From the
Upper Deck
Crank
Up The Generator
By Jim Steele
steele@mckenziebanner.com |
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I'd be willing to wager that the TVA will be sending
thank you notes to McKenzie coach Wade Comer, Huntingdon
coach Mike Mansfield and West Carroll coach Chris Rich.
It seems as if teams from this part of the woods like to
burn up kilowatt hours on scoreboards around the region.
The Rebels posted 46 points at Camden (they won 46-7);
Huntingdon strained the circuit breakers with a 70-point
night against Adamsville (HHS won 70-7); the War Eagles
weakened the grid with their 41-14 victory over Lake
County.
What McKenzie did at Camden was astounding. It took some
time for the Rebs to get going. But once they did, the
Lions found themselves mercilessly buried in the rubble
of touchdown after touchdown. MHS quarterback Drew Hayes
might have signaled an alert from the Homeland Security
folks. With as many aerial yards as he threw, I'm
surprised there wasn't an F-16 fighter escort for the
football.
The Rebs dismantled a pretty good Camden team, a Camden
team that had this MHS game circled on its calendar.
But keep in mind that the Rebel offense is only part of
the picture. The Rebel defense has allowed only one TD
in two games and has forced nine turnovers. It
registered four sacks at Camden.
Parallel to the Rebel effort was Huntingdon's solitaire
game with Adamsville. Mansfield might have considered
putting the Mustang cheerleaders in shoulder pads and
helmets because he played everyone he could have played
and there was no let up.
It's not that the 'Stangs were running it up; they are
simply that good, deep, strong and fast.
Adamsville has a young team and a new coaching staff.
One can presume the Cards will get that situation
corrected.
West Carroll, meanwhile, enjoyed much balance in its
game against Lake County. The War Eagles shook off the
cobwebs from the Trinity game, got things corrected and
have righted the ship. The War Eagles have their talons
trained on the brass ring this year, folks.
The season is 20 percent complete and an exciting
stretch run is about to ensue. My suggestion to fans in
the area: turn out your lights when you leave home to
attend the game; we're going to need all the power we
can get to light up the scoreboards.
Speaking of lighting up, I was smoking like Joe Camel
last week. I was 18 of 21 on my picks which brings me to
35 of 45 for the year, a 78-percent clip. I was reminded
by longtime Rebel fan Gary Young that I incorrectly
picked Obion over Ripley when I thought that I had done
the opposite. Like Jeopardy! or Wheel of Fortune, we
have to take my first answer.
Things occur.
Here's to this week's picks:
McKenzie over Dyer County: This game was closer than
expected last year, but the Rebels are more seasoned.
The Tribe has a new coach for the fourth time in eight
seasons and consistency will continue to be a problem.
USJ over Hollow Rock-Bruceton: This is THE Class A game
of West Tennessee anymore and the Bruins will escape the
Tigers' Den with barely their hides.
Huntingdon over Lexington: The Mustangs gallop to 3-0
over the neighboring Big Red Tigers.
West Carroll over Memphis Catholic: Catholic is neither
Catholic nor private, but it will be good prey for the
hungry War Eagles.
In other action, I see: Jackson Christian over
Halls, Greenfield over Middleton, Camden over Houston
County, Trenton over Adamsville, Chester Co. over
Fayette Academy, Dresden over Lighthouse, Humboldt over
Liberty, Obion Central over Martin-Westview, North Side
over Union City, Milan over Manassas, South Side over
JCM, Riverside over McNairy, Crockett Co. over Gibson
Co., Ripley over Haywood, Brighton over Bolton,
Covington over Millington, Dyersburg over Kingsbury,
Hardin Co. over Bolivar and Munford over Carver.
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