By Donovan Stewart
MaxPreps.com
Five weeks down, five weeks to go before the end of the regular season and the start of the playoffs.
Let’s take a look back and review the first half of the season.
Class 1A Storylines
1. South Pittsburg looks unbeatable. The Pirates are averaging 51.5 points a game and have mercy ruled four of five opponents this season.
2. Trousdale County, under first-year head coach Kevin Creasy, is dangerous. The Yellow Jackets, like South Pittsburg, are scoring points but more impressively are playing great defense.
3. Eagleville quarterback coach Carlton Flatt has made an immediate impact on the Eagle signal callers. Yes, the all time winningest coach and winner of 10 state titles is back after a year-long absence making a huge difference.
Biggest Surprise: Cosby. The Eagles are 6-0 after going 2-8 last season.
Blue Cross Bowl Prediction: South Pittsburg vs. Union City
Class 2A Storylines
1. The only team in the state that can beat Alcoa is cross-town rival Maryville. It’s true, Alcoa will win its fifth-straight 2A state title in December because no one can match the Tornadoes in 2A. Maryville has the winning formula defeating Alcoa seven straight years.
2. University School of Jackson employs a spread offense that is exciting to watch and producing PlayStation numbers. Sophomore quarterback Jake Overbey is having fun at opponents’ expense. The Bruins are 5-0 this year and Overbey has thrown for 1,293 yards and 13 touchdowns this year against only one interception.
3. Even really good teams can have a rough season. Take Goodpasture, Christ Presbyterian Academy and Donelson Christian Academy for example The three private school powers are a combined 6-11 this season, which hasn’t happened in a while for these three schools.
Biggest Surprise: Sequatchie County. The Indians were 1-9 last season but are 5-1 and a contender for the region 3-2A title under first-year coach Chad Barger.
Blue Cross Bowl Prediction: Alcoa vs. University School-Jackson
Class 3A Storylines
1. Zach Rogers is the most feared athlete in 3A. Rogers, a University of Tennessee commitment, is David Lipscomb’s go-to guy. Whether it be catching a pass, running the football or making a big play from his safety spot, Rogers always gives the Mustangs a big lift when needed.
2. McMinn Central, Howard and Polk County are all really good football programs. The three schools are a combined 15-0 this year and have visions of long playoff runs if they can survive each other.
3. Knoxville Catholic should be able to break through in the playoffs this year. The Fighting Irish, winners of 28-straight regular season games, have been snake-bitten when the playoffs roll around in recent years.
Biggest Surprise: Ripley. The Tigers were 5-5 last season and are out to an impressive 4-1 start so far this season.
Blue Cross Bowl Prediction: David Lipscomb vs. Knoxville Catholic
Class 4A Storylines
1. No matter what pieces Maryville coach George Quarles has to work with, the Rebels continue to win. Quarles’ program has won 64 consecutive games (second longest streak in nation). Maryville was expected to be vulnerable this season due to the loss of key personnel from the 2007 team. Guess not.
2. Henry County is scary good and will challenge Maryville for the state title. So how good are the Patriots you ask? University of Tennessee commitment Dominique Allen and quarterback Marsalis Teague helping put 45.6 points on the scoreboard per game despite only playing the first half because of huge leads.
3. Cleveland will be a tough team to handle playoff time. The Blue Raiders have it all and folks are comparing them to the glory teams of Benny Monroe in the mid 1990s when they won three-straight Class 4A titles.
Biggest Surprise: Brighton is currently 6-0 and with one more win will surpass its 2007 record of 6-4.
Blue Cross Bowl Prediction: Maryville vs. Henry County
Class 5A Storylines
1. Teams are no longer scared to death of Riverdale. The Warriors no longer strike fear in the hearts of Class 5A, especially Region 4-5A as the Warriors are 3-3 and tied for fifth at 1-2 in the region. They had a 84-game region winning streak broke in week zero by Oakland and was dealt another setback by neighbor Siegel two weeks ago.
2. Smyrna is finding out why no team has ever won three-straight state titles in 5A.
After winning back-to-back state titles, the Bulldogs know how the rest of 5A feels. A new head coach, a complete staff overhaul and heavy graduation losses have Smyrna sitting at 3-3 overall.
3. Running backs Chris Sensabaugh (Dobyns-Bennett) and Jeremiah Bryson (Smyrna) are fun to watch. Sensabaugh, a junior, and Bryson, a sophomore, are a defensive coordinators’ worst nightmare. Both can score anytime they touch the ball.
Biggest Surprise: Oakland. The Patriots (6-0) started the year by beating Riverdale and have continued to build under first-year coach Thomas McDaniel.
Blue Cross Bowl Prediction: Franklin vs. Oakland
Division II-A Storylines
1. Davidson Academy’s Justin Williams is a true workhorse. The sophomore running back has carried the football 173 times already for 1,241 yards and 15 touchdowns.
2. Marlon Brown is a manchild. The 6-foot-5 Brown, a wide receiver at Harding Academy, cannot be defended at the high school level with his height, jumping ability and speed.
3. Aside from the top four teams, it may be a down year. Division II-A playoff rules are the top four teams, plus any team that has a .500 record or better also gets in. Five teams made it last season, but the is unlikely to happen again in 2008.
