Austin-East @ Elizabethton Quarterfinals

[Govolsknox]

Elizabethton is a very good team as is A-E. But Betsy will miss #14 in a big way. In the 3 games I saw (Asheville, Greeneville, and CAK) he appeared to me to be by far the biggest threat on offense and one of the best players on defense, and also a very good kicker. While Betsy has a number of other quality players, it will be tough to win this game without arguably your best and most versatile player. For a variety of reasons, A-E is typically playing their best ball by far at the end of the season year after year.

 

I think the toughest thing for Elizabethton will be that while Betsy has good lateral speed on defense, A-E primarily runs between the tackles. I don't think the D line is the strength of the E Town defense. I think this spells problems for them stopping the run game. I would like to see Elizabethton win this game, but even though they are very good, I don't like this match up. I see A-E winning this game by 10.

[thejuice09]

Cyclones win

 

#57

 

#26

 

#33

 

#10

 

#79

 

#59

 

#25

 

#27

 

#11

 

#9!!!!!

 

#13

 

#14

 

#2

 

#36

 

#81

 

#58

 

#50

 

#19

 

These guys have worked their butts off and wont quit. Cyclones win big. 35-7

 

 

This right here is a perfect example of a big fish in a small pond. Everything I read from "cow town" fans talks about how their team won't quit and that they are so fast.... well AE is the same way fast, physical, and playing with a lot of emotion right now. I guess it's easy to talk about a team that you know nothing about. Friday is going to be interesting! Don't worry about rain or bad field conditions slowing the Roadrunners down they have been there before and come out on top in the past. It's good to see EHS fans excited about their football, but beware of the Roadrunners it will be something you have not seen and always hard to prepare for.

[thejuice09]

Time to go to work and i think ill tell shawn to get ready because the speedy roadrunners are coming in here so fast he will miss them if he dont look real quick.

 

Don't worry about telling Shawn... he knows.

[ColumbiaBlueNScarlet]

Elizabethton is a very good team as is A-E. But Betsy will miss #14 in a big way. In the 3 games I saw (Asheville, Greeneville, and CAK) he appeared to me to be by far the biggest threat on offense and one of the best players on defense, and also a very good kicker. While Betsy has a number of other quality players, it will be tough to win this game without arguably your best and most versatile player. For a variety of reasons, A-E is typically playing their best ball by far at the end of the season year after year.

 

I think the toughest thing for Elizabethton will be that while Betsy has good lateral speed on defense, A-E primarily runs between the tackles. I don't think the D line is the strength of the E Town defense. I think this spells problems for them stopping the run game. I would like to see Elizabethton win this game, but even though they are very good, I don't like this match up. I see A-E winning this game by 10.

 

orange and black,

You wanted to know what CAK thinks of betsy. Here are the thoughts of one CAK fan.

[CADDYBRIE]

This is more entertaining than going to the movies.

[thejuice09]

Columbiablue,

 

You have made a lot of good points, it doesn't sound like the EHS fans have much to say other than their players won't quit and they played two close games with two decent teams (that they lost). Other than that they beat 7 typical upper east tn teams and the 1 6A team they beat was horrible.

[SECfighter]

There will be a lot of violent hitting since both these teams fly to the ball and have acceleration to help out. I also believe there should be a few really major collisions on top of that so hopefully everyone stays helathy and safe out there. Taylor Hodge # 14 is greatly missed since he is extremely well versed in every aspect of the game. He is the kind of player that simply does what he is supposed to and does not mess up, he is a leader by example, and you know he always gives a couple big plays for the team every game. That is what he is and does. I truly believe though that EHS has been forced to step up and fill the void of his absence because if not they dont play well and EHS might be home if they didnt. # 36 has became the kicker and has done a very admirable job to this point. On offense EHS luckily had considerable depth at WR and his loss there has been the least damage. At Safety is where # 14 was an extremely special and valuable player, he has some of the best instincts and speed you will ever find playing that position. IMO he is THE best Alley support I have ever seen to this point at the high school level. # 33 Cody Forbes has stepped in and has been sufficient playing there so far. Forbes has actually placed more size and possible top speed at the position as well. Ball skills and hard hitting are still there with # 33 playing. What is lacking though is the experience and unbelievable instincts that # 14 gave the Cyclones; yet, what matters against defending A-E more that anything is Tackling and Containment as I stated in my previous post.

What the majority of people watching this game will be surprised by is that the Cyclones actually really do have more top speed as a team ( not talking about quickness ) that the Roadrunners. Being absolutely truthful A-E fans with no disrepect at all or any favoritism toward any team.. Asheville High School in NC has more distinctive SPEED this year than does the Roadrunners. A player from each team that many people severely overlook for their abilities is # 4 for A-E and # 58 for EHS. # 4 IMO will more than likely be the fastest player on the field and # 58's abilities at Nose Man is unreal for high school.

