When Cleveland hosts McMinn County Friday evening the game is likely to be the first of several 5-AAA contests that could determine who wins the title.
The preseason favorite, McMinn County enters the game with a 1-2 record (losses to McCallie and Maryville and a win over McMinn Central) but no 5-AAA game outings. Cleveland, a dark horse for the 2010 title, is coming off a 33-28 loss to Morristown East.
To hear Blue Raiders coach E.K. Slaughter tell it, his team didn’t play well enough in any phase of the game to even think of winning. He was critical of third-down conversion offense, third-down conversion defense, his team’s inability to shut down an option offense and his offense’s inability to score when it got inside East’s 10-yard line. And then almost as a slap in the face, the Hurricanes’ winning score came on a third-quarter interception.
Slaughter was telling anyone that would listen, “It was like we were on a field trip or something.”
In other words, there was a team-wide lack of focus from starting quarterback to fourth-string cornerback.
One has to wonder if McMinn County is licking its chops. The Cherokees are finally getting into region play and have two games against quality opponents – McCallie and Maryville – under their belts.
But this is only the first of potential “title-winning games” between now and Oct. 29, especially in this district.
Ooltewah looked like a solid title favorite after winning its first two over Tyner and Austin-East but the Owls suddenly look mediocre after losses to Soddy-Daisy and Franklin. Walker Valley can apparently play against Class 4A and 3A teams (wins over Brainerd and McMinn Central) but the Mustangs also lost their only district game thus far, falling to Rhea County. That win currently has Rhea third in 5-AAA despite a 1-3 overall record.
So if there is a surprise team thus far in 5-AAA it is probably Soddy-Daisy, which has a shutout win over Ooltewah in its lone district outing but which also slapped down neighborhood rival and 6-AA favorite Red Bank last Friday.
* Speaking of Red Bank, the Lions will find out where they really stand – and might also provide Howard with some answers about the Tigers’ season – Friday at Howard. Both are undefeated in 6-AA and Red Bank’s win a couple of weeks ago over East Ridge is looming large. Howard is 3-0 overall but the Hustlin’ Tigers have been shaky at best and have relied heavily on their defense while trying to brush the kinks from their Tiger-bone option, which is supposed to be high-octane like that of Georgia Tech.
The district has been pared to four unbeatens with Tyner and, surprisingly, East Hamilton joining the Lions and Tigers. Tyner will be the heavy favorite when the Rams play the upstart Hurricanes Friday.
* Anyone noticed the leader in 7-AA? It’s Chattanooga Christian – well, it’s Chattanooga Christian and Sequatchie County with 1-0 records but CCS has a better overall record at 2-2. The district tie at least will change Friday with the Chargers going to Sequatchie. Of course the likely 7-AA favorite is Bledsoe County (4-0). The Warriors open district play this week at Notre Dame (1-3, 0-1).
* It looks like 5-AA is settling in as expected with Polk County on top but the Wildcats are sharing that spot for the moment with Sequoyah, which always seems to play them close. And at least one winless season will end Friday when 0-4 Meigs goes to 0-4 McMinn Central.
* An untimely timeout? His team leading 42-27 with 10 seconds left, Polk County coach got his feathers ruffled when somebody along Chattanooga Christian’s sidelines called a timeout.
“Here we were trying to run out the clock and them banging away at us every play. The game was over and somebody over there called a timeout? I called a pass play,” Polk coach Derrick Davis said.
Davis wasn’t in a mood to be trifled with. He was already without two starters and lost two more including wingback Tyler Lee early in the game. Slightly less than half of the Wildcats’ offense includes Lee, who could be sidelined for a week to a month with either turf toe, a toe sprain or a broken toe.
* It shouldn’t have taken this long to mention it but Signal Mountain and South Pittsburg play Friday at South Pitt and that one should be for the District 6-A title. OK, Signal has played South Pitt which should make this game a little closer but one has to wonder how Signal will handle the kind of environment the Eagles are stepping into Friday. They have never seen anything like it – from the railbirds who’ll taunt them from start to finish to the coaching staff which tucks mercy away in the equipment room long before rivalry game kickoffs. And don’t make the mistake of thinking this isn’t a point-to-prove game for each.
* All eyes in 5-A have shifted from Boyd-Buchanan (2-2 overall) to Copper Basin (4-0). Boyd, with a win over Silverdale, is the district leader, but Copper Basin plays its first district game this week at that same Silverdale. The Copper Basin-Boyd game is the regular season finale on Oct. 29 at Boyd.
* A quick look in Georgia shows Dalton, Ringgold, Chattooga and Armuchee playing unbeaten teams. Dalton (2-1) is at home against Allatoona (3-0); Ringgold (3-0) is on the road at Cartersville (3-0); Chattooga (0-3) is at home against Calhoun (3-0) and Armuchee (1-2) plays at Dade County (2-0).
* In Alabama, Fort Payne is matching North Jackson thus far with both teams getting off to 3-0 starts. Meanwhile, Ider tries to rebound from its first loss in a home game against rival North Sand Mountain.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or (423) 757-6288.