Christopher James

Here’s a quick look at the five remaining area challengers in the state wrestling tournament:
Greenback
Jeremy Miller, 145 pounds: The junior captured Greenback’s only individual wrestling state title as an eighth grader (103 pounds in 2007) but has finished second (135 in 2009) and third (119 in 2008) the last two years. His 3-2 loss in the state final last year was probably the match of the tournament.
Tyler Dailey, 285 pounds: The senior has never made it this far, losing in the first round the last two years. He’s been money this season, though, losing just once to Bradley Central’s Patrick Benson. Benson is also through to the quarters, but the pair wouldn’t meet until the championship match.
Heritage
Keagan Matlock, 152 pounds: The freshman is through to the second day of championship play in his first appearance for the Mountaineers. The rookie shouldn’t look like on today, though. Matlock was 65-9 as an eighth grader for Heritage Middle last year, winning the Tennessee State AAU title at 145 pounds.
Nathaniel Molina, 135 pounds: Molina went out in the first round last year at this weight, so it’s new territory for the junior. He gets a familiar face in Seymour’s Michael Raimondi this morning. Seymour defeated Heritage, 54-22, in the Region 3-AAA duals earlier this season
Maryville
Tyler Wilson, 215 pounds: Wilson fell in the second round last year. Not an easy draw today, as he gets Hendersonville’s Brett Jaeckel who was sixth at this weight last year.

FRANKLIN — I think there’s more than a little disappointment in the minds of Greenback’s wrestlers today.

The Cherokees were ousted from the championship bracket last night after losing to defending A-AA state champion Hixson in the quarterfinals of the TSSAA state dual wrestling tournament. The event’s blind draw meant what played out like a championship-type matchup was contested in the first round.

“I had some people, some refs, come up to me after and say that should be the state finals match,” Blackmon said. “It just goes to show us that one match could’ve gone the other way and we could’ve been sitting in the state finals.”

Greenback has bounced back from that 36-33 loss and is in position to grab third in a few moments, the bare minimum first-year coach Bryant Blackmon said he would accept last night.

Assistant coach Justin Ridge, who took the Cherokees to the semifinals last year in Clarksville before being derailed by Hixson, echoed that same sentiment. Ridge, who stepped down to focus on his duties as head football coach, saw his team fail to win a single consolation match after losing to the Wildcats last year.

He said he’d make sure Greenback found itself into the consolation championship this time around. The ‘Kees kept their coach’s word by defeating Montgomery Central, the same team that ended their tournament in the consolation rounds last year.

FRANKLIN — Both Maryville and Greenback seem comfortably bound for the second round of consolations here inside the mammoth Williamson County Expo Center.

And what a place it is. Ten mats on the arena floor make for plenty of space and lots of simultaneous action during the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s state dual wrestling tournament. Last night, Rebels coach Mark Humphrey told me moving the tournament from Clarksville High School was a good decision.

Wrestlers go at it in the TSSAA state dual wrestling tournament in Franklin

“There’s so much more space here,” Humphrey said. “In Clarksville we had to run from gym to gym. They got a lot of space. … The view is as good as Clarksville. I don’t think the seats are quite as good as Chattanooga just because they don’t go up very steep.
“It’s a little hard to see everything. There’s so much space. I’d say this arena is 100 yards long.”

That appears to be the general sentiment with the only complaints concerning some viewing angles. The sheer size of the arena makes it difficult to keep track of mats that aren’t adjacent. That will come into play more during the individual tournament, slated to start here in two weeks, which moved from UT-Chattanooga’s McKenzie Arena.

For now, this place has the feel of a wrestling festival.

GREENBACK —

Thomas Viar sneaks in for a 2 yd TD.

MW down to GB 5.

Burnette returns 41 yard INT for score.

Petty 45 yd td run.

GB drive stalls at MW 44

GB is stopped at the MW 22 just before the half ends.

Both offenses stalling.

73 yard TD run from Richard Seymour.

GB fumbles for a third time in this opening quarter. 4th and 24.

GB punts again.

Teams trade INTs.
MW gets a first down but forced to punt

Midway wins the toss and will receive.

