Dart

You are right..the stats don't matter in the end. It is just nice to know how each team did in specific ways. This is not a point of contention at all...I just want to see how the figures show compared to my emotional views during the game. It was a very exciting game..was great to be there! As we all know, politicians use stat all the time...ours is deciced on the scoreboard regardless of yards gained or lost. Stats do not show heart, either. Lots of heart in that game last night.

Thanks for your stats. I asked because the Knoxville paper had this: Rushes RD 29-167 OR 48-265 Passing RD 211 183 The clue was the OR passes of 4-7-1, and I was there knowing of two interceptions by RD. They showed RD at 12-21-2. Something was “rushed to get the press rolling”. Of course, the paper was in the mailbox when we got home at 2:30 and stats were likely rushed. When the Monday local OR paper comes out the stats should be correct. Anyway, great game.

You'v got that right! We find Friday evenings a bit strange for a while once the season is over. The way OR played, the drive home was not as long as it might have been. We got beat but not whipped. What happened in the 3rd? Rankin put killer bees in the pants? That bunch swarmed! Glad lots of folks saw that OR is better than they thought. I expected Riverdale to be good...been there too many time before to believe any pregame hype and smack. We will see with Franklin...last night might have been the "on the field championship game", unofficial. We will see. Prayers for all players to keep a clean game in attitude, stay injury free and let the real winners be shown in the game.

14 points is not a blow out! Riverdale, I enjoyed a good game last night at Tomahawk. The place was packed and if you could hear any of the OR fans over your own packed side of the field, you would know we are enthusiastic fans..especially on the road. Folks can talk "what ifs" all day and the game is done. Riverdale won and was the best team last night in the final call. I would like to see accurate final stats. From what I could tell, the balance was not one sided and was fairly balanced. Except...a neat little pass down the middle to your wide open man..good play call! Except...a pass that could have been a td but your man intercepted it. Except...a fumble that could have been a fumble but an alert player took it to the endzone. Certain plays made the score what it was and I must credit those young men for making those plays turn as they did. We will play you again..oh my, got to end the losses to Riverdale! In the meantime, I expect you to win the state this year and know you will go for tough. East Tn does have 3 teams going to state..not too bad! God Bless and Peace to all. Dart.

We ran into some Alcoa fans at a Wendy's on the trip home. That game sure wasn't like last years! Maybe it is the year for Tornados. Congrats to you winners and go all the way! Here's pulling for a win for Alcoa, Fulton and Maryville. Congrats to Coalfield for the season and to my team..OR..really proud! Not sure what happened in the 3rd quarter. Good Game Cats..wish we had pulled it out.

To Rebelron and 2deuce, For sure we will be pulling for your teams! Maryville has been on an astounding run and Coalfield finally got Greenback off it's back! I want to see lots of E Tenn at Murfreesboro NEXT week! Best games to you all. Dart.

Yep, go to the website. The local radio fades back to "zero" by the time I get back to the house after a game. Otherwise, if you can pick up "comcast cable 12" in Oak Ridge(whatever that might be in your area if there at all!) that will have a live broadcast. God Bless. Peace to all and good clean football!!! Love the football season! Dart..

Riverdale, same from here! I don't see west TN doing it this year. Only time will tell but the real strength over the years is not in the West. History proves that. See ya at the game. Thanks for the advice on concessions...since I will leave from work and be hungry at the Tomahawk Stadium. I will have a tummy to fill a little bit, despite the nerves...and hungry for a win. See ya there! Dart.

Dear Riverdale, I look forward to the game. Who knows the outcome..it is not US! We will be there watching the best team that night go on to the state. We will arrive late but will BE there. We got 1000 tickets today for sale locally. I have mine. That doesn't mean a seat and might mean standing..it does mean OR fans will turn out. I want it clean for both teams so both you and us can see the best of both teams and the winner will go on and win the title. Blessings and Peace. Dart.

I have seen the war... and....look at the NBA on Friday night. I want a peaceful settlement, lots of tears on one side and lots of smiles on the other. Clean, clean, clean. Still, I know how you feel. It is a fight to win. See ya there! I am pumped for this one. We all are. Got any decent places to eat after the game easy to find? Peace to you after the game. Dart.

I will likely get there about kickoff...with enough clothes I hope..straight drive from work. Here's wishing all a really great game. And for me, and OR win. Peace to All.

