tradertwo

It's as simple as math. You can argue depth, money, ect… all day and be right about all of it, but to simplify it... Eleven players on the field on any given play, no matter the classification (I get your point). Compare it to poker...seven card stud. All players show down five cards of the seven...even odds between all players. Now lets say that you get the standard seven cards, but I get ten to make my hand of five...you are going to win some hands, but at the end of the night I'm going to have all your money. Bigger enrollment equals more sheer numbers to select from to put the best eleven on the field every play...simple.

Again. Same problem...if you don't like the rule, that's your prerogative ( I see the point), but don't single out Alcoa because they're successful. Many teams across the state in all classifications with the same advantage DON'T stand head and shoulders above their competition. Take the rule up with TSSAA if you think it's unfair, but trashing Alcoa isn't fair to them just because they win.

There have been...but no reason to comment much on this game. Games like this and Humboldt are dangerous for Peabody, and there's nothing you can do about it. Iron sharpens iron, but cutting up something soft dulls a sharp knife. Getting competitive reps without injury is a must, because no matter how good you are, somewhere along the way someone will step up and bust you in the mouth in a win or go home game, and if the kids have grown accustomed "bulldozing" opponents, they can get a little lost when it doesn't work that way. Peabody names the score.

Wayne Co. has my respect too, that's why it was hard to predict what I thought would happen. I know that Coach Rice will extract every ounce of effort and will from his team, and that they will be around come playoff time. Riverside is a complete team, defensively strong and offensively diverse is a great combination, and that continues to be more significant as the season progresses...if teams with that makeup win big games in the 70's and dry, imagine in the 40's and muddy come playoff time.

Our kids will give it their best. Past that, it doesn't look promising. Not enough depth, and not enough diversity on offense. This week's version of the Lions might have kept it close with the first two week's version of the Panthers, but it looks like Frost and co. have gotten the offense rolling now, and the Panthers D won't give up much. Add to that most of our starters not only play both sides of the ball, they play most of the rep's on both sides.

Not a Waverly "homer"...just a football fan who has mad respect for McConnell and his squad. The Waverly team of two years ago had a ruthless defense, the entire team swarmed to the ball, and kids tackled with perfect form...that doesn't happen by accident. If this years version of the Tigers start playing halfway reminiscent of that, they will be a formidable team because the defense would not have to make many stops for the offense to outdistance most 2A offenses. Not a prediction...just an observation.

One school is glaringly absent from conversation here. Not saying that they're playing up to the level of most mentioned already in all facets of the game, but before this season is over, someone will have to beat a Waverly team that can score on any given play.

Don't have a problem with the school, if you're mad, be mad at the rule! Many schools co-op kids who haven't the opportunity to play otherwise, and that's a good thing. PC wins with (probably without) those kids, so you have a problem with them, but not the other schools? Same as the Alcoa argument...don't single out someone who is successful, from the same system and rules as everyone else just because they do it better. Don't gripe because PC is good, if you don't think the co-op rules are fair, gripe about the rules and leave PC out of it.

Gibson Co. playing with confidence, and Adamsville reeling. Could be very interesting indeed! GC is going to come into the game flying high...confidence is there and the name of Adamsville still carries enough clout to be fearful of. Problem is, Adamsville will right the ship sometime this season...coaching and tradition are there, and players with enough talent to be much better than they have looked thus far. I'd hate to have to pick this one, too many variables at work, and too much leeway possible.

I know plenty about Greenings coaching...if folks will let him do his job without their "help", he'll get the job done. If y'all get tired of him, Scotts Hill will gladly offer him a job!!!

What would it mean to you if TSSAA "moved" Alcoa up, and your team won a championship in their rightful classification? To me that would be a hollow victory, and your notion of "fair play" equates to the "everyone gets a participation trophy" mentality that has turned a generation of young people into entitled brats. Gordonsville won a championship in 1A a few years back with 22 seniors on the team, and returned only one or two starters (had a hard time competing with lower echelon teams the following year)...should they have been moved up too, and if not, what is the difference? I'm just not on board with bringing down the best to everyone else's level instead of endeavoring to elevate myself to their level in order to compete.

Sorry to hear of your tragic time... kind of put's sports in it's place, yet shows how entwined we become with our communities and our teams that we love, to provide a small amount of solstice in a time of need. Not knocking the War Eagles at all, but I thought Dresden was over hyped after we played them ( we're just not very good, but without mistakes, not that lopsided of a game)...then they blew Lake Co. off the map, and I'm thinking that maybe they were better than they looked against us. Truth is probably somewhere in the middle, and that West Carroll is much better than advertised. Good luck on the season, and for life's sucker punches...the Big Guy has your back!

All us "country" schools go through cycles...wouldn't trade knowing all the kids families, and being proud of the fight in them for a gold ball...bad as I want one for them! Great seeing your bunch in the thick of things too...communities who support win, lose, or draw deserve a little sunshine on their rear ends now and again!

Yep...looked good too! If we had the usual amount of bench we'd be OK, but the program took a step back for a minute and our numbers dropped by over half. Getting back on track, but not this season I'm afraid.

Afraid we won't be able to hold up our end of the deal on that '54...too one dimensional, and no depth. Our kids will bring the fight, but when you can't spell the two way players on either side of the ball, they slow down quick. I can see us keeping it respectable for a while, but we'll be gassed at the half.

Not a Panther! Probably our biggest rival over the years, but I'll give credit where it's due...Riverside has all the ingredients to have a "special" season.

You could tell that it was just a matter of when it was going to click...too many athletes with talent on the field together not to get rolling. Paired with that defense, Riverside will be a tough out for anybody if they can avoid key injuries.

Why, just because they're good?

'Course it ain't the Jetsons' house...it's the Jupiter II...DANGER WILL ROBINSON!!!

In my mind, this is Riverside's game to decide...they could come in ready to celebrate a lopsided victory, get punched in the mouth, and be in trouble. If the Panthers are ready to give WC everything they have for four quarters, they may get to celebrate a lopsided victory.

I guarantee you that you need to find Roy before the game...you can tell him about Mathis's secret plays, and Roy can take you in that Grider mans new bathroom and show you Murphys pole. If you're lucky Roy might share his hot cocoa and fudge rounds, and take you with him to Ronnies Red Eye after the game to ask that man in there if he no's why that Mathis man's secret plays didn't work. I might be joking, but you won't no until you ask Roy.

Believe me, I've seen firsthand the resiliency of Wayne Co. I think that best game vs. best game, Riverside wins a tight game in the high teens to mid twenties...I can see the Riverside defense setting the tone early and winning a little easier than that as another scenario too.

Riverside has some good players, but hasn't come together on offense yet...the defense has been smothering though. Wayne Co. will have trouble moving the ball unless they made progress from the relatively easy time with Middleton. Riverside should win by holding WC to a low point total, and could win big if Frost and the offense begins to click.

Answer to that is no...but I do think that RHS has a defense like y'all haven't seen yet.