Few Vols' QBs make it in the NFL

Peyton Manning is by far the most productive former Tennessee Vols quarterback to ever play in the National Football League.

Tennessee field generals in the NFL have not been very plentiful, although Erik Ainge could be the next Big Orange alum to make the grade.

Heath Shuler was a top pick of the Washington Redskins, but injuries kept him from succeeding.

Shuler makes the list of the all-time biggest draft busts in NFL history.

Andy Kelley spent more time setting Arena Football League records.

Actually, the two Tennessee quarterbacks to log the most playing time are a couple of career back-ups who started occasionally.

Bobby Scott played in the NFL from 1971-1983 with the New Orleans Saints before going on to play in the USFL.

Pat Ryan played from 1978-1991 with the New York Jets and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Scott had the pleasure of backing up Peyton’s father Archie Manning in New Orleans for 11 years.

Bobby was my childhood hero when I was growing up in Rossville, Georgia.

Life in the once thriving mill town centered around football on Friday nights and Bobby Scott was the star quarterback of the Rossville Bulldogs.
I was one of the more than 7,000 who would pack Hutcheson Memorial Field to see Scott throw touchdown passes to Robert “Slimy” Simpson.

Scott brought a lot of visitors to Rossville to recruit him, including Alabama’s Paul Bear Bryant.

Bobby’s brother Houston loves to tell the story of how much Bear Bryant loved to come to Rossville to eat Momma Scott’s biscuits and gravy.

I once asked Scott about his NFL career and his rookie season with the Saints in 1971.

He remembered New Orleans playing against the Buffalo Bills.

"This was during O.J. Simpson's heyday and he was going great guns,” Scott said. “We were breaking camp and our coach, J.D Roberts, told Archie (Manning) and me to stay close to him all night because we were not going to play.

“So we walked the sidelines with him all night. "O.J. ripped one off the right side for a big gain and then caught a swing pass for another long gain before running a draw play for a touchdown.

"J.D. always smoked a cigar and he pulled it out of his mouth and turned to Archie and me and said, "I don't know who this number 32 is, but he is one heck of a running back.'

"We knew then we were in for a long year."

Red Vs. Blue at Heywood Stadium

By B.B. Branton
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Bragging rights for the next 12 months is at stake tonight.

Not only for the current teenage players, but for their dads and granddads, as well astheir aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers. It’s for the alums who never played and those weekend warriors from generations gone by. It’s McCallie Week or Baylor Week, depending on which side of the river one’s loyalties lie.

The Red and Gray and Blue and White seventh and eighth graders donned helmets and pads on Wednesday, followed by boisterous pep rallies (McCallie on Thursday and Baylor today).

But tonight it’s the varsity.The 74th football meeting – or 72nd meeting (more on that shortly) – between McCallie and Baylor kicks off at 7:30 p.m. with a capacity crowd of 5,500 (plus a few more) wedged into Baylor’s storied Heywood Stadium.

McCallie records show the series at 37-33-3 in favor of the Red Raiders, while Baylor has it 37-31-3, also on the Red side of the ledger. The two games in question – both won by the Blue and White – are the first two in the long, historic rivalry; 1905 (41-0) and 1906 (5-0). Red Raider headmaster, Dr. Roy Baylor, did not recognize varsity athletics until the fall of 1908 (no game was played in 1907), while the McCallie headmasters encouraged varsity sports from the time the school at the foot of Missionary Ridge opened its doors in the fall of 1905.

Whatever the record, one of Chattanooga’s greatest prep gridiron rivalries has produced many memorable contests.

Below are 16 of those games – eight won by each school – in chronological order.

Eight Baylor Wins

Nov. 25, 1911 … 2:30 p.m. at Chamberlain Field – Baylor 30, McCallie 0 …Baylor’s first win of the rivalry after McCallie was 4-0-1 through 1910 … Baylor’s Mighty Gene Patton scores three touchdowns, including the Red Raiders’ first score in the series; a 25-yard scoring run in the first quarter … McCallie was 0-5 and went scoreless on the season.

