SCBear

Sorry if my blountness offended your overly sensitive school spirit and caused you to revoke my fan card. I am old school and just call it the way I see it. What if I promise to become a sunshine pumper and rah-rah till my pom-poms fall off, will that get me back in the club mr. president? I "hope" we win this game but I can also separate my heart from my head when it comes to this stuff. We have a fine team and have had a really good season but Maryville is on a whole different level then the rest of us. Tell you what, Lord willing I'll be back here Friday night and if we win (heck I will cut you some slack, say we keep it closer then 21 points this time) I will have hat in hand eating all the crow you can dish out. Wonder if you'll put the big boy britches on and do the same for me?

First off, congrats to Maryville on another state championship. Also congrats to Sevier Co. on a fine 11-2 season with a 3rd round playoff loss. Nothing to be ashamed of there. As far as Friday night: yawn "been there, done that" yawn. Nothing new to see here. Finally as someone else already posted, please GQ become as bored as a lot of your fans are and move on to a bigger challenge.

Not only will SH run with success but they will be unstoppable. The only way you guys will be slowed down will be of the self inflicted variety or an act of God. You know like penalties, turnovers, bus driver wanders into the Bermuda triangle, N. Korea invades tri-cities, Carter/Cook pillow fight breaks out at friends of the band sleepover, etc. We are light in the britches on the line, our tackling is atrocious and we take horrible angles to the ball carrier. We weren't very good to begin the season but take out 3 or 4 starters and now we are abysmal. First team to not score on a possession will probably lose. This game has the potential to set numerous scoring records that may never be broken.

I just reposted my original quote to save time. On the positive side, with as crummy as defense as we have at least every game is interesting. Good job Cookeville, you showed yourself proud tonight. By the way. why is the T$$AA forcing a team to travel 2 hours, one way, for a first round playoff game? Thought they were all concerned about saving us poor fans gas money!

Appreciate the info as I know I don't have a clue about any schools in upper cumberland. Sevier Co. is also pretty small across the defensive line and has been giving up big rushing numbers to anyone that has a decent running attack if that offers you any hope. What you can expect from us is to throw it. And then throw it some more, mixed in with a little running from a spread formation with four wideouts. Oh well, was looking forward to playing some new blood and a good game but it doesn't sound like the Cookeville faithfull are giving themselves much of a chance. By the way, does anyone know why Pope is not playing? Haven't seen him dressed out in 4 or 5 weeks but he doesn't appear injured.

Don't sell yourself so short just yet. Could be a more interesting game then you think. For sure our passing game is top 5 in the state but unfortunately our defense is pretty bad. As others have pointed out, our line play on both sides of the ball (but especially the defense) is average to poor at best and our tackling leaves a lot to be desired also. Plus anyone that has a had a decent running attack has given us fits the whole year. And if you've got a good running QB to boot (doesn't matter if he can throw the ball in the ocean or not) you will be surprised by just how much success you will have. With a defense like ours any team from here on out can beat us.

Yea, have to agree about alot of bad IMAC games this year but in all honesty outside of Maryville, the rest of 6A in East TN is pretty average to poor everywhere else too. Also wouldn't be so quick to look past the first round of the playoffs with this Bear's squad. Our defense is just not very good and hasn't really gotten any better as the year has progressed. Outside of the cream puffs and a good showing against a very one dimensional Morristown East we have struggled against the rest of our 6A schedule. Can't believe that Jeff Co could put up the rushing numbers they did, knowing they couldn't pass if their life depended on it while losing their stud RB in the second quarter. The fact is most teams are just better then us on both sides of the line plain and simple and if we draw a team with a physical line (cough*farragut*cough) we could easily be one and done. As for South-Doyle, we will allow some rushing yards but should be able to pass well enough to get the win. If their defense however can put pressure on Manning and make him scramble where he is not nearly as effective (like last week) then all bets are off.

It's never too early or presumuptuous to chat about another Maryville gold ball

What did gobears89 say that wasn't true? Most years the IMAC overall is one of the weakest conferences in the state. In fact, I believe the league took three years just to get it's first playoff win...........in any classification! We've also had one IMAC loss since the conference was formed............in five years..............talk about a big fish in a small pond. Maybe you enjoy paying to see us mercy rule smaller, weaker programs that we have no business scheduling (you did notice that Cherokee had under 30 total players dressed for Friday's game didn't you?) but as a fan I would much rather be playing more competitive programs or at least those in our own classification. If the T$$AA can force us into this sort of schedule under the guise of "saving travel expenses" then I will oblige them by saving my travel expenses.

100% agree. This game was lost in the trenches plain and simple and that is why injuries or not or if there is a rematch the outcome will still be the same. Maryville's four down lineman were able to bring so much pressure by themselves that they didn't even have to blitz. It also allowed them to drop two safeties and then cover our four receivers with the remaining five defenders. As far as our defense, this is the way it has been for most of the year. No surprises there. We are undersized and the Rebs just steam rolled us. The only team that will be able to hang with Maryville will be one that can hold their own in the line which will be no easy task.

Sounds about right to me. By my calculations there are four starters who will not play: Hayes TB/LB, Whaley WR/CB, Bailey WR/FS, Paul LB/FB. Our last starting LB/Logan will play but has been hobbling around on a gimped ankle since the DB game. Hayes and Bailey have ankle sprains and should be back sometime in the next couple of weeks. Paul is lost for the year with a knee injury. Don't know about Whaley's status as he has his arm in a sling but he doesn't look like he will be back any time soon. Anyone else that I am missing? Reserves should get some valuable playing experience.

