jacksoncounty

Jackson County is still trying to finalize the dates for scrimmages but will play Watertown and then a three-way with Monterey and Sunbright. At least that is the rumor. Not sure who the Blue Devils play in the Jamboree. The Blue Devils will miss a solid group of seniors led by Cumberland University signee QB/FS Derek Loftis. Rumor is the team will start a freshman QB. Seniors LB-TE Adam Jones, LB-WB Cody Franklin, FB-DL Cody Mayberry and sophmore WB-CB Patrick Davis are a few names to remember. The team is low in numbers and hopes to add a few more players when school opens in the coming week. Camp ended Friday with various injuries but nothing of the serious nature. After the first scrimmage I will update the progress.

York beat Jackson County like 50-8 up there but I don't remember a lot of personal fouls being called. I thought they were a physical hard nosed team at least on that night.

Jackson County is not blessed with team speed. However Meisenburg the tailback is deceiving. He is faster in the game than his times off the field. He's love contact and a running style that is a bit difference from the norm. He is probably the fastest Blue Devil but again the speed of this team won't scare anyone.

Sorry for the oversite on the Fairview DB but when did Milan move to middle Tennessee?

Good choices for the most part but a bit of a shame Jackson County's junior free safety Derek Loftis did not make the team as a Defensive Back. Loftis led the Class 2-A midstate players in interceptions with 7 and was also instrumental as sure handed tackler in the secondary.

We can talk all we want. Bottom line, once again both Class 1A teams in the finals are private. And one of the finalists in Class 2A and 3A are private. 6 of 8 in the smallest classifications. That speaks for itself. There is a problem here admit it or not.

Good post. Can't say I agree with you, but I know where you are coming from. Now tell me why is 66.7% of the teams in the finals in those 3 classifications private??? Luck?

Perhaps the laughter will continue when you are forced to play in the private school league in the near future.

Just stating the facts here that's all. Don't shoot the messenger. Is it that some of you guys feel you can't compete in Division II?????

Congratulations, great school for academics as well as a national power in I-AA football. Furman is also a beautiful campus in a great area (Greenville, SC). Some refer to it as the Vanderbilt of South Carolina, and after all academics are what we go to college for, correct?

For those who still depute the claim that private schools playing in the smallest public classifications consider this: Class 1A: Two private schools will play for title (Jackson Christian vs. Friendship Christian); Class 2A: one private school in finals (Goodpasture); Class 3A: one private school in final (David Lipscomb). That is four of the six schools playing for the title in the 3 smallest classifications. Of course none in 4A and 5A so this trend will likely continue unless the smaller schools demand that the private schools play in the private classifications (Division II). The private schools that play in the public classes may be few but they dominate. Good luck to Alcoa and Fulton in the finals, as the only two schools representing the public schools. Here's hoping one day the TSSAA will level the playing field.

I see the private school supporters who do not have their facts straight are the ones who appear to be crying here. The facts speak for themselves, Enjoy the conversation, I think at the next realignment for 2009 more change is coming. Again I say if private schools were competing in 4A or 5A we wouldn't even need this discussion because the large public schools would have the clout, as they exhibited eariler, to create Division II. Now the argument shifts to the smaller schools. We are at the semi finals weekend and who is still here- Friendship Christian, Goodpasture, Lipscomb, and Jackson Christian. Four of twelve finalists in the lowest 3 classifications. In Classes 4A and 5A-NONE.

My pick is Westmoreland's Matt Madison by just a shade over Smith County's Patrick Sanders.

I posted this post earlier this week:No multiplier can level the playing field for most public schools matched against the private schools. If we have a public-private split then ALL private schools should play in the private school division. When the large private schools were dominating Class 5A we saw action to create a split. The smaller schools don't have the same clout so we live the fact that teams like Friendship Christian, Goodpasture, CPA and Lipscomb can dominate the public schools. If it's good enough for the Brentwood Academy's, the MBA's, of the world then ALL private schools should be sent to Division II. We should be concerned with the student-athletes instead of the politics of it all. Either bring ALL the private schools back into Division I or mandate all private schools to play in Division II. I vote for the later in the name of fairness for all the student-athletes in Tennessee. It is the only fair and logical thing to do. SOLUTION: This realignment ends in 2 years, lets band together and work to move ALL private schools to Division II. It would solve the issues from a competitive standpoint and inter-divisional games could still be played. What does everyone think?

This public-private split came to be because Riverdale and Brentwood Academy were going head to head about Brentwood Academy's status as a private school that recruits. Those of you who defend private schools by saying the private schools are smaller in attendance thus the field is level, obviously have your heads in the sand. The private schools recruit, they can bring in athletes from other counties even other states and we all know they do. I am not bashing them for this what I don't like is having to compete with them from small rural counties where we have to take what we get. Jackson County lost over 9% of the high school population since the last evaluation period. How goes Jackson County stack up with Goodpasture. Do you really beleive Goodpasture justs opens their doors to whoever wants to be there and then dominates in football? One more suggestion, send all private schools to 5-A or Division II, let them choose.

No multiplier can level the playing field for most public schools matched against the private schools. If we have a public-private split then ALL private schools should play in the private school division. When the large private schools were dominating Class 5A we saw action to create a split. The smaller schools don't have the same clout so we live the fact that teams like Friendship Christian, Goodpasture, CPA and Lipscomb can dominate the public schools. If it's good enough for the Brentwood Academy's of the world then ALL private schools should be sent to Division II. We should be concerned with the student-athletes instead of the politics of it all. Either bring ALL the private schools back into Division I or mandate all private schools to play in Division II. I vote for the later in the name of fairness for all the student-athletes in Tennessee. It is the only fair and logical thing to do.

