edwardblake

Interesting take. Maryville and Alcoa definitely in a league of their own. Central is one of the winningest programs in state history. West was similar to Bearden from a win/loss perspective up until about ten years ago. Fulton is having a good year but their golden age has passed. Powell isn't top tier, most of Knoxville has beaten them at least once in the last ten years. Webb went on a streak for a while but has been reeling ever since. Catholic goes back and forth between private and public leagues only to get brow beat in the former and struggle for wins in the latter. The schools you have mentioned as top tier are also much more diverse than Bearden, HVA, and Karns will ever be. Bearden and HVA are suburban white schools and their football teams are reflective of that.

From your mouth to god's ears. I'm super concerned about Central's defense though. They have a defensive lineman leading the FiveStarPreps are in sacks. We're going to need a big effort up front!

From what I saw at when West played Bearden they only have the "big kids" you have described playing offensive line. The second group you described are what are known as defensive lineman. Their position requires more agility. When I go to West baseball games I don't see many left guards in the outfield or playing second base.

To me that tells the story @LittleJerrySeinfeld, they're essentially playing at best JV quarterbacks

I'd be surprised if any other sports would take offensive lineman. Outside of wrestling those bodies don't create a strategic advantage in many other sports. Maybe playing catcher on the baseball team. When they played West I also was struck by the size of the offensive lineman. But the thing that interested me more was the quarterback situation. The other West Knoxville schools seem to always be flush with potential at the QB position but Bearden seems to lack ability at that position too. Arguably two of the most important positions on the field. From my perch at West High there was rumor that two quarterbacks came out their feeder schools, one went to Maryville the other went to Catholic so that could explain some issues they've had as well.

I think the Alcoa game showed how well we could play. I may be alone but to me that's worth something for our boys. In region: Halls - Central beats them by more Cocke Co - Point difference is the exact same Sevier Co - Central beats them by more Heritage - Central beats them by one more than we do Outside of region: Bearden: West essentially shut them out. Central would have done something similar. Fulton: We beat Fulton by the same score Central loses. Supposedly Central had starters out? Greeneville/Maryville/Alcoa: Both teams would have lost in similar fashion. You know how I feel about the Alcoa game. @Knoxemdown mentioned the out of region common opponent nobody was taking into account as Fulton but there is another one, and this is where I get concerned for my Rebels: Farragut: Central handled them in the jamboree. I know it is just a quarter but I was a nervous wreck during our game with them and I'm still concerned about it.

Who do you think RealNews is referring to? Given last year I assumed the QB now was the heir to the throne. I have a feeling RealNews is a certain former West assistant.

The QB has played well all year, who else would have played the position?

From my perch at West, West doesn't score many points per game as Central and gives up one to two points per game than Central does but Central has played one less game due to Covid which partly explains the point difference. Central has rattled off six straight wins and has played well both offensively and defensively. West has shown an ability to find ways to win this year even when they were behind. They played really well against Alcoa which I still maintain was a "good" loss. The Sevier and Halls games were tighter than they should have been on West part. If @dawgs82 is right and Central had starters out against Fulton that would change the context of common opponents. I really think we're in for a game similar to the 2019 semifinal matchup. Both teams have hard running offenses who are overshadowed by hard run stopping defenses.

There are a few games stick out to me as Lamar's big games. The win against Bearden in overtime in 2019, the two games against Powell in 2019 even though one was a loss were all great games with a lot on the line. The Powell game last year was a big win. Had the refs not interfered in the Oak Ridge quarterfinal they would have been back in the semis and given SD a run for their money at the very least.

My sons went to Knox West in the 90's. I've got one in the military and the other works at ORNL. We're still a West family and my son at ORNL catches you know what for it.

Yes, pro football has gotten far too political for me. I stick with prep and collegiate ball myself as well. Glad to hear your son is doing well. It sounds like he earned his keep early at AE.

From my perch at West High I had heard rumors that were saying the same thing. I expect it to be a close game. Just curious you have a son that went to Powell and you pull for Central, that seems like a strange combination. What caused that?

