The Sports Guy

Welcome aboard nghs_65. We don't believe in trash talk either. Do you have anybody signed, or any good prospects that need to be talked up? I have read a little about David Lynch. Who are your other star players? If YOU are one of them, don't be modest, just factual.

We're scheduled to do the Middlesboro vs Breathitt Co. game next week, but we will only go over there if they provide us a phone line. Our cellular service was less than desirable on the first Middlesboro game that we covered. I will let everyone here know for sure, as soon as the final decision is made. If I go to Gatlinburg, I will probably be alone. The camera crew will follow Adam Haley to a different game. TBA

I've been following the Greene County teams for about a year now in the Greenville Sun Online. They do a really good job of reporting on North Greene, South Greene, West Greene, Greeneville, and East Greene (sorry Chuckey-Doak fans, I couldn't resist the temptation). They also cover the Tusculum College Pioneers. Freshman Corey Russell of Cumberland Gap is now the starting QB, after a wrist injury to Senior Cody Baugh from Greeneville High. The link is http://www.greene.xtn.net/index.php?templa...ory=Sports+News. The North Greene Huskies started out 4-0, but have lost 3 in a row, and stand 1-2 in Region 1AA. They fell to Happy Valley last week 35-0, and really need a couple of wins to stay in the post season picture. David Lynch had 64 yards on 18 carries against H-V. That was more than half of the 121 total yards posted by the Huskies. I don't think the Huskies will win this next one at Cumberland Gap, but I also want to wish them well in the rest of their games.

Congratulations to Joseph Holt of Claiborne High. So far, he has gotton the most votes for Defensive Player of the Week for last week. Visit http://www.PrepXtra.com to cast your vote. Joseph is a 6'5" 200# Junior WR/DB, and a fine young man as well as an outstanding athlete. He also plays Basketball and Baseball for the Bulldogs.

I'm not even going to question your prediction shotdoc! You were a lot closer on the Happy Valley outcome than I was. This is another big Region 1AA game, and the Panthers just need to stay focused. I'm glad that they are home for 2 of the last 3 games. You can listen to the game on WLMU 91.3 FM, or if you're stuck at home and out of range, we will also be on the internet at http://radio.lmunet.edu. I'm not positive yet, but I might be going to Gatlinburg next week for a remote broadcast too. The home games are definite broadcasts. Tell anybody that might be away at college, or in the military that the internet broadcast is worldwide.

Zeth Clemons from Cumberland Gap. A big, strong, quick player with great hands, who likes to mix it up. He loves crossing routes, and has fantastic YAC numbers. Cumberland Gap has so many weapons this season that Zeth isn't getting as many touches as he did last season, but his yards per catch is up 50%.

Nope! That still doesn't explain kicking from severe angles in a way that makes any sense to me.

LOL! That was quick! Charlie Bradshaw didn't say "DARN"!

"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a darn loser!" Charlie Bradshaw, former football coach at Kentucky

6) Someone willing to go to Middle school and Little League / Pop Warner games and "recruit" within your ranks. You need to have the young kids chomping at the bits to play for you, so they don't drop off into another sport, or no sport at all. They need to know that the prospect is as exciting for you as it is for them!

Well put Panther Dad! The Gap will have a lot of shoring up to do to replace this year's crop of seniors. Next season will be the first "All Panther" squad, and will be tested weekly. I wish they had a few more Juniors coming back. Only Mark Hassler, Tyler Griffen, Nathan Hoffeditz, and Marty Sellars return as Seniors. All are playing well, and will be a small but good nucleus along with Brad Beason and Jake Shipley next season. Fortunately, everbody else will graduate all of their Seniors too (some more than others), every year. The only part I disagree with you on is the "Cakewalk" this year. Coalfield 19-21, South Greene 10-7, Happy Valley 37-30, are all games that could have gone either way. And the schedule wasn't loaded with patsies, it is essentially the same schedule every year, as long as there is no division shift. My advice to the team is an echo to yours. Stay focused on the next game! That's the biggest game of the season! :justwrestle:

Thanks Festus! But who in the SEC looks for FOOTBALL players in the Kanetuck? LOL

Who are the Cumberland Gap Panthers? How did they go from a 3-7 team a year ago, to sitting alone at the top of Region 1AA? Heck fire! Are they even from Cumberland Gap, or are they in Arthur, Harrogate, or Speedwell? I'm pretty sure that they're not in Forge Ridge or Clairfield or Fonde or Wells Springs or Shawanee, although they represent all of those areas too. To the good folks in Northern Claiborne County, none of this should matter. This team belongs to all of us. These are our kids, and these kids are great. If they win 3 more regular season games, they will be 9-1, and the number 1 seed in Region 1AA. They will continue to host post season games at Cumberland Gap as long as they keep winning. They will bring in fans and news media from all over East Tennessee. And, they will always be remembered as being great. If they don't win another game this season (not likely, but still mathematically possible), they would finish 6-4 with a dismal hope of making it to the post season. For years we would talk about the 2005 team with the high hopes, and how it slipped away. Either way, or anything in between, these are our kids, and these kids are great!

If the Panther continue to win, they will face Alcoa at Cumberland Gap in the round 3 Quarterfinals on November 18. The only things I see lacking in Cumberland Gap are numbers (which are still growing) and tradition (which is winning + time). Cumberland Gap is only 3 years old. A lot of local folks still talk about Powell Valley like they expect the old high school to be resurrected. It will not. It is now Powell Valley Elemtary K-8. Forge Ridge is also K-8. My hat is off to all of the great former players at Powell Valley and Forge Ridge. You have given us some great memories to keep forever. I can sense a turning of the tide, and a new tradition being born with this year's crop of Panthers. I know that Alcoa is very good. I know they have a great tradition. I know that Alcoa and Cumberland Gap have to win 5 more games each to even meet on the gridiron. I also know that game is like a dangling carrot in front of Gap fans. I'm starting to smell carrot soup, and I can't help wanting to taste it.

