BGIM 2017 POST SEASON - 3rd ROUND GAMES

[kwc]

	BGIM 2017 POST SEASON - 3rd ROUND GAMES         (D2 Semifinals & D1 Quarterfinals)
	1A
1	Lake Co at Hillcrest (Thread)
	3A
2	Raleigh Egypt at Covington (Thread)
	5A
3	Brighton at Henry Co (Thread)
	6A
4	White Station at Whitehaven
	D2-AA
5	BGA at Lausanne
	D2-AAA
6	MBA at CBHS

Edited November 15, 2017 by kwc

[kwc]

BGIM 2017 Playoffs - Round 2 Results

[kwc]

BGIM 2017 Playoffs - Standings after Round 2

[dannyq]

1A
1	Lake Co at Hillcrest (Thread)
	3A
2	Raleigh Egypt at Covington (Thread)
	5A
3	Brighton at Henry Co (Thread)
	6A
4	White Station at Whitehaven
	D2-AA
5	BGA at Lausanne
	D2-AAA
6	MBA at CBHS

[kwc]

kwc's BGIM 2017 POST SEASON - 3rd ROUND GAMES Selections                                      1    Hillcrest                 2    Raleigh Egypt                 3    Henry Co                 4    Whitehaven                 5    Lausanne                 6    CBHS

[olddevil]

Round 3 selections:

1.Lake County

2.Covington

3.Henry County

4.Whitehaven

5.Lausanne

6.MBA

[kwc]

Memphis area high school football: DI quarterfinal, DII semifinal previews

John Varlas, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 10:00 a.m. CT Nov. 15, 2017

     

(Photo: Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

Here's a look at Friday's playoff games involving Shelby-Metro teams. All games kick off at 7 p.m.

Class 6A

Match-up: White Station (5-7) at Whitehaven (10-2)

Storylines: It almost wouldn't be a postseason if White Station and Whitehaven didn't meet up at some point. This will be the fifth meeting between the two this decade, with the Tigers winning all except for a second-round game in 2013. The Spartans have to be over the moon confidence-wise after last-second victories over Arlington and Germantown in the first two rounds and in running back Greg Williams, they have a player who can put them on his back. The Tigers blanked Central 35-0 last week with defensive backs Rayshad Williams and Joshua Gray among the standouts. White Station will want to get something going through the air to open things up for Williams. If it can't, it could be in for a long night against Whitehaven's rugged defense.

Worth noting: Of the 60 teams around the state still playing, White Station is the only one with a sub-.500 record.

Class 5A

Match-up: Brighton (8-4) at Henry County (9-3)

Storylines: Say one thing about the Cardinals, they're no quitters. Down 35-7 in the third quarter against Southwind last week, Brighton roared back for a 49-48 victory that put the Cardinals in the quarterfinals for the first time since 2003, when it competed in Class 3A. Malik Jackson, Lance West and Aaron Alston have formed a three-headed offensive monster for Brighton in the last few games while the Patriots have scored 42 in each of their two postseason wins. It could get crazy up in Paris.

Worth noting: Brighton's two games with Southwind this year produced a total of 216 points. The Cardinals won 69-50 on Oct. 20 before last week's comeback.

Class 3A

Match-up: Raleigh-Egypt (12-0) at Covington (11-1)

Storylines: This one would make a fitting championship game but as it is, one terrific team will be done after Friday. The Chargers are a ground-oriented team but struggled to get it going against Milan last week, picking up 189 rushing yards (150 below their  average). Ke'Shun Gant and Cordarries Page are quality backs but will have their work cut out for them against a Pharaohs defense that has only allowed 62 points over the last 10 games. And then there's the Kalyn Grandberry factor; Raleigh-Egypt's senior ran for 309 yards against South Gibson last week and set the Shelby-Metro single-season touchdown record with 44.

Worth noting: Among the quarterfinals, only the Class 4A game between Anderson County (12-0) and Greeneville (12-0) features teams with more combined victories.

Raleigh-Egypt's main task Friday will be trying to slow Cordarries Page when the Pharaohs travel to Covington for a Class 3A quarterfinal game on Friday. (Photo: GAIL BAILEY/The Jackson Sun)

 

Class 1A

Match-up: Lake County (10-2) vs. Hillcrest (8-4) at Melrose

Storylines: Along with White Station, the Vikings are the feel-good Memphis story of the postseason. Hillcrest opened with an 18-8 victory over South Fulton before going to Dresden and shutting out the defending state champs, 6-0. Lorenzo Barnes' team should have plenty of confidence after that performance and has the added advantage of playing in town. Paul Todd is an ace at wide receiver, quarterback D'Favus Ross can get him the ball and Jevonte Garrett is a 6-6, 285-pound lineman with the versatility and skill to play quarterback on occasion. Lake County has been impressive in victories over Freedom Prep and Westwood.

Worth noting: Hillcrest's victory over Dresden was the first time the Lions were held without a point since a 34-0 loss to Friendship Christian in the 2011 Class 2A state final.

 

Division II-AAA

Match-up: Montgomery Bell Academy (9-2) at CBHS (11-0)

Storylines: Division II is down to the semifinals with the winner of this game taking on either Brentwood Academy or McCallie in the final on Dec. 2 in Cookeville. The pick here is the Brothers, whose year-long dominance along both lines was confirmed last week when four players — Nic Cantu, Ryan Winkel, Bryce Bush and Patrick Healy — were selected to play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl high school all-star game. MBA will be physical as well and won't be intimidated with a trip to Memphis, but if the Brothers can play error-free football, its should advance.

