Each week Team UCR predicts high school football games across the Upper Cumberland, presented by TLTSports Performance.
Note: These picks are all opinion-based and intended to foster conversation about high school sports.
Experts:
Rusty Ellis: Sports Director
Jacob Vinson: Livestream Director
Michael Lindsay: Senior Sports Reporter
Justin Matheney: Co-Owner/Lead Color Commentator
Noah McKay: Co-Owner/Lead Play-By-Play Commentator
TSSAA Playoff Semifinal Round
GOTW: Upperman at Greeneville
Rusty:
Pick: Upperman 14-10
Comments: Two years ago, Upperman rolled into Elizabethton and admittedly, the lights were just a little too bright. Now, this senior class is more prepared for what the semifinal round holds and you’d imagine they won’t have to deal with nerves nearly as much. I think this game comes down entirely to who can establish the run game first, and very few teams have run on Upperman with much success. I’m going to trust Adam Caine and his squad to get over the hump and we’ll have championship football next week.
Jacob:
Pick: Upperman 21-13
Comments: What a tremendous football game between two equally matched teams. It seems the notion out in East Tennessee is that the Greene Devils are going to roll the Bees. The Bees have been listening to all the opposition noise all season long and been able to fuel the fire with it. I think that continues tonight as the Bees get a monumental win and a chance to play for a state title.
Michael:
Pick: Upperman 21-14
Comments: Two physical football teams meet with a state championship berth on the line Friday as Upperman travels to Greeneville. The tradition-rich Green Devils are the slight favorite on paper, but that’s why you play the game. Upperman finds a way against a powerhouse.
Justin:
Pick: Upperman 14-13
Comments: Despite what these idiots on the CoachT message boards say, this one looks like a pretty even matchup. Greenville has more size than Upperman has seen all season on both sides of the ball. Also, Carson Quillen is as good of a football player as the Bees will have faced off against. Starting fast will be key for Upperman here. If the boys from Baxter can get it rolling offensively early, look out. This one looks to be an old school defensive battle and it wouldn’t surprise me to see both of these teams play the field position game in the first half.
Noah:
Pick: Upperman 21-14
Comments: These are two ELITE 4A teams who would be great representatives of the east in the state championship game. One stat for why I’m picking the Bees: in the postseason, they’ve punted once. What does that mean? Despite a “low” scoring output last week against Macon County, that was due to the nature of the game, not an indictment on the Upperman offense. They are scoring efficiently. In a game where drives may be at a premium, that will be critical.
They’ve allowed over 14 points once all season, and while this Greeneville team is the best squad the Bees have faced, I’m not backing off my “championship level defense” comment until I’m proven wrong. Lastly, Carson Quillen is unbelievable, but Upperman has more ways to win with their ability to be balanced. Hopefully these two teams play their best game on Friday night.
East Robertson at York Institute
Rusty:
Pick: York Institute 31-28
Comments: This is THE best game on the slate around the state tonight in my opinion. The team-speed of East Robertson’s offense versus the defensive prowess of the York front is going to be an awesome matchup to watch, and I think York will make just a few more big plays late on both sides of the ball to come away with the biggest win (so far) in school history. No offense whatsoever to the other side of the bracket, but this just might be the de facto state championship game in 2A.
Jacob:
Pick: York Institute 35-28
Comments: These are two of the best defensive teams in the state in 2A, but tonight in the Dragon Pit the offenses will shine. East Rob took it too a dominant Smith County defense last week with 49 points. York did the same thing on the road at Hampton. The atmosphere in Jamestown will be up there with the best in the state tonight and one I’m very much looking forward too. I think the home team gets the edge in this one and the Dragons make their first state title appearance.
Michael:
Pick: York Institute 27-21
Comments: The Dragons host the game of the year in Jamestown tonight as East Robertson comes to town. York wants to pound the football down your throat, and East Robertson has struggled with physical football teams that can pound the rock. East Robertson has speed on the edges, but the boys from Jamestown are quicker than most people give them credit for. I think York will be too much to handle in the trenches tonight.
Justin:
Pick: York Institute 37-34
Comments: Your boy is fully on the bandwagon here. Don’t let Noah fool you all. He waivered on this pick live on Tuesdays Coaches Show. However, Noah saw the light and came back to the good side. Look, this game is set up to be an absolute barn burner. East Robertson’s going to bring in some athletes the likes of Jamestown has never seen. The Daragon are going to have their hands full from the opening kick. The most interesting matchup for us to watch East Robertson’s offensive line against Michael Wall. If the Indians have trouble blocking him the rest of the Dragons defence will have a much better chance to contain this Groves quartet. If Isiah Groves gets rolling early that’s bad news for the home team. That kid can fly.
Noah:
Pick: York 35-34
Comments: As the lead conductor of the York hype train, I can’t abandon the Dragons now. East Robertson’s speed, especially out of Isaiah Groves is a massive concern, but the Dragon’s defense has been nearly unmovable all season. That being said, something tells me this could turn into a shootout with Groves having a big game, but the ER defense struggling with the multiplicity of York’s offense.
This is the first time in several weeks York will have to bring their A+ game to win, but this is a team motivated by what happened last year with an experienced coach and quarterback. I’ll roll with the Dragons.