It begs the question. Because of Covid-19 restrictions there will be no scrimmages or jamborees before the Aug. 21 season opener for area high school football teams. That means no big measuring-stick scrimmages against other teams like in recent … [Read more...]
Lenoir City Football hoping for major strides in 2020 with 15 starters back
By MIKE BLACKERBY Lenoir City is looking for a sharp turnaround to its football fortunes in 2020. Despite coming off a 1-10 season that ended with a 60-14 loss to Powell in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs, Panthers coach Jeff Cortez is … [Read more...]
With 17 new starters set to debut in 2020, Maryville Football still preparing for same expectations — STATE
By MIKE BLACKERBY The losses off Maryville’s state Class 6A championship football team were staggering, perhaps even historical in nature. All told, 17 senior starters – including longtime fixtures like Tee Hodge, Cade Chambers, Mason Shelton, A.J. … [Read more...]
UPDATED: Governor Bill Lee gives OK for football and girls soccer to start
UPDATE, Friday, July 31, 2020 (5:57 p.m.): Gov. Bill Lee -- three days after announcing he would green light fall sports like football and girls soccer -- signed the executive order to allow for football and girls' soccer to begin on … [Read more...]
Former Knoxville basketball player on circuitous path to big-time college basketball
By MIKE BLACKERBY Brandon Clifford predicts that Jayden Doyle’s high school basketball sojourn will pay off in the long run. Doyle, a 6-foot-5, 184-pound shooting guard who left South-Doyle basketball after his sophomore season, will play for his … [Read more...]
Hardin Valley football trying to pick up where 2019 season ended
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Despite heavy losses to graduation, Hardin Valley coach Mike Potter hopes momentum from a strong finish to the 2019 football season carries over to this fall. After starting 1-6 a year ago, the Hawks reeled off three consecutive … [Read more...]
‘LATE BLOOMER’: Jalen Geer continues to grow into frame and into D1 recruit
By MIKE BLACKERBY Jalen Geer’s football career experienced a meteoric rise the last two years at Grace Christian. He hopes to take it to another level this fall at Palmetto Prep Academy in Columbia, S.C. … [Read more...]
Northview Academy football to show marked improvement over 2019
By MIKE BLACKERBY Heath Woods isn’t sure how many more games Northview Academy will win this season after going 1-9 in 2019. He can’t guarantee that the Cougars will make a dramatic jump in the standings after finishing sixth among seven teams in … [Read more...]
Central senior Jaidin Horton ready to showcase his versatility in 2020
BY MIKE BLACKERBY You got to see what Central’s Jaidin Horton could do on the defensive side of the football last year. He likely was just scratching the surface. The two-time defending state Class 5A champion Bobcats will feature the athletic … [Read more...]
MOVING FORWARD: Volleyball, Cross Country and Golf seasons proceed with caution
BY MIKE BLACKERBY Catholic volleyball coach Brent Carter has led the Lady Irish to five consecutive state title match appearances. Carter is keeping his fingers crossed he just gets the opportunity to make it six in a row this fall. Tennessee … [Read more...]