1A Preseason Top 10

[CoyDillard]

4 minutes ago, TheTruthHurts22 said:

I hope you guys repeat and stay kings of Marion County! 😂 I honestly think the world as a whole is headed in the wrong direction but we all have our own agendas and reasoning! 

Hahaha..... we just hope to win more than we lose, but you never know.  Appreciate the support!

[CaptainLongbeard]

2 hours ago, CoyDillard said:

Pirates had enough coming back to win it all. What they've added has made them a lock. If they don't win it all every coach should be fired.

Looks like mostly freshmen from what I’ve seen. I wouldn’t look for any of those kids to pay dividends until a year or so down the road. I think we had over 20 moving up from the middle school team last season. 

[CaptainLongbeard]

2 hours ago, CoyDillard said:

Getting the qb from Central is a big get to me. He is more of a true qb. Last years qb will be out in space now and that's not a good thing for opponents of the Pirates. Adding the LB from Marion will help too. SP loses kids too other programs sometimes as well. I don't have a problem with a kid transferring if it's done legally and there's a better opportunity for the kid. Marion has benefited at times as well. It's not hard to draw attention when you're winning. Kids want to win and be a part of a shot at a title. These communities support the programs and it shows.

LB from where?  Confused. I knew we lost a LB that started for us last season. As well as 3-4 more starters that apparently wanted greener pastures. 

[Pirate2003]

I am picking SP and Coalfield in the semis for a chance to represent the east again. We lost 5-6 starters from last season due to transfer but gained a couple of upperclassmen that will help as well as some rising freshmen. 

[Pirate2003]

10 hours ago, CaptainLongbeard said:

LB from where?  Confused. I knew we lost a LB that started for us last season. As well as 3-4 more starters that apparently wanted greener pastures. 

It was more like 5-6 starters that transferred after last season. The LB he means is a kid from Jasper. From my understanding though he’s out for several months with an injury though. 

[ItsAlwaysSunnyInAtwood]

17 hours ago, 1983 said:

With that talent on the 2022 team?  Absolutely they would have won with Surber also.  That team had much more talent around him than last years team.  Surber was Mr. football Also, you are not giving him near enough credit.  I’m not taking anything away from Cassidy because he was great and a great kid.

No, they wouldn't have lmao they would've lost to Fayetteville. Surber is the more prototypical QB, I get it. But Cassidy possessed a clutch gene Surber doesn't. Against Fayetteville McKenzie got the ball down 17-18 with about 2:30 left on their own 18 or 19. Cassidy marches them all the way down to their own for a lollipop fg to win. Cassidy was 3 of 4 for about 45-50 yards and had a 20+ yard run. If I'm not mistaking, Taylor didn't get a touch on that drive.  On the other hand, leading 34-18 starting the 4th quarter with 2nd down and goal on MASE's 5 or so that drive ends in an Interception. Long story, short 2 more ints followed as well as a snap over the head of the punter and McKenzie loses. I want to say they mustered 3-4 first downs in the quarter. These things are not the same. You can argue 2022 was better than 2024 and I agree but the level of comp played wasn't anywhere close. 2022's road to a Championship was much tougher and 2024 McKenzie cruised until they didn't. 

[Waker]

2022 McKenzie team had the most talent they’ve ever had at McKenzie.

[1983]

42 minutes ago, ItsAlwaysSunnyInAtwood said:

No, they wouldn't have lmao they would've lost to Fayetteville. Surber is the more prototypical QB, I get it. But Cassidy possessed a clutch gene Surber doesn't. Against Fayetteville McKenzie got the ball down 17-18 with about 2:30 left on their own 18 or 19. Cassidy marches them all the way down to their own for a lollipop fg to win. Cassidy was 3 of 4 for about 45-50 yards and had a 20+ yard run. If I'm not mistaking, Taylor didn't get a touch on that drive.  On the other hand, leading 34-18 starting the 4th quarter with 2nd down and goal on MASE's 5 or so that drive ends in an Interception. Long story, short 2 more ints followed as well as a snap over the head of the punter and McKenzie loses. I want to say they mustered 3-4 first downs in the quarter. These things are not the same. You can argue 2022 was better than 2024 and I agree but the level of comp played wasn't anywhere close. 2022's road to a Championship was much tougher and 2024 McKenzie cruised until they didn't. 

So you are looking at one tough stretch for an 18 year old?  Seems you are grasping at straws if you think there is much difference between the two.  By the way Taylor was the best running back in the history of McKenzie and he is in the top 10 in 4 career statistical categories in the state.  If you can tell me Mckenzie had a back like that the last two years that took pressure off Surber I might could agree.  We can agree to disagree

[CoyDillard]

8 hours ago, Pirate2003 said:

It was more like 5-6 starters that transferred after last season. The LB he means is a kid from Jasper. From my understanding though he’s out for several months with an injury though. 

He will be ready by start of the season. Conditioning may be a little slow but hes a tough kid. He will make an impact by the end of the season.

[ItsAlwaysSunnyInAtwood]

On 6/13/2025 at 4:25 PM, 1983 said:

So you are looking at one tough stretch for an 18 year old?  Seems you are grasping at straws if you think there is much difference between the two.  By the way Taylor was the best running back in the history of McKenzie and he is in the top 10 in 4 career statistical categories in the state.  If you can tell me Mckenzie had a back like that the last two years that took pressure off Surber I might could agree.  We can agree to disagree

It's not just one tough stretch, anytime he's faced halfway decent DBs he shut down and had a horrible game passing like the 6 for 18 vs South Pitt. Look if your WRs are running wide open he'll hit them and he'll throw a beautiful pass doing it. If the DB is only providing a small window to complete a pass then it's probably not going to be a completion.  And Like I said previously, when McKenzie had their back against the wall vs Fayetteville they didn't even give Taylor a touch. Cassidy completed the  game-winning drive without Taylor touching the ball. So that argument is pretty null and void. 

Edited June 17 by ItsAlwaysSunnyInAtwood

[RexKwonDo]

On 6/13/2025 at 3:38 PM, ItsAlwaysSunnyInAtwood said:

No, they wouldn't have lmao they would've lost to Fayetteville. Surber is the more prototypical QB, I get it. But Cassidy possessed a clutch gene Surber doesn't. Against Fayetteville McKenzie got the ball down 17-18 with about 2:30 left on their own 18 or 19. Cassidy marches them all the way down to their own for a lollipop fg to win. Cassidy was 3 of 4 for about 45-50 yards and had a 20+ yard run. If I'm not mistaking, Taylor didn't get a touch on that drive.  On the other hand, leading 34-18 starting the 4th quarter with 2nd down and goal on MASE's 5 or so that drive ends in an Interception. Long story, short 2 more ints followed as well as a snap over the head of the punter and McKenzie loses. I want to say they mustered 3-4 first downs in the quarter. These things are not the same. You can argue 2022 was better than 2024 and I agree but the level of comp played wasn't anywhere close. 2022's road to a Championship was much tougher and 2024 McKenzie cruised until they didn't. 

McKenzie cruised until all their RB’s and secondary got injured playing in blowout games. 

[rtl112]

On 6/13/2025 at 10:27 AM, Pirate2003 said:

I am picking SP and Coalfield in the semis for a chance to represent the east again. We lost 5-6 starters from last season due to transfer but gained a couple of upperclassmen that will help as well as some rising freshmen. 

I'm thinking Coalfield/Hampton vs SP