sportsnerd

Don't think WHH will stop CPA, but Milan/Liberty winner probably will.

31-12 CPA and it could have easily been 55-12. Stratford scored on a KO return, and a desperation heave on 3rd and long on the only 20+ yard play they had in the game. I have not seen the stats, but I would guess Stratford had more yards on CPA penalties than offensive yards. I doubt if Stratford had positive yardage total the first half, or 100 for the game. I saw 2 things in this game I don't think I have ever seen. (1) Back to back KO returns for TDs. CPA answered Stratford's KO return with a return on the next KO. (2) 4 TD's called back by penalties on one team. CPA had 4 TD's reversed and got 3 points instead of 28. Congrats to Stratford for the amazing turnaround in their program. Hated to see them lose composure at the end and have personal fouls on almost every play. CPA will have a tough time getting back to Tech. Just not enough depth and lost another 2-way starter today who was kicked off the team.

Stratford may win, but consider this: CPA has lost 5 games in the last 5 years, and 4 of those losses CPA was the underdog. They have lost one game in the last 5 years that they were favored in-Ensworth this year. Again, they may lose, but you can't make a livin' betting against them.

Coach Fitzgerald is the key to the turnaround, and he has always been a good coach. They are on the way up quickly, and I am glad.

What does "should have won" mean? I saw the game and you could also argue CPA "should have won" by a bigger score. CPA played Stratford at Stratford after a murderer's row first 5 games of the season and they were very beat up. CPA has also gotten better and healthier, and they have been there before - Stratford hasn't. I will add I love seeing how Stratford has turned that program around after several years of struggle. CPA and Stratford have had a very great relationship over the last few years on and off the field, and CPA pulls for their success - except for this week, of course.

Those SOS rankings are faulty and always have been. Show me one other 3A school who has played 6 teams that made the TN playoffs (3 in 3A, 2 in 4A, and 1 in DII) and the #7 team in Georgia in 6A, and those teams were 5-1 last week in the playoffs. That's 7 teams of the ten they played still playing. 48 tougher 3A schedules than that?? Who are you kidding? Goodpasture is shown as the 2nd toughest schedule. They played 7 TN playoff teams, 3 of which CPA also played. The other 4 teams they played were CPA (if you are good, you are penalized in SOS formula because you cannot play yourself), BGA, FRA, and Lipscomb. Does anyone really think BGA,FRA, and Lipscomb are tougher opponents than Knox. Cath., Ensworth, and Pearl Cohn (the other 3 CPA played)? SOS means nothing and never has, and it is a faulty ranking. I repeat - CPA had the toughest 3A schedule in the state.​

Certainly CPA has good, but not better athletes. Both have had D1 signees recently, with Josh Smith at UT (from CAK) having a lot of success. Over the last few years, CAK has been just as good as CPA overall, have made the final game, and have won it all. The programs and schools are very similar. CPA is CAK west, and CAK is CPA east almost. Both stress Christian worldview education. Their coaching staffs are also topnotch and really fine mentors for young men. CPA runs a lot of stuff, but it is mostly the spread with QB reads and lots of play action and variety. They also run the wildcat with a LB taking the snap. Mr. Football finalist, QB Weatherly, is a very smart, athletic QB with a great arm. Has signed with UTC. RB is very good and they have 2 very good receivers, but one has struggled with injuries all year. CPA is not as big or physical up front as they were last year, and IMO, not as strong a team.

No big deal. I have always liked your posts. I just get tired of people claiming they are better than a team they lost to. When you lose, the other team is better - that is why they keep score. The only way to determine who is better is to play and keep score, not by the weather, who has injuries, or the opinion of the fans. And as far as Firebird saying Coach Martin is glad they do not have to play PC, that is ridiculous. CPA and Martin doesn't run from anyone and he has never lost to PC, so why would he run from them? He played 5 TN teams this year who all won their 1st round playoff game and also played the #8 team in all classes in Ga. Toughest 3A schedule in the state.

You played Stratford???

Wasn't responding to you. Was talking to FBfan26, but you are welcome to respond and throw in your expert analysis that PC would win big against a team that beat them earlier in the year. CPA had injuries too, and a couple of the PC injuries were because of pounding by CPA. You and FBfan26 apparently care to be trolling a 3A thread and ragging on a team you haven't been able to beat in several years. Good luck in the playoffs. After CPA beat you, I posted on CoachT you would end up having a great season and do well in the playoffs. I still think so.

FB, you are a piece of work. When CPA beat PC, the CPA fans congratulated PC on a good game, commended them on being a good team and wished them well for the rest of the season. You, on the other hand, has been posting ever since about how PC was, and is, better than CPA, the CPA win over PC was a fluke,and now you post Stratford is better. Well, if Stratford is better than CPA, and CPA beat your beloved PC, you had better be glad you are in the 4A bracket, cause you wouldn't have a chance in 3A.

The brackets show CPA's side of the bracket as the home team. Liberty vs CPA is the logical pick, but every year has upsets. Liberty almost got upset last week. CPA did not roll over either Stratford or WHH in the regular season. I think they are better than them, but a mistake or turnover here or there and an upset could occur. And Camden may have a say as well. I do think CPA is healthier now than they were in those two reg season games. CPA's first 5 games were brutal even though they won. It took a lot out of them. Lots of football left to play.

