Six observations from Friday’s 2nd-round game titles | Sports

What did we discover from Friday’s 2nd-round playoff games?

THE Street Ahead

Significant university football continues to be a three-match postseason, at best, for Course 6A groups in Northeast Tennessee — simply right up until proved in any other case.

West Ridge arrived up 49 factors shorter Friday night in opposition to Maryville, adhering to a decline margin of 27 by Dobyns-Bennett and 24 by Science Hill before this season.

It was the 37th consecutive acquire by the Rebels around groups from this location, and it doesn’t show up any of all those 3 schools return more than enough standout gamers to believe they will be a major danger to Maryville in 2022 — which would make it a cleanse 50 percent century of whole dominance.

ELIZABETHTON IS All set

The Cyclones played perfectly in each and every phase of the match — with the exception of one participate in, which was an excellent operate by Garrison Terry on an 85-yard kickoff return that gave Anderson County its only points.

Bryson Rollins performed at near the best of his sport, and this group of seniors became the winningest crew in school background with 50. Jake Roberts manufactured two go-get-the-ball landing catches, the floor assault was constant (nevertheless largely Rollins as Cade Russell did not discover a lot room), and the offensive line was solid.

But most outstanding was the Cyclones’ protection. Gifted and potent jogging back Gavin Noe had nowhere to go, and when the Mavericks tried out to move there was either no separation for the receivers or the quarterback was scrambling just before he could in the beginning set his ft.

What this means is the Cyclones are as all set as they could be for the rematch with Greeneville in Friday’s Course 4A point out quarterfinals. But there are two massive troubles for Elizabethton: Greeneville is equally prepared, and the Cyclones have to determine out a way to adjust a 30-stage result into a workable chance at victory.

Amazing Road Dogs

Hampton traveled to Rockwood and obliterated the Tigers, charging out to a 34-6 halftime guide prior to finishing off a 47-18 choice.

The Bulldogs’ tricky timetable — which provided Course 3A state quarterfinalist Pigeon Forge, Course 5A second-round entrant Daniel Boone, and Course 1A condition quarterfinalist Cloudland — seems to be paying out dividends.

The Bulldogs received a few dashing touchdowns from quarterback Conor Jones, who also strike Ashton Hardin for a rating. Levi Lunsford, Jonathan Greenwell and Brody Hicks also identified the close zone for a Hampton workforce that has numerous gamers who know how to rating.

The defense was tough as well and this was an emphatic road acquire.

BEASTLY CLOUDLAND

With 361 yards speeding on 46 attempts, the Highlanders steamrolled Oakdale’s defense.

Of training course it was Seth Birchfield at the forefront with 233 yards and 6 touchdowns. For the period, the senior workhorse has rushed for 2,476 yards with a Northeast Tennessee-very best 38 touchdowns. Wow.

Birchfield is a few short of putting his title in the state’s best 10 all-time record for one-year touchdowns.

This was Cloudland’s biggest offensive output of the year, topping their 54-points efficiency from Unaka and 52 details against Cosby. They also experienced 50 towards Content Valley.

WASHINGTON COUNTY SWAN Tune

Daniel Boone and David Crockett retired their 2021 seasons at the identical time.

Neither workforce was expected to win against perennial energy Knoxville Central, which whipped Boone, and strong Knoxville West, which conveniently dealt with Crockett. The two Washington County groups were being down by a combined 62- at halftime.

But the losses did not knock the luster off these packages. Above the previous six many years they’ve been to the playoffs a blended 12 straight periods with a document of 7-12. By comparison, they mixed for a 7-12 postseason mark in excess of the 1st 45 yrs of their existence.

Boone and Crockett have established their plans and more fantastic points must arrive in the long term.

Tough ENDING

It wasn’t a exciting end for Unicoi County, coming up on the erroneous stop of a 24- reduction to Pigeon Forge.

But this period desires to be remembered for what took place just before Friday’s game. The school had three 10-acquire seasons in 100 a long time of soccer. This was selection four. It demands to be remembered for what it was: just one of the very best seasons in faculty history.

With 30 wins more than the very last 4 many years, this method has turned the corner and — like Boone and Crockett — a lot more good stuff ought to be all-around the corner.