TheRefuter

The representative for the east this year will come from either Region 3 or Region 4.

Last year Region 4 received a lot of hype and it wound up being for nothing (i.e. Monterey). This year, I think the opposite is true. Coalfield played an interesting game with Harriman and Monterey blew the doors off them. Can't really base it all off that, but it could be very telling. 

Gordonsville seems legitimate, and Clay/Monterey also seem good compared to Region 3 where South Pittsburg and Copper Basin are the clear 1 and 2.

Playoff seed prediction:

Region 4

1. Gordonsville

2. Monterey

3. Clay County

4. Jo Byrns

Region 3

1. South Pittsburg

2. Copper Basin

3. Sale Creek

4. Whitwell

I don't see it getting interesting until the 2nd round. If I'm right, my alma mater will get to travel to you and we can have a good time talking about the good times and watching good football. 

Like I said on the Coalfield thread, I will be evaluating the Tigers this week and we will know more then. 

I need a little more information on Huntingdon. Can anyone tell me what they're returning?

I have them as a west contender this year, but can't reasonably make the drive to see them play. 

Can anyone tell me what LC is returning this year? 

I have them as a Top 5 team, but I need a little more information as a drive to Tiptonville to evaluate is not happening. Last time I saw them play was in Cookeville last year. 

I went to Huntland last week and evaluated South Pittsburg on the Basin/Whitwell thread. 

I plan on going to Coalfield this week to evaluate the Jackets and the Tigers. I will share my findings here. 

Prediction: Gordonsville 31 Coalfield 20

My Week 5 notable east teams:

1. South Pittsburg

2. Gordonsville

3. Copper Basin

4. Coalfield

Currently on my radar:

Monterey

50 minutes ago, orngnblk said:

Mike I'm gonna say it now,tomorrow and the last week of the year when you all play Basin.Pirates will win by 30+.Teams like Pitt has this year and teams like GB have had the last 5 are on different levels than good or Ave same class teams.It is what it is!!!

Remember, I am as objective as they come and I know my alma mater's typical place. I agree with you on almost everything except the last part. 

My evidence: 

2019 Lake County

2018 Whitwell

2016 Dresden

2015 Nashville Christian

2014 Union City

2013 Union City

2012 Gordonsville

2011 Wayne County

2 out of 10 doesn't make Greenback and South Pitt "two of a kind." It makes them two out of the last 10. 

Much love to the Pirates and the Cherokees but we can all benefit from learning our places. We can't all always be the best. 

1 hour ago, The1AOverseer said:

I heard Tyner was pretty good but Bledsoe is just that much better than everyone so I am pretty sure the Force isn't really a joke this year. Was it a good game to watch or did both teams play really bad?

Both teams played very sloppy. Lots of missed "gimme's" on both sides. 

It could've just been a good match, but it wasn't easy to watch. 

4 minutes ago, The1AOverseer said:

Did y'all see that there Tyner vs GA Force score? 31-20 GA Force I believe so. Maybe the home schooled team giving Basin that good game wasn't so bad.

I've struggled with that one. It's still hard for me to tell if GFC is that good, or if Tyner is that bad. I saw the GFC-Basin game, and neither team looked great. Maybe we were just a good match. 

20 minutes ago, TN225 said:

Copper doesn’t have the horses or line to play with Pitt. You should win a home playoff game but I personally don’t see you beating Gordonsville in the 2nd round. 

Quick objective breakdown having seen both teams play as of Week 5 and subject to change:

Basin OL < South Pitt DL

Basin DL > South Pitt OL

Basin Receivers > South Pitt DBs

Basin DBs < South Pitt Receivers

Basin LBs < South Pitt RBs

Basin RBs < South Pitt LBs

South Pitt is the better team, but I've seen Basin beat a lot of better teams and played on Basin teams that beat better teams. This is football, nothing is set in stone. 

But you're right as far as it's an uphill battle. In order to get a gold ball, we will likely have to beat Gordy and South Pittsburg, two VERY good teams, as well as what will likely be Coalfield in the semis. Don't think for a second, though, that this team is afraid of the big time or that they aren't going to show up swinging. 