Nov. 22, 1924 … 2 p.m. at Chamberlain Field – Baylor 3, McCallie 0 …Roy Witt’s 24-yard drop kick field goal in the second quarter is the difference, but Baylor’s fourth quarter goal line defense is legendary … McCallie has a first and goal at the Red Raider 1-yard-line after a Baylor fumble … but four rushing plays net zero yards for the Blue and White … On the next series, McCallie returns a punt to the Baylor 6-yard line, but a failed field goal attempt (possibly Florida State wide right) gives Baylor the win and a three-game win streak in the series ... Baylor defense holds McCallie to no first downs on the afternoon .

Nov. 23, 1929 ... Chamberlain Field …Baylor 7, McCallie 0 … T.I.A.A. (i.e. state crown) and city titles are on the line as Baylor spoils McCallie’s bid for an undefeated, unscored on season with a 7-0 upset win in the snow … A third quarter Robert Lefty Bryan (All-State) to Jim Haley 25-yard scoring pass results in the game’s only touchdown … McCallie has a one-year senior player named Fred Crawford who later plays for Duke and the Chicago Bears ... is elected to the national college football hall of fame in 1973 … McCallie (7-1-1) outscores its opponents, 170-7 ... Baylor is 7-2-2 and caps the season with a trip to Washington, D.C. and a photo-op with President Herbert Hoover on the White House lawn … The Baylor fullback in 1929 is Chattanooga resident Hugh Beaumont (Ward Cleaver) of “Leave It To Beaver’’ TV sitcom fame.

Nov. 23, 1940 … 2 p.m. at Chamberlain Field … Baylor 21, McCallie 6 …The last game in the series, until 1971 … Baylor (10-0-0) is led by Raider greats Eddie Prokop and Bill Healy … Prokop, with 161 rushing yards on the day, caps his prep career with a 93-yard scoring run from scrimmage as time expires ... McCallie’s Lewis Bibb gives chase the entire length of the field, but never catches Prokop (All-State), who sets a single season city record of 119 points ... 1940 is Humpy Heywood’s first season as Baylor head coach as he leads the Red Raiders to the city title and co-Mid South crown with Darlington.

Oct. 6, 1973 ... 8 p.m. at Chamberlain Field … Baylor 33, McCallie 15 … Baylor is 4-0 on the season prior to this game … 8,500 fans watch Baylor’s Andy Rutledge and Clay Gibson combine for five touchdowns on the way to a state and national championship (13-0) … Rutledge rushes for 138 yards on 18 carries and scoring runs of 45, 11 and 4 yards … Gibson has 116 yards and scores from the 11 and 6 yard lines … Rutledge, an All-State and city player of the year, races 45 yards to the Blue end zone on his first carry of the game.Oct. 5, 1974 ... at Chamberlain Field ... Baylor 33, McCallie 14 … Both teams enter the game 3-0 … State rankings show Baylor No.4 and McCallie No.5 … Baylor has lost 16 starters from the undefeated national championship squad of 1973 … McCallie leads 14-7 at halftime, but on this day, 9,000 fans watch as Red Raider Jeff Aiken (state back of the week) has a stellar performance of 167 rushing yards (131 in the second half) and two touchdowns … Scott Ferguson and Robert Hays also contribute to the Baylor 360 rushing yards … Baylor’s winning streak is 17 …Ward Nelson and Mark Hooper score for McCallie.

Oct. 25, 1997 … Baylor 9, McCallie 7 … Baylor’s Sam Warren is the hero as he converts on field goals of 46, 35 and 31 yards … Tornado’s points came on a Will Thomas 3-yard run for a 7-0 lead … Warren first split the uprights at 6:54 of the second quarter as his 46-yarder clips the cross bar and goes over to trail 7-3 … His 35-yard kick as time expires in the first half pulls the Raiders to within one, 7-6 … His winning FG comes at 2:23 of the third quarter from 31 yards away.Nov. 7, 1997 … Baylor 21, McCallie 7 … Second meeting of the season … McCallie again takes a 7-0 (halftime), before Baylor scores 21 unanswered points in a TSSAA first round playoff game … Brad Rooks, Joey Ferguson and Wes Angel score Raider touchdowns … Baylor wins with a strong ground game producing 263 rushing yards as opposed to no passing yards … Last Baylor win before McCallie’s current nine-game win streak.