I'll try to answer the two previous posts. Yes, he played against Bledsoe County and had 103 yards on 28 carries. To Tn Freebird: once you learn to master enough of the english language to make a legible statement I will try to answer you also. I don't really understand what you are saying, but if you are saying Westmoreland did not play their starters the entire game, yes that is correct. They played a lot of people and they are a great football team. Matt Madison, in my opinion is the Region MVP, and they are well coached. The post here is not to discredit Westmoreland but to just state the fact that Jackson County came along way in 2006. Why the negativity? Jackson County supports all Region 4-2A teams in the playoffs.

If this is true I certainly hate to hear it. Coach McCoin was a legendary player and coach at Livingston Academy. Much of the success of last year's team goes to his play calling, as many calls were made at the line of scrimmage, by McCoin, from the booth, then signalled in to the field. I know it has been a tough year for the players, coaches, parents, and supporters of Livingston Academy but still one hates to hear the news. Here's wishing it works out for the best for all involved.

Jackson County is not going to the playoffs or a bowl game and finished only 4-6 in 2006. However, the record is the best since 1996 at the school that went 1-9, 0-10, and 1-9 in the previos 3 years and has very little football tradition. The team had a home winning record (3-2) escaped last place in the region, and all six losses were to teams in the playoffs. All skill players return in 2007 with the exception of fullback Devin Wright. Keith Meisenberg, sophomore tailback, set a school record with 1,243 yards and did not carry the ball until the fourth game of the season. Meisenberg had 267 yards on 37 carries in the season finale vs. Region champion Westmoreland. That coming on the heels of a week #9 performance when he gained 291 yards vs, Taft Youth Center. He also had 211 yards vs. Cannon County and in all finished with 6 games over 100, 3 games over 200, with only York holding him below 100 yards (96). Also returning next season is QB- Safety Derek Loftis who as a safety picked off 7 passes during the 2006 season. Here's wishing all the playoff teams from Region 4-2A good luck in the playoffs.

Keith Meisenberg, has been sliding just under the radar in Region 4-2A. The Jackson County sophomore gained 291 yards Friday night,scoring 3 touchdowns, to lead Jackson County to their fourth win of the season 35-20 over Taft Youth Center. Meisenberg, who didn't carry the football until the team's fourth game now has 976 yards in six games. His totals include 5 one-hundred yard games and 2 two-hundred yard games. Only York held him below 100 yards when he had 96 in a onesided loss. The stats are more impressive considering he has played four games with a broken left hand (he is left-handed) and has a cast on his injured arm. Orginially from Florida,Meisenberg has found Jackson County a good a place and Blue Devil fans are glad he's in Gainesboro.

Bledsoe County played a great game tonight and deserved the victory. The team looked very well coached to me. Jackson County played hard early but miscues in the punting game really hurt our chances. Also Jackson County strives for a balanced attack but could not get the time to establish the passing game as Bledsoe County did a great job pressuring the quarterback. The 3 interceptions can also be attributed to Bledsoe County pressure. Jackson County falls to 3-4 which is a far cry better than recent years. We wish Bledsoe County good luck the rest of the way and into the playoffs.

oh, we are on here, we just don't make predictions. All we can promise is the team will give 100% and play hard. Will it be enough, who knows. Bledsoe County has a good program and is favored by most. Another Jackson County road game another homecoming for the hosts. It's our third homecoming trip so far. Just hoping it's a good clean game.

I just wanted to add that Cannon County played very hard and considering all of their injuries it is a credit to the their coaaching staff. Either team could have won, as is the case with any overtime game. Cannon County will be back and from what I saw both teams showed good sportsmanship and fought cleanly until the last play.

Jackson County improved to 3-3 overall by winning their first region game since 2001. The Blue Devils won despite fumbling twice inside the five on first down plays (once on first and goal at the one), but when a program has been down as long as this one any win is a good win. The players are starting to believe they can win and that's the key. They have found a legitimate offensive identity after inserting sophomore Keith Meisenberg at the tailback spot. Meisenberg has put together a sting of 3 one hundred yard games starting with his first start at Upperman when he went 19-119, then against RBS when he only played the first half and went 12-156-2 TDs. He followed that up with a 38- 211-2 TD performance against Cannon County. This despite playing with a cast on a broken hand and teaking a knee in the first half. The sophomore receiving tandem of Smith (Robbie) and Jones (Adam) have given the offense options. Junior Derek Loftis is coming into his own at quarterback making smart decisions and also has 5 interceptions from his safety position. Seniors Devin Wright and Kendrick Bean lead a defense that is getting better each game and the two seniors are forces on offense while blocking. The offense will return another weapon next week with Marcus Woolbright back after an injury suffered in week 3. He played sparingly against Cannon County. Is this team ready to compete for a region title? No, but a program must begin somewhere and this team is fighting hard and playing through mistakes rather than laying down. It doesn't matter what others think or say about them or the program at Jackson County. What does matter is what they think about themselves, and they are learning to be a team that believes in a team concept. Win or lose this team feels like a family and it's the love and appreciation for each other and all those who work in the program from the PA announcer to the QB Club members to the film girl, and all the others that contribute in some way to this program that just might bring a renewed life into the Jackson County football program.

All i can say is if they are better than Smith County we better hide the children in week 8.