Friday Night Lights - Austin East vs. Catholic

Other than the Maryville vs. Alcoa game, this was the game I was most looking forward to on my schedule. I had never seen Austin East play and I had heard that their band was amazing. I always love a good band so I was excited to watch for myself. Let me also just say, that since beginning this blog, I have been asked to contribute to the Tennessee high school Rivals site, TNVarsity.com. This partnership was allowing me to gain free admission to the games I decided to attend by contacting the home school and getting my name on the pass list. Well this week was a little different because the Austin East principal emailed me back and said I would need to show my press pass at the gate. The problem with this was that I had no press pass, so I made one in word, laminated it, got a fancy clip, and then used it to get into the game. It's probably one of the crowning achievements in my college career.

Pretty legitimate if you ask me.

I picked up my friend Ford who went with me to the Bearden game and we headed to Austin East. We quickly decided it may be best for us to sit on the Catholic sideline for safety reasons. Ford got some popcorn which had enough butter on it to last a week. I went for the chili dog but I think both of us would have rather gotten the fried chicken legs that were being sold at a stand behind one of the end zones. The Catholic band began playing during warm-ups, which really wasn't a big deal, until the bagpipe joined. I must admit I was even more surprised when the Catholic bagpipe player led the team onto the field.

You can't see him, but trust me. . . he's there.

The opening kickoff crossed the goal line and was immediately ruled a touch back. Let me just say, this is the dumbest rule in High School football. What purpose does this rule serve? What is the difference in catching the ball a yard deep in the end zone and catching the ball on the one? Get rid of this rule! 

Running back Nolan Coulter of Catholic absolutely was ready to play tonight. He reminded me a bit of Devrin Young of Bearden the way he was hitting the holes and making his way upfield. Catholic marched down the field but a holding penalty negated a touchdown run and then Catholic fumbled inside the Austin East 10 yard line. Austin East began a drive of their own, in which running back Cordy Cox channeled Hershel Walker and destroyed Catholic's Michael Bonfini. Cox threw Bonfini aside like a rag doll in route to a run that gained about 25 yards. The fumble bug hit the Roadrunners as well though and the two teams took turns driving down the field then either would have their drive stall or turn the ball over. Just as I was noticing the AE color guard stretching for the halftime show however, Catholic's QB Mike Wegzyn completed a jump ball to Patrick Haun to put the Irish up 7-0 at halftime.

Now was the point in the game that I had been waiting for. Austin East's band and fans did not disappoint. As the band played "All I Do Is Win" and a kid in the top of the stadium threw down moves that I had only seen from Michael Jackson, the marching roadrunners won yet another halftime show. It was by far the most entertaining thing I have seen in a long while.

This is the AE band. It was at this point I wished I had remembered my camera.

Catholic opened the second half by kicking a short squib kick, recovering it, and then proceeding the swiftly put the ball in the end zone again to take a 14-0 lead. On the ensuing Austin East drive, not only did I notice that the chicken stand's line had not gotten any smaller since I had arrived, but I also noticed that Cordy Cox for AE, was a play maker. On a busted screen play, Cordy made one of the most remarkable catches I believe I have ever seen by pulling down a pass with one hand that was at least 10 feet above him. This catch ended the 3rd quarter and to start the 4th, Austin East QB Donald Oggs went Seneca Wallace circa 2002 and scored on a QB scramble from about 8 yards out after running for what seemed like 3 years to put the Roadrunners on the board 14-6. The extra point attempt was probably the worst I have ever seen. Ford pointed out that this attempt made the Walker Valley kicker look like a Groza Award winner.

An Austin East interception gave the Roadrunners a chance to pull even closer, but yet another turnover gave Catholic the chance to go up 20-6. Another botched PAT try kept the Irish from making it 21-6. I think you should be made aware that the Catholic coach's mom was in attendance tonight. She sat right behind Ford and me and the only time she stopped shaking her milk carton full of beans and kept quiet, was during the halftime show. It was nothing short of inspiring. She was never more loud than after a terrible call by the referees, in which a Roadrunner ball carrier fumbled on the Catholic 1 with the ball bouncing out of bounds after crossing the goal line, put Austin East within one score instead of giving the Irish the ball on the 20. 

The Roadrunners took advantage of this however, and an inspired defense gave the Austin East offense the ball back with enough time to tie the game. Austin East looked more efficient than they had the entire game on their final drive, but on a 4th and 1 on the Catholic 2, the Irish defense made a stand and time expired. A great game with a great halftime show and a great finish, these are the kind of games I love.

Friday Night Lights - Anderson County vs. Campbell County

I graduated from Campbell County in 2005. When I put my schedule of games to attend together I knew I wanted to go to at least 1 CCHS game, and tonight's game was the one I wanted to go to. When I was in high school we were never able to play ACHS but it was a huge rival none the less. Kids who felt they would get a better chance at getting a scholarship to play football would go to high school at Anderson County after going to middle school at Jacksboro or LaFollette. This created the mindset at Campbell County that we weren't good enough and seemed to always give the Cougars a chip on their shoulder.

