Beech @ MtJuliet

[SOUTHERNFRIED]

Anyone know what radio station it will be on? We are playing Hendersonville tonight or Id be there. Praying for a safe game. Good luck to both teams for a good game.

[Goatsthroat]

2nd best game in mid-state. MJ is loaded at the skill positions and Beech is also, but you only hear about 1 name. I do not know if you Hurd. MJ and Beech will both score points, but it will be the defense that wins the game. Perry vs. Grabtree? Beech wins 35-34

[Joshfletch80]

Beech 27 Mt. Juliet 20

 

Sloppy first half. 4 interceptions for both sides. Jalen Hurd was held in check and never could break a big one but still pounded the ball for over 200 yards. They could not stop him.

 

Mt Juliet went for it on fourth and two on their own 22 yard line with 9 minutes left in the game and also an onside kick with a tie ball game with 6 minutes left (unsuccessful). They knew they could not stop Jalen Hurd.

 

I'm not positive he's the best I've ever seen (Lamarcus Coker), but he's ridiculous.

Edited September 15, 2012 by Joshfletch80

[Catalyst]

You forgot to add the 2nd half points for MJ. No way Beech holds the BEARS offense to 27.

[ExIslander]

Beech won 27-20. I was there, and as someone without a dog in the fight other than kind of rooting for MJ as a resident of the city (my kids are in Wilson Central's zone but a ways away from high school), this was a terrific game.

 

Jalen Hurd was as good as advertised. Depending on whose unofficial stats you believe, he had 37 carries for 290something yards, most of them between the tackles. Very, very good inside runner -- the type of guy who's finding the next hole as he hits the first one and can do the forward-sideways-forward-in-traffic thing at speed and with power.

 

It was very close throughout, 12-7 Beech at the half, then 13-12 MJ, 20-13 Beech, 20-20 and then 27-20. Despite how close the game was, though, and the lower-than-expected point total, Mt. Juliet's strategy in the fourth quarter seemed to scream, "we can't let them have the ball, Hurd's worn us out." Trailing 20-13 early in the fourth, they went for it on fourth-and-short inside their own 20. That one paid off, the drive eventually turning into the tying TD. The next decision, not so much -- 6:22 left and a tie game, they went with an onside kick that almost went back the other way. That one will be much debated.

 

In the end, Hurd ran over them for the go-ahead touchdown, and one could argue if Beech was going to score anyway, the onside kick resulted in MJ having enough time left for a drive of its own. The Bears made it near midfield before failing on fourth down with a minute or so left when a running back slipped down on a cutback.

 

While Hurd will get all the press, a little bit should be reserved for MJ's Caleb Hopkins, who broke two long runs and nearly broke a few more. Great cutbacks and the kid can run.

[Catalyst]

No, they didn't hold them to 27, they held them to 20. This year's MJ team is one of the more overrated they've had in a while. Terrible decision making by Perry on the onside kick and the fourth down attempt, although it was successful. You've got to have a little more faith in your defense. Beech now runs the table for a district title.

[Joshfletch80]

I think the onside kick was absolutely the right call. Either try and get it or if we don't at least they'll score with enough time for us to answer. The going for it on fourth down was the one I have the problem with. If they didn't get it, which they barely did, beech would've probably punched it in and that would've been it with much of the 4th quarter remaining.

[ExIslander]

This year's MJ team is one of the more overrated they've had in a while.

 

There's something to that, I guess, in that they're not exactly overflowing with elite talent, their nice stable of running backs aside. They certainly didn't impress on the eye test relative to Beech. They're a well-coached Wing-T team that's probably wringing as much as they can out of what they have. Then again, the same was true last year, and one could argue the main difference is which Chowbay is doing the passing. I think Nolan will be pretty good down the road but they left a few on the table tonight.

 

None of that is to take away from Beech, who was a deserving winner. I don't think it would surprise many if they win 5A state.

[tandem]

What we learned tonight:

 

Jalen Hurd can be a grinder when he needs to be. MJ kept him from breaking the big one for the most part, but Beech's ability to wear down MJ's D by pounding him between the tackles led to some questionable decision making on Perry's part. He clearly had no confidence in their ability to stop Hurd, no matter how many they put in the box. Beech's O-line broke the will of the MJ D when it was all said and done.

 

It's a mistake to underrate Beech's D. In spite of what you read on here from previous opponents and overconfident MJ supporters, Beech's D is a deep and talented group that plays their hearts out every night.

 

Beech still has a lot of room for improvement. Getting their other rb back in a few weeks will open up a lot of new options for Coach Crabtree. They still need to clean up some penalties. Over all, I thought they played ok, but they can be much better.

 

MJ is good, but not great. 5 is a great runner that is fast and very difficult to bring down. Cut backs really hurt Beech on several occasions. Their young qb has a nice arm and will be a good one, but they will struggle if they get down and are forced to pass. I think they let their emotions get the best of them on several occasions as they were flagged 3 or 4 times for personal fouls.

Edited September 15, 2012 by tandem

[FactsOnly]

I don't disagree with you. Henry County is probably a pretty good team. However, they did not stop Hurd. If a team can stop Hurd they can beat Beech. They have an okay passing game because they have Hurd. If a team can devise a defense to stop Hurd and force Beech to pass i don't see them as being all that strong. Just my opinion. Beech's defense was pushed around by Cookeville. The Cavs had four turnovers and some not so great play calling in the red zone that kept them out of the end zone.

 

Well, you stopped Hurd. I'll give you that. Looks like it still didn't work out.

[BKisler]

What we learned tonight:

 

Jalen Hurd can be a grinder when he needs to be. MJ kept him from breaking the big one for the most part, but Beech's ability to wear down MJ's D by pounding him between the tackles led to some questionable decision making on Perry's part. He clearly had no confidence in their ability to stop Hurd, no matter how many they put in the box. Beech's O-line broke the will of the MJ D when it was all said and done.

 

It's a mistake to underrate Beech's D. In spite of what you read on here from previous opponents and overconfident MJ supporters, Beech's D is a deep and talented group that plays their hearts out every night.

 

Beech still has a lot of room for improvement. Getting their other rb back in a few weeks will open up a lot of new options for Coach Crabtree. They still need to clean up some penalties. Over all, I thought they played ok, but they can be much better.

 

MJ is good, but not great. 5 is a great runner that is fast and very difficult to bring down. Cut backs really hurt Beech on several occasions. Their young qb has a nice arm and will be a good one, but they will struggle if they get down and are forced to pass. I think they let their emotions get the best of them on several occasions as they were flagged 3 or 4 times for personal fouls.

 

Congrads to Beech for a good win. Your offese wore us down and when our best defensive player went out with an injur yit made things even more difficult. We are a young team that made plenty of mistakes; but we will learn from this.

 

Good luck with the rest of your season ! The Bears will look forward to seeing you next year and another chance at Mr. Hurd.

[Vol74]

 

 

Well, you stopped Hurd. I'll give you that. Looks like it still didn't work out.

 

Stop him? He had 300 yards!

 

Jalen was our one and only RB, and he took a beating last night. No, he didn't have any blazing end zone runs, but to write that Mt. Juliet stopped him is ridiculous. He continuously ran the ball down their throats.

 

All in all, both teams did what they were supposed to do. Perry's arrogance and aggressive play calling against a good team cost them a potential win. Period.