RebelAtHeart

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Updated roster...

I’ve definitely seen nicer cow pastures! Wasn’t being uppity or blaming the field but I definitely think the “damp” field favored the Owls’ run-only style over the passing attack from the Hawks. HVA is very thankful for the carpet... especially when playing on cow pastures (like Ooltewah and Jeff Co games this year). Owls got the win... not blaming the field or refs or cheesy Rick Flair cheers... HVA had a half dozen chances to win the game and came up short - even with the defense on their heels much of the first half. Kudos to them Owls for doing what was necessary to get the W... game was a good summary of the Hawks’ season. Ranged from awful to awesome and came up short when it really mattered.

Heck of an effort by the Hawks to recover from the early shock from #7 and #1 (unbelievable). HVA play calling in the red zone was almost as sloppy as the daggum field (horrible). Left way too many points and opportunities on the field. Should have taken the easy field goals the 3 or 4 times (I lost count) that they went for it on 4th and goal. Don’t deserve to advance if the coaches can’t figure out how to secure points from the 5yd line or closer! SMH Proud of this team and especially the Seniors! #2, #3, #10, #20, #24, #71, and #73 played with a lot of heart tonight! Down 35-14 and on the ropes... you fought back, refused to quit, and came within a yard of an upset win. Truly great character on display in that 4th quarter valiant effort. Good luck to them Owls... you are certainly going to need it next week!

Part of me thinks Bearden has a shot and wants to pull for them repping Region 1... but then again part of me thought I could maintain six-pack abs on a regular diet of Fudge Rounds and Mountain Dew. Let's be honest... this is like TN vs. Bama this year. Get all hopeful and wear your team colors and pull for your team, but realize the hand that has been dealt. Good news is if you are going to lose... at least it is playing the potential state champs!

Agree with bobcat... healthy Cole and Boone dominates. Either way Boone should break "the curse". Remember Blazer... Boone is now the real DB in the playoffs this year!

I've got no dog in this fight (pun intended )... but the T$$AA should have been able to resolve this much faster. That said... football is not like other sports. The process of preparing for the entire week is very critical - you cannot flip a switch the night before and give either team appropriate time to prepare. If you can prep in one day for a team and win, they didn't deserve to play. On every level of football from pee wee to pros, the best team wins in the film room and game planning sessions... the Champions have discipline and systems to instill those well-wrought game plans in pimple-faced, testosterone-pumped, teenage boys amongst a plethora of distractions. Sucks how this worked out, but I think T$$AA made the best scenario out of a stupid situation.

I expect the Ads to handle this one by many TD's... Cleveland not as good as last year.

Game Day! Injury report not looking good for the Hawks. Hoping we can keep it respectable tonight. Looking forward to some good burgers and dogs to enjoy... looks like weather should be just about perfect for Friday Night Lights!

I've said all year my Hawks are an up and down team. When they are up... look out! When they are down... oh boy! SH game we dropped 3 passes in the end zone that would have easily flipped the score to a win... had momentum most of the night but couldn't finish - most frustrating game all year cause we should have won it. But my point defensively was that we managed through 4 tough running teams only giving up a handful of scores. Between the refs and turnovers, the Guts had short fields and threw for 2 of their scores. We were able to hold back #30 from DB, #44 and #9 from SH, #1 from Bearden, and #15 from Farragut on the ground. The difference maker all year has been when the HVA offensive finds rhythm... so again I say that will likely be the difference tomorrow night if they are hot or not. But that's why they play... #anygivenfridaynight

You put 35 on Science Hill... you will put 35 on Gibbs.

By the way... this has been a very emotional week realizing this could be my oldest boys last week of high school football. Blessed that I have more coming behind him that will hopefully play this great sport at this level, but I now realize that nothing can prep you for THE last week. Holding out hope for another week or two of play but trying to keep it realistic too. Still hopeful mine will also find a place to play for the next 4 years, but this certainly could be it for my favorite player. Cheers to all you dads and moms sitting through the last one this week or sometime in the next month!

TN High 24-SD 21; Boone 35-Gibbs 14; Crockett 42-Halls 7; Central 45-Cocke Co 10

Based on HVA games against DB, SH, Bearden, and Farragut... I believe that Hawks defense has it in them to slow down and stop the Owls and keep them out of the end zone. However, the offense has to come to play too. When they hit on all cylinders they tend to feed off each other. Other than Maryville, I suspect this is one of the tougher defenses them Owls have faced. But the offense must get churning early and often or I will have some crow to eat. (Learned about some potential injuries that could play into Friday night for the Hawks... both are game time decisions so I am hoping and praying they are healthy to play.)

Thinking this could be a close one, but them Owls look tough at home. Looks like Owls rely on their agile QB and stud RB for most of their production. Hawks D will need to step up to keep this one close. I hope the Hawks will find their offensive rhythm again and see better opportunities to air it out this week compared to the air show shutdown last week. Hoping the HVA OC can give them a chance this week. Hawks 21 Owls 17

Looking at common opponents them Owls and Hawks both played Heritage and Science Hill. Heritage is not a great game to scout anybody on, but may be noteworthy that Hawks allowed no scores and Owls gave up 21 points (but I am guessing this was in garbage time against the JV Owls). SH took the Owls to the wire and won a squeaker at home but put up 35 points on the visitors. HVA held SH to 17 but had one of their worst nights on O and never found the end zone (dropped 3 passes in the end zone and played flat most of the night). Hawks have seen top notch talent at RB from Oak Ridge, Jeff Co, SH, DB, Bearden, and Farragut. I don't know if any of those match up to those stud runners for them Owls! But I stick to the same script I've put out all year... Hawks play to their potential (especially O) and this here will be a game!

Central by far had the strongest, most aggressive pass rush that HVA saw all year. The Ads kept dropping 5 to 6 guys into coverage to shutdown the Hawks passing game last week, but Central sent pressure and sent it often! Bearden was another pressure defense we faced, but again they were no comparison to the speed and aggressiveness that we saw from Central. If any QB facing Central is not mobile, they better get rid of the ball quickly!

How did them Rebs shut him down?

HVA had 2nd half come-from-behind-wins at Knox West, DB, and Jeff Co this year... lost to top seeded Knox Central and Farragut on the road (5 turnovers at Central and 4 against the Guts). Not sure location is the main factor for the Hawks. I’ll say it for about the third or fourth time this season... they have both thrived and died with the passing game. Coin flip on this one but from what I have seen so far I give advantage to them Owls. HVA OC needs to have a better week this week to give the boys a chance.

HVA’s #24 carted off last night is good... I think it was mainly precautionary to get him to the hospital. Deep neck sprain or stinger and no serious damage. Appreciate the prayers and respect... always nerve racking when those type injuries occur.

Ads showed their defensive strength by shutting down most passing options all night. Unfortunately the play selection for the Hawks returned to uncreative and predictable. Penalties were huge back breakers all night negating over 100 yards of big momentum plays. HVA defense kept them within striking distance but 3 trips to the red zone with no points and 4 turnovers against a tough team spelled disaster for the Hawks. Congrats to the Guts for the district championship. On to the next goal... beat them Owls!

Regardless of post-season... great season for Crockett after last year's debacle with the coach!

I grew up in NET and played at South... never seen such strong teams like Boone and Crockett have this year. Central is much better than the beginning of the season loss to THS. But so is Gibbs. Boone can win it if they score early and often. Gibbs O requires time and patience to seal victories. I’d say Boone wins by two or three TD’s and Central likely gets Gibbs to a running clock late.