Final score: Cumberland Gap 60 Thomas Walker 6 Everybody got to play, nobody got hurt. Great game! Congratulations to all of the Panthers. Happy Valley stomped North Greene, South Greene stomped Gatlinburg Pittman. You have already beaten the best competition in the region, now take these last 3 games 1 at a time. I just looked at the bracket on TSSAA, and if you continue to win, you will have 4 post season games at home, right through the semi-finals. How great is it to be in control of your own destiny? Go take care of business, one game at a time! I am so proud of all of you!

NeNe Therikul - South Greene Dusty Dodgen - Gatlinburg Pittman Willie Beveridge - Claiborne Keiji Knowles - Rutledge

I hope you're right about the margin. That will mean that Cumberland Gap will have played a lot of subs, and tried some new things. If The Gap played Thomas Walker full out, the margin could easily be 75 - 100 points.

Another change I would like to see made pertains to the hash marks. I would prefer to see the ball placed in line with the uprights for field goals like the pros do. Even in college, you see teams trying to draw a penalty to improve the kicking angle. Of course, the penalty is always declined. Maybe somebody can explain the need for 3 sets of hash marks in a way my feeble mind can accept.

Football history says to go with a power running game on a wet field, and grind it out. I would prefer to see the Panthers pull it back in tonight and go with Hassler at QB running Trevor Hester up the middle, and a few option runs. The margin of victory is not as important as coming out with a win, and those hamstrings intact. Acrobatic cuts with soft footing can lead to injuries that the Panthers don't need right now. Let the O line push the Pioneers from one end zone to the other. Pass plays should be open all over the field due to having so many weapons, so the Panthers probably won't be able to resist putting in the air some. Play solid, have fun, stay healthy!

Shhhhh! We're trying to keep The Gap a secret. LOL I haven't seen Alcoa except for the TV game against Maryville. They looked good, but certainly beatable. (they lost that game). I agree that Cumberland Gap will not roll over for Alcoa. If both teams advance to the match-up, you will see a good game.

I mean no disrespect for the Pioneers, they are a great bunch of kids, but they just don't have the experienced athletes to compete with the Panthers this season. Maybe in 2 or 3 years, but not now. Reggie Hounshell is the only big threat that Thomas Walker has, and with one linebacker keyed on Hounshell, it leaves the rest of the team to have their way with the Pioneers. This will be a golden opportunity for injuries to heal, and younger players to get some game time. I doubt that we will see many starters getting a lot of snaps. The worst thing that could happen in this one is to mess around and get a key player injured by playing at half speed. The 2nd worst is to let the Panthers get rusty and out of sync. Claiborne was smart to schedule Thomas Walker as a warm up game. Don't let this mid-season soft game allow you to lose focus on the Region contests ahead! The other games on the schedule can get you to the play-offs in great shape. This game can't really help you, so make absolutely certain that it doesn't hurt you. Cumberland Gap (subs) 42 Thomas Walker 14

You're right about the hitting GapFan! Zeth is all over the field with a real nose for the ball. He has about twice as many solos and first hits as he has assists. Zeth is big, quick, and strong. He hits as hard, and wraps up as well as anybody I have ever seen.

1A - Coalfield 2A - Alcoa 3A - Dyersburg 4A - Maryville 5A - Oak Ridge I'm betting that at least 4 out of 5 will be from East of the Cumberland Plateau, and 5 out of 5 will be from East of the Mississippi River.

Coalfield is solid, with a great Junior running back in Brandon Davis. Cumberland Gap was shaky in the kicking game with a brand new place kicker, or that game might have gone into OT. That problem has worked itself out. Head Coach Garry Kries was the leading Vol receiver in 1969, and knows how to get Coalfield ready to play. So far, Coalfield, South Greene, and Happy Valley have been the Panthers biggest challeges. I would love to see a Coalfield vs Cumberland Gap rematch, but it isn't going to happen since Coalfield is 1A, and The Gap is 2A.

The Cumberland Gap Panthers are the #1 team, alone at the top of Region 1AA, and should be in the AP top 10 poll before the end of the week. Seniors Ryan Hoskins and Zeth Clemons are putting up great numbers as seen in the Knoxville News Sentinel PrepXtra stats. Sophomore running backs Brad Beason and Jake Shipley are ripping through defenses with quickness and pinball type moves. Sophomore kicker Marty Sellars has settled into a steady rythm after a shaky start in his first season of football "American Style". Chris Gilbert, Mark Hassler, Tyler Brim, Justin Peters, Trevor Hester, Tyler Griffin, Jerry Branham, Jon Mulniex, Dustin Gulley & Jeremy Mize have all stepped up to a new level, and are playing impressively. Almost everybody plays on both "O" & "D", so there is no question about their physical conditioning and durability. So, what else do they have in common? None of these talented hard-nosed players is on the CoachT prospect list! I am amazed! I'm not sure about how many of these kids will play D1, maybe none. But as a unit, they are ready to beat the pants off of a few D2, and several NAIA teams right now. If the scouts out there are looking solely for size, and nothing more, you won't find a lot of that at The Gap. However, if you are looking for proven winners and dedicated student atheletes, the schedule is posted. Take the time to come take a look! Head Coach Delynn Cline will be glad to provide more detail on all of his players