By Donovan Stewart
MaxPreps.com
Mother Nature wasn’t kind to any of the football programs alive in the TSSAA football playoffs last Friday night as rain was dumped throughout the state making just about every field a sloppy quagmire.
With the muddy conditions, every score was important and a bevy of close games resulted.
Here’s hoping the forecast is better for this week’s quarterfinal round.
Second Round Lessons
* Davidson Academy running back Justin Williams is a sophomore stud. The Bears have rode Williams all season as he has rushed for 2,628 yards and 38 touchdowns.
He rushed for 350 yards and six touchdowns in a win against Southern Baptist Educational Center to get the Bears to the Division II-A state title game.
* Don’t look now, but here comes Brentwood Academy. After a Week 10 loss to rival Father Ryan, the 7-4 Eagles were wrote off by many (including me). Head coach Ralph Potter and his staff went back to the drawing board and the running game has been unstoppable during the playoffs, carrying the program to a state record 24th state title appearance.
* Revenge is sweet. Four teams got revenge for losses they suffered in the regular season against region foes.
McKenzie dumped Union City 17-14 after losing to the Tornadoes 21-16 in week four.
Harding Academy got revenge and a berth in the Blue Cross Bowl Division II-A title game by beating First Assembly Christian School 13-6 after losing 20-14 in week eight.
Lake County got redemption and a berth into the quarterfinals beating Gleason 42-40. Gleason too the week four match-up, 30-18.
Melrose got a huge measure of revenge by shutting out Memphis East 19-0. East was on the other end two weeks ago, winning 30-25 for a region title.
Class 1A Superlatives
Team of the Week – Cascade. The Champions are making history with every step in the playoffs as they have never been to the quarterfinals before and they have never had an unbeaten regular season before. Always a first time for everything.
Player of the Week – Bunkie Vanskiver, QB, Greenback. The Indian quarterback was on the money all night long throwing for 263 yards and five touchdowns in a 61-36 rout of Knoxville Grace.
Rematches – Oneida-Greenback, McKenzie-Lake County, Cascade-JoByrns.
Friday’s Picks – South Pittsburg over Trousdale County, Oneida over Greenback, McKenzie over Lake County, Cascade over JoByrns
Last Week – 5-3
* Team in bold won first meeting
Class 2A Superlatives
Team of the Week – Goodpasture. The Cougars were impressive going on the road and defeating a very good Lewis County team.
Player of the Week – Benjamin Cunningham, RB, Goodpasture. Cunningham made sure his Cougars advanced to the quarterfinal round as he rushed for 158 yards on just nine carries and scored twice.
Rematches – Alcoa-Loudon, Boyd Buchanan-Marion County, Christ Presbyterian Academy-Goodpasture, Milan-Jackson Christian.
Friday’s Picks – Alcoa over Loudon, Boyd Buchanan over Marion County, Christ Presbyterian Academy over Goodpasture, Milan over Jackson Christian.
* Team in bold won first meeting
Class 3A Superlatives
Team of the Week – Mitchell. After starting 0-4, the Tigers could have folded but they didn’t and now make their second straight quarterfinal appearance.
Player of the Week – Daniel Hood, TE, Knoxville Catholic. The senior tight end came up huge as he caught his first touchdown since middle school – a 65-yarder to help Catholic upend Anderson County 17-13.
Rematches – White House-Station Camp, Knoxville Catholic-Austin East, David Lipscomb-Giles County
Friday’s Picks – White House over Station Camp, Knoxville Catholic over Austin East, Dyersburg over Mitchell, David Lipscomb over Giles County
* Team in bold won first meeting
Class 4A Superlatives
Team of the Week – Melrose. The Golden Wildcats got revenge on region rival Memphis East for a week 10 defeat.
Player Of The Week – The Melrose defense. A week after Memphis East scored 64 points and piled up 664 yards of offense, Melrose’s defense played great and blanked the high-powered East offense.
Friday’s Picks – Maryville over Rhea County, Sullivan South over Greeneville, Henry County over Melrose, Hillsboro over Beech
Class 5A Superlatives
Team of the Week – White Station. The Spartans used the legs of sophomore Brandon Hayes, who scored two touchdowns in a 26-21 upset win over Millington.
Player of the Week – De’Andre Purty, RB, Farragut. Purty, a junior had a huge game rushing for 186 yards and two touchdowns in a 17-7 win.
Rematches- Smyrna-Oakland, Ooltewah-Farragut, White Station-Germantown, Franklin- Brentwood
Friday’s Picks – Smyrna over Oakland, Ooltewah over Farragut, White Station over Germantown, Franklin over Brentwood
Class Division II-A Superlatives
Team of the Week – Harding Academy. The Lions got revenge for an earlier loss against FACS, winning 13-6 and advancing to the state title game Nov. 25.
Player of the Week – Justin Williams, RB, Davidson Academy. The sophomore did it again, tallying for his fourth 300-yard game of the season. The Bears will meet Harding Academy for a state title.
Class Division II-AA Superlatives
Team of the Week – Brentwood Academy. The Eagles went to Ensworth and beat the undefeated Tigers 27-24 behind Victor Caro’s 240 yards rushing.
Player of the Week – Victor Caro, RB, Brentwood Academy. The sophomore went over the 1,000-yard mark on the season as he rushed for 240 yards in the Eagles 27-24 win at Ensworth.
Friday Night Stat Stuffers
Justin Williams, RB, Davidson Academy – Rushed for 350 yards and scored six touchdowns in a 37-20 win over Southern Baptist Educational Center
Victor Caro, RB, Brentwood Academy – Rushed for a career-high 240 yards and scored twice in a 27-24 win over previously undefeated Ensworth.
Bunkie Vanskiver, QB, Greenback – Passed for 263 yards and five touchdowns in a 61-36 blowout of Knoxville Grace.
De’Andre Purty, RB, Farragut – Rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns in a 17-7 win over McMinn County.
Jake Johnson, RB, McKenzie – Rushed for 175 yards and one touchdown in a 17-14 win over Union City.
Alex Ford, RB, Frankln – Rushed for 177 yards and two touchdowns in a 44-14 win over Hendersonville.
David Jones, RB, South Pittsburg – Rushed for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a 28-12 win over Friendship Christian.
Brandon Hayes, RB, White Station – Rushed for 195 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-21 win over Millington.
Dominic Kimble, WR, Lake County – Caught 11 passes for 225 yards – including the game-winning, two-point conversion – and two touchdowns in the Falcons 42-40 win over Gleason.
Keenon Holder, RB, Huntingdon – Rushed for 188 yards and two touchdowns in a 21-14 loss against Jackson Christian.
Marsalis Teague, QB, Henry County – Rushed for 179 yards and two touchdowns while throwing another in a 37-7 win over Fairley.
Stew’s Top 10 (Regardless of Classification)
1. Maryville (4A) 12-0
2. Henry County (4A) 12-0
3. David Lipscomb (3A) 12-0
4. Memphis University School (DII) 12-0
5. Franklin (5A) 11-1
6. Alcoa (2A) 11-1
7. South Pittsburg (1A) 11-0
8. Ooltewah (5A) 11-1
9. Brentwood (5A) 11-1
10. Knoxville Catholic (3A) 12-0
Questions ? Comments ? Contact Donovan at dstew4vu@yahoo.com