There is a big difference between big time high school football, and just a high school football game. Tonight that difference was very obvious. This was the first game I had been to this year where there hadn't been a single D-1 prospect on the field for either school. Just one player of such caliber can make a difference in a game. Devrin Young was the difference in the Bearden game that I went to, and in the Maryville game there were numerous players on both sides of the ball that will be playing on Saturdays very soon. Tonight it was just two teams full of kids that want to be like the players they watch on TV but will more than likely never be able to have someone watch them.

The Anderson County PA announcer was introducing the starting lineups when I realized the intro music being played was that of the Chicago Bulls from the Jordan era. At any moment I was expecting to hear, "At guard, 6'6 from North Carolina, MICHAEL JORDAN!" While the remaining names were announced and the Jock Jams Volume 1 CD played, Hef, one of the friends that had come with me, pointed out that a Maverick, which is Anderson County's mascot, is a horse and not a longhorn which had been painted at midfield. As we looked around, we noticed a lot of the shirts for AC had the Chicago Bulls logo on them. Again I will point out that a Maverick is a horse. Not only did they have the wrong animal, but the logo's horns were so long that it resembled the female reproductive system more so then a longhorn.

Correct

Incorrect

Just before kickoff the sound of a cow mooing was played over the loud speakers. I don't really feel like this needs to be commented on any further to describe how ridiculous this was. AE, a friend that I met at the game, commented about how sharp the AC coaching staff looked. Looking across the sideline at the CCHS coaching staff, it looked as if the Campbell County staff were ready to go across the parking lot to the gym and play a pick up game of basketball. The coaches were in matching black athletic shorts with the CCHS logo on one leg, and blue t-shirts with the Cougar logo on the chest.

Following a defensive stop by Campbell County, the Cougars went three and out and decided to punt. The only problem was that the punt only went about 9 yards from the line of scrimmage. This gave the ball to AC on the CCHS 35. Needless to say the Mavericks scored. It became a scoring frenzy for Anderson County after that. Something I did not understand was after every single score, the entire Maverick team would huddle up and jump around, much like Lane Kiffin's teams would do before the 4th quarter began. I didn't understand it then, and I really didn't understand it now. 

After every single score. . . Is it really necessary?

Campbell County had just one score the entire game, and that was on a fluke defensive play. The Anderson County QB attempted to pitch the ball to the RB just when a CCHS defensive lineman hit him, making the ball fly skywards and back about 15 yards. Another CCHS player was able to scoop and score on the play giving the Cougars their only touchdown of the game. Anderson County won 56-7 making it two years straight the Mavericks have beat the Cougars. Again, I found that I should have attended a different game, this time being Farragut vs. Catholic. Catholic scored in the closing minutes to win 21-18.

Next week I plan on attending Austin East vs. Catholic. While I don't expect to see a grown man in a super hero costume, which was the case tonight, I do expect to see an incredible halftime show from the Austin East marching band. After tonight's game I have also amended my schedule of games to get rid of the CCHS games. The new list is below. Let me know what you think.

Friday Night Lights - Maryville vs. Alcoa

I know this was a Thursday night game, but I'm not going to change the name of the post. This is high school football and boy was it on display tonight. I had heard tales of having to get to the game hours before it started in order to get a seat so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I picked up my friend Stone, a Maryville alum, and we headed to the stadium around 5:30pm. On our way he explained some of the things that had happened in past games and just how bitter this rivalry was. I have never been to a high school game where the two schools just absolutely despise one another so I was a bit nervous to be a neutral fan, worrying that if I cheered for a good play, no matter who made it, would I immediately be exiled. 


We ended up being able to sit a few rows behind the Maryville student section, and 2 hours before kickoff the stands were already packed. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. The two student sections were throwing barbs across the field at one another. Every time an Alcoa supporter had to walk through the Maryville section they were met with a wall of insults and at times had water thrown on them. It reminded me a lot of The Swamp in Gainesville. After the teams stretched and the National Anthem was played, it was finally time for kickoff of one of the biggest rivalries in Tennessee High School Football

On the first drive of the game, Maryville's running back fumbled the ball. When an Alcoa player went to recover the fumble, somehow it was kicked further down field, and then before any of the other players could catch up to it, a referee went to pick up the ball not realizing that the 22 players on the field were still trying to chase it down. Luckily the player who fumbled was ruled down before he fumbled but still not a smart move on the part of the ref to try and pick it up. My roommate Andre', who met us at the game, also pointed out that Maryville has a player on their team whose name may or may not be Mufasa.

Mufasa or not, this was his program picture.

At halftime Andres' friend left to go get food. He came back with Sour Punch Straws and water. I told him that was the first time I had seen Sour Punch Straws since 6th grade, and Andre' followed that statement up with, "What made you buy those anyway?" His reply, "They were out of pizza." I am still baffled by this diet substitution. Anyway, Alcoa led at halftime 14-10, which was better than the 42-19 margin that Bearden had over Walker Valley in the last game I had attended. 

