DII-A

[USJalum88]

20 hours ago, Playerscoach said:

The west #1’s and 2’s appear to be stronger than the east #1 IMO. At least the games between DCA and FCS/MTCS would be a decent barometer. NCS is loaded, USJ is excellent, and JCS appears to be solid too. So, IMO the East #1 based on the above doesn’t really have an easier path since they would possibly play DCA/JCS/NCS. 

Playerscoach 

I like your weekly updates.  Keep them coming

[CougarDadx2]

East and Middle both come down to the last game of the season (unless there is an upset with DCA / GCF) - DCA vs. NC & MTCS vs. FC. USJ has the West.

[Playerscoach]

On 10/6/2021 at 10:45 PM, USJalum88 said:

Playerscoach 

I like your weekly updates.  Keep them coming

All eyes in the middle and west are on the games in two weeks. Here’s a preview.

FCS at MTCS - This is an interesting game of defensive strength vs offensive strength. FCS is always solid on defense and this year is no exception. They are fundamental and don’t make mistakes defensively so you have to drive the ball most possessions. They are good against the run but have been susceptible against the pass. One FCS fan said “I expect MTCS to hit a few big passing plays on us but we will not make it easy on them to move the ball.” MTCS has a very good QB who can make big plays with his arm and legs. The question is can the team that scored a ton of points in a win against Grace Christian (+23) and their similar offense to MTCS do it in this game? They both have two common opponents in GCS and DCA. MTCS was -2 and -32 and FCS was + 23 and -25. All of those games were in August though so a lot could have changed. It will be a good one for sure. 
 

The NCS at DCA game will be huge for D2A. DCA plays GCS this week and NCS plays MJCA then the game of the year in the middle region occurs at 7 pm October 29th.

This matchup is extremely interesting because the style of play for both is similar.  

Offensively both are very good at both running and passing the ball. Both teams have tremendous size on the OL, and good skill players (QB/RB/WR). NCS has multiple good tailbacks while DCA uses a TB and FB to do the majority of damage on the ground. NCS has speed and skill at the WR position but DCA is somewhat unique in my opinion with their WR corps. IMO it is the deepest group of four wideouts in the 50 year history of the school. All of them can catch a 2 yard hitch and make plays or go vertical and make the band play. I was a WR at DCA and so was my brother so I’ve seen 40 years worth of WRs. My son is a sophomore tailback so there’s no bias there. Lol 

Defensively both teams are big, fast, and well coached. NCS is deeper and will be a huge challenge for DCA to score points. DCAs defense runs to the ball well but has given up some big plays this season.

DCA is huge with four starting lineman over 270 lbs (and others over 225) with a mammoth Jr LT at 6’5” 285 but NCS is even bigger. DCA is also extremely fast but NCS (top region sprinters) is faster having true track speed at the skill positions. The two track teams squared off and NCS won with DCA having five players at sub 11.50 100’s. 
 

Kicking appears to be good for both. DCAs kicker has over 70% of his kickoffs for touchbacks and is considered by services as a top tier kicker in TN. Neither team punts often but both are solid.  
 

Both coaches know each other well and coach Brothers himself attended an early season DCA game. Both teams are well coached and the team that makes the least mistakes will likely win this game. 
 

Based off NCS’s very tough schedule I’d say they are the favorite. They are a complete team IMO and it will take DCAs best game to win. Both teams are going to make noise in the playoffs and IMO the loser of their game has an easier path to the state championship game. That’s not a slight against the east #1 but both the 1 and 2nd teams from the east were soundly beaten by DCA (32 and 25 points). That’s without DCA having two of their best players (all state quality) sit out both games.

Thats all I have. Best of luck to all the teams and fans. Enjoy every moment of this great high school sport. 

Edited October 18, 2021 by Playerscoach

[CougarDadx2]

22 hours ago, Playerscoach said:

All eyes in the middle and west are on the games in two weeks. Here’s a preview.

FCS at MTCS - This is an interesting game of defensive strength vs offensive strength. FCS is always solid on defense and this year is no exception. They are fundamental and don’t make mistakes defensively so you have to drive the ball most possessions. They are good against the run but have been susceptible against the pass. One FCS fan said “I expect MTCS to hit a few big passing plays on us but we will not make it easy on them to move the ball.” MTCS has a very good QB who can make big plays with his arm and legs. The question is can the team that scored a ton of points in a win against Grace Christian (+23) and their similar offense to MTCS do it in this game? They both have two common opponents in GCS and DCA. MTCS was -2 and -32 and FCS was + 23 and -25. All of those games were in August though so a lot could have changed. It will be a good one for sure. 
 