Eight McCallie Wins

Nov. 19, 1921 … 2:15 p.m. … Chamberlain Field … McCallie 12, Baylor 6 …This is the first year in which McCallie teams are referred to as the Blue Tornado … McCallie enters the game undefeated (6-0-0) and unscored upon … The Blue Tornado has seven All-City and five All-South players, including future Chattanooga Mocs coach and college football Hall of Famer Scrappy Moore … This is McCallie’s first perfect season in football (7-0-0).

Nov. 21, 1936 … 2 p.m. … Chamberlain Field … McCallie 19, Baylor 7 ... Both teams enter the game undefeated … City Prep and Mid-South titles are on the line … On Tuesday (Nov. 18) of game week, Baylor students hang in effigy in a few trees on their campus a likeness of McCallie star running back "Breezing" Bob Andridge … But on Saturday, 4,447 fans watch the real Aldridge score twice on runs of 83 and 2 yards … Baylor’s Lupton Avery scores for the Red Raiders … All 11 McCallie starters (plus 14 reserves) are seniors …

The Blue Tornado did not win another game in the series until Nov. 22, 1974, also at Chamberlain Field (Note: series stops after 1940 game until 1971) ... At a post-season dinner at the Read House, the McCallie letter winners receive solid gold footballs for the undefeated season (9-0-0).

Nov. 22, 1974 ... 8 p.m. at Chamberlain Field ... McCallie 29, Baylor 7 … Most points by a McCallie team in the series since the 41-0 win in 1905 … Baylor enters the game with the state’s longest win streak and a 33-14 triumph against McCallie six weeks earlier (Oct. 5), also at Chamberlain Field …McCallie sophomore Dan Robinson rushes for 116 yards on 17 carries … McCallie’s Ed Smith (defensive end) and Tom Mullady (tight end) will continue their careers on Sunday afternoons (NFL) … Defensive ends Smith and Waymon Tipton are keys to the Blue defense this night.

Oct. 30, 1982 … at McCallie … McCallie 3, Baylor 0 ... McCallie coach Pete Potter suspends several starters earlier in the week for breaking team rules … One other starter, Tory Johnston, is sick and also does not play … All-City Bodie Spangler is the hero with a 34-yard field goal with 1:33 remaining in the game … McCallie’s Peter Hunt (All-State) is the defensive star with two interceptions, a fumble recovery and six tackles … McCallie is undefeated (10-0-0) in regular season for the first time since 1956 (9-0-1) ... loses to Cleveland in the first round of the TSSAA playoffs.

Oct. 8, 1983 ... at Baylor … McCallie 33, Baylor 0 … McCallie enters the game undefeated (5-0-0) and is on its way to a second straight 10-0-0 regular season mark … 8,500 watch as McCallie quarterback Matt Brock scores on a 2-yard run and passes 34 yards to Brent Turner for another score … Tornado John Green has 106 rushing yards and a 1-yard TD run … McCallie defense gives up only one first down and does not allow Baylor to cross midfield … Biggest margin of victory in the series. Oct. 28, 1995 … at Baylor … McCallie 14, Baylor 10 … For McCallie faithful, the win is linked to “The Drive’’ … Jason Green’s 1-yard run puts Baylor up 10-7 with 4:18 remaining in the fourth quarter … McCallie quarterback Thomas Gallant then orchestrates “The Drive’’ – 80 yards on 11 plays … Gallant is 12-of-16 for 151 passing yards on this sunny afternoon, but his last completion – a 5-yard TD toss to Brian Strain at 0:07 – is the most important … Victory snaps Baylor’s four-game win streak against the Blue … Gallant also intercepts Green’s Hail Mary attempt as time runs out.

Oct. 24, 1998 … 2 p.m. at McCallie … McCallie 35, Baylor 3 … In pre-game pomp and circumstance, Spence McCallie III, wearing a crown and royal blue robe and sitting on a throne, is carried onto the field by some McCallie students in honor of his final game as school headmaster … Tornado running back Garrett Harvey rushes for 122 yards on 13 carries and three touchdowns … Teammate Will Thomas is 6-for-6 and 175 yards through the air and two scores … First win in the current nine-game win streak; longest by either school.Oct. 6, 2001 ... at Baylor … McCallie 44, Baylor 14 …McCallie is 6-0 and the state’s No. 1 team entering the game … Keppy Baucom has 23 tackles for the Tornado, while Wayne Fullam (108 yards, 13 carries) and Campbell Thomas each have a pair of touchdown runs … Willie Idlette scores twice for Baylor on runs of 51 and 13 ... … McCallie ends the season 12-0 and state champs.