The second half started slow but heated up towards the end of the third quarter after a roughing the kicker call on a 40+ yard FG attempt that was shanked something fierce. The penalty I agree with, what happened after the flag was thrown . . . not so much. A Maryville player overcome with joy after finding out the drive would continue, threw up his hand to give the head referee, who also happened to be the one to throw the flag, a high five. This action is fine, but what is not fine is said referee actually giving it to him. The penalty allowed The Rebels to continue the drive that led to a Maryville touchdown. 

Alcoa answered back quickly though with Alcoa running back Vanderbilt Hambrick breaking a huge run for an Alcoa score. This gave the Tornadoes a 21-17 lead. While we were talking about how fast Hambrick was, as well as how he easily had the best name out of anyone on the field, Maryville receiver Clarence Langley caught a pass on a post route and took it to the house to put the Rebels back on top 24-21.

The scoring seemingly didn't stop from that point on. Alcoa's Vanderbilt Hambrick took a sweep play to the outside for about 9 yds before cutting it back up field, breaking about 6 tackles and juking everyone and their mothers out of their shoes, including Stian Romberg, who was definitely the goat for the Rebels tonight. Romberg dropped numerous passes including one that would have been a touchdown early in the 1st quarter. The Rebels and Tornadoes traded scores a few more times but after Darrell Warren scored from two yards out for Alcoa, and the Tornado defense held on 4th and long, all Alcoa had to do was run out the clock and leave Maryville with the 35-31 victory, handing Maryville their first home loss since 2000.

Maryville sulks on one end of the field while to Alcoa go the spoils on the other.

I won't be able to go to a game this Friday, but next Thursday I am planning on getting out to Powell High School for the Powell vs. Halls game and next Friday I am looking forward to watching my alma mater play for the first time this year as they take on the Mavericks of Anderson County. It's going to be really hard to top the game I just watched though. However it will also be really hard to be as bad as the Bearden vs. Walker Valley game. I guess I'll have to wait a week to see what each game brings.

Friday Night Lights - Bearden vs. Walker Valley

Last night was week zero for the 2010 high school football season. Just looking at the games lined up I couldn't really find any game that stood out and screamed GREAT GAME so I decided to find a school that I knew was usually pretty decent and hope that the school they were playing was about the same. Not knowing anything about Walker Valley, I kinda just prayed they were good. Ford and my brother went with me to Bearden to watch and almost immediately my brother pointed out that all high school students are the same. I laughed for a moment, but then realized that about 5 years ago, some college kid was looking at me and thinking the same thing.

It was immediately evident that we had not come to a game that was going to be close at all. Ford pointed out how ridiculously bad the Walker Valley place kicker was. Very reminiscent of last year's UT FG unit. wide left, wide right, line drive into the back of the center's head.

Bearden recieved the opening kickoff and moved the ball at will, mostly on the legs of their running back Devrin Young. We found out later that while schools with interest in Devrin include Illinois, Vandy, and Ga. Tech, only Stanford has offered him a scholarship up to this point. He definitely helped his case tonight though. It seemed like every time Bearden scored it was him, and he also took a kickoff back some 80 yards for a touchdown. There was one play where Devrin absolutely destroyed a Walker Valley LB. My brother, Ford, and myself immediately began to take jabs at the poor kid only to find out that his mother and uncle were sitting directly in front of us. That still did not change that fact that her son just got trucked.

Walker Valley was entirely out of their league in this game. Nothing was going right other then a kickoff returned for a touchdown and a great catch by a Walker Valley receiver just before halftime. On a punt attempt, Ford and I discussed how far we thought the punt may go. Right before the snap Ford got all prophetic and called for a block. Sure enough that is what happened and Bearden scored a touchdown. On another attempt the ball sailed over the punters head and out of the endzone for a safety. After the 1st quarter it was 30-6 Bearden. We left at the conclusion of the 3rd quarter because it was becoming hard to watch. Staying any longer would have been like watching a train wreck. 

When we got back to my apartment and turned on the TV to see that Carter and Hardin Valley were about to go into OT. That is the game we should have gone to. Next week, on Thursday, I am going to the Maryville vs. Alcoa game. With multiple D-1 prospects on both squads, I would have to assume this won't be the same 72-27 blow out that the Bearden game was. Below is the schedule of games that I plan to attend. If you know a better game to go to on any particular week, drop me a line.

Why Not

So I figured since I have no tests to study for or any sort of homework my last semester of undergrad school, I would start a blog. It just seems like the cool thing to do and would give me something to do in the time that I would be spending studying for tests and what not. I thought I would just take this time to to briefly describe what I thought I might do with this thing. Living in Knoxville there are quite a few high school football teams in the area, most of which I have never seen play. So this year I decided I would change this and find the most intriguing match up of that particular week and go with some of my friends to watch it. So at least until the end of the high school football season this blog will just be about the game that we were able to watch. After that I'll find something else to post on maybe. Enjoy!