Knox West @ Catholic

[Irish423]

This is a huge game in determining who goes to the playoffs. Catholic fresh off another loss to a top 5 team, and 3 for 3 in games after losses so will it be another catholic victory? Homecoming night at Catholic too so an exciting night.

[euler]

This game is essentially for the region's lone 5A play-off spot. I think the key, as always, is which Catholic team shows up. The fired up team that showed up to the Farragut and Maryville games or the lackluster squad that was at the other games?

[Irish423]

And hopefully they stay constant the entire game instead of the ups and downs they have typically had...

[MavMaximus]

This game is essentially for the region's lone 5A play-off spot.

That's just wrong. Placed in any other district of which I'm aware both teams would earn a spot. What about a wild card or something of that nature? Admittedly I've not tried to tax my feeble mind too much to figure out all that mumbo-jumbo, but I thought I heard something about a way for teams in this predicament to make it to the playoffs through something like a wild card....

[euler]

This game is essentially for the region's lone 5A play-off spot.

That's just wrong. Placed in any other district of which I'm aware both teams would earn a spot. What about a wild card or something of that nature? Admittedly I've not tried to tax my feeble mind too much to figure out all that mumbo-jumbo, but I thought I heard something about a way for teams in this predicament to make it to the playoffs through something like a wild card....

 

Looking back at it, I think you're right. Your thoughts were mine at the beginning of the season. However, the TSSAA changed the wording from "automatic qualifier" to "play-off eligible" which made me think that you had to be play-off eligible to make it into the playoffs, but not all of the play-off eligible teams would actually make it.

 

From the TSSAA's region standings page on Region 2-AAA: 5A--The team that finishes the highest in the final district standings becomes playoff eligible. If two 5A schools finish 1st and 2nd in the final district standings both become playoff eligible. 6A - The top 2 teams become playoff eligible.

 

This made me think that only one 5A teams could make the play-offs, since two 5A schools won't finish 1st and 2nd. However, this page says wild cards are determined in addition to these teams, which would imply that the original term "automatic qualifer" was correct.

 

My guess is that you are right. Adding it up, theoretically, 34 teams in 5A could become play-off eligible. I think what will happen is this: The top 32 play-off eligible teams (determined by the exhaustive list of tiebreakers the TSSAA has come up with) will make the play-offs. If 32 teams are not play-off eligible, then the top wildcard teams will be added to the play-offs until 32 teams are in.

[MavMaximus]

My guess is that you are right. Adding it up, theoretically, 34 teams in 5A could become play-off eligible. I think what will happen is this: The top 32 play-off eligible teams (determined by the exhaustive list of tiebreakers the TSSAA has come up with) will make the play-offs. If 32 teams are not play-off eligible, then the top wildcard teams will be added to the play-offs until 32 teams are in.

I hope that is correct. Both West and Catholic are having to knock heads with larger schools on a regular basis. I've seen some Catholic commenters say that this shouldn't be used by them as an excuse, so please allow me, a non-Catholic supporter, to do it for them. Then, to add insult to injury, there is a chance that only the winner between two good 5A teams will be the sole 5A team from their district to get to the playoffs, whereas other teams, such as possibly a 4-6 Halls, Powell or Central team from my (AC's) district, make it into the playoffs. I know that there is no way to make the system egalitarian, nor should that be the goal, unattainable as it would be, but there has to be a mechanism to account for this. Just my two cents. Now, sorry for the highjack/interlude. Good luck West and Catholic and here's to an injury-free game.

[TheGoldenBoot]

Big game for both teams obviously. The majority of these kids all know eachother which will most likely make this a very heated and passionate game. In fact Catholic's Dorian Cozart and West's Ivan Freeman and Tanner Thompson all were running backs on the same Super Midget team not to mention a good number of other current players. Should be fun!

[crawdad]

My guess is that you are right. Adding it up, theoretically, 34 teams in 5A could become play-off eligible. I think what will happen is this: The top 32 play-off eligible teams (determined by the exhaustive list of tiebreakers the TSSAA has come up with) will make the play-offs. If 32 teams are not play-off eligible, then the top wildcard teams will be added to the play-offs until 32 teams are in.