Another Friday, another trip to Greenback. Getting set for kickoff here at Cooper Field where the ‘Kees (2-4, 0-2 Dist. 3-A) seek their fourth straight home win and first district victory against Midway (1-4, 0-2). The Green Wave have lost four straight since a 14-0 win over Wartburg Aug. 28. The only common opponent for these two so far is Harriman. Midway lost to the Blue Devils by just a touchdown, 21-14, on Sept. 4. Of course, Greenback fell to Harriman in that painful 20-18 loss two weeks ago.

Getting ready to head out for my fourth straight Greenback game, and I thought it might be time to check out the Cherokees playoff scenarios.
It doesn’t look pretty.
Greenback (2-4, 0-2 Dist. 3-A) currently sits near the bottom of District 3-A, just barely ahead of tonight’s opponent Midway (1-4, 0-2). It’s safe to say tonight’s game, and every game from here on out, is a must win. Teams make the playoffs via an automatic qualifier or wild card.
The ‘Kees have four games to go, including three in the district that are at home. To “automatically” qualify for the postseason, Greenback needs to jump over Grace Christian (4-1, 2-0) or Harriman (3-1, 2-0).
The good news is all of the Cherokees wins have come at home. The bad news is two of those games are against Grace, whose allowed seven points in district play, and Tellico Plains, a 5-1 (1-1 District 3-A) 2A school. In order to gain an automatic qualifier, Greenback needs to win all three remaining district games and hope either Harriman or Grace loses its last three. This makes that painful loss at the Blue Devils a little more excruciating. The TSSAA does a decent job of explaining automatic qualifying in each district here.
As the standings currently fall, there would be six wild cards in Class A. Greenback is in a tie for tenth based on total wins, the second tie breaker. Head-to-head is the first tie breaker, which will rarely come into play. For a full list of playoff procedures, look here. Two wins down the stretch would put the Cherokees right in the thick of things, especially considering Lookout Valley, Greenback’s opponent next week, is leading the wild card standings.
Chances for a return to the playoffs are slim, but not impossible.

ONEIDA —

GB gets onside kick.

Sellers 12 yd TD pass to burnette.

Sellers intercepted. This one’s over.

Hood takes it in from a yard out.

4th and 5 OHS at the 12.

Sellers fumble sets Oneida at the GB 14.

Willie Woodard goes 86 yards on a pass from Houston hood. Touchdown.

Sellers rolls out. Incomplete

GB has a 4th and 2 15 yards from the end zone.

GB gets a stop and great field position at the 23.

63 yd Td pass, sellers to Glenn.

Braxton Hudson gets loose for 44 yard TD rush.

Double reverse pass from Glenn to Tyler burnette sets GB at the 19 but Sellers is sacked and time expires.

GB punts and Oneida is pinned deep. Neither team has any offense in this weather.

10 yard rush by Richard Seymour ffinally produces GB first down.

Oneida has 4th and 5 at GB 38. Kees unable to move in slop.

GB has 2 drives, no first downs

Oneida’s Sam Woodard rushes in from 34 yards out.

GB 3 and out. Oneida down to the GB 20.

Oneida defers. Greenback will receive.

Live here in a sopping wet Oneida as we get set for a rivalry matchup between Greenback (2-3) and the Indians. Remember, Oneida delivered Bunkie Vanskiver and the 2008 ‘Kees their only two losses, including a 50-21 rout here in the Class 1A quarterfinals. The Indians (2-2) have won their last two by a combined score of 71-7. Of course, the Cherokees had that heart-breaking, 20-18 loss to Harriman last week. It’s getting down to must-win time for coach Justin Ridge. Trey Glenn returned to the lineup last week, and Ridge said his team is down to just four players with the flu. The only other question mark is how will Shawn Petty’s confidence rebound, and will freshman Richard Seymour reappear as a major threat? Stay tuned.

HARRIMAN —

Inman punches in from 3 yards out.

Petty fumbles on direct snap . H 3 yards from the lead.

3rd and 13 for H at midfield. GB is clicking.

67 yard Td run by Petty after a Chesser fumble.

52 yd rush by Stinnett pulls Gb within 2.

