#TNHSFB: Week Five Recap/Notes
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We have made it to the mid-way point of the 2022 season and Week Five provided some great games and big highlights! Here at #PRZTN, we breakdown some of the biggest stories from last week’s action. Knox. West Flexes Muscle…
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Continue ReadingWe have made it to the mid-way point of the 2022 season and Week Five provided some great games and big highlights! Here at #PRZTN, we breakdown some of the biggest stories from last week’s action.
Knox. West Flexes Muscle In Shutout Win Over Sevier Co.
– Many across the East Tennessee region had their eyes on this game as you had two undefeated 5A programs going head to head in what was expected to be a close, hard fought contest but that wasn’t the case as the road Rebels came into the Smoky Bears territory and shut them out in a 49-0 beatdown.
Holding Sevier Co. scoreless and defeating the Smoky Bears the way Knox. West did, was not expected but what it does say is that the Rebels are more than legit as they may be the best team in the Class 5A ranks. It was an impressive showing by Knox. West as their offense scored at will and their defense was smothering, keeping the Smoky Bears offense on their heels all night long.
The Rebels now move into Week Six at 5-0 and feeling quite good about themselves, especially after this shutout win over a good Sevier Co. team. The road to the playoffs doesn’t get any easier for the Rebels as they have some tough games upcoming, including this coming Thursday against one of the best teams in the state in Alcoa. The Rebels also have upcoming clashes with Maryville and Knox. Central as well, so this team will definitely be battle tested come postseason play.
It will be very interesting to see how Knox. West fares the rest of the way. If they perform at a high level and even win against the likes of Alcoa and Maryville, these Rebels will be considered one of the best overall teams in the state and a major favorite to walk away as possible Class 5A champs.
Baylor/MBA Continue Their Winning Ways
– Another Friday night, another victory for both Baylor and MBA. The Red Raiders went on the road on beat Pope Prep, 42-7 in what was an impressive performance by the #PRZTN number one ranked team in the state while the Big Red dominated yet again in their 45-7 road win over Father Ryan. Both of these teams have been very impressive through five weeks of the season and all signs point to a collision in Week Ten when these two clash with each other in Chattanooga.
Baylor is led by a talented senior class ( Brycen Sanders Brycen Sanders 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor School | 2023 State TN , Evan Haynie Evan Haynie 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Baylor School | 2023 State TN , Dalton Restelli Dalton Restelli 6'4" | 245 lbs | TE Baylor | 2023 State TN , Noah Gravel Noah Gravel 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Baylor | 2023 State TN and others) with multiple underclassmen contributing as well while MBA has a senior quarterback in Marcel Reed Marcel Reed 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB MBA | 2023 State TN , who is playing his best ball yet throughout his high school career.
Both of these teams have stellar quarterbacks and a well balanced offense leading the way but it’s been their defenses to me that is setting the standard. Neither the Red Raiders or the Big Red defenses are allowing much breathing room when the opposing offenses are on the field and both know how to cause havoc in the backfield.
While both Baylor and MBA are playing like the best teams in the state currently, their path the rest of the way isn’t easy as the D2-Class AAA ranks present challenges each and every week. The Big Red have a big contest looming this week against Brentwood Academy while the Red Raiders jump out of classification to take on Ooltewah. It won’t be easy to remain undefeated but if all goes well, both these teams could head into their Week Ten clash without a loss and present the “Game of the Year” and possibly a preview of the D2-Class AAA championship in Chattanooga at season’s end.
Riverdale Win Keeps Growing the Rockvale Program
– One of the more surprising final scores from Friday night had to be Rockvale taking down Class 6A power and region foe, Riverdale 20-7 in what turns out to be one of the programs biggest wins to date. This Rockvale program has been building and growing over the past few years and the coaching staff eyed this season as a possible breakout year that could lead to bigger season’s down the road. This win over Riverdale does just that and shows that the Rockets are no slouch and a tough out for anybody they come across.
What stands out most about the Rockets 4-1 start is their defense and how they have been able to frustrate opposing offenses. Through five games, the Rockvale defense has held three teams to 12 points or less and kept the score low doing so in a variety of ways. The Rockets are led on defense by a pair of underclassmen in linebacker Jake Sayles Jake Sayles 6'2" | 225 lbs | LB Rockvale | 2024 TN and sophomore safety Jaylan Morgan Jaylan Morgan 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB Rockvale | 2025 State TN . These two along with everybody else on the defensive side of the ball have been at a high level so far this year and are big proponents as to why these Rockets sit at 4-1 overall and 2-1 within their region.
While the 4-1 start and this win over Riverdale is huge, Rockvale must remain focused as they haven’t clinched a playoff spot yet and they have some big games upcoming.
This coming Friday, Rockvale competes against the current #1 ranked team in Class 5A with Nolensville, then in October, they have to face two region powers in Blackman and Oakland, so the final stretch won’t be easy. This Rockets team appears up to the challenge and no matter how the season finishes out, Rockvale is doing the right things to build their program and should have very bright days ahead of them.
West Tennessee Showdown Goes to Haywood
– Going into Week Five, the West Tennessee matchup between Haywood and Milan was billed as one of the best games of the week but it didn’t live up to the hype as the Tomcats stomped the Bulldogs, 55-14 and made a statement as one of the best teams this year in the Class 4A ranks.
