OldTownRoad

It was 2014. It was the last of just 3 home games of the year on October 10 (also Homecoming/Senior Night). The game was an absolute blowout by Whitwell.

Is Sale Creek the only team in Region 3 that knows how to drive to Clay County? I believe Clay County (not counting the Celina High School years) has only ever hosted Sale Creek in the postseason. Hopefully, that changes after this week and Jo Byrns/Whitwell can expand the list to 2.

To be fair, Gordy hasn't played a super tough schedule either, outside of Clay County and Smith County. Watertown ended up being bad (I know they were as banged up as the Tennessee Titans are now for that game), along with Trousdale County and Oliver Springs. Coalfield and Lakeway Christian were good wins. Clay County has played an even weaker schedule. Jo Byrns is the fourth best team on the schedule, with York and Gordonsville being the only quality wins. It is just very difficult to fill out a schedule with good opponents when you only have 3 or 4 region games. When there's only a handful of teams not playing region games in a week, you can't really be picky about who you play.

Has RBS got some of their players back that were injured in the Clay County game? Always hate to see injuries, but especially for a school with a small roster, knowing those players will be playing big roles in other sports as well.

I think the different associations should do a better job of making things consistent from crew to crew and region to region. What is called one week should ideally be called the next and what is let go one week should be let go the next week. I think most fans, players, and coaches would be happy if they could count on this to happen. Referees are human of course and will make mistakes, but knowing what to expect to be called would go along way. This is more a complaint against the entire system, not individual referees. Every ref I have ever had extended conversations with away from athletic contests were very likable individuals and definitely do not deserve the abuse that comes from fans, players, and coaches (even the ones that weren't the strongest officials). I do think the pay has not risen to the levels that it should to keep a lot of officials.

Not saying it wasn't memorable, just saying there was a little more context to that game. Not many undefeated teams get rewarded by playing the defending state champions in the first round of the playoffs.

Absolutely a point to mention as well. A classic case of a good team not bringing their "A" game and the lower seed having a lot more potential than their record indicated.

I watched that 2014 Monterey come to life. They were down 19-0 at Clay County in their third game of the season, then finally figured out their running back was unstoppable. While their failures on two point attempts caused them to get upset that night in Celina 19-18, you could tell they had a force to be reckoned with. That win put Clay County in the playoffs at 4-6 in the last year of the "Z Plan" and gave them a chance to go upset South Pittsburg, which nearly happened.

Monterey only had two playoff wins in program history up to that point and both of those came in 2014 when they went to the semifinals. Not to mention, they barely won their last two games that season as well. It wasn't as big of a shock to see them go down in that game given their lackluster play to end the season and lack of success and experience in the postseason.

I wouldn't call a 3 over a 2 an upset in most cases. It's very plausible that a region can have three of the four best teams in a section of the bracket. Clay County was a 3 seed going to Copper Basin two years ago and won 21-0 because Copper Basin was playing their backup running back and third string QB. That definitely was not an upset.

To me, I hate that officials will crack down on things like, but completely ignore a late hit that happens five seconds after the whistle blows that occurs five feet from them directly in their line of sight. Good officiating nips that crap in the bud by calling it early and not tolerating stuff that could lead to someone getting hurt. Verbal issues should only be called when its obviously unsportsmanlike in my opinion.

I like your guys chances of beating South Pitt on the road better than ours would have been. We would certainly welcome a rematch in three weeks as well. I don't feel like Clay played their best game either, with the amount of penalties we committed. Gotta to get through Sale Creek, then Jo Byrns/Whitwell first. Good luck to the Tigers the next two weeks.

Congrats to those kids from TC. Sounds like they were determined to dig down deep and ensure the playoff streak continued. It would have been very easy to mail this one in with the way things have gone this year, but playing for the name on the front of the jersey can make some good things happen.

I would say the postgame scene in Carthage was similar to the postgame scene in Celina. Lots of celebration by the players, students, and community! It's hard to beat sporting events in tightknit communities.

Super proud of these seniors and very glad to see them be the ones to break through and finally win that elusive region crown! Several of these seniors have played important roles in our basketball program in key moments as well, but I know they have wanted this moment very bad. Hats off to Gordonsville, as they are always a strong opponent, but our guys stepped up when it matters. Hope they enjoy the win this weekend, then get back to business next week and focus on getting to 1-0 each week when it matters the most.

Glad we don't have to make the trip to South Pitt this year! Should be a great game in round two between South Pitt and Gordonsville.

That will be a big key to this game. Quite frankly, no one Clay County has played has thrown the ball successfully against them, with the exception of two drives Westmoreland had (the other score was set up on a short field given to the offense by a great defensive play) and one of those aided by two pass interference calls. I know Gordonsville lost some talent from last year in the receiving core, while practically all of Clay's secondary is back. I will be very impressed if Gordonsville can come in and throw it around the yard on Clay's defense. Certainly not saying it's impossible as Albritton is a very talented quarterback.

Jo Byrns is a tough place to play. Last year, the scores were flipped since Clay County travelled and Gordonsville hosted Jo Byrns. I wouldn't put a ton of stock into comparing scores with Jo Byrns.

Don't blame you. Gordonsville (1 hour 52 minutes, 103 miles) is a little closer drive than Clay County (2 hours 21 minutes, 130 miles) for round 3, assuming no upsets.

Last year, Oakland beat Lipscomb Academy, who dominated the rest of DII-AA. This year, a team that isn't close to beating Lipscomb Academy beat Oakland 35-14. While Oakland will still certainly have a say who wins 6A, they are not invincible.

I though the two way tiebreaker rules only apply if a tie remains. In this case, all three teams have different records, so there is no tie left to be broken.

Can someone explain how TC gets in the playoffs with a win and if Westmoreland beats Harpeth? It seems to me that in a 3 way tie, it reverts to overall wins, which puts Harpeth at 3, Watertown at 4, and TC out. If Harpeth upsets Westmoreland, I understand it's a straight tie for fourth between TC and Watertown, with TC getting in based on head to head.

Both teams do have new head coaches. Bruce Lamb is the head coach at Clay County (Longtime Livingston Academy Head Coach, with previous stops before then) and Stephen Jackson (Former coordinator for Kevin Creasy at Oakland) is the new Gordonsville head coach.

To my knowledge, 1985 is the only meeting between the two in Celina.

Given the history of these senior classes, who have played big parts for both teams since arriving as freshmen, the home team has a clear advantage. 2019: Clay wins at home 35-6 2020: Gordonsville wins at home 20-0 2020 Class 1A Second Round: Gordonsville wins at home 21-14 on a last minute touchdown (Only game that truly could go either way) 2021: Gordonsville wins at home 21-14 My prediction: Clay County 30, Gordonsville 14 Clay County's seniors finally break through to round 3 in the postseason this year.