Dear region4fan, I have seen a drop in the OR game crowds at home for a few years now. Sure, us wild bunch kind of diehards are there making noise an all. Generally in the past, we have often taken more fans to away games than the competition had on home field. At Oakland...from some time ago, crowds were great, same at DB and when playing at MTSU, who could tell, really!! We can count on certain schools to always have a good crowd. Why the OR crowds have dropped..I suspect but this is not a place for speculation. Just say, against DB, our side was full and noisy. The DB side was totally full and noisy, despite the trip from Kingsport. Farragut did not show half the fans DB did. Then again, maybe lots of visitors from other schools were there? I do expect a huge OR presence at the Riverdale game. We will see. This is fun stuff...high school football. Been going for many, many years and to all the away games when the boss would let me off in time. Hope you make it to the game. I plan to be there. Peace to all.

I once heard that the very biased type of pa announcer was not allowed in TSSAA playoffs. ? That had to do with distractions.(?) The last time I was at RD the announcer was very annoying, in truth. Still, the game is on the field. At one playoff several years ago in upper TN(no,this was NOT at DB) an announcer always said: "What a Plaaaaay!!!" whenever his team made a good one. As OR begin to dominate totally, the OR crowd adapted the same yell..."What a Play!" What goes around comes around. Still, I am not too concerned about the announcer. I simply want a fairly called game, no oddball injuries, etc., both teams up to it and a clear, clean answer on who really played the best football that night.

You've got that right! And...I really don't have a clue how physical Germantown is THIS year...or who will be in the finals. Lets just say, these guys from Riverdale and Oak Ridge will be coming out of Friday night a bit Bruised and either ready to roll to Murf again or the slow roll back home. I expect it to be a very good one. I will be looking to roll to Murf again! We will see.

Thanks a bunch! This does help...we will likely be around the field, up close and personal. Appreciate the reply. Dart.

I need to know about the seating at Riverdale. Help Please If we can get off work at all it will mean late arrival to the game. Can anyone tell me about the seating at Riverdale? Is this one sided, two sides, lots of room or what? Any good "standing" areas? Thanks for any input. Dart. I just found the RD website..good photos, well made site with views from seating. Still...is the visitors section about the same as that at OR, smaller?

Well, we will just have to wait and see. All the talk about who has played whom and who is so strong reminds me of 1991(YIKES, that was a long time ago) when all of middle TN said OR had no chance whatsoever. Well..Gallatin couldn't get past the defense or stop the O of OR. That is why the game is played...next Friday will sort it out for two good teams. Smak, smak, smak...I'm waitin' for the real game.

Yes, this was a great football game...I went in hoping to see that kind of game with no flukes or injuries taking away from the great play of both teams. That is what I saw..a great game between two super teams. Believe me, as an OR fan, there is always the "fear" of DB exploding with scores to take the game back. Last night, I saw tough defense on both sides. Gutsy plays and an overall clean game. I have driven the miles home from DB with a loss in my tummy. DB fans, you had to do that last night...back to Kingsport. You went with our prayers and utmost respect for your team and football program. Thanks for turning out to fill the stadium...crowds have been lower in recent years but you folks, like OR, know how to hit the road to support the team. Great turnout overall..really good to see the place full again! Whew, yikes! Now to Riverdale. God Bless. Dart.

Dear Skunk, If I got the overtime mixed up, sorry on that one! The scout did say it( that was some years ago!!) but that is not at all characteristic of our reception at DB, or DB at OR. Great reception, good fans, great rivalry is the norm, for sure. That was probably a quirk, one person not a team or a tradition. No sweat on that one, done and forgotten, doesn't matter. Watching tonight, I think DB or OR could score on Gemantown...but would have to score a lot since GT would run the ball and run the ball even more. Yep. wish MW had done better. First time is tough. Anytime is tough. Never thought to see this strength from west TN but they did it for the first time in 20 years. Super to see Fulton roll....as did Kansas St. over OK tonight! Wow! Best wishes to all DB players and fans. We will see you next year. Gotta reload now. God Bless. Dart.

Dear Folks, After watcing the ongoing DL and HHS game, I say forget the predictions! OR vs Riverdale was down to a couple of plays. What about MW? Back when "littleman" played there, OR won the game and the winner was to go on. The loser, to play Kingsport DB, and lose. Well, as I left the game, DB scouts were on the path, next to their van. I ask them about the game. They srugged it off like it was nothing. They said, "Good luck to a team that is going to lose" to me, refering to OR and their next opponent, MW. The next weekend, playoffs and DB met MW. Well... low and behold in 3 ots, MW won the game. The 1st ranked DB's were gone for the season. MW lost the next game, as I recall, but did eliminate DB on the way. So much for predictions. Look at HHS at this very moment! And that guy just turned 15 on Thanksgiving!!!@ Who can say..not me. That is why we play the game. Still, from this diehare OR fan(50 years worth of games)...I say Go Morristown West! Whoop em! God Bless. Dart.

