RebelAtHeart

Probably just side effects from that humble pie... you guys rarely have it so your digestive systems probably weren't prepared for it. I'm sure the Rebel Empire will get back to business as usual after a week off and some prep time for them Falcons next week! Still picking the Ads...

Well said... football doesn't build character but instead reveals it! I hate to see a team that struggles to find a W, but I couldn't agree more with you that this group of young men are worth their weight in gold for sticking through this tough season with hopes and pride for community looking to build something in the future. Plus its just a dang fun game to play - even if you don't come out on top.

Sorry for the delay getting back to you... had some traveling and work stuff to do. Good one Mad! Very well put! Bobcats should win their district easily... but hope you don't have to eat crow the rest of the year and join me and the Murvil crew. Well... until you run into some tough competition in the playoffs that is... HVA needs a fire lit under them and probably their playbook... got any matches? 5 turnovers this past Friday (mostly unforced) cannot be the standard for a team serious about post-season play. Unfortunately it is starting to look like some of the kids are busting tail and some just don't give a rip... sad! Go Hawks!

(Sorry to interrupt but I think the Ads win this one by a bunch!)

Game day! Lots of great matchups tonight... this one is running lower on the radar but could possibly be a great game to watch! Go Hawks!

I agree SD should dominate their district - other than the Central game - but what they do against a tough, well-coached Bearden team will tell if they have a shot to get past the likes of OR, Fulton, or Catholic in the playoffs. It's possible both teams are equally over-rated at this point - Sonny Moore has BHS at 13 and SD at 15 in the state across all divisions - but it seems pretty even to me. At least Sonny's is a little more scientific than the USA Today poll that never seems realistic. Bulldogs could come out on top of 1-6A if their offense keeps building steam. October is gonna be interesting for 1-6A! The Ads are the only ones pulling away from the pack right now, but we shall see if it is smoke and mirrors or gridiron greatness when they leave the Ship Friday night.

This one should be interesting... Bearden's strength is certainly their defense but the O seems to be finding some rhythm of late - definitely have the players to be productive. SD has a very volatile offense but they have not faced a tough defense so far this year - certainly not of the caliber at Bearden. As they say, D wins championships... I take Bearden this week in a back and forth shoot out. First one to 21 wins! BHS 21 SD 17

Me thinks that could end in a mauling... by the Injuns!

No war... just debate. I agree with your perspective and in preseason I had already marked this one as a really close game. Truth is it will depend on the boys and who comes to play. I have a lot of respect for what Coach Rosser has done at Central - expect them to compete for sure! Hawks need this week to continue to improve and work through any remaining issues before district play starts next week. #eyesontheprize

Lost to Tennessee High who just lost to Daniel Boone (but Boone may be better than in the past). Lost to Fulton who has been surprisingly underwhelming on offense but in fairness played two well coached, athletic teams. Won over Sevier County who gave up 14 points to Heritage. Everything I have heard since summer is that Central is a really great team... not certain these first 3 games prove or disprove that. Also through 3 games I am not sure if HVA can only be beat by great or just good teams. Sonny Moore has HVA ranked above CHS in SOS and PR - for what that is worth. To say OR is average shows you are either biased or not clued into how legit the Wildcats are this year. DB gave up 41 to OR... CC gave up 44... and HVA held them to 23 (and the last score was a gimme off a botched punt snap). So say what you will... I think HVA and Central are closely matched with strong defenses and unpredictable offenses.

Granted it was a scrimmage, but HVA played WB in a regular game format. For what it is worth... the run defense of WB looked much better than what I saw from Heritage on Friday. Unlike Heritage... WB was able to put together a drive (on the ground) against HVA. Only positive gains from Heritage Friday were "hope-and-a-prayer" passes that just happened to land in the right place at the right time. WB had no success throwing against HVA. WB had at least 1 running back maybe 2 that found some space to run against HVA. I simply think WB is the better team... but that's why they play! #anygivenfridaynight

I think Fulton and Tennessee High would disagree. Is the only data point to support this a scrimmage with Murvail? HVA should have cruised to a 28-6 win over West but got sloppy/tired late to keep West in it. HVA stalled twice or fumbled in the red zone. They were clearly the better team against West - if you watched the game. Not sure why you think they should be 1-2. I'll concede that even on a great performance day that HVA would still have been a stretch to beat OR.