Pea-Pickin' Picks Oct 5

Reward: No questions asked. Your name will remain a secret. If anybody has any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the criminal who stole The Great Stumpola’s Crystal Ball please contact Varsity Sports Media.

What a shame. I plead insanity. There was a full moon. The games were fixed. I received bad information on some of the teams. I worked too much on basketball this week. My wife yelled at me all week that I was a bad husband. Well, I might have deserved that. My credit card declined my latest payment to CoachFran.com and I didn’t get the tips I needed from Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione. I listened to Boomer. I believed what Terry Bradshaw said. Why, why, why would I take advice from Michael Ervin? He’s a nice guy and has worked at the same gas station for years. Nevertheless, what does he know about football? I guess I started believing I really was good at picking games. It was a bad week. Both of my bosses bragged on me.

I should have seen this coming.

What else can I say? How did I pick Brainerd over Austin East, Cookeville over Cleveland, McCallie over Ensworth, Pope John Paul over BGA, Cordova over Arlington and Polk County over Sweetwater to go 25-10 in the preps?

I’m sorry that is not up to my standards.

Not to mention, I took Clemson over Georgia Tech, Alabama over Florida, Florida over Auburn (I’m glad I missed that pick), and the worst of all, Chattanooga over the Citadel.

I’m totally embarrassed. Four wins and four losses in the college games will not get you anywhere but the unemployment line.

Actually, five wins and two losses in the professional games wasn’t too bad when you consider Atlanta over Houston and Oakland over Miami weren’t bad choices.

But I vow to do better this week or my name isn’t The Great Stumpola.

Even David Pachal beat me last week.

However, I don’t have my Crystal Ball and I have more dodges than Chrysler.

It’s going to be tough, but as my coach used to say, “When the going gets tough you need to do something to make a statement.”So, here goes. It’s “Redemption Weekend” and I have decided to make this week’s picks in the nude in an effort to chase the evil sprits away that have taken my Crystal Ball.

Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. And just hope nobody opens the door to my office until I make all of the Pea-Pickin’ Picks in memory of Tennessee Ernie Ford.

I feel like the 16 tons he used to sing about are all on my shoulders.
I need a winning week as bad as Phillip Fulmer and his Tennessee Vols do in Knoxville on Saturday.

Record for year: 205-73

PREPS
Knoxville Catholic over Anderson County
Boyd Buchanan over Bledsoe County
Ooltewah over Bradley Central
Cleveland over Chattanooga Central
Lookout Valley over Grace
Silverdale over David Brainerd
Elizabethton over Sullivan
East William Blount over Farragut
Father Ryan over Knoxville Webb
Knoxville West over Lenoir City
Maryville over Knoxville Central
McCallie over Baylor
McMinn County over Oak Ridge
Morristown East over Morristown West
Howard over Polk County
Red Bank over Brainerd
Bearden over Science Hill
Sullivan South over Sullivan Central
South Pittsburg over Whitwell
Antioch over Gallatin
Austin-East over Livingston Academy
Franklin County over Coffee County
MBA over Ensworth
Ezell-Harding over CPA
Franklin over Brentwood
Goodpasture over East Robertson
Jo Byrns over Eagleville
Maplewood over Lawrence County
Mt. Pleasant over Collinwood
MUS over Cookeville
Pearl Cohn over DeKalb County
Brentwood Academy over Pope John Paul
Ravenwood over Columbia
Tullahoma over Shelbyville
CBHS over Briarcrest
Collierville over Houston
Kingsbury over Fairley
Whitehaven over Hamilton
Henry County over Jackson Central-Merry
Jackson Northside over Hardin County
Jackson South Side over Fayette Ware
Melrose over Memphis Northside
White Station over Kirby
Wooddale over Germantown

COLLEGE
Tennessee over Georgia
LSU over Florida
Arkansas over Chattanooga
Auburn over Vanderbilt
Carson-Newman over Mars Hill
Ole Miss over Louisiana Tech
Oklahoma over Texas
Alabama over Houston
Middle Tennessee State over Virginia
Tennessee Tech over Austin Peay

