Panthers08

If you take Maryville out of the equation then Powell wins state in 03 behind Mr. Football runner up Derek Milligan (if you know football you can't question that Powell was the second best team in the state that year...like I said they had Maryville down 21-0 at one point. 04 was rough for this region and that Mo West team was pretty darn good that year you won't get an argument out of me there. In 05 Powell and Central were as good as anyone in the state. I mentioned what happened in the Powell Maryville playoff game that year and Central played them exceptionally well too. In 06 I think that Central would have made the state championship game only to be beaten by an incrediby impressive Memphis Melrose team. So how many teams have won a title in the past few years: none. If you take Maryville out of the equation then it would be at least 1 possibly 3 since 03. Now I understand that 3 in 5 years isn't Maryville like but it's still dominant. The only reason that some of those Powell and Central teams didn't win state is because of Maryville, you can't say the same about teams from upper east TN no matter how much you would like to. And if you want to delve into the past Halls has won a title. I'm pretty sure Clinton has won a state title. There have been other teams from our region win state. I'm not being a smart alleck when I ask this, I just really don't know the answer. How many NET teams have won a state title? Lots of good stuff here in this post. I mean this is a really well put together argument. First of all your right, DB has been impressive....I won't try to attack that schools tradition because as far as I know they never backed down from anyone and always competed on a state level to some degree although at the end of the day all that matters is the trophy case (which is exactly why Powell and Central don't get any credit in Knoxville.) So I don't doubt that DB has been impressive, I just feel like since 2003, overall the knoxville area has been more impressive then the upper east tennessee area. And I suppose your right about my wording, but I do stick by my guns that everything I heard about Curt was that he was an absolutely amazing athlete with a rocket arm and I didn't see that. I saw an impressive leader with a lot of heart and a desire to carry his football team (which can take you a long way.) I did not see 4.55 speed or an overly strong arm although he did make smart decisions with the football...and thats something that you cannot teach. I'll say it again, I hope he goes to Wisconsin and sets the world on fire...I'm not here to bash an 18 year old kid and say that hes terrible or anything like that. I was simply giving my opinion of what I saw against Mo West. If what you are saying is true about the recruiting services, then maybe I am wrong about Curt. As I said, I'm basing my whole opinion of him on one game. And I can buy you sneaky fast explanation for now...but if they get to Maryville (or Red Bank would be an even better barometer of speed) we'll see if he's still running away from people. I don't have a clue what you just said about fiction or whatever. Of course every D1 QB reads on plays he supposed to read on. Every one A junior varsity starter reads when the play calls for it. If the coach calls a give then he darn sure better give it. Not much of a read there. My question may have been a little beyond your comprehension of football. See out of the new-age spread offense teams run a play called a "read-option" which means that typically the line zone blocks (that means they don't have a man they block an area) and the QB reads the back side (that means the side away from where the running back is going) C-gap player. He'll either read the back side end or a backer coming outside, what I'm trying to say is in a true gun read option the QB is taught to read an area more then a man against most HS defenses. The QB makes the decision to give the ball to the RB or pull the ball and take it out the back side. So my question is, and hopefully 83SouthRebel can shine some light on this for me since he's the only one who seems to be well informed, on the plays in the gun when Curt sticks the ball into Fletcher's gut and then carries out a fake running it out the back side...are those plays reads or are they called gives. I never saw Curt pull it on these plays against Mo West....now I'm thinking maybe that was just because of the way that Mo West was playing, but I can't be sure without watching a film or getting some insider information.

