Depending on which day you listened to the radio last week, Harriman or Midway was in the “driver’s seat” of Region 2A. With Harriman losing to Oneida last Friday, Midway is now the only unbeaten in the Region. Of course if you ask the coaches, there’s a big date with Greenback in a few weeks, so there is still a lot to be decided.
Over the last few years, this match up has come down to the final seconds with some exciting finishes. Let’s take a look at how the SORSN Pick Panel predicts this year’s show down to play out and if the ghosts of Octobers past have another exciting finish planned.
“Shawn, several weeks ago I committed myself and April to attend the UT/Bama game in Tuscaloosa this Saturday. Little did I know that the Big Green would be in a death match for the Region Championship this Friday. Who would give up the Bama game to watch the Green vs Harriman? I WOULD!!!! But I’m already committed, so good luck boys. Last year against Harriman I witnessed one of the most exciting football games I had seen in a long time and if not for a missed extra point at the end of regulation, the Waves would have escaped with the V. I think this year the difference will be Midway’s line and the down your throat attack of Ray Roberson. I don’t think Harriman’s line will hold up and I don’t think you can beat the Greenwaves without a passing game. Give me the Green and let’s make every Friday a Holiday.”
– Barry Boo Narramore
“This is a chance for Midway to make a big statement and maintain first place in the region, which will be huge going into the playoffs. Harriman has their backs against the wall in the region after a close loss to Oneida, and they will want this game bad, plus they are playing at home. Harriman took a win at Midway last year, so it is time to get one back. I’ll take Midway.”
– Randy Zipper Rose
“I’ll take Midway. While the indigo demons pulled out a victory last year at the Emerald Forest, the big Green Machine will out run, out play, and out coach them this year. Unlike years past, we will not need a hook and ladder play in the waning moments to pull off the victory. The Exorcist has been called and he’s bringing the Green “Holy” Water.”
– Ralton Mule Emory
“It’s good to be on top…..if we can just stay there. The Blue devils are gonna be gunnin’ for us. I liked the comment someone made last week. They said Midway is playing as a team, and I think we’re a team that is hard to beat when everyone contributes. This year we gonna take one back in Harriman. Midway puts the fire extinguisher on Harriman Blue Devils.”
– Amber Jo-Jo Johnson
“What an outstanding matchup this Friday night as we head into late October and down the stretch toward the playoffs. Coach CMos Big Green Opponent Defense Shredding Offensive Machine continues to hum right along and this week, must load the big yellow school bus, cross a couple of bridges over the Tennessee River (however they are much wider and newer than in my day) and visit cross county rival and powerful region foe Harriman Blue Devils.
If things follow conventional wisdom, this game is for control of the regional championship. Midway, who sits atop the region standings alone undefeated has only one regional opponent left on the schedule, Greenback. All other teams in the region currently have at least one loss and most have several regional games left to play. Harriman, with its one loss to Oneida and a lot of work left to do in the region, could make a play to get back in the thick of the race with a victory on Friday night. Simply put, if the Waves win this game, the rest of the region will be fighting over second place, as Midway would hold any tiebreakers over Oneida or Harriman. A Harriman victory could really make a mess of things at the top of the standings and all bets would be off on which team could emerge as the leader.
On paper, the edge in this matchup looks to go to the Green Team. Midway is 6-1, Harriman is 3-4, one would think a pretty easy pick. To that I say….. not so fast my friend…Late season, playoff positioning, county rival, October football games are not played on paper, so lets take a look a bit deeper….
Harriman led by Coach Tapp, fields a very talented football team, and will be coming off a stinging, tough loss last week at the hands of Oneida. While Harriman’s overall record is only 3-4, a closer look at their losses reveals that they have lost to some very good opponents (Oneida, Rockwood, Kingston (oops Roane County High), Monterey). Harriman will be highly motivated, as their backs are against the wall, and need a victory to stay in the playoff hunt. The talk on the streets around Reno’s Sporting Goods this week is that the Blue Devils had multiple opportunities to defeat Oneida last week and simply let some opportunities slip away. Expect this Harriman team to come out fighting mad and play hard as it looks to defend its home turf and its playoff lives. Harriman is one of the few teams around that can come close to matching Midways team speed. AJ Johnson is as talented a player as the Waves will see all year, and Inman is an offensive threat as well. Owenby and Miller are stars on the Harriman defensive side of the football and must be accounted for by Coach Moser and his offensive staff.
As the faithful followers of SORSN.com know, Midway is a good football team both offensively and defensively with recent outstanding play at the skill positions and in the trenches. The overall team speed is impressive and this team is playing well. This week could go a long way in determining if this team is simply “a good team” or if this season could turn into something really special SOR. The fans in the Emerald Forest and the staff at SORSN.com are all anxious to find out. Coach Moser and his staff really have to be on guard this week against a letdown, as this team has played very good football for five weeks in a row. Midway looks to continue to ride this 5 game winning streak into the last week of October and into the playoffs and must be ready physically and mentally. A couple mistakes early by Midway and the after game food stop at the Wendy’s on Highway 27 could be a quiet one.
The recent Harriman teams seem to have had Midways number for the last several years. For some reason, Harriman seems to play well against Midway, and Midway sometimes forgets it best game against Harriman. This should be a good game, but I can not see Coach Moser letting this team lose its focus right now. There is too much at stake for the Green Team to lay an egg this Friday night. If Midway wants to play late into November in the Emerald Forest, they need to get it done in October in Harriman This game will be won on the ground, as neither team is inclined to put the ball in the air. Give me Midway, pulling away late…… “
– Michael Corso Rose