This was a complete beatdown and domination of Milan as the Tomcats had their way with them and was able to do just about anything it wanted to on offense. Led by junior quarterback Cordero Walker Cordero Walker 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Germantown | 2024 State TN , the Tomcats have a potent offense with several athletic skill players like Jamari Person Jamari Person 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Haywood | 2023 State TN and others that proved to be too much for the Milan defense on Friday night.
Looking ahead, Haywood has some tough games remaining with Melrose, South Gibson and Covington but they should be the favorite in each contest. The path works in the favor for the Tomcats as they eye a region championship which would allow them to host come playoff season and once we get there, watch out for Haywood as they are legit and a bonafide state title contender.
Small School Undefeated Teams to Follow
– Fayetteville continued their winning ways on Friday night with a nice 46-34 win over Moore County. The Tigers have been very impressive through the early stages of the season and look like the top team to beat currently in the Class 1A ranks. This is a well balanced team with a high scoring offense led by junior running back K.J. Jackson K.J. Jackson 5'10" | 165 lbs | RB Fayetteville | 2024 TN and a stout defense with college talent Isaiah Thomison Isaiah Thomison 6'3" | 230 lbs | LB Fayetteville | 2023 State TN and Braxton Wilson Braxton Wilson 6'4" | 275 lbs | DL Fayetteville | 2023 State TN running the show that can remain undefeated as we reach playoff time and possibly stay that way all the way through Chattanooga as eventual champions.
– One of the best stories so far throughout the 2022 season are the Tyner Academy Rams, who remain undefeated headed into Week Six after a 40-0 win over Polk County. It’s been a great start thus far for the Rams who look impressive on both sides of the ball with a high scoring offense, led by Josh Jackson Josh Jackson 6'4" | 215 lbs | QB Tyner Academy | 2023 State TN and a dominating defense that has a talented defensive line with Jamarion Varnell Jamarion Varnell 6'1" | 270 lbs | DL Tyner Acad. | 2023 State TN and Journe Norwood Journe Norwood 6'3" | 285 lbs | DL Tyner Academy | 2023 TN .
As things sit right now, the Rams are ranked as the #1 team in the Class 2A ranks by #PRZTN and currently, I don’t see anyone taking that top spot away from them anytime soon. While anything can happen, the Rams should remain undefeated headed into a big Week Nine matchup against a state power in Alcoa but even if they falter in that contest, Tyner Academy will be better because of that game and hardened their stance as the best team in Class 2A.
– Little known Mt. Pleasant is making noise through the 2A ranks as they remain undefeated after a big 32-21 win over Loretto on Friday night. The Tigers have been consistently winning ball games over the past few years and they might have their best team yet, led by a few guys who will or could play college ball one day.
Led by senior two-way talent and SEMO commit DeMarkus Brown DeMarkus Brown 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Mt. Pleasant | 2023 State TN , the Tigers have played good football this season, showing balance on both sides of the ball and competing at a high level during some close contests. They have a few interesting games upcoming with Columbia, Richland and Forrest but these Tigers are stacked and good enough to maneuver through these games and sit undefeated headed into postseason play.
– A Class 1A school that many won’t talk about too much but is going to get some love here is Coalfield. This East Tennessee program has been one of the more consistent football teams over the past 10 plus years and they are good yet again this year, sitting at 5-0 and looking at a favorable schedule the rest of the way. Gordonsville and Greenback look like the toughest teams left for the Yellow Jackets but if they keep their focus and maintain their level of play, Coalfield might remain undefeated going into November.
Etc ……
– Battle in the Hills between Stone Memorial and Upperman went to the home Panthers last Friday night in a big 15-14 win that solidifies their status as a top team in the Class 4A ranks. This was a classic game between these two rivals that will help each grow and develop into better teams going forward. Both Stone Memorial and Upperman are two teams you don’t wanna see in the playoffs as they both have the chops to make a run to Chattanooga.
– Watch out for the Marshall Co. Tigers as they are 5-0 now after another dominating win in their 45-7 victory over Hillwood last week and this team has been one of the more impressive teams so far throughout the Middle Tennessee area. All signs point to the clash with Pearl Cohn in Nashville in a few weeks and whoever wins that game, wins the region and places themselves as a #1 seed and host when they reach postseason play.
Mid-Season Undefeated ….
Class 1A: Coalfield, Dresden, Fayetteville, McKenzie, Clay Co., M.A.S.E.
Class 2A: Fairley, Hampton, Tyner Academy, Union City, Mt. Pleasant, Richland
Class 3A: Alcoa, East Nashville, Unicoi Co.
Class 4A: Anderson Co., Craigmont, Greeneville, Macon Co., Marshall Co., Stone Memorial, Haywood, Melrose, Red Bank
Class 5A: Daniel Boone, Munford, Knox. West, Nolensville, Page, Springfield
Class 6A: Bradley Central, Collierville, Dobyns-Bennett, Germantown, Oakland, Smyrna
D2-Class A: Friendship Christian, Jackson Christian
D2-Class AA: Knox. Webb, Lipscomb Academy
D2-Class AAA: MBA, Baylor