Area TSSAA playoff game facts
CLASS 5AOoltewah (10-2) at Farragut (11-1)On the road/at home: 3-2/6-0The last time: Farragut won 24-7 in a first-round playoff game on Nov. 6, 2009.2016 playoffs: Ooltewah beat Campbell County 51-14 and Walker Valley 45-20; Farragut beat McMinn County 40-21 and Rhea County 33-30.CLASS 3AEast Ridge (7-5) at Sequatchie County (12-0)On the road/at home: 4-3/7-0The last time: East Ridge won 19-10 in 2002 regular season.2016 playoffs: East Ridge beat DeKalb County 23-18 and Red Bank 35-28; Sequatchie County beat Howard 42-6 and Notre Dame 56-28.CLASS 2AMarion County (11-1) at Forrest (11-1)On the road/at home: 4-1/7-0The last time: Marion won 20-17 in a first-round playoff game on Nov. 6, 2009.2016 playoffs: Marion beat Westmoreland 42-0 and Watertown 49-15; Forrest beat Tyner 21-14 and Meigs County 16-13CLASS 1ASouth Pittsburg (11-1) at Columbia Academy (11-0)On the road/at home: 5-1/7-0The last time: South Pitt won 76-21 in a first-round playoff game on Nov. 2, 2009.2016 playofffs: South Pittsburg beat Cornersville 62-12 and Fayetteville 42-0; Columbia Academy beat Grace Academy 49-21 and Whitwell 20-13.DIVISION II-AABaylor (8-4) at Brentwood Academy (8-2)On the road/at home: 1-4/6-0The last time: Brentwood won 35-0 at home on Sept. 16.2016 playoffs: Baylor beat Pope John Paul II 35-20 and Memphis University School 16-12; after a first-round bye, Brentwood beat McCallie 37-29.
About the only thing Trey Hubbard hasn't done this football season is fill and carry the water coolers, and he would do that if it came to his attention the chore hadn't been completed.
The East Ridge senior wants to win and has proven that he'll do what he can, whether it's blocking, tackling, snapping or walking a fine line of enthusiastically coaching up teammates.
A year ago, as the Pioneers scrambled to a 10-0 record, a region championship and a run that went three games deep into the playoffs, Hubbard played defensive tackle, fullback and offensive guard. He did it the last four games with a torn labrum, which made his priorities clear to his teammates.
"The team was bigger than me," he explained.
Yet his 2016 role expanded.
Tim James, the former Pioneers player who began his head coaching career at East Ridge and then returned last spring, has called Hubbard into his office almost every Monday after East Ridge sustained an injury. The subsequent action has led to the 5-foot-11, 245-pounder playing more positions than even he imagined.
At some point in the past 12 games, Hubbard has played linebacker, end and tackle on defense, and he has been among the offensive linemen in addition to playing tight end and fullback.
In the preseason, Hubbard's ultimate scenario had him starting at outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme and possibly fullback.
"I've never played outside before, but I feel pretty good about it. I'd like to have some sacks and interceptions, but I might like to make all-state on the offensive line," he said back in the dog days of preseason workouts.
It didn't work out that way.
"Wherever we have a vacancy, I'm the person who fills it," Hubbard said.
"We have moved him because of need, which was brought on by injuries," James responded when asked about Hubbard's versatility and value. "He's a very bright kid, so he's able to make adjustments. One week it was at center, another week at guard. You put him somewhere and he does a pretty good job."
Hubbard is an honors student who's well-rounded - he's also a basketball and baseball player as well as an occasional cook known for fried chicken coated with pancake batter.
The coaching staff knows Hubbard likely would prefer to play only on one side of the ball, perhaps zeroing in on his fullback abilities.
"He's a youngster that attempts to do things the right way, the way it's coached. More importantly, though, he also tries to do the right things as a young man," James praised. "He's a team player."
Even team players rarely have such versatile skills.
"It's not so much physical ability as the ability to shift on the fly and adapt," James said. "He was slowed early as he recovered from that shoulder surgery, but since the first couple of ballgames he has come on strong."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.