Cleveland has clinche in 5-AAA

For those who cannot yet comprehend the notion, Cleveland has secured the District 5-AAA championship regardless of the outcome of the Blue Raiders' Thursday game at Soddy-Daisy.

One has to know, though, that the Trojans (with or without pregame prayer) have a point to make for Cleveland coach E.K. Slaughter, who coached at Soddy-Daisy for a year before moving to Cleveland in the summer of 2009.

The No. 2 team out of 5-AAA will be Bradley Central, which plays at Walker Valley Friday.

* That mercy-rule beating Polk County put on South Pittsburg Friday night won't be forgotten by the folks who follow Vic Grider's Pirates. A rivalry has been born and promises to be a big-money gate for at least the next two seasons. Polk and South Pittsburg are both in the postseason and figure both could advance in the state playoffs. As Polk County Derrick Davis said, though, all things east Tennessee 3-A football go through Alcoa, and that could affect any number of teams including Bledsoe County, Sequatchie County, Tyner and Howard.

* There are two pretty good games on Thursday. While Soddy-Daisy is hosting Cleveland, (5-4) Boyd-Buchanan will be at Finley Stadium against unbeaten Copper Basin with the District 5-A title on the line. And on Friday if you want to drive south into Alabama, North Jackson and Fort Payne are hoping to lock up undefeated regular seasons. They are two of just four unbeaten teams left in the Chattanooga area, joining Signal Mountain and Copper Basin.

* The District 7-AA title is still up for grabs and, barring an upset, is headed for tie-breakers. Right now those involved would be Sequatchie County, Bledsoe County and Grundy County.

* Chattanooga could wind up with no representation in the Class 4A playoffs because no teams that would advance in that group finished first or second in their district. The Chattanooga area's most likely 4A playoff participants appear to be Red Bank and perhaps Central.

* Tennessee playoffs begin on Friday, Nov. 5 with all kickoffs scheduled for 7 p.m. local team.

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