ScottShasteen

I like Tullahoma's chances, especially if Sylvester plays QB for the Knights. The Wildcat defense has feasted on turnovers all season.

Is Nolensville QB Collins going to play, or will it be Sylvester?

John Olive was not a conservative coach. Tullahoma didn't run the ball three times and punt under Olive. In fact, the 15-0 state champion Wildcats in 2021 featured a big-play attack that featured multiple bombs every game. And, they connected on most of them. Over the years Tullahoma employed a spread attack under Olive before most of its opponents did. Olive helped bring spread offenses to southern middle Tennessee. Can't rewrite history.

The R5 #2 Wildcats host the R6 #3 Knights. Tullahoma is 7-3 while Nolensville is 8-2. Both teams have played a weak schedule. Nolensville beat only one team with a winning record. The combined record of the opponents it beat is 28-52. Tullahoma also only beat one team with a winning record and the combined record of the opponents it beat is 24-47. Tullahoma averages 26 PPG and gives up 13. Nolensville averages 29 PPG and gives up 17. If either team plays like they did last week, they will probably lose. I expect both teams to play more like they have the previous few weeks. The last time they played was 2020 in the playoff quarterfinals, when the Knights beat the Wildcats 15-14 on a late safety on a snap over the punters' head. This should be an entertaining game. Listen to all the action at:

As painful as it was to call, congratulations to Shelbyville. They were the better team last night. I thought their fans were fantastic. I've been to a lot of games in Shelbyville, but I've never heard the fans anywhere close to as loud as they were last night. Well done, Golden Eagle faithful. As for the Wildcats, it was a painful offensive outing. Just over 100 yards total offense. No offensive touchdowns. No field goals. Liam Grider was the only bright spot, returning the opening kickoff 96 yards and intercepting two passes, returning one 35 yards for a touchdown. The Wildcats could not stop the Golden Eagles' rushing attack. They carried it 38 times for 273 yards, including 12-180 by Rocky Chandler. Both teams had four turnovers.

Join Ken Keller and me on the broadcast tonight when your Tullahoma Wildcats travel to Spring Hill for a Region 5-5A tilt. Watch on LightTube Channel 23, listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkmm5MZAa4k, and inside the stadium on 87.9 FM. Pregame at 6:45 p.m.

No Tullahoma player, coach, parent, fan, bystander, band member, etc., should overlook Spring Hill this week. Coming off the open date, on the road, Shelbyville next on the schedule, Spring Hill's record. All these combined indicate Tullahoma's trip to Spring Hill has all the makings of a trap game for Tullahoma. I'm not predicting a Spring Hill upset because I have faith this Wildcat team can get it done. All three phases have come together in recent weeks. Don't overlook the Raiders.

D. The following tie-breaking procedures shall be applied and all regular-season games, both region and non-region, shall count (After each of the following steps have been applied, item C above shall be applied.): 1. The team with the greatest number of victories. 2. The team who plays the greatest number of teams who win 50 percent or more of their games. 3. The team who has the greatest number of victories over teams winning 50 percent or more of their games. 4. The team whose opponents have earned the most victories. 5. The team whose opponents have received fewer defeats. 6. Coin Flip. I don't like this rule because it encourages teams to play weak non-region schedules. I think No. 3 should be the first tiebreaker. Just my opinion.

Tullahoma and Shelbyville appear on a collision course to meet in week 11 in Bedford County for the region title. If so, both will have already sealed at least one home playoff game. They both have business to take care of first, but they are certainly favored to do so. Columbia is looking solid at #3. They join Tullahoma, Franklin Co., and Spring Hill with open dates this week. The Lions only remaining region game is Lincoln Co. Lawrence Co. has Shelbyville and Franklin Co. remaining. Lincoln has Shelbyville and Columbia. Franklin has Lawrence and Spring Hill left. I'm giving the edge to Franklin Co. to jump Lawrence and Lincoln and grab that 4th spot.

Actually, the running clock started on the opening kickoff of the second half with Tullahoma leading 30-0. That is the new margin for the mercy clock - 30 point lead. The Wildcats held Warren County to MINUS -24 yards total offense. The Pioneers ran 26 plays and half of them were tackles for loss by the THS defense. The visitors didn't cross the 50-yard line until the fourth quarter. Tullahoma's offensive stats are not that eye-catching because they had a short field to work with almost every drive. The Cats didn't punt, and Grant Chadwick made a 46-yard field goal. The Cats have a defined path to a region championship, and a great opportunity to host a first-round playoff game. Spring Hill has all the makings of a trap game. I'm not saying it is, but the characteristics are there. (coming off an open date, Shelbyville looming, fall break, on the road). I expect the Wildcats to be up to the challenge.

These two teams haven't played since 2014, and the Wildcats have won the last five. Last win for Warren Co. was in 2009. After opening with a win over DeKalb Co., Warren Co. has lost six in a row by an average score of 44-8. Tullahoma has won three in a row by an average score of 38-11. This rain should soften the field a little. I expect Tullahoma to get a running clock in the third quarter and clear the bench. The Wildcats have an open date next week before traveling to Spring Hill.

Indeed, they are. I stand corrected.

Had Tullahoma not gone into that second quarter lull they might have scored 60. There are very few perfect games, and winning by 35 is more than fans should expect. It is not uncommon for a team to grab a big, early lead and then let off the gas a little. Based on what I've seen the last three weeks, Tullahoma is the stronger, fresher team in the 2nd half. They are developing depth in these big wins, and should have more opportunity to do that this week against winless Warren Co. Then comes an open date. Then comes the TRAP game at Spring Hill. Repeat. Alert. Trap game at Spring Hill.

Lincoln Co.'s win over Franklin Co. definitely helped Tullahoma. The Wildcats took care of their business. The offense was balanced, the defense forced turnovers and held the Lawrence Co. running game to 120 yards, and Grant Chadwick kicked two field goals (38, 48). Mason Bratcher was 10-16 with two TD. Kai Johnson caught 7 passes for over 100 yards and a TD. Marvancy Johnson rushed 19 times for over 100 yards and 2 TD. It looks like the region winner will host Hillsboro while the No. 2 team will host Page or Nolensville. I'll take Columbia to beat Franklin Co. this week in Winchester, strengthening Tullahoma's position to host regardless of the outcome against Shelbyville. The Golden Eagles should roll over Spring Hill.

Lawrence Co. broke a 5-game losing streak to Tullahoma last year with a 14-10 win. Tullahoma played perhaps its worst game of the year. I have seen no evidence that Lawrence Co. is any better than it normally is. That means they can run the ball effectively at times, but the passing game is not much of a threat. They average 27 yards a game passing, but almost 300 rushing. Their defense will play physical, but they lack consistent speed. Tullahoma, meanwhile, is considerably better than it was last year and playing its best football of the season. Two straight games of 30+ points, including beating Columbia last week 34-14. Columbia, the team that beat Lawrence Co. 31-0 the previous week. Tullahoma's WR group is getting better every week, and last week QB Mason Bratcher was 13-16. Tullahoma should enjoy a win over Lawrenceburg by a significant margin.