By MIKE BLACKERBY It’s sense-of-urgency week in the Powell and West football camps. Sure, the Panthers and Rebels are ecstatic to be in the Class 5A semifinals, but both know there’s one more mountain to climb to get to the BlueCross Bowl in … [Read more...]
Trio of sophomores lead new-look Northview Academy girls’ basketball to win over Jefferson County
By MIKE BLACKERBY RUTLEDGE – The path to success for Northview Academy’s girls almost exclusively went through Campbell Penland last season. Monday night against Jefferson County, it was a win by committee. Three players scored in double figures … [Read more...]
Two-time defending champ Elizabethton stuns Greeneville, 13-7, to reach 4A semifinals
By MIKE BLACKERBY GREENEVILLE – If recent history against an old rival means anything, Elizabethton is on the fast track for a third-consecutive Class 4A state championship. Few gave the Cyclones much of a chance to even get back to the BlueCross … [Read more...]
Micah Simpson, Braden Ilic lead Morristown East past talented Fulton, 76-68
BY MIKE BLACKERBY MORRISTOWN – The stars came out Thursday night for the 2021-22 high school basketball debut of two of the top teams in the 5Star Preps coverage area. Class 4A Morristown East had the hot hand from the opening tap and never looked … [Read more...]
Elizabethton vs. Greeneville, Loudon vs. Giles County, Oneida vs. Hampton
By MIKE BLACKERBY This is when things really start to get interesting. Here’s a look at this week’s high school football quarterfinal matchups in Class 2A, 3A and 4A in the 5Star Preps coverage area: 4A—Elizabethton at Greeneville 3A—Giles County … [Read more...]
PREVIEWS: Rhea County at Powell, Central at West, Farragut at Maryville
The field of teams from the 5Star Preps coverage area is dwindling fast in the TSSAA high school football playoffs. In Division II, all area teams have been eliminated. Five teams still carry the 5SP banner in Classes 5A and 6A. Here’s a look at … [Read more...]
Legendary head football coach Joe Gaddis retires from coaching at Oak Ridge High School
By MIKE BLACKERBY Joe Gaddis and Oak Ridge football were the perfect fit for a lot of reasons. Gaddis, who served two stints as head coach of the Wildcats covering 20 years and finishes as Oak Ridge’s winningest all-time football coach, announced … [Read more...]
Basketball star Jakobi Gillespie leads Greeneville Football past Fulton, 56-12
By MIKE BLACKERBY GREENEVILLE – Jakobi Gillespie’s first love is basketball, but he can play a little football too. Gillespie – who signed to play college basketball at Belmont this week – scored on offense, defense and specialty teams Friday as … [Read more...]
FULTON vs. GREENEVILLE, ELIZABETHTON vs. ANDERSON COUNTY, PIGEON FORGE vs. UNICOI
In this week’s playoff preview/roundup in the 5Star Preps coverage area we take a look at two Class 4A headliners and a 3A tilt where history could be made. Fulton at Greeneville Elizabethton at Anderson County Pigeon Forge at Unicoi … [Read more...]
Farragut stays alive, CAK faces defending champs, Central offense shines in Round 1
By MIKE BLACKERBY Here’s a look at some of the key matchups in Class 5A, 6A and Division II in the 5Star Preps coverage area Friday night as we head into the second round of the 2021 high school football playoffs: 6A—Farragut at Bradley … [Read more...]