If the old TSSAA football playoff system, which is being reinstituted next year, had been in play this year, McMinn County would have been in the playoffs with a 3-7 overall record but 3-3 in District 5-AAA. The three teams ahead of the Cherokees - Ooltewah, Cleveland and Bradley Central - made the field as did two behind them: Walker Valley and Soddy-Daisy.
McMinn's schedule included three district champions, and the teams the Cherokees lost to (including unbeatens Oak Ridge and Ooltewah, once-beaten Alcoa and twice-beaten McCallie) had a combined record of 55-15.
Bo Cagle is one coach who will delight in seeing the return of the system that automatically sends the top four from each league into the playoffs.
Ross, Zeman top 6-A
Marion County coach Ricky Ross and his senior running back/linebacker Blake Zeman received District 6-A coach and player of the year honors.
Whitwell's Cody Ingrassia was named offensive player of the year, Marion's Alex Kirkendoll defensive player of the year and Marion's Christian Stephens special teams player of the year.
All-district honors went to Marion's Josh Henderson, Hunter McClain, Cory Tucker, Blake Brooks, Bradley Baxter, Bryce Massengale and Hayden Tudors; South Pittsburg's Corbin Fitzgerald, Tristan Adams, Kitt Grider, Sam Nelson, Chase Blevins and McKenna Blevins; and Whitwell's Bailey Blaylock, Greg Layne, Tyler Tate, Clay McHone and Andrew Kilgore.
Akins wins appeal
With so much on the line tonight for his team, Ringgold coach Robert Akins was not looking forward to missing the game with North Murray. He won't have to now, after the head of the North Georgia Football Officials Association, Greg Norton, ruled in favor of Akins' appeal of a one-game suspension for being thrown out of last week's game.
Akins' coaching staff was called for two sideline-obstruction penalties last week, and the veteran head coach was thrown out by rule. He also would have had to miss tonight's game if the appeal had been turned down. Akins won his appeal based on the fact his staff was not given proper warning after the initial call.
"It was interesting because I had never been ejected before," said Akins, whose team can lock up the Region 7-AAA No. 3 playoff seed with a win tonight. "The bottom line is I have an obligation to keep my coaches back and we didn't get it done, but we were never even told about the first penalty or given a warning."