LoveForTheGame

Ravenwood in 2015 was basically a wing-t out of a shotgun. That team was fortunate enough to beat Whitehaven (Probably the best Whitehaven team in the last few years on paper) largely because of special teams. After a WH player made a spectacular run after the catch to go up 13-3 right before the half, the ensuing return TD kept the Raptors in the game and then the 55 yd fg tied it. Completely changed the game. So yes, special teams may make the difference. RHS kicker/punter Luke Akers is the son of former Philadelphia Eagles kicker David Akers and has been great, so if special teams decide the game, I'm cautiously optimistic.

Somewhat but I’ve seen it happen vice versa once or twice

He’s somewhere between I think

Couldn't make it up for that one. But yeah, losing to anyone 21-0 is bad, albeit against a very good team, especially after beating them last year. The schedule won't get any easier next year as Blackman and Pulaski Acadamy are on tap.

Very good up front on both sides, including OT Gabe Sleenhoff who is getting interest from low D1 schools/ivies. On defense, LB Graham Barton is looking at offers from similar schools. Smaller, borderline undersized skill players but make up in speed what they lack in size. Look at the connection between QB Bryan Garcia and WRs Anthony Holmes, Andrew Mason and Evan Coleman along with RBs Tony Rice, William Baine and Jordan Smith. Tactically Ravenwood runs a 3/4-4/3 hybrid on defense and a spread on offense, but the spread is an unorthodox one, think Ravenwood under Hester and/or Auburn University under Malzahn. Maybe with more shifts and misdirection. I know Whitehaven is usually full of large athletes, so we'll see how the Raptors match up.

Ok

I'm actually an actual Ravenwood fan. Yes I will also support other midstate teams, just like you would support teams from the 901 as well and Maryville folks would support an East TN team.

Raptors make it 3-for-3 with a 31-17 win. #RespectDaWood

Folks, don’t kid yourselves, this is the matchup we’ve all been waiting for. The two best programs in WilCo will slug it out another time with one spot in semifinals waiting for the winner. Brentwood won the last matchup by a score. Both teams won thrillers Friday night to make his game happen. Ravenwood won the last game on Murray Lane off a blocked FG attempt returned for a TD. Winner of this game will be a favorite in the semifinals to go to Cookeville. Don’t be surprised if the eventual state champion is playing in this game. These two teams played in the 2005 quarterfinals where Ravenwood won En route to a 5A State title. They would win again in 2015. Meanwhile, Brentwood looks back to 2002 for inspiration.

I like that too. Of course it’s better for strength of schedule to play a role—it just hasn’t in the past. Ultimately as long as each and every game counts for something I’m all for it. Potentially look at Florida’s system, they balence overall record with strength of schedule very well.

“My team” won a state title the year after z-plan was abolished so if anyone would rally against it it’s me.

Okay. The z-plan determines playoff teams by overall record. So yes, I’m arguing that a system where 6-4 White House is left out of the playoffs and a 3-7 McGavock team gets into the postseason is flawed, regardless of class or strength of schedule. I’m I saying White House is better than McGavock or Stratford? No. But every game—region or non-region—should count towards playoff births. Yes, some “better” teams may miss the playoffs if their schedule is stronger, but that’s sports. Some teams in the NBA West will have an earlier summer than a worse team in the East. Is the z-plan perfect? No. Do I stand by it anyway? Yes

The top of metro is always very good. East Nashville, Cane Ridge, Hillsboro, etc. I or nobody else is denying that. But the middle of the pack is mediocre at best and the bottom is a word I’m not saying on a public forum. McGavock finished fourth in the greater metro district with a 3-7 overall record. Why are they in the postseason? Meanwhile White House at 6-4 isn’t in the playoffs and neither is Franklin County at 5-5.

None. The teams aren't as good, historically. The top each year is very good (CR, other teams in the past like Hillsboro, Overton and if we want to go far back, Whites Creek) but the middle and the bottom is especially weak each year.

I think it may be time to bring it back. Too many 3-7 or worse teams in the playoffs. People complained that "teams with tough schedules" were the ones being punished but teams make their own schedules. If anything teams cannot control their regions so right now it's teams in tough regions who are the ones being "punished." Yeah, it may mean Oakland and Blackman have to play out-of-state teams to fill their schedule, tough for them, besides who doesn't like a nice nationally relevant matchup. Each district gets the same amount of teams in the playoffs right now. Karl Marx is somewhere smiling. No way that a 4th place team in Davidson or Shelby County should get in over a 5th or 6th team from Williamson or Rutherford. In college and pro football, each game counts, so I don't get the fuss over making each high school game count either.

Hopefully we return to the 2009-13 system next reclassification

I think Florence will compete for an Alabama state title in the not too distant future, it should be fun to watch the program develop.

Don't forget that Blackman will be playing a Will Hester coached team. Blackman had their way last time the two played. Other than a few scrimmages, this will be their first meeting since the '13 playoffs.

Nolensville will disappoint and regress from their 2017 win total

Nolensville was already a bit behind schedule in terms of the building of success before Hester departed. Coach Derrick is a very solid plan B but he isn’t Hester and the talent isn’t as stacked as many think/thought it is/would be. The Knights were anointed the “next great program” in the midstate before they even had a practice, and when the original wave of talent graduates in a few years they may find themselves in a very unfavorable situation, especially as Ravenwood next door shows no signs of slowing down.

Ravenwood beat Brentwood so the Raptors will host Rossview in the sectional while the Bruins travel to Wilson Central. Look for the pair of elite Wilco teams to waltz to their to Murfreesboro on Friday.

Awesome hire for the best program in WilCo

Hester, by the way, will be going to Florence High School in Alabama. Likely will make over 100K to just coach and will not have to teach. Looks like the new Nolensville coach will the DC Paul Derrick. He did great at Ravenwood beforehand under Hester and did a solid job these past two years at NHS. Probably ready to be a HC by now but no question about it losing Hester is gonna hurt for the Knights.

Well that is a shocker. Maybe if I was still in the midstate I would’ve seen something to see it coming. Maybe I wouldn’t have. Wow. That’s I’ll all say, wonder if something happened between him and administration that we don’t know about? I wonder where he’ll go now? Good luck to him, he is one of the best coaches around and someone will get lucky to have him.

No they don’t