mfalc04

Game finished at 35-14, BA. Chris Jordan had another TD (4 total) and was pretty effective on the ground. Soph RB Josh Tate got the other TD. The defensive line had at least a couple of sacks and did a good job putting pressure on the QB. Independance I believe will face MBA next week. I imagine they will have a hard time beating MBA b/c they too have a powerful line and strong running game. BA will get ready to face Ravenwood (another pass happy offense) at home next Friday night. I'm sure it will be a packed house.

Ruse, good post, you brought up some good points. And I certainly do not want to "highjack" this threat. I realize this is a tradition rich game in East TN coming up and I don't want to bring up an age old debate that is besides the point. I was simply responding to a post early in this thread where someone had annointed Maryville the best team in the state until they are beaten. Red Rebels, you also brought up a good point that distance plays a big factor in who teams play out of conference. Hopefully in the future we can see Maryville play some of the top 5A & Div. II programs in other parts of the state.

Maryville is NOT the best team in the state until they are beaten. There's no doubt that they are a great team and the best in 4A hands down. But they are going to have to beat someone other then Hillsboro and Alcoa to be recognized as the best team in the state. Why don't they play BA, Smyrna or Riverdale? Again, I don't want to take anything away from Maryville, but I just can't take it when people say they are hands down the best team in the state. Their out of conference schedule is simply not strong enough. Look at teams like BA & Smyrna. They both won the state championship last year (5A & Div. II-AA) and this year they are playing eachother. Some teams aren't afraid to play against the best competition...Maryville is not one of them.

I'm very surprised that Ravenwood lost to Goodpasture. I certainly don't want to downplay Ravenwood b/c they have a great coach and solid QB, but BA is a lot better then Goodpasture. While BA may be one dimensional at this point, they are absolutely dominant in their running game. Preventing CJ from making big plays will certainly be key for Ravenwood. I've heard it said that it's not a rivalry until both teams have beaten eachother, but this has turned into a nice local "rivalry." I'm sure Ravenwood will be very fired up for this game and BA will not over look them. I still predict BA is a hard fought battle.

BA did have an insane amount of penalties in the 1st half- a couple of holding calls, about 3 blocks in the back, at least one false start, and a terrible pass interference call. Their QB play was shaky last night, but I'm confident will improve in time. They are rotating two kids- one is more of an option QB, but the primary kid is only a Soph. The running game is extremely powerful and effective. Jordan is very hard to bring down and even if you stuff him a couple of times he'll break a long one eventually. Independance offense did not look good. Their TD was on a long pass off of a recovered fumble. Otherwise they moved the ball very little. The score was 21-7 at the half. If it wasn't for a BA fumble on the goal line it would have been 28-7.

While the field is nothing out of this world, BA has the most impressive weight room and locker rooms I've ever seen at the high school level. Their facilities are better then a lot of colleges. Ensworth also has a gorgeous weight room.

Alex Bullard, 6-3, 260, OT, Brentwood Academy

BA looked pretty good. They were leading 21-14 at half time, not sure how it ended up. Hillsboro scored on two big plays, both by their RB, who has breakaway speed. BA did a good job of moving the football on offense. Chris Jordan looked great. They also have a sophmore RB behind him who had a nice run for a TD. Their QB made enough plays to keep the secondary honest. Defensively, they looked good except for a couple of big plays they gave up for TD's. The offensive & defensive lines are big and strong. They can just dominate the line of scrimmage. Hillsboro is a very solid football team. Their RB is special, but I was not very impressed with their QB or passing game. I think it was a great test for both teams.

I would check out BA @ Smyrna (9/14/07). You have the defending champs from Div. II-AA against the defending champs from 5A. It's the classic private vs. public battle. Also, BA vs Ravenwood (8/31/07) should be another great game. They have played two years in a row and each game has been very close with BA pulling it out each time. A fun game to watch only b/c it will likely develop into a HUGE rivalry is Ensworth @ MBA (10/5/07). It might not be much of a game this year though b/c it's Ensworth's first year in the league. I'd be curious to know what some of the other great rivalries in the Nashville area are. I am really only familiar with Div. II-AA.

BA looked really good in a scrimmage against CPA. Not sure what the score ended up being but it wasn't close. BA is just so big and powerful on the line of scrimmage (both sides). Chris Jordan was unbelievable--he's so powerful and hard to bring down but has good speed. He easily averaged 10+ yards per carry. BA is trying out different guys at QB. CPA has a very nice looking spread offense. They have a strong QB and should be very competitive in their division. I believe BA is going to scrimmage against Hillsboro sometime next week.

I've read that Baylor got a stud transfer at RB. Anyone have more info on this?