South Pittsburg vs Huntland Assessment

Defense: 

This year the Pirates look pretty sound defensively. Their box defense is one of the best I've seen in a long time. Interior DL have good size, strength, and discipline. #75 and #65 will continue to cause problems for people. In most sets, the ends are very strong up top and quick. #24 is a good ball player and is as quick as some receivers. The secondary is not as sound as last year, but one of their safeties is a centerfielder back there. 

As far as defensive strategy goes, the football IQ is pretty high across the board. They roll coverages and disguise coverages very well and adjust the front accordingly. 

Offense:

I have concerns about the OL this year. #52 and #58 are very good, and #50 looks very undersized but delivered some of the best trap blocks I've seen this year. Huntland achieved some penetration early on in the game with a pretty lackluster DL. The backs and receivers are phenomenal. #4 is exactly who I thought he was and #2 is just as deadly when healthy. #11 is a threat to anyone downfield and #28 has the frame to play football on Saturdays and is very effective in the short game. #1 is one of the best QB's in 1A this year. Very smart with the football and maintains very good control when passing. He probably threw 6 passes last night and at least 2 were touchdowns and only 1-2 were incomplete after being hurried. 

Special Teams:

The return game will be a solid source of points for the Pirates as usual. #4 and #28 thrive in an open field. 

Kickoff team covers very quickly and very well.

The punter is probably the biggest weakness of this football team. 

16 hours ago, The1AOverseer said:

I will be on the Whitwell side standing along the fence most likely and I will not be wearing red so if you want to find me pal I will break the game down and explain how Basin isn't good enough to keep the game close with the mighty Pirates this year. Last year everyone on here was talking about how close the game was going to be and I just didn't see it last year and I surely don't see it this year. The reason I am going to watch Basin is to confirm my belief but I have an open mind so we will see how it goes.

I didn't see it last year either. We were too young and one dimensional and still scored more on you than anyone else did in the regular season, including the 2A state runner-up.

I'm making the trek to Huntland tonight to evaluate the Pirates, and I'll share my observations which are always entirely objective and as accurate as possible. 

I've got no problem saying Go Pirates and supporting them tonight against Region 5.

7 hours ago, The1AOverseer said:

So winning every time except once in the past 2 decades isn't usual? There might be 5 or 6 times if that in the past 50 years that the little cats have come out on top

Let's clear a few things up, pal. 

Basin lost 4 good-decent players to graduation. The rest are returning. Want a breakdown? 

4 out of 5 OL including an all-stater

3 out of 4 receivers

All-State QB

RB that has averaged well over 100 yards in each game.

Defense is relatively unchanged with the exception of some personnel moves and a year's experience.

I'm nice to everybody on this forum, and I have respect for most programs in the state, including South Pittsburg. None of us have said we are going to win, but you're a fool that hasn't seen a lot of football if you think it doesn't have the potential to get interesting. 

I hope you come to the Whitwell game like you said. It's not a very big stadium. Which considering you created a burner account to talk smack about a high school football team, I doubt you'll own what you say anyway...

The saga continues:

It is my current understanding that the Whitwell game will be played next Saturday. 

Just now, Southtowner said:

So yall taking the forfeit? 

As usual, the alums and community get no news unless we dig for it. As of right now, though, I would assume so. You can follow The Friday Night Pressbox on twitter for updates. 

1 minute ago, Southtowner said:

So,  is this game being rescheduled or not?  

From what I hear, Whitwell is unsure they will clear by next week. Current rumor is that Basin is scheduling another Georgia team for next Saturday to fill the schedule.

4 hours ago, The1AOverseer said:

I heard that Grider asked if you all wanted to play next Friday and his request got declined. I am not saying Basin is scared but I am saying Pirates by 90.

Don't confuse the administration with the team. Usually a fatal mistake. 

All I'll say about the Basin-SP game is that Massey is calling it 41-8 Pirates.

Without implying anything, I'll also give you Massey's score predictions for Basin's games thus far:

Polk: 28-14 Polk compared to 29-18 Basin actual

GFC: 35-14 GFC compared to 14-12 Basin actual

Sale Creek: 28-20 SC compared to 47-0 Basin actual

Tellico: 16-14 Tellico compared to 56-14 Basin actual

If you haven't seen them play, you're not really in any position to judge talent. Take from that what you will. 

Basin averages at least 1 win a decade against the Pirates. Every once in a while, when the planets and moons align, Copper Pan gets theirs. 