You know what? I was legitimately interested in hearing about this match up plain and simple. I stated my opinion and I backed it up with facts. Knoxville is historically the better region, thus there is no need for a debate. You can't prove me wrong because region three is the dominant region and thats a fact that can't be disputed. Now if you want to get in to the talk of phillips being over rated then by all means show me that I'm wrong. All i'm saying is that I saw the same game you did, and you guys wouldn't know what to do with a lot of the athletes that I have played with and against. If you think Phillips is the real deal you would have been in awe of Huber and Jackson-Garrison (both SEC players). Again, I'm sitting at a computer talking about high school football not playing in college. I respect the fact that Curt earned a D1 ride. I've said before that Big Ten schools don't just hand out scholarships loosely. But all the guys up there in ur so called "bumpkinville" have talked him up to be the best player to come out of the state in years and that's simply not true from what I saw the other night. Now, respect is earned not given. When you show me a competent view to refute mine then maybe JUST maybe I'll respect what you have to say. I think that you man have been drinking a little too much sweetwater, sir. Now like I said I initially came on to the board to talk about the game this Friday night. Is everyone in agreement that this is gonna be a shootout or do you think that the defenses will show up? I felt like South's D was pretty good...it's hard to imagine that Greeneville is going to be able to hang a ton of points on that crew, but I don't know anything about the Devils. The spread that they run, is it a spread option style in the same style of Oregon and WVU or is it more of a spread to air it out? And also no one answered me about the South O. Is it a true read or is it a designed give or keep. I saw Curt ride and carry out a run fake but I never saw him pull it and run on those plays that looked like they might be "read option" plays. Anyone have an answer fo me on that?

Can't really beat it but John Bruhin (SR.) and Daryle Smith (Lee's dad) both played in the NFL. And I'm speaking only of Powell grads I'm not sure about other Knoxville schools although I believe Jake Ryan's (QB Knoxville West) dad played in the NFL I know he played at UT. And I'm not bragging about losing to Maryville, ur right at the end of the day Powell is just another number in the 50+ game streak. All I'm saying is that Powell and Knoxville Central have played Maryville (the best team in the state consistenly) better then anyone else. If you drop Powell from 03 05 or 06 Central from 05 06 into the "Mountain Lakes Conference" they win it going away. That's not to mention this years Halls team who only lost to Maryville by 8 or the Knox west teams from the past two years who would be competitive in region 1. The only reason that upper east tennessee teams get deeper in the playoffs is because they don't have to play Maryville as soon. Don't mistake the fact that you get deep into the playoffs for playing good football. I would certainly hope that DB could man handle Karns. That's a basketball school through and through.... there's no pride in beating up on Karns. Secondarily I wouldn't consider Bearden to be a Knoxville power they have up and down years. The winning record over farragut is something to hang your hat on though.

Than I stand corrected as far as 94 and 95 although it seems like a bit of a stretch for u to reach back to 93 to prove your point. I don't understand how you can think for a second that all of Knoxville isn't dominant. Heck, all of your NET counterparts have accepted it. Just look at the division one talent difference. And again please stop showing your incompetence by referring to me as Cody. As I said he is getting reps at EKU this year...look up his stats, he's probably a little too busy for this stuff. I'm fully aware that Mo West beat Maryville that year. I guess even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then. Looking at the full body of work Knoxville is better hands down. For you to disagree is ridiculous. U have attested to Powell's limited success because of the Maryville buzzsaw, but lets take a look at the D1 players they have produced in the past 4 years. Zane Bruhin, John Bruhin, Lee Smith (Marshall) Baron Huber (Alabama) Cody Watts (EKU) Ryan Key, Jay Courtney (Austin Peay) Justin Galyon (UTC) Jordan Lakin (UT - preferred walk-on) Since your so in to the past let's see the list of division one athletes that South has produced.... Again, I'm not going to get in to the debate with you of which region is better. The answer is very very clear. So please, PLEASE lets just talk about this game from here on out.....I'm not trying to draw attention away from this match-up.

I promise you I'm not Cody...One of his friends yes...not him. If i was half the athlete he is I think I would be getting ready for a game on Friday night not watching South what do you think? Knoxville is better because of Alcoa (dominant in 2A), Fulton (very competitive state wide in 3A), Maryvile (beyond dominant in 4A), and then we have teams like Bearden who is up every few years, who by the way finished ahead of DB in the region this year. Farragut knocked DB out of the playoffs this year. Oak Ridge was in a state championship game three years ago, I believe it was, against I want to say Ravenwood. Now, your right Powell hasn't been all that competitive on the state level if you just look at wins and losses. My freshman year Powell was up on Maryville 21-7 at half, My JR year Powell shut Maryville out in the second half...got the ball back with just over three minutes to play and was down by four but couldn't capitalize. Knoxville Central has played Maryville extremely tough in past years. Knoxville teams compete with Maryville better then anyone else save melrose in 06. Their can only be one state champ per division. How many years has the 2A 3A and 4A state champ been from NET? Please don't try to make the argument that Knoxville isn't dominant, you have no facts to back that up. Now, your right I was very young in 93, but I know two years before that Powell was playing for a s state championship. and I believe in 94 or 95 we reached the state semis which at the time was much harder to do because of the 3 classification system. Now like I said, I would much rather talk about South Greeneville then beat a dead horse. Kev-o, I'm not a south fan, and I have no idea if they will be able to run the ball at all. I was just thinking that since the QB is a threat to run the football that they may need an extra guy walked up in to the box. I was just wondering how they would compensate for South's spread formations. Like I said that natural adjustment for that D is to walk a backer out. So the devil faithful feel like Greeneville can stop the run using just 7 in the box?