I hope that is correct. Both West and Catholic are having to knock heads with larger schools on a regular basis. I've seen some Catholic commenters say that this shouldn't be used by them as an excuse, so please allow me, a non-Catholic supporter, to do it for them. Then, to add insult to injury, there is a chance that only the winner between two good 5A teams will be the sole 5A team from their district to get to the playoffs, whereas other teams, such as possibly a 4-6 Halls, Powell or Central team from my (AC's) district, make it into the playoffs. I know that there is no way to make the system egalitarian, nor should that be the goal, unattainable as it would be, but there has to be a mechanism to account for this. Just my two cents. Now, sorry for the highjack/interlude. Good luck West and Catholic and here's to an injury-free game.

Catholic will be in and a 5-5 or better West team will as well. Just my opinion based on quality of teams,who they've played and how they fared. Very subjective I know,but I cannot imagine it being otherwise. Good luck to both as this should be a good game.

[compusatman]

This game is a perfect example why this new classification system is faulty. In addition to rewarding playing down to pad the win/loss column. Should have left it the way it was.

[QSouth89]

My guess is that you are right. Adding it up, theoretically, 34 teams in 5A could become play-off eligible. I think what will happen is this: The top 32 play-off eligible teams (determined by the exhaustive list of tiebreakers the TSSAA has come up with) will make the play-offs. If 32 teams are not play-off eligible, then the top wildcard teams will be added to the play-offs until 32 teams are in.

I hope that is correct. Both West and Catholic are having to knock heads with larger schools on a regular basis. I've seen some Catholic commenters say that this shouldn't be used by them as an excuse, so please allow me, a non-Catholic supporter, to do it for them. Then, to add insult to injury, there is a chance that only the winner between two good 5A teams will be the sole 5A team from their district to get to the playoffs, whereas other teams, such as possibly a 4-6 Halls, Powell or Central team from my (AC's) district, make it into the playoffs. I know that there is no way to make the system egalitarian, nor should that be the goal, unattainable as it would be, but there has to be a mechanism to account for this. Just my two cents. Now, sorry for the highjack/interlude. Good luck West and Catholic and here's to an injury-free game.

You are correct. You would think the TSSAA would have some common sense and just place all the teams in districts according to their class instead of mixing and mismatching leagues. For example, What would have been so difficult about placing Catholic, West and Lenoir City in district 3AAA (with the other 5A teams) and then placing Oak Ridge, Karns and Hardin Valley with the other 6A teams. Like I said common sense. Geographically it still would have worked.

[oldhick76]

You would think the TSSAA would have some common sense and just place all the teams in districts according to their class instead of mixing and mismatching leagues. For example, What would have been so difficult about placing Catholic, West and Lenoir City in district 3AAA (with the other 5A teams) and then placing Oak Ridge, Karns and Hardin Valley with the other 6A teams. Like I said common sense. Geographically it still would have worked.

 

My vote is for you to serve on the TSSAA Board when they realize this mess leaves some well-deserving teams out of the mix!

 

As to the upcoming game, look out West Rebels, Cozart has the most explosive lateral speed of any back I have seen in the 35 years I've been watching high school football! West should have some success throwing the ball.

 

Catholic needs to bring some energy to their play. Seems like they have a lack of intensity. Walk slow off and on the field, take their helmets off, just appear out of shape and lacking in discipline. It appeared to me they really benefited from the TV timeouts in the Maryville game. Maybe it's because many go both ways.

 

Do they not have enough depth so some players can focus on one side of the ball? Maryville could have linemen play both ways, but I believe their (the coaches) decision to let guys focus one one side of the ball and rest (not worried about getting the best eleven athletes on the field at the same time) gives them an edge against fatigue and allows them to develop more players. Just a thought.

[Irish423]

I do believe that is a very true statement. The playing both ways really wears on them. The DBs and WRs really get it along with the linemen. (The linemen do have the glory of rotating every few plays) I'm sure it is tiring though. Players like Zak Tait, Cody Shirley, John Andrew McDermott, and Tyler Williamson never seem to come off the field. The irish match up athletically with nearly any team in the state (alcoa might be an exception) but their limitations on their athletes hurts them. I would like to see what maybe putting Jake McElligott and Zac Riley in on O to rest some of the OL or maybe just have a constant rotation which i know ex-def. coordinator did with the big number of OL/DL they have had in the past. Cozart is a great back as you said and I look for him to have a great game, but either A.) the O line gets exhausted and has trouble blocking, B.) the Defense keys in on him, or C.) both.