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After last week's puzzling loss to Riverside, McKenzie
found itself at a crossroads.
It was 3-3 and faced the prospect of missing out on the
playoffs for the first time since 1996.
This team had to reach deep within and come up with
something nasty against a good football team in Dresden.
What was worse is that the Lions were defending their
own den - Rotary Field.
But McKenzie persevered, put forth a solid effort and
defeated a very fine Dresden football team 29-28. This
team is a good football team. It's a 4-3 team that could
easily be 7-0 at this point. This team has weapons, an
ability to grind out long drives and score on every
play.
What makes this team more exciting is that the defense
is starting to step up and play. Sure, the Rebel
stoppers have a long way to go, but they played pretty
well against a potent Lion squad that has a lot of
weaponry as well.
McKenzie has a rich opportunity before it. It can get in
the playoffs with a victory over Chester County. And
this won't be an easy task, as I will outline later.
McKenzie has as good a team as anyone in West Tennessee
this year, but as we have seen, anyone can beat anyone.
This was a pivotal game for the Rebels. Beating Dresden
at its place was no small accomplishment. They will have
to be on their game if they intend to move on in
post-season. And given the topsy-turvy nature of this
season, we could see a repeat of 2002, or we could be
getting ready for basketball.
* * *
So let's look this over. Riverside beat Chester County.
Chester County beat Trenton, Trenton beat Milan, Milan
beat Huntingdon, Huntingdon beat Camden, Camden beat
McKenzie, McKenzie beat Adamsville and Dyer County, both
of whom defeated Chester County. Oh yeah, Chester County
was drilled by Huntingdon.
So how good is Chester County?
McKenzie is going to find out. And the Rebels had better
be ready to play in this Jekyll-Hyde season.
McKenzie has an opportunity to win out and there is no
disrespect intended for Westview, Huntingdon or Chester
County. I think if you spoke to Don Coady, Mike
Mansfield and Jeff Cupples, those coaches of their
respective teams would agree.
* * *
Folks, write your congressman, call out the national
guard. Yep, your humble sports scribe is now officially
an uncle.
Samuel Spears Askew was born Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004 at
1:33 p.m. He weighed 9 lbs., 2 oz. and was 21 inches.
Unlike me, he has a full head of hair. The mother, who
also may be better known as my sister, is doing fine.
Though I did ask the doctor if they could perform a
necessary lobotomy on her.
They didn't, so I guess I'm stuck. Gee I wonder if my
folks are happy about being grandparents? I do know my
folks are grateful I wasn't twins.
* * *
With the bizarre nature of this football season, my
picking acuity has hit rock bottom. Last week I was
12-10 overall. It was perhaps my worst week ever. That
puts me at 117-166 for 70.5 percent. Here's to better
luck this week.
McKenzie over Chester County: This is a HUGE game for
both teams. The winner moves on for Week 11; the loser
likely gets ready for basketball. The Rebels are rolling
and even though they haven't won at home, the trend ends
this week.
Huntingdon over Riverside: The Mustangs rebound for
another 6-2A victory.
Bruceton over Lake County: This is a hunch, but I think
the Tigers can take the Falcons this week. This used to
be one of the premier Class A rivalries in West
Tennessee. It may build to that again.
West Carroll over Greenfield: The War Eagles recover and
go 7-1. This is still a pretty salty bunch.
Tennessee over Ole Miss: The fact that the Vols beat
Georgia means they may be ready for a letdown. Ole Miss
hasn't defeated the Vols since 1983. Ole Miss beat South
Carolina, so they may be deflated as well. The Vols
should win.
Bethel over Cumberland (Tenn.): The Wildcats are fresh
off a victory over Kentucky Wesleyan. They could be
primed for a home decision.
Elsewhere, I see:
JCS over Perry County, USJ over Middleton, Fayette
Academy over Trinity, South Fulton over Halls, Camden
over Adamsville, Dresden over Milan (upset hunch),
Westview over Union City, Marshall Co. over
Fayette-Ware, Ripley over Brighton, Dyersburg over North
Side, Lexington over McNairy, Crockett Co. over South
Side, Liberty over Bolivar, Obion over Dyer County,
Covington over Gibson Co., Haywood over Hardin County
and JCM over Munford. |
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