Further out west from Knox West’s region championship game, another big West Knoxville matchup is happening with Farragut taking on Bearden at home. Not sure if this is the rivalry it once was but it’s an interesting one. Farragut has a potent offense with a soft defense, Bearden has a stingy defense with a struggling offense. Bearden coming off a big AC win and Farragut coming off tough Fulton loss. Pretty sure a win would put Bearden in the playoffs. I like Farragut +7 but I wouldn’t be surprised by anything. Curious what y’all think on this matchup.

I like West +7. They have played better opponents and I'm still thinking that Alcoa loss has to mean something. Central has a really good defense and that could give our offense trouble but I have faith Coach Brown and his staff will have a great plan and the Rebels will execute.

Outside of the first part, I wholeheartedly agree. Go (West) Rebs!

I got sensitive and I will own that, but son your arrogance is palpable. West Rebs by three.

This is a fitting match up because the programs are so similar. Highly respected, routinely talented, well coached, typically play well in the regular season, but historically neither team does well in the playoffs. (When it actually counts.) Oak Ridge and DB may as well be sister schools.

I just mentioned them winning 80% of their games of course their track record speaks for itself. That windbag wants everyone to bow at Maryville's feet and won't even allow for someone to playfully imagine an upset. If you're into that kind of thing that's fine but I'm not. And by the way I'll show my West love however I please. You don't dictate that for me. Have you lost your mind? Because I will help you find it.

If it is so great being a Maryville fan why do you gloat when someone tries to show support and root for their own team? Is being a fan of a high school that wins 80% of its games not good enough to fill the hole inside of you? I was just trying to show some love for my Rebs. We may not beat Maryville but take your pride in beating a 5A school because Oakland will come back around to deal with garbage like you.

Something I have noticed in regards to recruiting in Knox County is that there are quite a few mechanisms to utilize to get kids from other zones. On the T everyone seems to be pretty divorced from reality, recruiting 100% takes place, it is just not in the salacious manner that some of the sleazeballs that coach in the county have chosen to do it. A few examples; West is an IB school so anyone can transfer in, Central is a flagship school so anyone can transfer there, Fulton has a radio station, any school with Drivers Ed where their zoned school does not have the program. Knox County only cares that they don't have to pick up the bill for transportation. Maryville and Alcoa are pretty widely acknowledged to be open to anyone willing to come. What the private schools do is a whole other bag of worms. Those are some low character people. The alphabet soups be it CAK, GCA, KCHS, or the W E B B school openly and disgustingly pry kids away from their communities they grew up playing in to serve their practice squad interests. I've seen them do it at youth league games like Ted Bundy trying to get a young girl in the back of his van. Disgusting! Because these privates will play the bluechip recruits they can get from other sources of recruiting. Of course you can trace back a lot of these west Knoxville private schools opening up to schools integrating but you all aren't ready for that conversation.

There is a reason we play the game, son.

Agreed. Matt is Kroger brand Clark Duncan. Although he recruits, Clark is a class act. You would never see him slide down the sideline. However to your point on recruiting in the county, I think kids know they get the most exposure by playing on teams that win playoff games. The harsh reality the big three West Knoxville schools face is that being in the same classification as Maryville there is a ceiling you hit after the second round. If you have gotten to the second round in 6A you've done something. 5A is a lot different. There is no boogeyman, no Greeneville, Alcoa, or Maryville. I think kids and parents are aware of this and want their sons to go to 5A schools. There is no doubt all types of recruiting takes place due to those 'uncontrollable' circumstances.

Bradley +10 William Blount +10 Central +10, will set up a region championship with my Rebs Farragut +21 Powell +10

If we shocked the world against Alcoa we can definitely do it again. We'll show them who the real Rebels are tomorrow. With how strong our defense is playing all we need is some offensive juice. Lamar told me they've got a good plan and we just have to execute and make good half time adjustments. If we can prevent them from scoring right before halftime this game will be tight until the end.