The NCS at DCA game will be huge for D2A. DCA plays GCS this week and NCS plays MJCA then the game of the year in the middle region occurs at 7 pm October 29th.

This matchup is extremely interesting because the style of play for both is similar.  

Offensively both are very good at both running and passing the ball. Both teams have tremendous size on the OL, and good skill players (QB/RB/WR). NCS has multiple good tailbacks while DCA uses a TB and FB to do the majority of damage on the ground. NCS has speed and skill at the WR position but DCA is somewhat unique in my opinion with their WR corps. IMO it is the deepest group of four wideouts in the 50 year history of the school. All of them can catch a 2 yard hitch and make plays or go vertical and make the band play. I was a WR at DCA and so was my brother so I’ve seen 40 years worth of WRs. My son is a sophomore tailback so there’s no bias there. Lol 

Defensively both teams are big, fast, and well coached. NCS is deeper and will be a huge challenge for DCA to score points. DCAs defense runs to the ball well but has given up some big plays this season.

DCA is huge with four starting lineman over 270 lbs (and others over 225) with a mammoth Jr LT at 6’5” 285 but NCS is even bigger. DCA is also extremely fast but NCS (top region sprinters) is faster having true track speed at the skill positions. The two track teams squared off and NCS won with DCA having five players at sub 11.50 100’s. 
 

Kicking appears to be good for both. DCAs kicker has over 70% of his kickoffs for touchbacks and is considered by services as a top tier kicker in TN. Neither team punts often but both are solid.  
 

Both coaches know each other well and coach Brothers himself attended an early season DCA game. Both teams are well coached and the team that makes the least mistakes will likely win this game. 
 

Based off NCS’s very tough schedule I’d say they are the favorite. They are a complete team IMO and it will take DCAs best game to win. Both teams are going to make noise in the playoffs and IMO the loser of their game has an easier path to the state championship game. That’s not a slight against the east #1 but both the 1 and 2nd teams from the east were soundly beaten by DCA (32 and 25 points). That’s without DCA having two of their best players (all state quality) sit out both games.

Thats all I have. Best of luck to all the teams and fans. Enjoy every moment of this great high school sport. 

Thanks for the detail. I think the NCS v DCA game will be a preview of the Championship, since middle #1 & #2 are on either side of the bracket.

[Playerscoach]

31 minutes ago, CougarDadx2 said:

Thanks for the detail. I think the NCS v DCA game will be a preview of the Championship, since middle #1 & #2 are on either side of the bracket.

Man it could be but USJ, MTCS, FCS , JCS, and others will all have their say about it. I expect the NCS at DCA game to have a humongous crowd and the feel of a playoff game. I think both fan bases saw this game as being for 1st place in the region when the schedules came out.

 

[Kublah]

23 hours ago, Playerscoach said:

All eyes in the middle and west are on the games in two weeks. Here’s a preview.

FCS at MTCS - This is an interesting game of defensive strength vs offensive strength. FCS is always solid on defense and this year is no exception. They are fundamental and don’t make mistakes defensively so you have to drive the ball most possessions. They are good against the run but have been susceptible against the pass. One FCS fan said “I expect MTCS to hit a few big passing plays on us but we will not make it easy on them to move the ball.” MTCS has a very good QB who can make big plays with his arm and legs. The question is can the team that scored a ton of points in a win against Grace Christian (+23) and their similar offense to MTCS do it in this game? They both have two common opponents in GCS and DCA. MTCS was -2 and -32 and FCS was + 23 and -25. All of those games were in August though so a lot could have changed. It will be a good one for sure. 
 

The NCS at DCA game will be huge for D2A. DCA plays GCS this week and NCS plays MJCA then the game of the year in the middle region occurs at 7 pm October 29th.

This matchup is extremely interesting because the style of play for both is similar.  

Offensively both are very good at both running and passing the ball. Both teams have tremendous size on the OL, and good skill players (QB/RB/WR). NCS has multiple good tailbacks while DCA uses a TB and FB to do the majority of damage on the ground. NCS has speed and skill at the WR position but DCA is somewhat unique in my opinion with their WR corps. IMO it is the deepest group of four wideouts in the 50 year history of the school. All of them can catch a 2 yard hitch and make plays or go vertical and make the band play. I was a WR at DCA and so was my brother so I’ve seen 40 years worth of WRs. My son is a sophomore tailback so there’s no bias there. Lol 

Defensively both teams are big, fast, and well coached. NCS is deeper and will be a huge challenge for DCA to score points. DCAs defense runs to the ball well but has given up some big plays this season.