PRO
Tennessee over Atlanta
Dallas over Buffalo
Green Bay over Chicago
Denver over San Diego

Pea-Pickin’ Picks Sept. 28

Hillsboro's star Jacques Seward (5)

What a week of prognosticating.
After picking 46 winners and only eight losers in Tennessee preps, 16 winners and two losers in college games and going 8-3 in professional picks last week I started to take a few days off.
But when you’re hot you’re hot and it is the time to move forward and work harder.
I heard an old coach say that once. Or, did he say it twice?
This is going to be a tough week for the Pea-Pickin’ Picks, named appropriately after Tennessee Ernie Ford.
Tennessee Ernie Ford was born in Bristol Tennessee. He went on to become one of the most popular entertainers in Tennessee history.
He reached stardom in the mid 1950’s with a rendition of the song “Sixteen tons.”
I still remember him singing, “You load sixteen tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt. Saint Peter, don't you call me, 'cause I can't go; I owe my soul to the company store...”
Now guys and gals, if you’re using my picks to wager let me warn you that you too will be like the lyrics of Tennessee Ernie Ford’s song, “another day older and deeper in debt.”
There are some hard to pick games across the Volunteer State this week. And who do you pick in the Alabama and Florida State game?
Plus, you never know who is going to show up in throw back uniforms as ugly as those the Philadelphia Eagles wore last week.
Ouch, those threads were hideous.
OK, enough of the procrastinating on the prognosticating.
Last week, The Great Stumpola, and his crystal ball were able to come up with 71 winners and 13 losers. That brings the season total of the “Round Mound of Profound” to 171-57.

HIGH SCHOOL
Knoxville Catholic over Baylor
Bearden over Knoxville Halls
Brainerd over Austin-East
Grace over Bledsoe County
Oak Ridge over Clinton
Cookeville over Cleveland
Dobyns Bennett over Elizabethton
Knoxville Fulton over Morristown East
Ooltewah over Maplewood
Maryville over William Blount
McMinn County over Rhea County
Polk County over Sweetwater
Red Bank over Boyd Buchanan
East Ridge over Sequoyah
Soddy-Daisy over Hixson
South Pittsburg over Tyner
Father Ryan over CPA
Jo Byrns over Forrest
David Lipscomb over Goodpasture
Hillsboro over Hillwood
Howard over Grundy County
MBA over Ravenwood
McCallie over Ensworth
Pearl Cohn over Stratford
Pope John Paul over BGA
Riverdale over Dickson County
Smyrna over Gallatin
CBHS over Carver
Cordova over Arlington
Ezell-Harding over Bishop Byrne
Melrose over Hamilton
Jackson South Side over Jackson Northside
MUS over Memphis Northside
ECS over St. Benedict
White Station over Fairley



COLLEGE
South Carolina over Mississippi St.
Georgia over Mississippi
Clemson over Georgia Tech
Alabama over Florida St.
Chattanooga over The Citadel
Florida over Auburn
Michigan over Northwestern
Southern Cal over Washington

PRO

Atlanta over Houston
Oakland over Miami
Dallas over St. Louis
Pittsburgh over Arizona
New England over Cincinnati
Green Bay over Minnesota
Philadelphia over New York

Vols picked to get back on track

Ahhhh finally, The Great Stumpola is in tune and ready to sing out the truth in the weekly Pea-Pickin'-Picks in memory of Tennessee Ernie Ford. You remember Tennessee Ernie Ford, "bless your little pea-pickin' heart"? He was as popular in Tennessee as Minnie Pearl and Johnny Majors. Oh well, that has been a day or two and some of you don;t know about the Grand Ole Opry. But how about a week of 31 wins and only seven losses? That's what we're talking about. Stumpola is on, just throw me the darn picks. The response has been so good that it is time to step out and pick college and professional games each week. It's more work, but it's what the readers, Craig, Leon and my mother want. Then let's just do it.The winning percentage jumped out of site this past week with the 31-7 record for a total of 100-44 for the season.