I am a diehard Oak Ridge Wildcat fan. I say to Riverdale, go out there and do it right against Germantown. You gotta admitt that 20 secs and OR on the 5 makes a heart beat real hard! Has to. Don't give Germantown that chance! Now, go prove that the champ game was played Friday, yesturday at OR, by whipping Germantown solidly. Don't try to pass...unless their d is better than you faced at OR. Run it down the field. Go RD on this one! God Bless. Dart.

Dear Sportsfans, Tell me, what is the difference between a diehard and a “has a kid playing” fan? Really, during the season there is not much difference except memories of past seasons. Both feel the joy of winning and the pain of losing in a playoff. Unfortunately, many of the “has a kid playing” fans will not be there the next season if their son or daughter graduates. I am a diehard, been there since my dad took me to the first games when I was a little kid. When folks ask, “Does your son play?” my answer would have to be that he must be a slow learner since he would have to be about 25 years old! We are diehards, from the get go, including the wife(God has blessed me in that!) I will not make a difference during the season between types of fans. All do not want to lose and love winning. All feel the joy and the(ugh) depression when the season ends one game short. I don’t know which type of fan you are…I do ask that the “has a kid playing” fans respect the diehards who will be there next year and the next and the next. The win is just as important to us. That is why we sometimes yell at the coach…seen many years of games. That is why we can’t settle for less than the best. And, we do totally support the team, totally. We stand behind every kid on the field, football, soccer or whatever it is. We are there and will be for years to come till the knees wear out. If you came to the games because your kid is playing….consider becoming a diehard. Believe me, it is a good place to be! And, we can use your input and support. God Bless. Dart.

Dear Football Fans, That one will haunt me for a while! Getting right to the game, I have to believe that some hearts beated really hard with OR at 5 and 25 secs left. I am a Wildcat from day one and have seen that happen on this side. I thought a run would do it...sure, stopped most of the night but 5 yards...we will never know now. A tip by an alert RD man and that was it. Great game! Sorry to be on the losing end. Gotta blieve you RD folks feared for a few seconds there! As for the quote above, I would like to know why it happened. This totally stopped the best drive of OR for the game. They were moving and not being stopped. Who knows. As for Booker, his shoulder was banged up(seperated) and he was late coming down for the second half. Still, played on. You gotta respect OR! I found out why RD doesn't pass...can't. Can they run? You better believe it. Great defense...both sides. How many times was RD held cold? Several. OR? several but they proved they could break the RD pass defense. Untill....the last play of the game. Great game. Good defense on both sides. We will see if this was the real champ game or not next Sat. You RD folks, do your stuff, whip the daylights out of Germantown. West TN teams aren't used to the big one. But, don't underrate them. Maybe Franklin did... fatal mistake. Go for it all, RD. God Bless. Dart.

Ah, Rankin.....I do know one thing about the coach and that is about all: He knows how to win the big ones. Come less than 24 hours from now, I hope his team goes home having finished the season. Proud but disappointed. This is not against them, a superb program. This is simply because I want Oak Ridge to win tomorrow. By this time tomorrow...all these posts will mean more or less...mostly less. Here's to good sports and may the best team win. Go Wildcats!! God Bless. Dart. Now to get some warm duds together.

jmatt, If I can quote you, I have seen that happen a few times. Too bad. Unfortunately, I have been to games where the visiting band didn't even get to play with the "home" team taking all the time...meaning the decision to play or not. "Not to play" was the best choice to keep the game going. Sorry to see things like that happen. There has to be some unity there and among the kids I believe there really is. The band during the game is teriffic..needed and supportive. When a band doesn't play during the game, there is a feeling that some support is gone. Most teams want all the support they can get. That is why I yell loud! That is why I am glad to have the band playing during the game to support the events unfolding on the field. Yep, each school has its own situation. All the kids need support and recognition. They pretty much have to do what the band director or coach says. This Friday night I will be at a hot game and will be listening for the band when the team comes on the field and during the game. Halftime? That is memorized already and I will likely enjoy the visiting band or wander around to speak to buddies. God Bless. Dart.