2 hours ago, The1AOverseer said:

I've heard Whitwell will not be able to play next Friday so it will be interesting to see how this one goes when they actually play. Copper Basin just isn't historically good and will not accomplish anything this year to be honest. The Pirates will steam roll them and there is nothing Basin can do about it.

rEd aNd gRaY mAn bAd gO pIrAtEs lIfElOnG fAn 5 GoLd BaLl

Copper Basin's game against Whitwell has been COVIDed so I have myself a dilemma. I can go to Huntland and see the Pirates play, or I can make the slightly longer trek to Gordy to see a good game. 

I think Gordonsville is a Top 5 team this year, so I expect a win over Clay who I would place between 10-15. 

I know the Pirates are rolling, but Gordy is so much more interesting. I have a lot to think about. 

7 hours ago, Jobres76 said:

This is very interesting. 4 out of 6 teams from region 5 represented in this top 15 list. Huntland and Fayetteville and MC and Cornersville play Friday night. I would have Huntland and MC ahead of Fayetteville based off record alone right now. 

I agree, there's just a lot of question marks for Region 5 until region play starts. They're typically a pretty balanced region unlike Region 3 where there's usually a clear 1, a clear 2, and the rest. 

The way I see it, there are 2-3 serious teams in the east this year. One clear #1 and 2 contenders. 

The west is more of a mystery at this point in time.

This one is interesting. Serious snub on Gordy. Oliver Springs could be the 2-3 seed in Region 2. I see them on the outside looking in, though. Top 15, but not Top 10. 

The Refuter's Week 2 Top 15

1. South Pittsburg

2. Cornersville

3. Lake County

4. Gordonsville

5. Huntingdon

6. Copper Basin

7. Coalfield

8. Greenfield

9. Fayetteville

10. Huntland

11. Greenback

12. Clay County

13. Freedom Prep

14. Moore County

15. Oliver Springs

I wanted to board the Creek hype train so bad this year I could barely stand it. I was excited that they finally had some big players to watch in May, Beason, Penny, and Roberts.

HOWEVER, after watching film on them, I take back every nice thing I said about May and Beason. I watched the entire Jackson County game and didn't see either one of them finish a block. Pop and stop. Laziness. It's going to take more than that to do the job this week. Penny is good and Roberts is decent. 

As for Basin, the Georgia Force game looks like both QBs got infected with some sort of bionic arm bug. Open receivers streaking down the field and we just let the ball get away from us. It happens. Where he failed to capitalize in the pass, Grabowski made up for with his legs and a clutch interception late game to seal the deal. We also had sat one of our best offensive lineman to keep him fresh for region play. That was evident in our line play on both sides of the ball. He was sorely missed. 

We reign some of those passes in, take them seriously, and show up healthy, and I'm taking the matte-gray hatted hellcats by 3 scores minimum. 

Chargers 14-6

VERY likely more.

7 hours ago, FrogMountainRambler said:

That Robbinsville score convinced me to do a little more looking into this GFC bunch. 62-27 against robbinsville and 40-9 against Murphy, last year. Both blowouts, but if we are being honest, it’s respectable for a home school bunch against two powers in North Carolina. Depending on what they return this season, this game could be a little more interesting than what we are thinking. We don’t know if that 27 points against RHS came in garbage time against the JV squad, but they may be able to put some points on the board. We will see. Even so, if it’s a shootout, I like the cougars chances of having the better offense and getting more stops on D. 

The box score of that Robbinsville game is interesting. 

1st Q: 28-0

2nd Q: 41-7

3rd Q: 55-20

4th Q: 62-27

Without film, it's hard to say, but it looks like RHS got the subs some experience. 

This poll is a fair week 1 poll. Not too much different from what I had predicted.

Assessment:

Fayetteville is a weak #5 unless something changes in a big way up front.

I haven't studied Greenback a lot this year. #9 seems fair, but a little shallow for a team that started 0-2 last year and finished as the state runner-up.

Clay County should be in the top 10, as should Gordonsville. Region 4 isn't the same as last year. 

1 hour ago, Turtle said:

So I’m hearing there’s some key Alcoa players out for this week too, any truth to that ? 

#1 was out last week for sure. Not sure about anybody else.