Brighton @ Beech

[Preppy]

5 hours ago, GWAVE1 said:

No it hasn't been bare but I was speaking more in terms of the players, like Tandem said, that were coached up.  Crabtree seems to get the best or better part of some of the athletes.   You will be hard pressed to convince me that Shackle Island has had better avenues of talent than Hendersonville or Gallatin.  Yet they seem to do better with what they have.  It may be scheme it may be coaching it may be players more willing to buy in, I do not know the answer.  I do know for a fact, Dunlap was a nice player to get but SC was more devastated Sirtavious Perry left than him.  That is according to some on the coaching staff. Perry gets hurt but still has a nice season.  Dunlap goes off and becomes a Mr Football candidate.  Now does he get that recognition at Station Camp?  I seriously doubt it.  That is the kind of situation I am talking about.  Crabtree has completely changed the expectations at Beech and that is a testament to his legacy.  

Fair point. I agree to some extent. They've done a nice job of riding their horses. I don't know of anybody in high school football that has done that better to be honest. The tailback at Beech is going to carry it until he drops. It has evolved into that anyway. Back in 2008, they had Deantrice Bennett, Justin Allen, Bobby Huey and Taylor Stewart all in the backfield, and in 2009, they had Sites, Haymer, Walker and Haley (who was more of a factor the next season I believe). They spread it around back then and were in the wing-T more back then. Then, it started turning into a one-horse race as Haymer developed, and he got better the more he touched it. Some of his performances (against Mt. Juliet specifically) should be legendary. They've never been very good defensively. In fact, this is one of their better groups defensively. They've had personnel but have never really won with defense. They've always won by outscoring people, which is odd since the program is so run-oriented. That would give folks the indication that they really develop players. I think that's a little skewed though, because it's the primary ballcarrier that appears to really develop. And those kids have developed. But how much have their quarterbacks developed? Jarod Neal would have been a Mr. Football finalist elsewhere but just played his role at Beech. Smith has matured but hasn't developed a ton in his four years (he got a few snaps as a freshman I believe). He just plays his role. Playing their roles is great and selfless. I love it. But are those quarterbacks being developed? You can look at it in different ways. But overall, do they just do an unreal job of developing talent? I don't know. That's certainly subjective. If they developed kids that well, I'd think they'd be better defensively than they've been. Bottom line is that they win though. AC deserves credit for that. At the end of the day, that's why you play the games. But as far as overall talent, yeah, I'll take Beech's 10-year run of talent over GHS, HHS or SC. I believe the talent is comparable initially, but when you add all of the elite transfers that have strolled through the doors, Beech is definitely the most talented of the area schools IMO. And they've never had to play in the largest classification like HHS and SC has. In this watered-down system, it has given Beech the opportunity to win gold. Good luck to the Bucs the rest of the way.

[eers]

I would say over the last 10 years that HHS and Gallatin had more athletes. SC has athletes every year. This may be the most talented team Beech has had since '09, maybe even more so. 

I would have to say Crabtree has been more successful with less athletes. Athletes, not football players. They buy in, do what they're taught and expect to win. I can't say that happens at some of the other places. 

[thegreatone36]

16 hours ago, Preppy said:

