By MIKE BLACKERBBY There’s a reason Maryville and Oakland meet in the TSSAA football semifinals for the seventh consecutive season Friday night in Murfreesboro. … [Read more...]
Oak Ridge vs. South-Doyle: A 5A state semifinal story with many layers to tell
By MIKE BLACKERBY The game stands on its own merit. But there’s more. Much more. Unusual twists, sidebars and irony figure into the equation as Oak Ridge and South-Doyle serve up an intriguing post-Thanksgiving Class 5A semifinal playoff … [Read more...]
Denae Fritz and the Maryville girls’ basketball team flex muscle in Saturday showdown with Lakeway Christian
By MIKE BLACKERBY WHITE PINE – The Maryville girls' basketball team made offense look easy Saturday night in the Lakeway Christian Academy Hall of Fame Shootout. The Lady Rebels (3-0) bagged 13 3-pointers on their way to an impressive 77-60 win … [Read more...]
South-Doyle ousts two-time defending 5A champions, 21-14, behind Shawn Gary’s three TDs
BY MIKE BLACKERBY There will be a new state football champion in Class 5A in Tennessee. Shawn Gary scored three touchdowns and rushed for 146 yards on 35 carries as South-Doyle knocked off two-time defending state champion Central 21-14 in Fountain … [Read more...]
NINE TIMES – Maryville defensive back D.J. Burks sure-handed in secondary and on offense
By MIKE BLACKERBY D.J. Burks has emerged as a force on both sides of the ball for Maryville this season, but make no mistake about it. Burks still considers himself a defense-first guy. “Defense is a lot of fun,” said Burks, a 6-0, 185-pound … [Read more...]
Freshman-infused Fulton boys basketball starts season off with a tight win at Gibbs
By MIKE BLACKERBY CORRYTON - There’s a youth movement afoot, but Fulton’s veterans still have a lot of basketball left in them, too. The Falcons, with three freshmen playing significant minutes, hung on for a 53-52 non-district win at Gibbs on … [Read more...]
AS GOOD AS ADVERTISED: West Rebels defensive unit helping construct postseason run
By MIKE BLACKERBY West has a well-earned reputation for playing great defense under coach Lamar Brown. But these 2020 Rebels have taken it to even another level. Consider West’s gaudy team numbers on defense ... Seven teams have scored … [Read more...]
West Rebels football cruise past upset-minded Walker Valley, 32-3, in 5A playoffs
By MIKE BLACKERBY Nothing like a little football to shake the COVID blues. Shannon Blair, who missed West’s last two games due to contact-tracing quarantine, had a big hand in Friday’s 32-3 second-round 5A playoff decision over Walker Valley in … [Read more...]
Pigeon Forge football looks to make history; Rockwood faces Mr. Football hopeful
By MIKE BLACKERBY Class 1A-3A teams move into the second round of the TSSAA high school football playoffs Friday night. Here’s a look at some of the headliners in the 5Star Preps coverage area this week: Big rivalry game at G-P Rockwood at … [Read more...]
ROUND 2: West vs. Walker Valley, AC vs. Greeneville, Halls vs. Central, Oak Ridge vs. Rhea, SoDo at Crockett
By MIKE BLACKERBY Looking ahead as Classes 4A-6A move into the second round of the TSSAA high school football playoffs. We take a gander at some of the most intriguing matchups in the upper-three classes this week in the 5Star Preps … [Read more...]