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If we needed any more evidence, Friday night was proof
that anybody can beat anybody.
Forget this "any-given-night" business, anybody can beat
anybody period. It doesn't matter if it's warfare,
football or politics, anyone can beat anyone.
Trenton and Westview proved that Friday night.
McKenzie suffered an unexpected setback to Trenton while
the host Chargers topped Huntingdon.
There were some grumblings after the McKenzie game that
perhaps a lousy spot on the Trenton 5, following a
fourth-down play cost the Rebels the game. There was
some acerbic barbs toward the officials that, during the
spot, the stick moved the football back a chain link.
Fine, maybe that happened. But the Rebels shouldn't hang
this setback on a suspect spot.The officiating didn't
spot Trenton 20 points to begin the game.
I've harped on this since the season began. Actually,
I've harped on this for years and years about a variety
of teams and my rant this week targets McKenzie's
football team.
To a man, each Rebel must look in the mirror and ask
himself if he is giving enough effort. McKenzie has been
comatose for part of the first five weeks and, with half
the season already in the books, doesn't have a single
home victory to show for it. In three games, McKenzie
has given up sizeable leads. Only once has McKenzie
managed to overturn the big lead and get a victory.
Sometimes, living on the edge can be an exhilarating
experience. Most of the time, however, teams that live
on the edge tend to fall over the side.
The coaches aren't out there to hear themselves talk. It
is imperative that players work hard at getting better
and take to coaching. That means everybody from the
top-performing seniors all the way down to the last
freshman must be serious at practice the moment they
enter the fieldhouse. With the physical nature of
football, if a freshman puts on the football pads, he is
potentially one play away from going in and eventually
making a start.
You don't believe me? Ask Tyler Reeder, a freshman
lineman on the Rebel football team. He probably never
really expected to be in the starting lineup until next
year at the earliest. Yet he just started his third
straight game. That's why it is important that every
player focuses on one agenda. Leaders must lead and
followers must follow. If there are too many agendas,
nothing will get done.
Yeah, I know, I'm this crusty old guy spewing this
nonsense, but trust me, I would hate for some of these
players to jump ahead 25 years and have this "Man, I
wish I would have done that" epiphany.
This boils down to what kind of pride these Rebels have
in those red jerseys. It's pride in playing tough
defense; pride in your teammates; pride in carrying on a
legacy that has been pretty darned good over the last
decade. What say you, Rebs?
I could stand a bit of improvement myself. I was 18-11
last week. That's simply horrid and perhaps the worst
week I've ever sustained. To date, I'm 90-121 for 74.3
percent.
Here's to this week's games and better success.
McKenzie over Riverside: The Rebels bounce back in this
crucial Region 6-2A game.
Huntingdon over Camden: If Westview hadn't beaten the
Mustangs, I might have made this my upset special. But
Huntingdon has something to prove.
West Carroll over Hollow Rock-Bruceton: The Tigers will
have payback on the mind for last year and has the team
to offer such retribution. But the War Eagles are at
home.
Auburn over Tennessee: The Vols haven't proven to me
that their defense can stop a good team.
In other games, I see:
Westview over Dresden, Humboldt over Union City, Milan
over Trenton, Adamsville over Chester Co., Brighton over
Dyer Co., Ripley over Covington, Obion Central over
Gibson County, Lake Co. over Gleason, South Fulton over
Greenfield, Halls over Stewart Co., JCS over Fayette
Academy, Perry Co. over Middleton, USJ over Trinity,
McNairy over Crockett, South Side over Fayette-Ware,
Lexington over Liberty, Dyersburg over Munford, JCM over
Haywood Co., Hardin Co. over North Side, Henry Co. over
Dickson Co. |
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