Interesting You're obviously so bored with winning all the time that you now have to create bulletin board material to motivate yourselves

Hate to admit it but have to agree with the above. Maryville is a machine plain and simple. GQ and staff are the best in the state bar none. Their teams just don't make the silly mistakes that you normally see from typical high school athletes. They are so well coached in the fundamentals it's scary. They rarely have turnovers, commit penalties or have a player blow their assignment. Just watch something as simple as how they tackle. You won't see anyone dropping their head trying to make the big hit allowing the ball carrier to escape. Instead they will wrap up with their arms and their head will be up looking at who they are tackling. And yes everyone else teaches that technique but Maryville's players actually carry it out during the game. Last season was the year if anyone was going to get them from ET as they had (by their standards) an unusually porous defense. That's been remedied so combined with their usual balanced offense they are back to being a juggernaut again where they won't be tested until "maybe" Cookeville. We played them a couple of years ago in the playoffs so I have already seen this song and dance up close before: SC - 7 Maryville - by whatever GQ decides

Where is motownanddown? Figured he would have some input from a Trojan perspective.

Real blood and guts game. Really impressed with QB Holt. Ran the option read to perfection. Casey is a real tough runner who can't be brought down by just one tackler. Sensabaugh is a real stud and was probably the best player on the field for either team. Don't know how the zebras got confused about the 3rd and 4th down call, especially after the timeout to discuss it. Embarrassing to say the least. As others have pointed out SC literally won the game with bailing wire and twine. And yes, all teams have injuries but never seen it like this before. Down to our third string receivers and defensive backs along with every starting LB out. All total we had 6 starters on the sidelines for DB's last drive. Just an old fashion gut check win. Yea SC will get smashed by Maryville in a couple of weeks (injuries or not) and this DB squad is not as talenetd as last years but it still doesn't take away from the fact what a great game it was. By both teams.

Agreed. However, my untrained eyeballz still don't like a small, diminutive RB given the ball by the QB on a run option read, off tackle, out of the spread offense, with no lead blocker, against a defense that collapsed the O line repeatedly. However, did like the toss sweep with Dorian out of the power I utilizing his athleticism and elusiveness in the open field. Would've just liked to seen it more then the few times we ran it in the second half is all. Hence my reasoning for inserting the word "more" in my comments. Dorian is not a power RB plain and simple. Hayes is the power TB. Hopefully we continue to find different ways to put Dorian in the best positions to succeed.

I'd have to agree with your analogy. That was one ugly game to watch. The coaches and offense were completly out of sync the whole game. Our coaches have to take what the defense gives us and quit trying to force a round peg into a square hole. Also would like to see Dorian get the ball out more on the edge with those toss sweeps or a screen pass instead of between the tackles so much. Hope Hayes ankle sprain isn't as bad as it appears because he had a noticable limp and didn't run very well afterwards. Defense does appear to be improving but Mo East also couldn't pass very well and missed on some opportunities. Always enjoy the DB game even though we usually come out on the short end most of the time. The Tribe may not be as loaded as usual but they have more then enough to beat us and if we play another stinker like we did last week we'll get spanked.

That was one ugly, boring game! And oh yeah, "Houston we have a problem!"

Doubt an extra week of practice will make that big a difference tonight. Inexperienced and small are pretty big obstacles to overcome in just one season of play. I am afraid our best defense this year will have to be our offense. Fortunately our offense should be good enough to carry us to 7 or 8 wins on their own while the young pups grow up.

fsutandem Just curious but have you seen any of the practices or scrimmages this year? I keep hearing a lot of other posters say something along the same lines as you but to me the talented, experienced players we lost make it seem hard for me to believe that we will be as good or if not better then the past few previous seasons. I'll admit that I haven't seen them play yet this year so it's hard for me to get a read on what team we will have. Hope you are correct though.

Well no news on the supposed suspensions and who it all does and doesn't involve so that is going to make predicting a winner that much more difficult. Sounds like SC will be better balanced this year with Hayes and Banks toting the rock which should help in taking the pressure off of a bunch of new receivers. If Manning is indeed not playing it will be interesting to see how Austin responds in his first start. I think the offense will be OK but I fear the greatest trouble could be on the defensive side of the ball. Can't lose the number of experienced play makers that we did and it not effect you some. Bearden will be bigger in the line then us and with Horton running the ball I just don't see us being able to stop them consistently enough. If we can't slow their running game and make their young QB beat us through the air then it's going to be a long night. Typical battle of contrasting styles of play. SC's wide open offense and team speed versus the brawn and power of Bearden. Probably going to come down to which defense can make enough plays to tip the scales in their teams favor. Just looking at the returning numbers of each team I fear Bearden will have the advantage with a more experienced, physical line on both sides of the ball and that is where most games are won or lost. Hope I am wrong but I feel Bearden will wear us down physically and pull out a close victory. Edit: Thanks TNHSBBALLFAN for the update. I have a guess as to which player it might be but I won't mention any names. No reason to call some ones character or maturity into question on a message board based off a hunch. Even with Manning starting I will stick with my original gut pick and go with the more experienced, physical Bearden lines as the key to victory. Our young, inexperienced defense has me concerned.

I think TNHSBBALLFAN reported only one starter was effectively suspended and gobears89 is reporting to have heard that it was QB Manning. Don't actually know who is/isn't involved for sure.

Haven't seen neither team play yet this year but would wager the farm that Sevier County won'y beat Maryville.