Congrats to the Cubs and I apologize for my posts that implied 3-7 teams should not have been in the playoffs. They knew the criteria, played their season well, met the criteria, and had a great experience, especially for the seniors who will never forget they made the playoffs. Been a tough last 3 years for CC, but hopefully they will continue to rebuild and be back to the great program they have been in the past. Love their fans passion.

Thanks for your work on this, Jacket. 15 is impressive for Omni, but without a final score, hard to win. I say since he still has the two teams alive for the finals, you let him pick a score and be in the contest.

OK, I have trouble sometimes with CoachT displaying correctly on my computer. Maybe that post isn't displaying but I read through the whole thread and didn't see it. Also, if i am shown in the standing as "Sports", then my score is wrong. I only had 13 right, not 14.

Did Omni ever post a Finals score?

Just thought I might resurrect this thread from earlier in the year when the Goons questioned the validity of some of CPA's wins and strength of schedule. Peachtree Ridge (0-2 after losing badly to CPA) has not lost since the CPA game and is #7 in all classes in Georgia. CPA this year has beaten 5 TN. playoff teams, including 2 who made the 4A playoffs. #1 seed PC and #3 seed Knox.Cath. WHH (a 3A,not a 2A team, BTW) finished 7-3 and is a #2 seed in 3A. They also beat #3 seed Stratford (7-3), and East (who shouldn't be in playoffs). Their loss to Ensworth was not pretty, but at least they reach out to play traditionally good teams and former state champs. And Ensworth's record may not be great, but they almost beat #1 in DII MBA last Friday night. The CoachT SOS has CPA ranked 46?? Don't know or care how that is calculated, but there is no way 45 3A teams played a tougher schedule than CPA. With that said, I agree that Alcoa is the class of 3A and should take the title back. I actually believe CPA will get beat in the semis. They are good, but injuries and lack of quality depth will catch up to them if they play Liberty or Milan.

There will always be examples of exceptions (not many in TSSAA playoffs), but the playoffs are a reward for a great season. All playoff systems leave out teams that may have done well if they made it, but that does not mean they should make it. You cannot have a system that is designed to cover all exceptions. The fact is, and you know it, that the first round (especially #1 vs.#4) is mostly blowouts, and a lot of #4 seeds are .500 or less. My opinion (and that's all it is) is that: 32 teams are too many 5 rounds is too many (its another 1/2 season for the finalists) extra games create more potential injuries for the good teams that had a great season Thanksgiving weekend should be a family time for the teams and schools A week off before the finals would make for a better final game. Again, just IMO.​ I know many disagree and I appreciate their opinion.

As I posted last year, the #4 seeds almost always get blown out in the first round with rare exceptions. 5 rounds are too many. Cut the field to 24, give the #1 seeds a first round bye (they earned it). First round: 8 games between #2 and #3 seeds. Second round: 4 games: #1 seeds versus winners of round 1 Third round: 2 games Off week for Thanksgiving. Let final two rest up, heal up, and prepare well for finals. Fourth round: Finals Makes way too much sense for the TSSAA to ever do it.

Round 1 winners Elizabethton CAK Kingston Alcoa East Ridge CCS ND Upperman CPA Stratford WHH Camden Liberty Westview Milan Dyersburg Round 2 winners CAK Alcoa East Ridge ND CPA WHH Liberty Milan Round 3 winners Alcoa East Ridge CPA Liberty Round 4 winners Alcoa Liberty Champ Alcoa - 35-14

This game is just Round 1 anyway. Round 2 in 2-3 weeks is the only one that matters.

PC didn't lose to CPA because of injuries - both teams had them. PC lost because they lost discipline at the wrong times and made too many mistakes. They should have beat CPA, but beat themselves. But that happens a lot to teams that play CPA. Of course, CPA many times expose another team's weaknesses and knows how to take advantage of it. I do believe PC will do well in the playoffs.

Everyone knows the "nerd" is a CPA homer; however, I have to admit they are not playing well enough since the first 2 games of the season to be considered a serious state champ contender. Yes, they have had injuries to key players all year, but that is one reason they will have trouble repeating, because they cannot afford any injuries due to depth and there are always injuries. The injuries will not stop between now and the playoffs. It is apparent Alcoa, this year, is the class of 3A. CAK and Liberty, for sure, can beat CPA if CPA doesn't bring its A-game. There may be a couple of others (East Ridge, Milan, for example) who are peaking right now. Very likely may see a Liberty/CPA semi and a CAK/Alcoa quarter. Those winners will probably play for state. CPA will match up better with CAK, IMO, and just don't see Liberty or CPA beating Alcoa this year, if given the chance.

Here is how I see t with 3 weeks to go: 1. Alcoa 2. CAK 3. CPA 4. Liberty 5. Elizabethton 6. East Ridge 7. White House Heritage 8. Kingston 9. Milan 10. (Tie) Melrose / Notre Dame

AP looks about right, but might put Liberty #3 ahead of CPA. Also think Milan is probably a Top 10 team when playoffs roll around. IMO, Sequatchie and Kingston are pretenders, not contenders.