Seems like I struck a nerve there huh? Well let me try to address everything. My girlfriend is a recent South grad and still has several friends at the school so we made a trip out, and I'll be honest I have been wanting to watch Curt play. I've been hearing his hype for a long time, and (although I'm biased) I don't think that I can imagine a better high school QB then Cody Watts the kid who played QB for Powell my SR year. He was about 6'2 195 and was clocked at 4.46 laser timed indoors, and he threw the ball 64 yards at the jamboree in neyland stadium. Like I said I'm biased but that kid was the best athlete I've ever seen, and I wanted to see what all the fuss from Sullivan County was about. I'm not going to apologize. I wasn't impressed. I'm not saying that Burnette is a better player then Curt either. Because as you pointed out Knoxville media has a way of overhyping above average players. I'm simply saying that I don't see the same amazing talent that you guys see. The game IS SLOWER in NET. Therefore, you get guys who are decent football players that look like demi-gods. If Curt starts as a sophomore then I must be way off on the kid, either that or there are lean years ahead for that program. I'm basing my entire opinion of the kid on one game, thats what I somewhat apologized for, and that's not fair to him. But I will say this, I failed to see the arm strength that would be required for him to work well from the pocket, and he didn't appear to run the 4.55 that he was listed at Friday night. So while you say he can do both...I would say that he does both well for your area. With all that said, Knoxville football is a little bit down this year, I think. I don't know that Maryville can get past Red Bank, and if they do I'm not positive that they will get past either one of these teams. Maryville turned the ball over against Powell and couldn't run the football effectively....those are the things that have made Maryville Maryville in previous years they have run the ball and taken care of it extremely well...they are beatable this year. I haven't quite made my mind up about your post. You seem to be an intelligent person, and you seem to have some degree of football knowledge yet you are on the get rid of Fulmer train when the guy is one win away from an SEC east crown. You say that Crompton is a better QB then Ainge one year after Ainge sets the single season completion percentage record, and Crompton led UT in the Arkansas game when we were absolutely destroyed. I don't see how you can make those claims. If you want to know the real difference between NET football and Knoxville football, it's simple. Speed. You can't teach speed. Knoxville has it NET doesn't. And that's why when you guys play knoxville teams you continually get sent home with your tails between your legs. Maybe it will be different this year, I can't say that it won't be. But history is history, facts are facts and you can't change that. Now like I said move on from this Knoxville vs. NET garbage, we all know who the better region is. I just got on this thread to stir the pot and offer an outsiders point of view. So, my initial post was correct then....Greeneville will play pretty much a true 4-4 and against the spread set will walk the rover to the strong side (two wideout side) out of the box to cover him up? I mean that seems natural to me. I didn't watch a lot of the battle in the trenches Friday night... how does the Greeneville D-line match up with South's O-line? I imagine this is where the game will be won...thats typically the case. So, I'll ask again do the devil faithful feel like they can stop south's ground game with admittedly undersized down guys and three backers behind them?

I've been around high school football for the past six years in some capacity at Powell High School. I'm not here to question Curt's toughness, his heart, or his will to win...all of that was clearly there. Nor am I hear to question his leadership ability, clearly that team goes as he goes. I don't know how you can say that Knoxville has not been dominant. Knoxville continually puts teams in the state championship games at every level. Look at what Marvyille, Fulton, Alcoa, and even to some degree Oak Ridge have done. Just take a look at last weeks scoreboard...Farragut took down DB, who is the perennial powerhouse in NET. Again I harken back to 2004 when Tennessee High was undefeated and killing everyone that walked on to the field against them in NET. When they played Marvyille it was 49-0 at halftime. But like you say not everyone can be Maryville, it just so happens that a lot of Knoxville teams are competitive, if not dominant, on the state-wide level. South has had an impressive run over the last three years. But if not for Maryville, Powell and Knoxville Central would have the same run at some point in the past 6 years. Bottom line is the game is slower over there, the athletes aren't on the same level plain and simple. Let's get off the Knoxville vs. NET jaunt though and talk about this game. So Greeneville runs a 4-2-5 defense with the backers playing in the flats....I must be picturing this wrong. How can they play with six men in the box and ask the backers to play flats and still stop the run? It just seems like it would be easy to run on that D. Please correct me as I'm sure im misinterpreting something.

