Bucs, Pirates work on basics

Boyd-Buchanan and South Pittsburg were awarded first-round byes in the Class 2A and Class 1A playoffs, respectively, so their practice routines were different than a typical game week.

Boyd-Buchanan ran and lifted on Monday.

"We went back to basics," Buccaneers coach Grant Reynolds said. "Tuesday it was offense and Wednesday defense. We were heavy on individual time. Thursday we worked on special teams."

He let the team off today.

Boyd-Buchanan will host the winner of the game between Marion County and Forrest. South Pittsburg will be at home against the Eagleville-Monterey winner. The Pirates used the bye week to work on special teams and conditioning.

"We backed off a little bit from what we had been doing," Pirates coach Vic Grider said. "I thought we had gotten a little sloppy on special teams so we went back to work on that and we ran quite a bit more than we had been.

"We also worked on a few new things that we just hadn't been able to put in yet and a lot of work on fundamentals. This really came at a good time for us. Our schedule had taken a toll and we've been pretty banged up."

Expanded brackets weaker

The 24 teams with losing records in this year's playoffs are the most since 2002 and are double the amount of teams with losing records in last year's postseason. There are five teams with a losing record hosting a first-round game tonight, including four 1A teams with 3-7 records hosting.

The 5A bracket is not only lacking traditional powers with name recognition, it also has seven teams with losing records, including White County (1-9). In that class there are only four programs which have played for a state championship this decade, with Knox Catholic winning the 3A title last year, Hillsboro winning the 2003, '08 4A titles and Ridgeway winning the 2002 3A title.

Cleveland has the most name recognition in this bracket, but is 3-7 and hasn't won a championship since 1995.

McCallie went halfway

McCallie's Blue Tornado left Thursday after practice and dinner for tonight's Division II-AA playoff game at Briarcrest. They stayed in Dickson County, which is about halfway between Chattanooga and Memphis.

It wasn't all football, though. After breakfast this morning, players were going to be in study halls before boarding the buses and heading for Lambuth College and a pregame meal. The team will come all the way home after the game tonight.

Huesman will be ready

An MRI earlier this week revealed that Baylor quarterback Jacob Huesman did not suffer a significant injury to his right (passing) shoulder in the team's 21-22 loss to Father Ryan. Huesman is dealing with a shoulder bruise and is expected to be ready to go when the Red Raiders host St. Benedict tonight.

Offensive lineman Austin Elrod collapsed on the track after last week's game but should be fine.

"He had been fighting the flu and didn't practice until Wednesday. He was just dehydrated," Red Raiders coach Phil Massey said. "Austin was fine once we got some fluids in him and got him to relax."

Elrod played more than expected because fellow lineman Chase Beard suffered a broken thumb.

Hero worship?

Matt Brown was a toddler when his dad, Dickie Brown, coached Chad Barger, but Matt may have something to prove when he and his York Institute teammates visit Barger's Sequatchie County Indians tonight. Matt is a 6-foot-1, 220-pound senior running back and linebacker who will be one of the Dragons' key performers.

"He's averaging about six yards per carry and he has 90-something tackles," Dickie Brown said. "He'll play somewhere. We just don't know where."

Matt has corresponded with a number of schools including Tennessee Tech, Carson-Newman, Cumberland University, Georgetown University and Princeton. The coach said Matt might wind up joining his brother Aaron, who is a redshirt freshman at Cumberland.

Dalton celebrates 50 years

Dalton High School is welcoming back all players, coaches and administrators from all football seasons beginning with the 1960 team to Harmon Field tonight for a celebration of the program's 50 consecutive seasons of winning football.

The celebration, being called "One Golden DHS Team," will take place at halftime of tonight's Region 7-AAAA championship game against Hiram. Athletic Director Ronnie McClurg, who has over 40 years at the school as a coach and administrator, hopes to have a big turnout.

"It means the world to all of us who have ben involved in it over the years," he said. "We're excited about having all the players come back. It's going to be a fun celebration. The mayor will present each of them a proclimation and I've ordered mugs for each of the payers. We want to let them know that after 50 years we still appreciate them and love them. It's going to be great to see them walk onto Harmon Field one more time."