Looking at stats on Maximum Prepiness... the current Jr and Sr were the only 2 QB's last year. First two games they both played and it looks like the current Sr exited game 3 (pretty sure from injury). So it looks like even last year the plan was a dual QB approach. Makes me think of the Tebow days at Florida - which seemed to work well for them. #15 is a great power runner and should scare any defense. #6 is a great running back too with both speed and power. His cousin at receiver (#7) is definitely a passing threat but #1 and #16 are just as lethal. I still say that the Ads are untested so far given the first 3 matchups... OR speed, talent, and coaching will reveal how good this group really is this year. If the OR defense can put up points again for the 3rd straight week - it may get out of reach for the Ads late in the game. Should be a classic though.

I believe the junior stepped in last year as the senior was starting but was injured. I am pretty sure with #87 and #23 that graduated out that I could have thrown for 1500 yards sitting in the pocket. That said... the junior IS a great passer but has less threats in the receiving corp this year. Plus the Ads have not seen a secondary like OR's to date - that will likely force them to run more. I think the Ads' run game will be tough for OR to stop this week but they seemed to manage Kingsport's stud runner.

Turnovers will decide this one. Expect the defenses to dictate the flow of the game. HVA 16 CHS 13

Having played them both... I say WB is definitely the better team this year. I would expect this one to be 21 to 0 in the end.

Having played them both... I say WB is definitely the better team this year. I would expect this one to be 21 to 0 in the end. (oops - wrong thread... this was for WB v Heritage)

There were separate feeder programs for the Hawks and Ads too... HVA may have grabbed a few talented kids here and there but no way they caused Farragut to go 3-7. Bearden, Maryville, or Catholic would have had a better chance of stealing away talented kids from Farragut as opposed to upstart HVA.

The 2 QBs have different strengths - one more of pocket passer and the other more of runner. Combine that with efficient receivers, two really good running backs, and healthy line upfront and you have a thriving offensive machine. I'd say they play 2 QB's depending on the defense's strengths and also who is hot at the time. The "runner" is also a senior and it could be that they were giving him some quality reps - seeing as they have blown out the first three teams they have played. I think this one is tight until the end. Hard to beat OR in the Ship. Series has favored home team. Ads looking strong so far, but against weak to so-so teams. As region 1-6A reps... I'll be rooting for the Ads. However, I think the Cats prevail at home 28 to 27.

Class act last night from a HHS team obviously struggling right now. No quit and a lot of fight in those young men. #4 QB took some shots and kept bouncing back to his feet - clearly played with a lot of heart. HVA has a really tough matchup next week with a very talented Knox Central team hungry for another win. Gotta keep getting better... 1st district game in 2 weeks!

Wore #4 last year... special kid. Rough background and home environment. Someone posted early in the season that he was injured and out for 4 games, but I don't recall who. He is a beast of a D lineman as well as a great prospect for RB.

HVA/OR was 9-0 at half and 16-0 late in the 3rd. OR's last score was a hand out from a botched punt snap that left them on HVA 12 yard line. HVA's only score was very late and was essentially 2v2's. Wet, sloppy, week-1 play hampered both teams a bit. HVA absolutely has to find some success in their run game to be in the running for a playoff spot, but the D has kept them in both games the first 2 weeks (very similar start to last year except they are sitting at 1-1 vs. 0-2 last year). DB has some offensive options that could spark their improvement or flat line due to injury (see WaCo's comments). I don't see DB's defense getting stronger any time soon though. I expect SH to expose more of this tonight with their speedy skill players and power running game. However other than Farragut, I don't see any obvious contenders in 1-6A so far this year - and even the Ads aren't proven. Tonight will start to craft the story line for the papers, but I predict it will be week 6 or 7 before we really know who has a shot and who will be left behind in 1-6A.

Would be sweet justice if the new West Ridge school ends up stealing athletes away from DB! Watching my good buddies that I played ball with in the county drive into Kingsport for DB was frustrating. I get it... but I never liked it!

HVA lost 23-7 against OR; where DB lost 41-12 Mo West lost 42-0 against Greeneville; where DB lost 43-3 I'd say they are all a toss up. Reg 1-6A all play district games tonight (except HVA) so I think you will have a better view of potential alignment later tonight.

Semantics... my point was that SH “found a way” to produce offensive yards and points against a good EHS team. You verified my point by saying how many yards they produced relative to Betsy (I wasn’t privy to the box score details). My expectation is that DB has a weaker D than EHS. I will again predict - like you - that SH wins. BTW - the only stat that really matters is the final score.