BY JESSE SMITHEY ALCOA — Zach Lunsford, the Alcoa High School starting quarterback heading into this fall, thought he was ready to grip the reins of the Tornadoes offense when thrust under center as an unproven sophomore in the early weeks of the … [Read more...]
12 Area High School Football Players Who Deserve More Respect
BY JESSE SMITHEY Maybe they play on a team with a high-profile player and simply operate in the shadows. Maybe they just haven't been discovered yet. Or perhaps they just do a little bit of everything for their teams. Whatever their cases … [Read more...]
Rhea County’s Owen Ray and Camdyn Cranfill ‘come out swinging’ and claim Tennessee Bass National Junior State Championship
BY DAVE LINK Owen Ray and Camdyn Cranfill of the Rhea County Eagle Anglers weren’t just motivated going into the Tennessee Bass Nation’s Junior State Championship on May 21. They were doubly motivated for the event on Woods Reservoir near … [Read more...]
Harriman basketball standout Jordan McCullum leaving Tennessee for prep school
BY JESSE SMITHEY Jordan McCullum, a 6-foot-8 forward from Harriman, was a constant mismatch for opponents he faced in Class A basketball the past two seasons. Now, he plans to take his game elsewhere to see if it can level up. … [Read more...]
Veteran coach Tony Lambert joins football staff at Anderson County High School
BY JESSE SMITHEY Tony Lambert's career has come full circle — again. The veteran high school football coach has joined the staff at Anderson County High School. … [Read more...]
Where Karns running back DeSean Bishop stands historically in the TSSAA record book
BY JESSE SMITHEY Earlier this week, Karns High School running back DeSean Bishop posted his top schools list on social media and intimated that he's nearing the point of disclosing his college choice. While the masses await, now is as good a … [Read more...]
CHANGES ABOUND: Keeping tabs on new high school football coaches in the area
BY JESSE SMITHEY Things got bonkers a bit this offseason in regards to changes with local high school football coaching staffs. Rough 30 percent of the schools in the 5Star Preps coverage area made new hires — 20 programs, to be exact. And … [Read more...]
LOOKING AHEAD at the first month of the 2022 high school football season
By JESSE SMITHEY So, we can't wait. It's June 1 and it feels like the high school football season is right around the corner. We rolled out our New QB1 series and covered spring practices to try and bridge the gap between the end of 2021 and … [Read more...]
ALCOA SOFTBALL wins first-ever TSSAA state championship with 6-1 win over history-rich Forrest
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — Sarah Fekete Bailey, the Alcoa High School softball coach, had no reservations about starting Gabby Burkhart on Saturday night. Just because the Class 2A state title was on the line against one of the more … [Read more...]
FARRAGUT SOFTBALL wins consecutive state titles thanks to 4-0 win Saturday over Clarksville
BY JESSE SMITHEY MURFREESBORO — From her crouch and twist to her rock-back windup and delivery, the pitch stylings of Avery Flatford were on display one final time Saturday at state. Farragut softball fans have watched the routine from the … [Read more...]