When it comes to season-opening football games, Baylor School is an odds-on favorite.
The Red Raiders' streak of opening wins reached 18 last week with their 42-21 victory over Notre Dame, and it's the longest such streak in the area.
North Georgia power Calhoun has won nine straight openers, and Marion County, a state finalist each of the past three seasons, has won six. Somewhat surprisingly, Whitwell is fourth on the list with five. McCallie and East Hamilton have now won three apiece.
"Scheduling is important," Baylor coach Phil Massey said with a laugh. "It's not like we're playing a Brentwood (Academy), an Ensworth or (Knoxville) Catholic."
But they have played traditionally strong teams over the years also, including Central, Cleveland, Hixson, Rhea County, Soddy-Daisy and St. Anne's Academy of Virginia.
The streak began in 2000 - David Bibee's first year as Baylor's coach - and it has continued under Massey, whose first season on the job was 2006. There has been only one losing season during the streak.
There are no trade secrets to the Raiders' success.
"After our last scrimmage - the Tuesday before the jamboree - we started working on the first game," Massey said. "The assistant coaches do a great job of breaking down film and scheming, and that probably goes a long way toward preparing the players for that game. We talk all the time about there being no secrets to success. It's preparation, hard work and learning from failure."
Phillips is Grizzlies starter
Former Signal Mountain quarterback Reese Phillips has been named the starter at Montana.
Phillips originally went to Kentucky but decided to transfer out of the Wildcats' program.
Montana, a member of the Big Sky conference, plays in the NCAA's Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The Grizzlies open the season on Sept. 2 at home against Valparaiso.
Rhea loses Velasco
Rhea County wingback A.J. Velsaco is on the shelf for a while after suffering a concussion in the Eagles' 21-14 loss to Cleveland.
"He's out indefinitely," coach Mark Pemberton said.
It's likely that Christian Simon, who had moved from wingback to fullback, will be going back to wing and that sophomore Jackson Langley will step up at fullback.
The Eagles host midstate power Blackman this evening.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him on Twitter @wardgossett.