Sellers 42 yd TD pass to stinnett caps 84 yd drive. Petty really got moving this drive.

GB pinned at the 16 again.
GB stops H but a bigpunt pins ‘Kees at their own 5.

Sack ends the GB drive. H runs out the clock. A couple plays on either side are the difference. Sellers fumble on the opening drive and a stalling drive at the H30 just as Seymour was getting cranked up hurt. On the other side, Chesser’s big 4th down completion and McAbee’s 34 yd rush after he was initially stopped setup the two scores.

GB calls timeout facing 3rd and 15 at it’s own 40.

Inman falls into the end zone for the TD.

McAbee’s 34 yd second effort has H at the 2. Fourth and goal.

GB has H with a 3rd and 13 but Dimitrique Inman busts a 15 td gain.

‘Kees best drive stalls at the 30. Sellers sacked on fourth down, setting H at it’s own 42.

GB escapes, forcing a turnover on downs. ‘Kees are driving at their own 35.

Sellers goes on a knee to catch a punt attempt setting H up at the GB 22.

Travis Sellers fumbles and H marches 63 yards down the field. Mark Chesser’s 22 yard pass to Brice Mayton on 4th and 6 set up Cole McAbee’s 5 yard run.

Trey Glenn is suited up wearing 14. GB will recieve.

Set for kick and the rain has let up a little.

Here in Harriman for a Rivalry Thursday matchup between the Blue Devils and Greenback. It is pouring in Roane County. That was probably one of the worst drives I’ve had down 40 in my 1+ year here in Tennessee. Sidelines here are covered in standing water. Hopefully no sinkholes tonight.

On to the game. The Cherokees got their first-ever win over Harriman here last year, 30-22, but last year’s team is gone, 17 seniors in all. Greenback would love to get its first win in the new District 3-A and coach Justin Ridge is seeking his first career road victory following a 48-14 home thrashing of Sweetwater last Friday. Harriman has won its last two after dropping a 14-7 decision to Kingston Aug. 28.

Greenback may have seen the return of kicker Jeremy Miller Friday but the Cherokees still had to do without offensive coordinator Mark Streit.
The first-year assistant had to deal with a family emergency in Nashville, leaving coach Justin Ridge, primarily a defensive guru, to call the offensive plays.

“I’m not very good at it,” Ridge said. “I’ve done it before. We put a couple of extra things in this week. It’s been hard on me, just time-wise. But we understand why he’s not here and everything. It’s his offense and we just basically tried to do some things we were planning to do anyway.”
Ridge scrapped Streit’s no-huddle system because he didn’t have the time to put together the cards Streit uses each week to telegraph plays. The coach admitted the ‘Kees could’ve used that no-huddle when quarterback Travis Sellers had his team down to the Sweetwater 1-yard line in the final seconds of the first half. Sellers still punched it in for the score, but Ridge said he hopes he can have his top offensive mind back next week at Harriman.
“If anything, it wasn’t as good as what he would’ve done,” Ridge said.

Tyler Burnette has to be the early favorite for area defensive player of the week, and the senior didn’t look too shabby on offense either. The Florida transplant moved from a 6A school in the sunshine state last fall where he specialized in baseball. Burnette said he was told to play any sport he could at class A Greenback, so he picked up football.
The decision paid dividends for the Cherokees Friday. Burnette returned one of his two first quarter picks for a touchdown and caught a 34-yard pass in the second quarter for his second score of the game.
“Everybody says I’m slow,” Burnette said. “I ran as hard as I could trying to burn ‘em. I always want coach to throw me a fade and this was my first chance and I had him beat. Perfect pass by Travis.”
Ridge attested to that lack of speed, but the shortstop certainly fooled the Wildcats Friday.
“He’s only been playing football two years I think,” Ridge said. “He’s just a football player, man. He works hard and makes plays.”