Biggest Surprise: Southern Baptist Educational Center. The Trojans are currently 3-0 and on top of the standings.
Blue Cross Bowl Prediction: Davidson Academy vs. Harding Academy
Division II-AA
1. Brentwood Academy hasn’t played well as the media favorite. The Eagles were pegged to win the state title before the season, but a 4-2 record so far isn’t quite what they had in mind.
2. Everyone writes off Montgomery Bell Academy and they just keep winning. Daniel McGugin’s team continues to get wins, including the last 19 games in a row. Big Red is 6-0 this season after losing 32 seniors last year.
3. Could this be the year of Ensworth? Just five years after it opened its doors, the Tigers might be looking to crash the party. A year after making the Division II semifinals, Ensworth is 6-0.
Biggest Surprise: Battle Ground Academy. The Wildcats didn’t make the playoffs after a 6-4 record in 2007, but this year are already 6-0
Friday Night Stat Stuffers
Orleans Opoku-Darwa, RB, Ensworth - Ran 36 times for 289 yards and scored three times as the Tigers beat McCallie 37-36 in double OT.
Kemonte Jackson, QB, Stratford - Threw for 312 yards on 17 of 33 passing with three touchdowns in 32-12 win over Pearl-Cohn.
Jake Overbey, QB, University School of Jackson - The sophomore had a huge game, throwing for 427 yards and six touchdowns in 48-12 rout of Briarcrest.
Dylan Wolfenbarger, LB, Knoxville Central - Racked up 25 tackles and two sacks in 18-7 loss to Whites Creek.
Caleb Blance, RB, Knoxville Webb - The freshman rushed for 237 yards and three touchdowns in 31-14 win over Christian Academy of Knoxville.
David Amos, RB, Grace Christian - Scored six touchdowns and gained 252 yards in 39-18 win over Coalfield.
George Hall, RB, Ridgeway - Rushed for 217 yards in a 44-15 win over Bolton.
Jeremy Carson, RB, Southern Baptist Educational Center - Gained 204 yards and scored two touchdowns in 63-48 shootout win over Lewisburg.
Martavius Neloms, DB, Fairley - Intercepted three passes and registered 12 tackles in a 26-10 victory over White Station.
Chris Sensabaugh, RB, Dobyns-Bennett - The junior had a huge game against Elizabethton rushing for 256 yards and two touchdowns in 27-14 win.
Brooks Thedford,QB, David Brainerd - Threw for 317 yards and five touchdowns in 34-0 win over St. Andrews.
Nick Wells, RB, Marion County - Only had six carries but made the most of them, scoring three times and gaining 210 yards in 58-0 wipeout of Whitwell.
Tayvaughn Winn, Lookout Valley - Picked off three passes on defense and scored twice on offense in 22-14 win over Taft Youth Center.
Gary Shoot, RB, Meigs County - Rushed for 269 yards on just 19 carries and scored four touchdowns in 42-33 win over Tellico Plains.
By The Numbers
10- Years in a row McCallie has beaten Baylor. The Red Raiders will try to break that string Friday night.
13- Combined touchdowns between Liberty and Lexington in a 49-41 shootout won by Lexington.
28- Consecutive regular season wins for Knoxville Catholic.
37- Winless teams in the state.
43- Undefeated teams in the state.
325- First-half passing yards for University School-Jackson sophomore quarterback Jake Overbey. He finished with 427 yards and six touchdowns in 48-12 rout of Briarcrest.
424- Combined rushing yardage for the Gleason threesome Shadow Roney (12 carries, 160 yards, 2 TD), Zach Wallace (13/144) and Alex Verdell (18/120 2TD) in 37-6 win over Middleton.
568- Battle Ground Academy’s total offensive output (274 rushing, 284 passing) in 56-21 win over Pope John Paul II.
Big Games
East
* Knoxville Catholic (6-0, No. 2 in Class 3A) at Anderson County (4-1, No. 10 in 3A)
* Howard (5-0, No. 6 in 3A) at Polk County (5-0, No. 5 in 3A)
* Baylor (2-3) vs. McCallie (3-3, No. 9 in Division II)
Middle
* Montgomery Bell Academy (6-0, No. 1 in Division II) at Ensworth (5-0, No. 2 in Div. II)
* Brentwood (5-1) at Franklin (5-0, No. 2)
* Harding Academy (4-1) at Davidson Academy (4-1)
* Westmoreland (6-0, No. 4) at York Institute (5-0, No. 6)
West
* Cookeville (6-0, No. 7 in 5A) at Memphis University School (6-0, No. 3 in Division II)
* University School of Jackson (5-0, No. 7 in 2A) at Milan (5-0, No. 2 in 2A)
Stew’s Top 10 (Regardless of Classification)
1. Maryville (4A) 6-0
2. Montgomery Bell Academy (DII) 6-0
3. Franklin (5A) 5-0
4. Henry County (4A) 6-0
5. David Lipscomb (3A) 5-0
6. Memphis University School (DII) 6-0
7. Farragut (5A) 6-0
8. Dobyns- Bennett (5A) 6-0
9. Alcoa (2A) 4-1
10. Ensworth (DII) 5-0