HIGH SCHOOL

Austin-East over Scott County

Bearden over Karns

Alcoa over Booker T. Washington

Brainerd over Rhea County

CAK over Wartburg Central

Chattanooga Grace over Temple

Dobyns Bennett over Jefferson County

Farragut over McMinn County

Gatlinburg-Pittman over Happy Valley

Polk County over Grundy County

Chattanooga Central over Hixson

Sullivan South over Johnson County

Knoxville West over Knoxville Halls

Knoxville Catholic over Livingston Academy

Lookout Valley over Whitwell

Tyner over Marion County

Meigs County over East Ridge

Notre Dame over Sequoyah

Oak Ridge over Heritage

William Blount over Ooltewah

Maryville over Powell

Red Bank over Walker Valley

Silverdale over Copper Basin

Bradley Central over Soddy-Daisy

South Pittsburg over David Brainerd

Howard over Tellico Plains

Cleveland over White County

Brentwood Academy over Baylor

Ravenwood over Brentwood

David Lipscomb over Cheatham County

Cookeville over Cumberland County

Franklin County over Lincoln County

Goodpasture over Ezell-Harding

Hillsboro over Maplewood

Jo Byrns over Middle TN Chr.

Lebanon over LaVergne

White House over Macon County

MBA over Pope John Paul

McCallie over Father Ryan

Trousdale County over Monterey

Mt. Pleasant over Perry County

Pearl Cohn over Sycamore

Riverdale over Siegel

Bolton at Craigmont

ECS over Carver

CBHS over MUS

Whitehaven over Collierville

Hollow Rock-Bruceton at South Fulton

Houston at Wooddale

Jackson Central-Merry over Liberty Magnet

Jackson Christian over Gibson County

Melrose over Kingsbury

Raleigh Egypt over Fairley

White Station over Germantown

COLLEGE
Louisville over Syracuse
Navy Over Duke
Boston College over Army
Georgia over Alabama
Tennessee over Arkansas St.
Florida over Ole Miss
Ohio St. over Northwestern
Penn St. over Michigan
Oklahoma St. over Texas Tech
Central Florida over Memphis
Georgia Tech over Virginia
California over Arizona
West Virginia over East Carolina
South Florida over North Carolina
Clemson over North Carolina St
Auburn over New Mexico St.
Texas over Rice
USC over Washington St.
TCU over SMU

PRO
Colts over Texans
Packers over Chargers
Eagles over Lions
Patriots over Bills
Steelers over 49ers
Ravens over Cardinals
Broncos over Jaguars
Browns over Raiders
Panthers over Falcons
Redskins over Giants
Cowboys over Bears

Farragut Dances To Winning Beat

Before the school year began, the 2007-2008 Farragut High School Varsity Dance Team, coached by Lauren Marino and Romni Perrine, took home a first-place trophy.
The 11-girl squad attended the Universal Dance Association Camp at the University of Tennessee July 17-20. The girls learned new choreography, improved their individual technique, and showcased their talents as a team at the camp.
The dancers performed in the Home Routine competition.
With six new members and five returning from the 2006-2007 squad, Farragut surprised the audience and staff with a high level of synchronization and chemistry in their performances.
The routine, choreographed by Kelley Eidenmuller and Valerie Baxter, was to an intense and emotional tune forcing the dancers to convey those expressions through their movements and their facial expressions.
This dramatic performance impressed the judges and set them apart from the other competitors.
Not only did the team place first in Home Routine, Farragut also took home the Leadership Award. This award was voted on by all the attending teams and is defined as the “team that inspires others”.
The squad has put together routines to perform at the high school football games and will attend the TSSAA State Competition in November.
The team has consistently placed in the top 3 each year, including a first place award in 2005.
The High School National Dance Team Competition will take place in February at the Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida. In 2007, Farragut advanced to finals before placing sixth out of more than 60 teams throughout the nation.