If thats true, it's kind of surprising that a team could run a 4-4 and shut down Phillips and CO. The 16 kid (Houston something) and the Kitzmiller kid seemed to be slightly above average recievers and while it's been well documented that I'm not the biggest Phillips fan in the world, the Rebs do have the ability to spread the field and slip Fletcher in to the seams created. Powell runs a spread offense and the oline loves it because they don't have to dominate. They just have to lock on and give the back a butt to cut off of. The spread is definately a tough offense to stop I'm just curious how a 4-4 could adjust to a true spread set (gun one back TE WR to one side two wide outs to the other) Tbe natural adjustment I would guess would be to play cover three and walk the outside backer to the two reciever side out of the box but with the way Fletcher and Phillips run the ball they are gonna need eight in the box on a lot of downs. So I guess what I'm asking (to everyone) is how does Greeneville adjust to stop South's spread?

I thought the South defense flew to the ball pretty well against MoWest and that number 20 kid for the Trojans wasn't bad. The rebels managed to keep him in check. Although I believe West was missing their starting QB and I'm assuming it was because of that that their passing game was hit or miss last week. Either way, South's defense particularly in the first half was the most impressive part of that game I felt like. I don't know what they looked like against Science Hill, and like I said I have no idea about Greeneville, but I would be wiling to bet that South's D will keep this game close because (whether it's based upon his own skills or it's based upon the weaker competiton) Curt is going to put points on the board for the Rebs. And I'll agree with the others on the board I thought the Fletcher kid was pretty decent. I have some questions for insiders of both teams. I know that South based primarily out of the gun with spead formations agasint West. I saw them run some plays that appeared to be spread read option plays ,but I don't remember Curt actually pulling and running with it on those particular plays. I was wondering If those plays are truly read option plays? As for Greeneville what are they like on both sides of the ball. What kind of offense do they run? Whats the base defense?

The more I think about it the more I think I may have been too hard on Phillips kid. It's a solid point that I've only seen him play once and I see these Knoxville kids on a week in week out basis. I'm sure if I had been watching him as much as you have I would have a little different opinion. With all that said I still don't think he is the player that you all make him out to be. As far as D1 QB's go Cade Thompson came out of Maryville and signed with South Carolina... I know the kid who played QB for my high school teams is getting some reps at QB at Eastern Kentucky as a red shirt freshman and that is a D1 AA school. I'm not trying to diminish the kid's accomplishment. Getting a D1 offer is a HUGE honor. And like I said before I hope that he proves me wrong and makes me look like an idiot....I simply don't see that happenening from what I saw the other night. And just a quick side note about the Maryville game....Red Bank could definately stop the streak. Seeing both those teams first hand I would bet that game is gonna be one of the better high school games in recent years. If Maryville and South advance a Burnett vs. Philips showdown would be fun to watch in Blount County. Regards to the board.

