Armchair Quarterback:Pioneers’ last two foes both solid programs

Folks, it appears White County may be the real deal.

One week after doubling up our hometown Pioneers, they go down to Cleveland and rip the No. 4 team in the state.

According to Murphy Fair, undefeated Cleveland was the No. 4 team in Class 4A coming off their 49-28 win over McMinn County the week before. And, according to fellow newsroom analysts here who thought they’d pick up a game in the pigskin panel by taking Cleveland, Sparta was missing some key players going into the Friday night showdown in Cleveland. However, the end result was a 42-14 crushing of the highly ranked squad and the confirmation White County is truly up this year despite their beat down at hands of Cookeville 35-6 earlier this year.

Actually, while we’re traveling up Highway 111, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out what a great season Cookeville is having. They beat our Pioneers this week and will likely move up the rankings since Ooltwewah, their only loss of the season coming by a touchdown in Week Zero, took it on the chin from unheard of William Blount this week 28-21.

Cookeville is a true contender as they went into the week ranked fifth in the state by Murphy Fair in Division 5A while Ooltwewah was No. 2. This should mean Oak Ridge, who appears to be Riverdale’s only legitimate competition this year, will move up to No. 2 by virtue of their 35-0 crushing of Heritage this week while either Cookeville or Houston, a west Tennessee squad who beat Kirby 28-8 this week and ranked fourth by Fair, will move up to three.

By the way, while talking about Riverdale, they had a scare this week as they held off LaVergne 28-20, the first team to compete with them all year. Actually, Riverdale ought to spot other teams points. LaVergne was the first team to post double digits against the defending champs this year.

Of course, rankings really mean nothing this year as it appears no one is safe. While White County was showing themselves as elite in 4A despite going into the week buried deep in the power ratings as the 128-ranked team in the state, the number five ranked 4A team in the state and Warren County’s next opponent, Tullahoma, took it on the chin 25-14 to unranked Maplewood. This means both four and five in 4A were beaten while a team, who crushed Cleveland and I’m pretty sure would do the same thing to Tullahoma, is marred deep in the rankings.

Of course, rankings don’t determine who goes to the playoffs, but instead, wins will determine the seedings when it comes time to shut up or put up. And, if you’re a Sparta fan you’ve got to be licking your chops since they don’t have any world beaters in their remaining schedule as their next game is against Cumberland County who got just their first win this week by blanking Coffee County 15-0, in somewhat of an upset. The rest of the schedule is against mainly losing teams with the exception of Red Bank who has given up just a combined 15 points all year long and maybe Hixson the week after next. Sparta ends with Rhea County, a former powerhouse who is down this year with just one win to show so far.

And, while I’m on the playoff subject, let the Pioneer fans not forget wins against Coffee County and Cumberland County, two beatable opponents, could still propel Warren County into a playoff berth according to who beats who in the district.