DCA is huge with four starting lineman over 270 lbs (and others over 225) with a mammoth Jr LT at 6’5” 285 but NCS is even bigger. DCA is also extremely fast but NCS (top region sprinters) is faster having true track speed at the skill positions. The two track teams squared off and NCS won with DCA having five players at sub 11.50 100’s. 
 

Kicking appears to be good for both. DCAs kicker has over 70% of his kickoffs for touchbacks and is considered by services as a top tier kicker in TN. Neither team punts often but both are solid.  
 

Both coaches know each other well and coach Brothers himself attended an early season DCA game. Both teams are well coached and the team that makes the least mistakes will likely win this game. 
 

Based off NCS’s very tough schedule I’d say they are the favorite. They are a complete team IMO and it will take DCAs best game to win. Both teams are going to make noise in the playoffs and IMO the loser of their game has an easier path to the state championship game. That’s not a slight against the east #1 but both the 1 and 2nd teams from the east were soundly beaten by DCA (32 and 25 points). That’s without DCA having two of their best players (all state quality) sit out both games.

Thats all I have. Best of luck to all the teams and fans. Enjoy every moment of this great high school sport. 

Great write up. You've got me pumped up for this game now and I'm. It a fan of either!

[Playerscoach]

On 10/18/2021 at 7:01 PM, Kublah said:

Great write up. You've got me pumped up for this game now and I'm. It a fan of either!

Man thank you. It really is going to be a great game and if either team/player isn’t dialed in they will get exposed. Both teams have too many good players to let a player get away with not playing their best.

Having seen both DCA and NCS (films) I’m convinced they are a closer matchup than ever. If DCA can’t stop the run it will be a long night just like NCS has to pressure the QB or those WRs will get open. Might come down to special teams, who knows? 

[CougarDadx2]

Everything played out as expected last night:

East:  FCS vs. MTCS determine #1; #3 will be TKA & #4 will be either Lakeway or Webb (hard to believe)

Middle: DCA vs. NC determine #1 (what a game that will be); #3 should be Grace Franklin; #4 Columbia Academy

West:  USJ #1; #2 Jackson Christian; #3 Tipton Rosemark; #4 & #5 FACS / Trinity

It was a cool one last night - must be playoff time!

[Intense]

5 hours ago, CougarDadx2 said:

Everything played out as expected last night:

East:  FCS vs. MTCS determine #1; #3 will be TKA & #4 will be either Lakeway or Webb (hard to believe)

Middle: DCA vs. NC determine #1 (what a game that will be); #3 should be Grace Franklin; #4 Columbia Academy

West:  USJ #1; #2 Jackson Christian; #3 Tipton Rosemark; #4 & #5 FACS / Trinity

It was a cool one last night - must be playoff time!

TCA will finish 3rd if they beat FACS.  TCA beat Tipton Rosemark head to head

[USJalum88]

7 hours ago, CougarDadx2 said:

Everything played out as expected last night:

East:  FCS vs. MTCS determine #1; #3 will be TKA & #4 will be either Lakeway or Webb (hard to believe)

Middle: DCA vs. NC determine #1 (what a game that will be); #3 should be Grace Franklin; #4 Columbia Academy

West:  USJ #1; #2 Jackson Christian; #3 Tipton Rosemark; #4 & #5 FACS / Trinity

It was a cool one last night - must be playoff time!

If Friendship beats MTCS.  3 teams in the East will have one loss.  Each would have beaten each other once.  Tiebreaker?

[CougarDadx2]

4 hours ago, USJalum88 said:

If Friendship beats MTCS.  3 teams in the East will have one loss.  Each would have beaten each other once.  Tiebreaker?

If FCS wins, and TKA beats ND, TKA would finish 2nd I think. If FCS wins and TKA loses to ND, MTCS would be 2nd. Who knows if I read the tie breaking correctly?

[ReitzFan]

7 hours ago, USJalum88 said:

If Friendship beats MTCS.  3 teams in the East will have one loss.  Each would have beaten each other once.  Tiebreaker?

If I'm not mistaken, overall record would then be used to break the three-way tie. If overall record does not break the tie, then you would go into deeper tiebreakers. That will establish who was first. Then, you go back to head to head to determine second and third