I wasn't trying to offend anyone by my post, as I said I hope that someone proves me wrong. I think you may have proved my point for me though with your NFL players line. I'm not doubting that upper east tn football hasn't produced great great football players. All I'm saying is that i can rattle off a lot of guys that I personally played with at Powell that are playing division one football right now. In fact I played with Baron Huber (starting fullback for Alabama) Lee Smith and John Bruhin (a contributing TE and a red shirt line man who both have a shot to play on Sundays and both are at Marshall) and against Casen Jackson-Garrison and Dennis Rogan. Did you watch today's UT game? Because Rogan was the one whos big time return set up the game winning field goal and Jackson-Garrison averaged better then 4.5 yards a carry against UT today. So you can take your once in a blue moon studs and I'll take my Knoxville football where we compete with D1 talent week in and week out. Again, I hope Phillips goes up there and sets the world on fire. I just don't see that happening. Additionally, boy that really hurts...my Powell team (who was picked to finish 7th in region 3 before the year) just lost to the number two team in the state by 3 points...what a terrible season. I'm not taking anything away from what South has done up to this point, they have done ALMOST everything that they could have done to be considered great. The loss to Greeneville sticks out though. It just seems to me that if South really had all of this talen they would be tearing through upper east TN which is traditionally weak and thats a fact whether u accept it or not. Knoxville consistently puts teams in the state championship game on on every level. The truth is if someone is going to beat Maryville this IS the year to do it, and if you want my honest prediction I think they will lose in the state championship game..just not before that. I want to reiterate that Phillips is a ball player...I just think that hes a product of poor competition to some degree. And once again, I hope he proves you right and me wrong

So I has a chance to venture out of Knoxville (I'm a Powell grad and far) and watch the Mo West vs. South game last night. I gotta say I wasn't as impressed with the Phillips kid as all of you guys are. He had some impressive runs but a lot of it just looked like poor tackling by Mo West. I'm a big time skeptic of upper east tennessee football ever since that TN high vs. Maryville debacle back in like the 04 season, but the game just looked a whole lot slower in "death valley" last night. I think that Powell could possibly be better then South this year, and I'm almost certain that West and Halls the number 3 and 4 teams from region three would beat South. Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to get on here and say that Curt isn't a ball player. I mean Big Ten schools don't just hand out scholarships lightly. I just was expecting to walk away more impressed then I was after seeing him in person. Now with all that being said I have got to pick South in this game. I have never seen Greeneville play, but I do know it's really hard to beat a good team twice in the same season. Plus correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the last South Greeneville game at GHS? Home field means a lot. I would like to addess the poster that said that UT should have gotten Curt. That's simply not true. BJ Colemon (the kid from Mccallie who is at UT now) had a much bigger arm then Phillips does from what I saw last night, and BJ isn't close to getting on the field at UT. I hope the kid makes me eat crow about this I would love to see a TN boy starting at Wisconsin, but I just don't see that happening. Best of luck to both teams, and congratulations the winner of this game gets the winner of the Red Bank Maryville game...what a reward lol.

ya know ZCAR there were a lot of new faces in the huddle this year for Powell. I don't blame you (or anyone else as you obviously were not the only one) for having some low expectations for the Panthers this year. The division one talent simply wasn't there on this team as it has been in years before, and Powell hasn't been extremely successful when it was there. The fact of the matter is that this team was exactly that...they are a team. They pulled together all year. When the only people in the world that were giving Powell a chance to win were in the Panther locker room, this team decided that that was all they needed. This team lived and died for each other, and they did things the right way. They came to work everyday and just did what they had to do. It's difficult for me to think about the bright future of this program today though after last night. I'm not saying the Red Bank didn't deserve to win that game last night because they did. It was just one of those games where you hate that somebody had to lose because Red Bank played so well to build the lead and Powell faught tooth and nail to come back. Again, Red Bank deserved to win, but I can't say that Powell deserved to lose. At any rate, thank you for your kind words.