Fair point. I agree to some extent. They've done a nice job of riding their horses. I don't know of anybody in high school football that has done that better to be honest. The tailback at Beech is going to carry it until he drops. It has evolved into that anyway. Back in 2008, they had Deantrice Bennett, Justin Allen, Bobby Huey and Taylor Stewart all in the backfield, and in 2009, they had Sites, Haymer, Walker and Haley (who was more of a factor the next season I believe). They spread it around back then and were in the wing-T more back then. Then, it started turning into a one-horse race as Haymer developed, and he got better the more he touched it. Some of his performances (against Mt. Juliet specifically) should be legendary. They've never been very good defensively. In fact, this is one of their better groups defensively. They've had personnel but have never really won with defense. They've always won by outscoring people, which is odd since the program is so run-oriented. That would give folks the indication that they really develop players. I think that's a little skewed though, because it's the primary ballcarrier that appears to really develop. And those kids have developed. But how much have their quarterbacks developed? Jarod Neal would have been a Mr. Football finalist elsewhere but just played his role at Beech. Smith has matured but hasn't developed a ton in his four years (he got a few snaps as a freshman I believe). He just plays his role. Playing their roles is great and selfless. I love it. But are those quarterbacks being developed? You can look at it in different ways. But overall, do they just do an unreal job of developing talent? I don't know. That's certainly subjective. If they developed kids that well, I'd think they'd be better defensively than they've been. Bottom line is that they win though. AC deserves credit for that. At the end of the day, that's why you play the games. But as far as overall talent, yeah, I'll take Beech's 10-year run of talent over GHS, HHS or SC. I believe the talent is comparable initially, but when you add all of the elite transfers that have strolled through the doors, Beech is definitely the most talented of the area schools IMO. And they've never had to play in the largest classification like HHS and SC has. In this watered-down system, it has given Beech the opportunity to win gold. Good luck to the Bucs the rest of the way.

Bucs would've have pretty good shot at 6A ball this year as well. Look at Cane Ridge for example. They are playing Whitehaven tonight for a chance at a 6A gold ball next week. Furthest they made it the last 2 years in 5A was quarterfinals once. And they even replaced a bunch of seniors off of last years team. Beech wouldn't get manhandled by any team thats left, i'll put it that way. The run is always hard to stop.

[BlackHavenSenator]

I'm picking Brighton by 3. 

[CommandoBlood100]

Just now, thegreatone36 said:

Bucs would've have pretty good shot at 6A ball this year as well. Look at Cane Ridge for example. They are playing Whitehaven tonight for a chance at a 6A gold ball next week. Furthest they made it the last 2 years in 5A was quarterfinals once. And they even replaced a bunch of seniors off of last years team. Beech wouldn't get manhandled by any team thats left, i'll put it that way. The run is always hard to stop.

If the bucs were in 6a they would've played the east side of the bracket and would've matched up with the boro teams in the first 3 rounds. I think beech has a fantastic team but I'm being a realist when I say if they were 6a they're season would've been over a couple of weeks ago.. 2 of the teams left are Oakland and Maryville, both of which would beat beech by 3+ scores

I am taking beech tonight 42-21 over Brighton

[plumb69]

Good luck Cardinals. You've got your work cut out for you tonight but I'm rooting for a Tipton County sweep.

[Preppy]

Wouldn't sniff it in 6A. Not as deep and athletic as those elite programs and not versatile enough to win at that level. But Beech doesn't have to play in 6A. Has developed into an elite 5A program. System is so very watered down though. It's sad.

[Preppy]

19 hours ago, eers said:

I would say over the last 10 years that HHS and Gallatin had more athletes. SC has athletes every year. This may be the most talented team Beech has had since '09, maybe even more so. 

I would have to say Crabtree has been more successful with less athletes. Athletes, not football players. They buy in, do what they're taught and expect to win. I can't say that happens at some of the other places. 

This team is not as talented as 09. That team was stacked. Not as talented as the 2010 flameout squad either with Neal, Zinchini, Haymer, Fleming, Martinez, Podany, Hathaway, Kingcade, Rumsey, Peoples, Gomer and Mortensen. Neal was injured late that season. Stars just didn't align. That team could have won it too, but it just wasn't meant to be. Gallatin has more raw skill kids who can run. All around though (including interior guys), Beech wins the Sumner County talent contest over the past decade though, no doubt.

[crow6424]

Score?

[FBGIRL]

Beech 14-0

[MSURacer]

I had a feeling this would be pretty one sided, although I expected a bit more offense.

Congrats, Beech! Hope you all get gold ball #3 next week!  

[tandem]

Great effort by the Bucs on both sides of the ball tonight. A swarming, physical defense kept Brighton bottled up all night. They only had 27 yards rushing. BEech offense did what they do best, controlled the clock and wore Brighton’s defense down. Dunlap rushed  for 190.  BAck to Cookeville for the third time in 9 yrs.