I've read that Baylor had a good RB transfer in from somewhere in the South (Louisiana?). Can anyone provide any info on that?

Thanks for the update. Please continue to keep us posted. If anyone is actually in Orlando watching games I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.

Does anyone have updates on the 14U Div I Nationals going on right now in Orlando? I know at least one talented local team (TN Bearcats are there).

Without having seen any other team I would have to say BA. They have the best RB in the state in Chris Jordan who is a man among boys. Also their defense is going to be strong, particularly the line. QB will be a question mark though.

I'm very curious to see how BA does this coming season. Former McCallie coach Ralph Potter has taken over for the legendary Carlton Flatt and will begin a new era of BA football. I know that BA graduated an extremely talented senior class (something like 7 players are playing div. 1 or 1aa football). But they return one of the top players in the Southeast (possibly the country) in running back Chris Jordan, who missed the 2nd half of the 06 season. Any thoughts on BA in 07?

I'm curious to hear from TN high school basketball coaches about their thoughts on the new TSSAA rules on basketball. Here's a breif summary without all of the dates: The following changes will be made to the TSSAA Sports Calendar, effective starting July 30, 2007: 1. For fall and winter sports, a limit of 15 days of practice in the summer. 2. The adding of six weeks of dead period during the school year for all sports except football, which adds three weeks. 3. Reduction in the number of contests for all sports except football, soccer, and girls' volleyball. 4. Elimination of spring practice in basketball. 5. Elimination of open facilities in spring sports until January 1. 6. Set a limit of preseason scrimmages in all sports (4 scrimmages or 2 scrimmage dates or 1 date and 2 scrimmages). 7. Added a 50% rule that applies to basketball, baseball, and softball prior to the season beginning and during the school year. Participation (includes practice) during the school year on a non-school team prior to the season by students that will play the following season on the high school team is limited to 50% of the number of players required to play the game (i.e., 3 in basketball, 5 in baseball and girls' softball). 8. Added: All athletic practice during the regular school hours of any school day shall conform to the same rules, regulations, and seasons as corresponding athletic practice outside the school day. 9. Have added three weeks in the summer to basketball and wrestling when no open facilities are permitted.

According to unapproved website, Alabama offered him after the state tournament. I didn't think he could play at that level, but if it's true, good for him.

Has Sampson committed anywhere? I read in the paper at some point that King College (TN) had offered him a scholarship. He's definitely good enough to play at some level.

The last couple of minutes were amazing. BA looked like they had the game in hand, but made some silly TO's while Webb turned up the heat. It was a brutal ending for BA. Congrat's to Knox Webb. The girl for Webb that won Ms. Basketball is pretty amazing.

MUS absolutely hammered St. George in the state finals. It was pretty special. Not sure what the final score was but MUS won by 20+. Elliott Williams had an ok game, but it normally takes more then one or two players to win a state championship. MUS plays great team ball. Congrat's to them. Also, BA's Brandon Brown won the Mr. Basketball award. Time to start talking about next season!

I know that Sampson was offered a scholarship by King College in Johnson City, TN. They are coached by the legendary George Pitts and won their conference this year (NAIA). I'll be very interested to see where he decides to play college ball. I'm not sure that he's capable of playing division I, but he can be a very good college player at some level.

The final will be MUS vs. St. George's. It could go either way. Williams is a very special player and Bowers is solid as well. MUS does not have any star players (though Farrahkan Hall has to be close), but they play very well as a team and have a tough 2-3 zone. I'm very surprised that both BA & Briarcrest got knocked out in the 1st round. I was especially suprised to see St. George's knock off BA. Williams pretty much had to be spectacular for them to have a chance... and give him credit b/c he was.

The Div. II state tournament will take place this week at Allen Arena (Lipscomb University). Here are the pairings: Baylor (13-13 ) vs. Briarcrest (24-7) BA (23-3) vs. St. George's (23-5) MUS (22-9) vs. PJP (16-14) McCallie (22-9) vs. Ensworth (12-14) This tournament will feature some really good players, here are some to keep an eye on: Leslie McDonald, Soph., 6'4, G/F, Briarcrest- Mr. Basketball finalist, top 25 national soph. Brandon Brown, Sr., 6'7, F, BA- Mr. basketball finalist, Lipscomb signee Brian Wright, Sr., 6'5, F, BA- Lipscomb signee Elliot Williams, Jr., 6'4, G, St. George's- Mr. Basketball finalist, one of the top 25 G's in the country for 2008 Ferrakohn Hall, So., 6'6, F/C, MUS- mid/high major div. I prospect Tavarrus Jefferson, So., 5'10, PG, Ensworth- high major div. I prospect What are your predictions?

BA absolutely destroyed Ensworth--they were completely overmatched. They won 88-59.