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...]
Catholic’s Keegan Smith gets first state title; local athletes shine in D2 and Class A/AA state cross country
BY MIKE BLACKERBY If you run in cross-country circles, get used to the name. Catholic’s Keegan Smith figures to be a tour de force on both the statewide and national scene for years to come. The highly touted freshman was a smashing success in … [Read more...]
Gudger-led Greeneville big plays South-Doyle in 49-14 win in Class 4A first-round game
By MIKE BLACKERBY GREENEVILLE – Top-ranked Greeneville overwhelmed South-Doyle with its big-play ability Friday night in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs. The Greene Devils (11-0) scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second … [Read more...]
Hardin Valley Academy boys cross country wins third title in 11 years; Farragut girls claim runner-up
By MIKE BLACKERBY Hardin Valley’s boys were up to the difficult task of repeating as state cross-country champions on Thursday. The margin of victory wasn’t as impressive as last year, but the Hawks nonetheless completed one of the best two-year XC … [Read more...]
Oak Ridge plays underdog role, Powell’s first-round reboot, West versus West
By MIKE BLACKERBY Here’s a look at some of the intriguing games in Class 5A in the 5Star Preps coverage area Friday night as we steam into the first round of the 2021 high school football playoffs: Oak Ridge at McMinn County Ooltewah at … [Read more...]
South-Doyle vs. Greeneville, Meigs County’s statement, Oakdale and Jellico want historical moment
By MIKE BLACKERBY Where did the regular season go? It seems like just yesterday that we were getting ready for the much-anticipated high school football season openers. Now it’s time to shift gears. A total of 230 teams in nine classifications … [Read more...]