Investigation on assaults after Georgia game crosses the state line

ROSSVILLE, Ga. _ Walker County Sheriff Steve Wilson said Monday his office made progress in the investigation of an alleged assault and battery of two teens following the Ridgeland and Ringgold football game in Rossville, Ga. on Friday.
Sheriff Wilson said his investigators met with school officials and coaches from both Ooltewah and Ridgeland Monday and reviewed video tape of the incident.
He said that 10 to 12 males, believed to be from the Ooltewah area, approached two Ridgeland players on the field following the Ringgold and Ridgeland game. Investigators confirmed Monday that at least seven Ooltewah football players were present at the game, according to Ridgeland officials.
The sheriff said members of the Ooltewah contingent "were challenging" the Ridgeland players verbally and that one of the Owls players dates a Ridgeland girl.
Sheriff Wilson said his Ridgeland School Resource Officer helped prevent any type of encounter between the Ooltewah contingent and two Panthers players who were targeted on the field following the game.
He said the players went on to the locker room and an incident broke out between two Ridgeland students that was unrelated. He said after the SRO broke that incident up he heard screaming coming from near the rear entrance to the high school.
The sheriff said that a 19-year-old male and a 15-year-old female were "random victims" assaulted in the parking lot near the school. Sheriff Wilson said the 15-year-old girl suffered a broken jaw and a broken nose, and her 19-year-old brother received broken teeth and facial damage.
The sheriff said the attackers then fled the scene through the school.
Felony charges are pending, including aggravated battery, according to the sheriff.
On Monday, Walker County investigators met with school officials, coaches and law enforcement representatives of Ridgeland and Ooltewah at Ridgeland where they reviewed video tape in an effort to identify those involved.
"This was a productive meeting," the sheriff said.
Both victims were also interviewed by investigators on Monday.
Ooltewah football coach Benny Monroe said Sunday morning that he had gone to watch Farragot and Bearden play in Knoxville Friday. He said his wife called him while he was on the way back to tell him somebody called into a local radio show and said Ooltewah players were involved in a fight at Ridgeland.
Monroe said he has talked to five of his players personally who said they were at the Ridgeland football game, but he was told that none was involved in a fight. He said these five players "would probably tell the truth."
"They said there may have been Ooltewah people involved, but not players," Monroe said. "I do have two players who I had suspended from the team (in the past) that might have been involved."
However, Monroe said he was not been told the two former players were involved in the alleged attack.
"We did have players go to the game and one said they were down there goofing off," he said. "If I find out I had a player who knocked somebody's teeth out they will be off the team."
However, Monroe said he would not suspend players for "being rowdy," referring to the reported verbal exchange between Ooltewah players and Ridgeland players following the game. Ooltewah has only nine football games this season and it was the Owls second bye week in the season.
Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis said the incident Friday was unfortunate and should not have happened.
His team had just defeated 7-AAAA foe Ringgold 30-10 before an overflow crowd estimated at more than 5,000 people.
"Our football team, community and our fans were enjoying one of our greatest wins on a Friday night filled with atmosphere," Mariakis said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who were injured and hopefully law enforcement will get to the bottom of the situation soon."
Mariakis said he was proud of his players, coaches and parents and the way they handled this incident.
The veteran coach said a group of youngsters came on the field following the game and began yelling at some of his players.
"Some of our coaches saw the group on the field while we were enjoying a big win," Mariakis said. "I'm proud our players didn’t respond to the jeers and threats made towards them."
He said his team was fortunate that his coaches saw what was happening and escorted the players to the locker room.
A friend of the two injured in the alleged attack said the teens did not have any medical insurance.
Ridgeland (3-0) travels to Northwest Whitfield (3-0) for a key 7-AAAA game on Friday. Ooltewah (2-0) visits William Blount (3-0) on Friday.

Pea-Pickin' Picks Sept. 14

OK, this week was much better. The Great Stumpola is starting to get into midseason picking form early in the season. The 15-9 struggle of the week before has been forgotten. That was replaced by a good week of picking for the weekly Pea-Pickin'-Picks in memory of Tennessee Ernie Ford.

With 26 wins and 8 losses last week the overall percentage moves up to 69-37. Just look at the picture above, the McCallie boys are happy with my picks.

Pea-Pickin' Picks
Baylor over Fort Walton Beach High, FL
Boyd Buchanan over Chattanooga Grace
Bradley Central over Chattanooga Central
Red Bank over Brantford, Canada
McMinn County over Cleveland
Howard over East Ridge
Farragut over Bearden
Loudon over Greenback
Grundy County over Marion Co.
McCallie over Hardeeville S.C.
Maryville over Heritage
Kingston over Rockwood
Austin-East over Knoxville Carter
Knoxville Catholic over Knoxville Webb
Fulton over Tyner
S. Pittsburg over Lookout Valley
Meigs County over Notre Dame
Morristown East over Jefferson Co
Oak Ridge over Dobyns Bennett
Polk County over Tellico Plains
Rhea County over Soddy-Daisy
McMinn Central over Sequoyah
Knoxville West over Sevier County
Brentwood Academy over Smyrna
Jo Byrns over Community
Lebanon over Cookeville
Mt. Pleasant over Cornersville
David Lipscomb over Stratford
Father Ryan over Nashville Overton
Franklin over McGavock
Tullahoma over Coffee Co.
Pearl Cohn over Whites Creek
Cordova over Bolton
MUS over Carver
CBHS over Wooddale
ECS over CPA
Melrose over Whitehaven
White Station over Memphis East