Ridge’s playcalling may have led to 48 points, but it wasn’t all roses for the Cherokees offensively. The run game looked hot and cold. Freshman tailback Richard Seymour’s eventual 116 yards seemed like a fairy tale when the Cherokees ended the first quarter without a single first down.
(Hear Ridge on the ‘Kees start)
The hosts had the same problem at the start of the third quarter, stumbling around and letting Sweetwater back into the game with a Sellers fumble that was returned for a touchdown. Of course, Seymour erased any doubt with a cutting 58-yard run across the field on the next play.
“We made a couple adjustments at halftime and then the first series we had the ball we forgot the adjustments,” Ridge said. (Hear Ridge’s adjustments)

That run game was also missing senior Trey Glenn, who was in street clothes after suffering an injury at Rockwood last week. Ridge said he was hoping to to get Glenn released by doctors to play against the Blue Devils. Unfortunately for Ridge, it’s a short week with the Cherokees playing on the new made-for-television Rivalry Thursday. The coach warned his players after the game that missing just one of only three practice days this week could hurt their chances of seeing the field
“The good thing is it’s the same for them,” Ridge said. “It’s just a lot of preparation to do in three days.”

Regardless of Glenn’s status, Greenback seems to have at least found a kicker with the return of Miller. Going into Friday’s game, the Cherokees were 0-for-3 on extra point attempts and had yet to kick a field goal. Miller nailed 6-of-7 extra points against the Wildcats. Ridge pointed out those six points made a touchdown difference on the scoreboard.
“It’s huge,” Ridge said. “You don’t have to worry about a 2-point play, you just line up the play. You don’t have to think every time you score.”

———
The Cherokees left Harriman last year with a 30-22 victory, their first over the Blue Devils in school history … Ridge, in his first year as a head coach, is unbeaten in two home games with both wins coming over 3A schools. The former defensive coordinator has been outscored 58-6 in two road contests.

GREENBACK —

Brandon Williams runs 12 yards for TD.

This one is all but over.

Submarine tackle forces SW fumble. Seymour hits the endzone from 15 yards out.

SW fumble sets GB off on a 77 yard drive capped by 14 yard Ernie Stinnett TD rush.

GB responds. 58 yard run across the field by Richard Seymour setting up 2 yard keeper by Sellers.

Jordan Moore returns Sellers fumble 14 yards for TD.

Ryan Seymour recovers a pooch kickoff and Sellers 30 yard pass to the 1 sets up his TD rush as time expires.

Burnette reels in 34 yard sideline bomb for the score.

GB at SW 34.

GB starts what should be it’s final drive of the half at it’s own 21.

Promising GB drive ends in a Sellers Int at SW’s 39.

GB gets a first down on a 4 yard rush by Richard Seymour but the drive stalls at the SW 40.

Burnette returns Int 62 yards for the score. No first downs for GB yet.

Tyler Burnette int has GB in business at it’s own 17.

GB goes three and out. Travis Sellers takes a12 yard sack at his own 2.

SW gets it’s first points of the year on a 22 yard strike down the gut, Cox to Cody Tope.

33 yard Shane Cox pass has SW set up at the GB 22. Adam Worley reeled in the jump ball.

GB three and out. Six yard burst by Ernie Stinnett but nothing more.

SW goes three and out

GB wins the toss and defers. SW will recieve.

Beautiful night here at Cooper Field as Greenback welcomes another 3A opponent to town. ‘Kees knocked off Pigeon Forge, 24-13, here two weeks ago. Sweetwater could provide a mismatch tonight. Wildcats have been victims of consecutive 42-0 losses to start the year.

I was browsing through our weekly calendar the other day here in the office when friend and coworker Ryan Callahan mentioned that Greenback coach Justin Ridge should be pretty excited to see me Friday.

It’s not that Ridge doesn’t like Ryan, but Greenback (1-2, 0-1 Dist. 3-A) has mustered less than 250 yards of offense and 6 points in the two Cherokees’ games he’s covered this season. Ouch.
Luckily for Greenback, I’ll be there and so will Sweetwater (0-2), a team that’s been outscored 84-0 in two games. The Panthers enter Friday’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff following consecutive 42-0 losses to Tellico Plains and Rockwood. (Check out Sweetwater’s website here)That’s got to have Ridge feeling pretty good about picking up a second straight home win. The ‘Kees dropped a 32-0 decision to Rockwood last week that, you guessed it, Ryan witnessed.