carter when he was at South and had better teams on paper and only came close in Phillips sophomore year I believe. But by year 3 and Reed Hayes, Coach Carter pretty much closed the door on the talent/coaching gap. Now the DB fans can only wish ... and remember the good ole days.

Week 3...Ya'll ready for this..Science Hill has 5 in a row now and will make it 6. I just don't see enough consistency from DB to make this a game. The Hill has too much speed and will wear down the Tribe...DB has some bruising backs but they have to keep up with the Hill and I don't think they can. Of course, turnovers and penalties could make the above moot...

I think you were baited Wacko..no SHHS thread is complete without a Wacko troll. Wacko is still living off the 19 year streak and he hasn't been fed in a while. With that said, it is good to have confidence. But it is better to win the line of scrimmage. I think this is a down year for the Toppers.

You can speak logic to one who is illogical. His life is his team and coming here and talking smack. His team is struggling so he tries to make you feel he knows something. He doesn't. He's a troll at best. It's his life and who he is.

I watched the film and I didn't see a fair catch call. I saw the SHS player jump for the ball.

You are a fool. You've most likely never played or watched film. You have no idea the inner workings of a program especially at the high school level. Your life was great as long as DB was competitive so you could come here and brag. Now, your team isn't doing so well and what you dished out you can't take. You just sit and whine we need a D coordinator and if someone takes exception you hurl insults. That's a lot of the problem at DB... People just complain. You are part of the crowd. So you troll and hijack threads. You are thin-skinned and state the obvious. Read Ongies article... There is a ton of truth in it. You are the clueless one.

Science Hill isn't there yet but they are light years from where they were before Carter arrived. You can't deny that, but in your envy you might. The 8th and 9th graders dominated. Read Ongie's article in the paper today. Science Hill is obtaining more tools for their players to better compete. Reading the article SHHS is doing the things you don't see. What you do see is that he's solved the DB part. When his players come through the full system from 7th grade on... We will see what happens. But Science Hill sports in general are getting the better of DB. You beat Carter his first 3 years but in year 3 he pulled even and now he's won the last 4. You loved to beat on him and South because he never beat DB. Now he has equal athletes and is winning. The last game 27-24 is a game SHHS used to lose to DB even in DB's down years. No more. So, you don't have your streak, you are 3-4 against Carter at Science Hill and his program is rising. All you have is another post toward 10,000. And you call others a fool?

I will watch the film. If what you say is true then the refs made a good call You are dead on about the SHHS fan support in JC. Pathetic. It wasn't that cold. The team deserves better support. No idea on the band. I must say it was odd.

What is the onside kick interference rule? That was a big play in the game. Not saying it was the difference but I thought a bad call. The Smyrna player was clearly going for the ball. Regardless Smyrna was just tougher, #5 was a hard runner and #16 had sneaky speed. The Bulldogs hit hard out of the gate but Science Hill answered for a half. Not sure if Mathes was hurt but he didn't get enough touches. Bedard was made to look pedestrian for the most part. When he fires the ball good things happen. Bit otherwise 3 pics hurt. Science Hill has to get tougher on D. We saw a game like this coming. They held their own, they had their moments, then BOOM a big play. Smyrna was in the red zone once all night. They had 4 plays over 20 yards but they made them count. Science Hill seems to have figured out the DB puzzle, now they have to figure out the Middle Tennessee puzzle. The size of the crowd was disappointing.

I am most worried about our defense. DB chewed us between the tackles. #4 got 209 in the DB game and we has to crowd the LOS. Luckily their QB was not accurate. Against CC Taylor ran for 190+ and another 100 in the air on blown coverages. If Taylor doesn't drop that pass they have another 80 in the air. We gave up 300 to CC on the ground and 290 to DB. This is where it must happen. I'm not worried about the offense. I'm glad JBedard is healthier. He ran over some folks Friday night as did Russell. Good to see him come alive. From here out we face athletic offenses... We have to be prepared.

I'll second that!

Steve Spurrier Field is field turf which seems to be the rage now. The stadium I think was first used in 2011, Carter's first year. The field house is new. Restaurants around the Stadium are the basic chains on Roan Street near our mall. Go downtown for better places. Main Street Pizza is good as is Holy Taco. Blaze was right about Phils and it should be on your way in. Ridgewood is way off the beaten path.

Not sure where you are seeing these stats. SHHS has more rushing yards than passing according to Doug Fritz of the Johnson City Press. Doug gets his stats directly from the team. With that said, SHHS needs to keep Mathes involved. He is dynamic with the football. But this game hinges on the SHHS defense and slowing down Smyrna. They didn't totally contain Taylor with Coffee County but he was all they had. Smyrna has kids like him all over the place as Acumen states. We have to contain them and run our offense.

You don't even know what kind of defense DB runs. You probably never played football or watched film. You take shots at "your" team and others to satisfy whatever. Coach T is your life and you don't have a clue. Get a book and understand football. Wacko - Mr. 10,000.

By emotion I meant the emotion of the moment. Coach Clark's return... Many knew his daughter and loved her. I don't believe there will be any extra curricula activity... just hard football!

You are right on about Catfish. I remember watching opposing teams take the opening drive and score. I'd think, Okay... A shootout. But after that... He would shut them down. The man had a passion for football and was a team player. If Watson were around no one would quit.

Waco has a good point. But I think Topper Fan means it's just a bit harder to talk about the game from SH'S perspective. I mean I'm agreeing with Waco. I have no idea how this game goes. It should be an emotional night. I think SH bounces back in this game. They have so many weapons on offense BUT they have to give #25 his touches. He is a real difference maker. Bedard seemed a step slow coming off an injury. SH D played hard last week. They made mental mistakes on pass D. They snatched the game away from Bearden then gave it back with a blown assignment. King Russell is playing but has struggled this year. He doesn't have the speed but he runs hard. He seems to me to want to dance, not run. For the DB faithful, does Coach Clark come back next year? I feel for him.

I understand what happened to Coach Clark. It is awful, a parents worst fear. I don't know details. His family needs to be lifted up.

Outside of Kingsport, no one cares for DB.

Odd thing is that it's not DB fans hijacking the thread. I think they've said, "Uncle."

Not sure I can delete the cream puff part.