Top player suspended

The fall of a high school athlete is always tough for me to handle. I still remember my days as a player and the upcoming senior center who was suspended from the team for smoking cigarettes during the summer after being caught by our coach. I moved up on the depth chart, but to this day almost 40 years later it still bothers me that he didn't get to play. News out of Alcoa today was sad for me. Stefan Cooper of The Blount Today reports that one of the top players in the state, Brian Sommer, has been suspended from the top-ranked 2A Alcoa football team. The Blount Today report quotes Alcoa coach Gary Rankin as saying, “He’s dismissed from the team. He'll never play another down for Alcoa High School. Never.” Sommer had been suspended earlier this season for being late for school and missed the first game of the season, according to Maryville Daily Times sports editor John Brice. The Blount Today reports that Sommer, 18, of 3562 Wexgate Road, Knoxville, was arrested Tuesday at the school. The report says he was charged with simple possession of Schedule VI controlled substance. He was held in lieu of $750 bond pending a 9 a.m. Sept. 13 Blount County General Sessions Court hearing.

The story goes on to add that according to a warrant Alcoa police were requested by Alcoa High School personnel to do a K-9 “sniff” of vehicles in the parking lot. A K-9 drug dog was brought in and marijuana was found "all over the front and rear seats," according to The Blount Today report. Here's an athlete with the best part of his life in front of him. The senior is one of the top prospects in the state. Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina are just a few of the colleges who have already offered Sommer a scholarship. He was a member of our Varsity Sports Media's Tennessee Football magazine Phenoms and we featured him with a story in the magazine. I truly hope that this young man gets through this part of his life and gets back on the right path. The Blount Today reported that Coach Rankin said: “A lot of programs, and (Maryville coach) George (Quarles) and I talked about this the other night, if Maryville football or Alcoa football is not strong enough to hold you, I don't want you anyway.” The Atlanta Falcons will go on without Michael Vick and the Tennessee Titans will go without Adam "Pacman" Jones, who both have been suspended from the NFL for conduct off of the field. And I'm sure that Alcoa will go on without Brian Sommer. But, I do pray for Sommer's recovery and for him to return to the classrooms and to one day to utilize his talents again on the gridiron.

Heading into the third week of the Tennessee prep football season the teams begin to gain some momentum and should be cutting back on mistakes and cramps.

I know, it's Week 2 on the TSSAA schedule because we all know about Week 0. Don't get me started on that.

It's time for the weekly Pea-Pickin'-Picks in memory of Tennessee Ernie Ford.

Last week was a tough one. The Great Stumpola looked deep into the crystal ball and found nothing. That accounts for a 15-9 record that brings the season total to 43-29.

But this week there's a promise to do better.

September 7
Alcoa over White House
Maryville over Clinton

Sweetwater over Rockwood
Baylor over MBA
Smyrna over Lebannon
Ooltewah over McMinn County
Brentwood Academy over McCallie
Loudon over CAK
White Station over Whitehaven
Jo Byrns over Clarksville Academy
Silverdale over Grace
Rhea County over Hixson
Father Ryan over BGA
Trousdale over Watertown
Sullivan South over Unicoi County
Houston over Hamilton
McKenzie over Hollow Rock-Bruceton
Morristown East over David Crockett
York Institute over Cannon County
Oak Ridge over Bradley Central
William Blount over Soddy-Daisy
Lookout Valley over David Brainerd
Polk County over East Ridge
Tyner over Bledsoe County
Cleveland over Brainerd
Meigs County over McMinn Central
Red Bank over Central
Melrose over Raleigh Egypt
Cordova over Memphis Central

CBHS over Craigmont
Knoxville Catholic over Austin-East

Knoxville Fulton over Anderson County
David Lipscomb over Page

Pearl Cohn over Macon County