SPRedRaider

We finished 12-1. Upset (if you can call it that) at home in the second round by our conference rival Shelby who we beat by 20 in the regular season. Their (2) loses came against South Pointe (Rock Hill, SC) which is ranked in the USA Today top 10 in country and to us. Evenly matched squads and a darn shame we met in the 2nd round. This was our first year being in 2A after realignment and with our new playoff seeding standards no second place conference finishers can be seeded above a conference champion. Which resulted in 9-2 Shelby getting a #7 seed for the playoffs. They are the (4) time defending state champions in 2A ball in NC. Most in NC say that game was for the state and if we played 10 times it would be close to a split depending on turnovers and penalties. We are loaded for several years to come....... Greeneville vs. South Point would be interesting. We averaged 46 points a game this year and gave up just over 7. That number is skewed by giving up 33 in our loss to Shelby. Prior to that we have not given up more than 14 since the 4 game last year with 6 shutouts this year. Greeneville's physical receivers would give us problems on the outside with screens mainly due to the size advantage. We would make you beat us throwing the ball as our run defense was lights out this year with (2) Shrine Bowl players on the DL. Offensively I think SP could move the ball pretty easily on Greeneville. That's not a knock against the defense just a matter of how well SP runs the flexbone and read mid-line/outside veers. Discipline is our forte and we are typically successful on offense against anyone. When we lose it's typically to teams who can spread us out and beat us over the top.

They were eliminated in the 2nd round by Franklin; 14-7. They finished the year 7-6. They were pretty weak this year.

You can't take NC mountain football seriously. The level of talent in the mountains of NC in comparison to the rest of the state is not even close. Prime example, this past week Franklin, NC (14-0) traveled to Lenoir to play Hibriten (14-0) and lost 37-7. Hibriten fumbled 6 times or they could have hung 50 on them. I say that to say; Crompton was a great QB but in comparison to other top level QB's to come from NC he's not even close. For NC mountain football he excelled.

I think the better word for their offense is efficient vs. potent.

Case and point.... calm down buttercup.

Dorian Goddard is #11 and #21 is Hite. Crawford is #23.

Brings up a good question.... the old Kelly Green or the new darker green?

I understand... just an observation. With athletes at CB cover 3 is great against bubble and tunnels. Just need to roll a safety down to bring another defender in the zone to offset the trips formation. This is dependent as well upon the DE and Mike LB'er keeping the zone read under control. DE keys QB and Mike keys RB....... Sounds simple eh!

I think it depends on how well they can tackle in space given the amount of screens that Greenveville throws as to what success cover 3 could have. If they have physical corners that can match up it could possibly work to their advantage and keep the long ball threat sowed up.

Pray for Mike Leach....

You guys are the ones in defense mode.... I'm only responding when prompted. It's over. Enjoy the win and prepare your smack for Springfield.

Game was 42-17 when the last touchdown was scored by Greeneville to make it 49-17. MC scored last to make the final 49-24. I'm not miffed. I just think its in poor taste to run the score up. The touchdown was useless. If it had been a run OR even a pass by the 2nd QB I have no problem with it. That's why those guys practice all week too. It is the opponents job to stop you. But up 42-17 with 2 mins left there is no reason to be throwing and definitely no reason your starting QB is in the game, much less throwing on 4 and 7. It is what it is. I'm just saying that is not things coaches take lightly.

Ditto.... we will just have to agree to disagree. Again, I have no dog in the fight.

You're grasping. I never said Greeneville's play calling created the chippyness...... But if you are uneducated enough to think that having a team THROW a TD pass on you with 2:31 left in a game doesn't piss off a 17-18 year old kid giving it his all and could ignite some anger that usually isnt there; you haven't been around football long. And if you have you've failed to learn anything. Simply saying; given the scenario you are putting the kids of Greeneville in lines fire for cheap shots. You act as if it doesnt happen.

This is exactly my thoughts on why I don't agree with throwing the ball up 42-17 with under 3 minutes left in the game. It's demoralizing and kicks a team already down. Uncalled for..... I'm honestly surprised it didn't become more chippy after that fact.

I'm not butt hurt at all. I'm just an avid football fan calling it like I see it. I have zero dogs in the fight and was pulling for Greeneville as my wife and all her family are lifelong Greeneville residents/alums. I know it was 4th down, I stated that. The TD came with 2:31 to play; or atleast your statistician says so; argue with him/her. And yes, you could have easily turned it over on downs there and still been leading 42-17.... spin it how you want but it was bush league. I didnt say anyone was taking shots; although the game was a bit chippy by MC with some unsportsmanlike calls in the 2nd half. This is one of those scenarios where its Ok until the shoe is on the other foot.

Let me add.... I'm not taking anything away from Greeneville. You guys have a great team and know how to win. Just an observation from a football fan.

When you are leading 42-17 with 2 minutes to go and you throw a homerun ball.... yeah thats risky. Its called adding insult to injury. The game was in hand. No need to run up the score. And it most certainly creates an atmosphere to where kids will start taking shots. How would the Greeneville fan base reacted had you been on the other side of it. That is a scenario coaches do not forget. To be honest, why was starters still in the game at that point?

2:31 left in the game and it was 4th down. Greeneville has just used a timeout prior to the play.

It’s also how you get kids hurt. There was 2 minutes left in the game. If that had been the 2nd or 3rd team QB, no problem. Those kids practice all week. But to have your starting QB throwing the ball into the end zone up 42-17 with 2 minutes to play is bush league to me.

It was pretty evident from the on set that Ballard was content with marching the field with the screen all night as long as MC was going to give the soft CB play. I will say the wideouts for Greeneville block extremely well after the catch. Given the athletic ability of the receivers I wanted to see some balls across the middle to see them get out in space. Scary thought when looking over the Greeneville roster with the amount of underclassmen that are contributing this year.

Good game tonight to take in. For you full-time Greeneville fans, do you guys utilize the bubble screens that often or was that something that you guys saw in film this week and just exposed it. Made the offense seem a little vanilla but did prove to open up the running game in the second half. I thought MC could have moved the ball at will if they had continued to work the middle with the underneath passes. MC #14 was open underneath all night and had pretty good hands. And come one man.... Up 42-17 and throwing the ball? I understand its the playoffs but that's how you get guys hurt.

Are any local joints selling tickets in advance this week?

When did he re-open? I had no clue!

Too bad Tiptons is closed! One of the first places my wife took me upon visiting Greeneville when we started dating.