This one was a real heart breaker for the panthers. Red Bank scored first and Powell answered right back on an impressive run by (who else) Jordan Allen. Red Bank scored again in the second quarter. Powell had a drive going and Kier hit Allen on a 17 yard slant down to the two, but the Lions defense stiffened and stopped a fourth down play. Red Bank's athletes were really really impressive. They came out in some power sets and just ran the ball right at the Panthers. The Lions were much more physical up front for much of the game. Anyway it was 14-7 at the half. The third quarter was much of the same. Red Bank pounded the ball right at the panthers on both of their scoring drives. One capped by an electric run by number 27 (an all region player out there who was the best MLB I've seen this year and a heck of a FB), and the other culminated on a 8=15 yard (can't really remember) out route into the end zone on a really nice touch throw by ledbetter. One of the extra points was failed. So it was 27-7 going in to the fourth. This is only my opinion but I feel like Red Bank's players kind of took their foot off the accelerator and Powell's kids weren't ready to go home just yet. Powell faught like heck in the fourth quarter. Jimmy Franklin and Jordan Allen both had huge fumble recoveries. Jimmy stripped Ledbetter on a scramble and took off the other way. Allen's was a little questionable I thought the Red Bank kid recovered the fumble and Jordan took it away from him on the bottom of the pile. Pretty bad call I thought...I could be wrong. Kier started off 4-20 but got in a rhythm late he ended up 16-35 for 195 yards with 116 of those to Devan Collins who had a tremendous game and really sparked the comeback on the offensive side for the Panthers. I'm sure I'm leaving some things out but basically Powell scored got an onside kick scored again botched the onside kick and only kicked it about 3 yards. They managed to pull up Red Bank and score again to make it 30-27. Ducharme kicked the onside kick left footed back to the back side and it just bounced right to the kid and the Lions took the air out of the ball from there. Kier was up and down, Charlie Wood averaged 29.5 a return on kick offs he looked really good. Collins looked like the best player on the field. There were a lot of bright spots for returning guys. Tex looked good but only got about 4 touches I think. Jordan and Jimmy played like you would expect them to play in a game like this. Really all the seniors played pretty well. I don't really know what else to say. Those guys really laid it all on the line and they should walk away from their SR year with no regrets. The other coaches in our region picked Powell to finish 7th in 3-4a, and they surprised everyone. They gave the number two team in the state all they wanted and today, even in a loss, I am proud to be a fan of Powell High School football.

mhs, I think you're reading a bit too deeply. I believe what Drega was saying is that he hoped Powell got the opportunity to play Maryville again in the playoffs because everyone knows that in 4A, to get where you want to go, you have to beat Maryville. There was no disrespect meant towards the Rebels. Even if this was the case from 1 or 2 fans, every team has "those guys." The Powell coaches, players, and the vast majority of their fans are disappointed with the outcome, thought that Powell could have executed better, but know that Maryville certainly earned the victory.

As an aside when Ricky McClain went down in the game just before the half, it was due to a seizure. I'll be honest I got goosebumps when he was able to get up under his own power and everyone in the stadium erupted into an ovation. One of the classiest things I've seen out of any group of fans, and at least on my part the deed of the LC faithful did not go unnoticed. And an update Ricky was in the locker room after the game and feeling fine.

Hey HTV, while it is very rare that you're incorrect, I've caught you on one here. Kier actually moved to Powell in the middle of his Freshman year. My senior year. The problem was that Andrew Hanson was the QB of the freshman team and Rusty and the other freshman coaches (including my brother at the time) didn't feel like they could bring Kier up to speed in the offense in enough time to unseat Andrew.

Ouch guys... good picking.

This is a joke. South this year is just like that Tennessee High team from a few years back, 04 or 05 i think, that came in to the maryville game undefeated and claiming they were gonna take down the giant. Well Maryville went to TN High and beat them 49-0. The game was never close. Maryville isn't a flashy team per say they are like a machine...You'll watch them go four yards, five yards, two yards, three yards, sixteen yards, four yards, then forty yards. It's a different brand of football in Knoxville. I would pay to see that game too, so all the pretenders from the mountain lakes will realize that there isn't much real football played east of Knoxville.

Just my two cents. I love throp's attitude, I'm basing this solely on the one game i saw, but that kid was the best player on that team. He was really really quick, tough, shot the ball well, and along with 3 was the only kid who knocked down his free throws. I think every team needs a kid with fire and drive like that. Other players feed off that kind of emotion. Matt Hargis and Tyler Howell both carry themselves that way and I wouldn't trade those two guys for anything. Like i said just my opinion.

didn't actually mean that in a literal way, just trying to show my complete and utter disgust for the lack of journalistic integrity. Although, i suppose making a comment like that puts a severe damper on mine lol. Sorry to get so riled up. The refs weren't good theres no question there. I just think its a disgrace to a very very tough basketball team (DB) for them to get in the paper and say the refs cost them that game. Its a cop out plain and simple. As for DB bringing their D game, i didn't see any ungodly stats like there were for powell. Over a post season stretch powell hit 33-63 threes, against DB 3-22. Powell wasn't bigger, or quicker then DB. They didn't shoot the ball well at all, and they still managed to find a way to win. As far as not owning up to it, yea there were some bad calls, but coach morgan got all fired up about some calls that were just painfully obvious. Like the one where throp dove for the loose ball. He landed face down rolled over and called time out face up, that is the definition of a travel. Coach goes nuts, bench goes nuts, and all the fans go nuts. Powell got calls im not saying they didn't but the better team won, period end of discussion. If DB played powell 9 more times powell would win 7 or 8 of them.