My last point is on the schedules these two teams have played this year.. IMO A-E has a tight edge in the more difficult aspect, mainly due to their non-district schedule was highly impressive with road games at MO East, Ootlewah, and Catholic. The only game that takes away from EHS non-district schedule is Volunteer at home. EHS had very strong opponents in CAK and Greeneville, but they were also at home which helped, and Asheville away was a tough contest. Both these programs are in weak districts concerning competition, yet I believe Fulton and Carter are more dangerous than anyone else in EHS district. Both teams will be ready to play against each other, and there will not be a psychological advantage for either side. *A-E fans need to know that Greeneville is a very good program this year and they have put up an avg of 40 points in their 12 games so far yet the Cyclones shut them out.

[greene4747]

There will be a lot of violent hitting since both these teams fly to the ball and have acceleration to help out. I also believe there should be a few really major collisions on top of that so hopefully everyone stays helathy and safe out there. Taylor Hodge # 14 is greatly missed since he is extremely well versed in every aspect of the game. He is the kind of player that simply does what he is supposed to and does not mess up, he is a leader by example, and you know he always gives a couple big plays for the team every game. That is what he is and does. I truly believe though that EHS has been forced to step up and fill the void of his absence because if not they dont play well and EHS might be home if they didnt. # 36 has became the kicker and has done a very admirable job to this point. On offense EHS luckily had considerable depth at WR and his loss there has been the least damage. At Safety is where # 14 was an extremely special and valuable player, he has some of the best instincts and speed you will ever find playing that position. IMO he is THE best Alley support I have ever seen to this point at the high school level. # 33 Cody Forbes has stepped in and has been sufficient playing there so far. Forbes has actually placed more size and possible top speed at the position as well. Ball skills and hard hitting are still there with # 33 playing. What is lacking though is the experience and unbelievable instincts that # 14 gave the Cyclones; yet, what matters against defending A-E more that anything is Tackling and Containment as I stated in my previous post.

What the majority of people watching this game will be surprised by is that the Cyclones actually really do have more top speed as a team ( not talking about quickness ) that the Roadrunners. Being absolutely truthful A-E fans with no disrepect at all or any favoritism toward any team.. Asheville High School in NC has more distinctive SPEED this year than does the Roadrunners. A player from each team that many people severely overlook for their abilities is # 4 for A-E and # 58 for EHS. # 4 IMO will more than likely be the fastest player on the field and # 58's abilities at Nose Man is unreal for high school.

My last point is on the schedules these two teams have played this year.. IMO A-E has a tight edge in the more difficult aspect, mainly due to their non-district schedule was highly impressive with road games at MO East, Ootlewah, and Catholic. The only game that takes away from EHS non-district schedule is Volunteer at home. EHS had very strong opponents in CAK and Greeneville, but they were also at home which helped, and Asheville away was a tough contest. Both these programs are in weak districts concerning competition, yet I believe Fulton and Carter are more dangerous than anyone else in EHS district. Both teams will be ready to play against each other, and there will not be a psychological advantage for either side. *A-E fans need to know that Greeneville is a very good program this year and they have put up an avg of 40 points in their 12 games so far yet the Cyclones shut them out.

 

 

This Greeneville fan is pulling for a BETSY WIN!!!!!

[orangeworker]

Columbiablue,

 

You have made a lot of good points, it doesn't sound like the EHS fans have much to say other than their players won't quit and they played two close games with two decent teams (that they lost). Other than that they beat 7 typical upper east tn teams and the 1 6A team they beat was horrible.

Lets start by saying I have lived in the elizabethton area my entire life and im very proud of my home town so the comments about cow town does make me raise my eye brows, but i did play football near elizabethton not for elizabethton and i remember the first thing my football coach ever said was dont let your mouth write a check your butt cant cash and i think a lot of mouths have wrote some checks. We cant play the game only the young men on these two teams will decide the out come of the game. GOOD LUCK CYCLONES

[ColumbiaBlueNScarlet]

*A-E fans need to know that Greeneville is a very good program this year and they have put up an avg of 40 points in their 12 games so far yet the Cyclones shut them out.

 

Averaging 55 points against South Greene, West Greene, Cumberland Gap, Chuckey-Doak, and Grainger has helped their ppg average. Austin-East seems to be more run oriented than Greeneville. Throughout the season, Austin-East has developed an offensive scheme that is very hard to defend. The only thing that was missing midway through the season was the ability to get timely pass completions, but they have improved on that too. I don't see Elizabethton shutting down Austin-East's run game.

 

Austin-East will score more than 14 points on betsy.

[Roadrunner1]

Betsy fans

SSHHHHHHISH , be quite now . I can't believe I'm hearing this . Don't you guys know that everybody in the state can read these post ? West Tn folks and middle Tn. people are laughing their tails off . You guys are way to close to E.T.S.U. for you to be saying things like that , People won't send their kids to college in that part of the country if they think you people really believe some of the things you're writing . By the way , are you guys selling tickets to a football game or a track meet ? I shouldn't have said that I guess but it's not any worse than some of the things you guys have been saying . Just remember , Betsy you started the trash talking. Lotta heart and won't quit ??????? We shall see !!!!!!!

[thejuice09]

I have seen Asheville High and they look a lot like AE, size, speed, scheme... But one thing you have to remember is that the kids from AE are extremely tough. Also, don't look for AE to change a lot, I think they are fairly confident in what they do and don't fall asleep in the secondary the Roadrunners have weapons all over the field and they are waiting for the perfect opp. to open up the passing game.