Preacher210

Been doing stats for 18 years in three states. I've seen lots of 6 yd penalties (and some 4 yd ones, too). Also seen teams lose or gain a yard on incomplete passes, lol. A lot depends on the long-legged-ness of the the one marking the penalty off.

No system is perfect. Mississippi has a 6 classification system, and playoffs are determined strictly by region standings (top four teams advance). This year a team that is 1-10 (1-4 region) will be in the 3A playoffs as a 4-seed.

A first down is awarded on an offensive touchdown if the play would have gained a first down by distance otherwise. Scoring after gaining a first-and-goal of any distance does not earn a first down. Scoring from first-and-ten anywhere on the field (i.e., 11 yard line or farther back) earns a first down. From the NCAA manual: SECTION 1—FIRST DOWNS Article 1. A fi rst down shall be recorded whenever the yardsticks are ordered forward and/or when a touchdown is scored from scrimmage (rushing or passing) within a series of downs starting 10 yards or more from the goal line, or when a dead-ball foul results in an automatic fi rst down (see Section 1, Article 6). From the NFHS manual (high school standard): Any time the ball is advanced beyond the line-to-gain (forward stake) during a scrimmage play, a first down is recorded, provided a) the forward stake is in the field of play (between the goal lines), or a live-ball penalty during the play does not move the ball back behind the forward stake. This includes a touchdown play.

Riverdale had 414 total offense (all but 41 on the ground). Bradley had 324 (most through the air).

From Bradley Central, Austin Sanders is heading to UTK. I don't recall hearing about any others so far this year.

I don't do tackles, or blocking stats. Coaches do that from film. I remember when I was doing stats when I was in high school, we did tackles live. I have no desire to try that now.

I do the stats for Bradley (coaches put them in a computer database, though). I take pride in my work - have done stats for three high schools in three states so far.

piratetom: Walker Valley has has some tremendous struggles. It is still a relatively young school, and football has not been its strength so far (basketball and band have far outpaced it). The coaching change prior to this season was watched with a degree of skepticism, since the new coach was elevated from assistant in the old system. However, the Mustangs did make some positive strides this year. It is hard to gauge with a single year, but so far it looks like the new coach is moving them in the right direction. As hootowl noted, there are challenges ahead. WV moves up to 6A next year, which pits them against Bradley and McMinn for playoff chances (not sure that is any worse than fighting Cleveland and Ooltewah for it, but it is a difference). Trading East Hamilton for Rhea County appears to be an added difficulty in the district. Assuming the promising start of the coach is an accurate indication of his intentions and approach to improve WV football, I believe that the program would benefit greatly from having someone like yourself providing support (being from S. Pitt, you know what winning tradition is all about, obviously). I would encourage you to try and find a way to become actively involved as a booster, and help others understand how they can support a team toward becoming stronger. Realistically, your son will probably face some discouraging seasons (despite the positives from this past season, their losses were all very ugly - except for the Bradley game). There is potential for success, but it will not come easily, or immediately. With parents like you (who are passionate about the process), that potential will be easier to reach. I salute you for your interest in making your son's experience the best it can be.

Congratulations to Ooltewah on your playoff run. Last men standing out of the district! Good luck against Columbia.

He's not kidding about the Chattanooga traffic. There is only one route through the ridge, and it only takes one wreck to tie things up horribly.

No comments on styles and attitudes of play - it is football, after all. (Well, one comment: to paraphrase many a former player doing TV football commentary, you don't want to know what all can go in under a pile on a football field.) More to the present subject, a key to continuing to play this time of year is showing up ready to play. If the Cherokees come ready to play from from the opening whistle like they did in McMinn-Bradley the Sequel, I like their chances. Represent well, 'Kees.

Bradley played like they all had hot dates lined up for next Friday already. Good luck to the Cherokees the rest of the way.

Perfectly fine for teams to CHOOSE to play up in class in regular season (to gauge your toughness, test yourself, etc.). I don't think it is fair for teams to HAVE to play up in class, and have it count for their district standing. If your playoffs are for your class, your class should determine your eligibility. As it stands now, you can be an excellent 1A, 3A or 5A team, but be stuck in a district with strong 2A, 4A and 6A schools and have no chance to be an automatic qualifier because those bigger schools will dominate the 1st and 2nd positions.

Hopefully we can come up with a more effective approach to the Kimpson problem than we did last Friday. I don't think he would be Copeland's first choice for a dance partner...

It does in determining district 1st/2nd position. After that, the strength of schedule stuff is given more weight. (This is not a comment on the logic of it, just how it appears to be set up in the regs.)