There were bad calls both ways. For a "professional" journalist to write up something like that is pathetic. I had a lot of respect for the way DB played after watching them last night. That all went out the window after i read that article. For players to be quoted in a write up bashing the officials shows a lack of leadership in that program. Period. Coach Ogan wouldn't let something like that fly i promise you. Seems like they quickly forgot about all the free throws that they missed or the three or four lay ups that they missed throughout the course of the game that would have easily given them the win. Give me a break. Powell played its D+ game at best and still walked away with a victory because they are that much better. That journalist should be drug into the street and stoned for posting that rubbish and the players that made those remarks need to be disciplined accordingly. Anyway you guys keep blaming the refs we'll send you a post card from MTSU.

It's a great night to be a panther fan. I just gotta run it down. D. Hansen played his guts out tonight. Didn't put up a lot of numbers but it was obvious he was laying it all on the line and did knock down a big three early. Tyler Howell played his part well. I still can't figure out how a guy that little pulls all the rebounds that he does. Chris Connor, been stepping up for that panthers all year and certainly didn't disappoint in this game. When the panthers needed big buckets they gave it to this guy throughout the third and into the fourth. Matt Hargis, as detailed in the other board, is the fiercest competitor i've ever seen play basketball at Powell. Matt played through a broken foot against Halls this year and still hung with cam sharp on one leg. And the last guy I'm gonna mention is Jason Seymore. He's been busting his tail on the defensive end of the floor all year. He may have had a double double tonight. He knocked down big shots, big free throws, went to the @@@@ when he needed to, and pulled down big boards tonight. Powell really played one of the worst games they have played in a while tonight. They couldn't knock down a shot from outside to save their lives, but they still faught and found a way to win. Harg, CC. and Seymore all took turns putting this team on their backs on the offensive end of the floor. I know I'm gushing but just an unbelievable effort from this team. I couldn't be happier for Coach Ogan, Coach Roberts, Gerry Dinkins Preston and that whole staff they really earned this win tonight. You know you have a special group of young men and a special talent when you don't have your A game and still beat a team like DB. As for DB I would be completely remiss if I didn't mention 20. That kid was far and away the best player we have played against all year. Theres a lot of talk around here about cameron sharp from halls but 20 would run cirlces around him and thats not a knock on sharp just a tribute to 20. Loved his attitiude and loved his game even more, best of luck to that kid moving on.... Congrats on a solid year DB, there were a few sketchy calls and this game could have gone either way. Go panthers and good luck in the borro, you know I'll be there.

Powell was just way too much for anyone in this tournament to handle. I don't like to get on here and be cocky, but looking at the scores the panthers were never challenged. Maryville hung tough for about two and a half quarters. Tyler Howell played his tail off hitting one three from Mark's Time out Deli somewhere on Sutherland....i mean it was easily NBA range. Hargis played extremely well coming out of the half and really everyone did their part. Seymore hit some big shots, D. Hanson played well defensively and really played within himself on O. Connor was a handful again knocking down some big shots and rebounding at key moments. Gordon and A. Hanson both played well off the bench, a really solid team win for Coach O and the panthers. I was really unimpressed with Maryville. They missed just about every open look they had. The two football guys who were touted as the saviors of the basketball program before they got there did not play well at all. Maples had one good drive and i think hit one jumper but didn't do much else. Douglas had a couple impressive blocks early and put up some points but also had a couple of "bunnies" that he drew only backboard on and was about 3-8 from the free throw line or something like that. I think more then likely this was just an off night for Maryville, but i get the feeling they are going to have to play a lot better to get to the boro. As for Powell, as long they continue to shoot the ball as well as they did in this tournament we're going to tough to beat. DB will probably be more athletic then Powell, but i think it'll be a good game especially with it being in Jeff Hunter gym. Good luck to the rebs and the panthers going on to substate.

I understand man, I'm not getting on to you a bit. Just tone it down a little. I get the feeling from being around u guys a little bit that people won't have a choice but to be excited about Powell football before it's all said and done.