Worth noting: Members of the 1977 state championship team — the only football title winners in school history — will be on hand Friday at Tom Nix Stadium to lead the Brothers onto the field.

Battle Ground Academy quarterback Drew Martin has thrown for 35 touchdown this season. He and his team travel to face undefeated Lausanne in the Division II-AA semifinals Friday. (Photo: Larry McCormack / THE TENNESSEAN)

 

Division II-AA

Match-up: Battle Ground Academy (11-1) at Lausanne (11-0)

Storylines: The Lynx found themselves down 14 points early in the quarterfinal victory over USJ before rallying to advance, 35-21. They won't be able to do that against an explosive BGA team led by quarterback Drew Martin, who has completed 71.7 percent of his passes and thrown 35 touchdowns against just five interceptions. Lausanne's secondary will be up to the challenge though, and if Mr. Football finalist Eric Gray and company can put together some time-consuming drives, they'll advance to the Dec. 2 title game against Notre Dame or Christ Presbyterian Academy.

Worth noting: BGA coach Roc Batten played at Vanderbilt from 1994 to 1998.

 

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.

Edited November 16, 2017 by kwc

[Haven04]

1	Lake County (hope I’m wrong)
	3A
2	Raleigh Egypt
	5A
3	Henry Co
	6A
4	Whitehaven
	D2-AA
5	Lausanne
	D2-AAA
6	CBHS

[Tnfootball1234]

On 11/15/2017 at 11:29 AM, kwc said:

	BGIM 2017 POST SEASON - 3rd ROUND GAMES         (D2 Semifinals & D1 Quarterfinals)
	1A
1	Lake Co
	3A
2	Covington
	5A
3	Henry Co
	6A
4	Whitehaven
	D2-AA
5	Lausanne
	D2-AAA
6	MBA

 

[BlackHavenSenator]

On 11/15/2017 at 11:29 AM, kwc said:

	BGIM 2017 POST SEASON - 3rd ROUND GAMES         (D2 Semifinals & D1 Quarterfinals)
	1A
1	Lake Co at Hillcrest
	3A
2	Raleigh Egypt at Covington
	5A
3	Brighton at Henry Co
	6A
4	White Station at Whitehaven
	D2-AA
5	BGA at Lausanne
	D2-AAA
6	MBA at CBHS

 

[BlackHavenSenator]

B U M P

[kwc]

After three decades in the playoff wilderness, Hillcrest is hunting a title

John Varlas, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 10:00 a.m. CT Nov. 16, 2017

     

(Photo: Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

 

What's the old saying about buses? You wait for one forever and then two come along at the same time?

That's the what life is like for the Hillcrest High football team these days. And their last couple of bus rides have been pretty special.

The Vikings (8-4) take on Lake County (10-2) Friday at Melrose in the Class 1A quarterfinals. It's the first time Hillcrest has been this far in the postseason since 1985, when a Vincent Moore-led team won the Class AAA state championship.

That was also the last year the program so much as won a playoff game. They broke the drought by beating South Fulton 18-8 in the first round two weeks ago before outdoing themselves last Friday with a 6-0 road win at Dresden.

It was the first time since 2011 that the defending state champs were shut out, a span of 89 games.

"It felt a lot better coming home with a win than (riding) three hours with a loss," said running back Montrell Polk.

November 15, 2017 - Paul Todd (10) runs a play during football practice at Hillcrest High School on Wednesday. (Photo: Yalonda M. James/The Commercial Appeal)

 

Added standout senior wide receiver Paul Todd, "We're just going with the flow. Enjoying the ride."

Last year's ride was a lot bumpier as the Vikings finished 1-10. Now in his third season, 26-year-old head coach Lorenzo Barnes said the extra work his team has put in is paying off. Especially last week.

"It starts with Saturdays," he said. "There's a full load of film study Saturday. We approach every game the same. It was just another week for us.

"(Dresden) was really the first time we had traveled all season. I think the farthest before was to (ECS). We just wanted to make sure the kids stayed focused. They wanted to win as much as the coaches did."

Polk said they went into that game believing they could win.

"We wanted to exceed expectations and succeed in what we did," Polk said. "For me, it was about buying in. We all had to play our roles so what could succeed."

Hillcrest's defense, in particular its massive front four, has been crucial to much of that success over the past two weeks. Javonte "Too Tall" Garrett — who is versatile and athletic enough to have played quarterback, running back and tight end at other points this season — is 6-7, 285. He's joined by Jaylyn Rogers (6-4, 275), Jerren Jordan (6-3, 250) and Derrick Polk (5-11, 295).

"We've been blessed to get a multitude of big guys at the same time," Barnes said. "The're hard to move off the ball."

Offensively, Montrell Polk and Kristof Smith, who scored the only touchdown at Dresden, are a solid tandem in the backfield. De'Favus Ross is the quarterback and his primary target is Todd, a sure-handed 6-1, 185-pound senior who finished third in the state in the high jump last spring and will represent the team in this year's AutoZone Liberty Bowl High School all-star game.

"Paul is one of the best receivers in Memphis hands down," Barnes said. "The reasons he doesn't get as many catches is people like to double and triple-team him. Last week, he got single coverage and we have to take advantage of that.

"Ross is very smart. As far as knowing the offense, we're blessed to have a very smart quarterback."

Lake County will present a similar test to Dresden. The Eagles are a run-first team with several playoff trips to their credit. But, as Todd says, don't sleep on the Vikings.

"Our confidence is through the roof right now," he said. "You can't be afraid. You've just got to play."

 

 

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas.