Marion County quarterback Bryce Massengale (12) gets by Jackson County's Wyatt Mabry (72) for a big gain. The Jackson County Blue Devils visited the Marion County Warriors in the second round of the TSSAA State Football Playoffs Friday night in Jasper.Tennessee Playoffs(All kickoffs at 7 p.m. local time)Class 1ACopper Basin (7-4) at Monterey (8-3)Class 2ATrousdale County (9-3) at Marion County (10-1)Class 3AMcMinn Central (10-2) at Notre Dame (11-1)Class 5ARhea County (12-0) at Oak Ridge (12-0)Division II-AABaylor (8-4) at Montgomery Bell Academy (9-2)Georgia Playoffs(most kickoffs at 7:30 p.m.)Class A PrivateChristian Heritage (5-5) at Savannah Calvary Day (10-0)Class 3ACedar Grove (9-2) at Calhoun (11-0)Class 5ADalton (9-2) at Warner Robins Northside (10-1)
About this spot last football season, Notre Dame was winning but was beginning to drag, perhaps losing a leg-weary half-step.
"It was almost like in practice that it was a grind, but right now it's like the guys are flying," coach Charles Fant said.
The Irish, after two postseason wins, lost in the third round, as did Marion County.
There's no such problem this year for either of the two, who'll compete in quarterfinal games at home on Friday. Notre Dame will host McMinn Central -- the Irish are considering a move to Finley Stadium -- and Marion County will host Trousdale County, the team that eliminated the Warriors last season on its way to a state title.
Other Chattanooga-area teams still in the TSSAA playoffs are on the road -- Copper Basin going to Monterey, Rhea County playing at Oak Ridge and Baylor in a rematch with Montgomery Bell Academy. In Georgia, Dalton will be on the road to Warner Robins Northside and Calhoun will be at home against Cedar Grove, which improved to 9-2 with a 45-7 win Saturday against Westside-Augusta.
Starters for the Irish and the Warriors have plenty of bounce in their steps because they have enjoyed numerous mercy-rule running clocks with younger players mopping up from the second-half kickoff on.
Since a Week 6 victory over Signal Mountain, Notre Dame starters haven't played in the second half of games against Polk County, Sequatchie County, Coalfield, Grundy County, Chattanooga Christian and, this past Friday, Upperman.
"It was six games ago that the guys just started firing off from the start, and they amazed me with that 42-point first quarter against Grundy County," Fant said.
In that six-game stretch, the Irish hold a commanding 302-41 scoring advantage.
Marion County starters haven't played a second half the last five weeks, and it might go back even to Week 5, a week after their only loss of the year (7-0 to Central). During that stretch, the Warriors have outscored opponents 392-73.
There are pluses and minuses to such favorable circumstances.
"Absolutely," Fant agreed. "You think about the skill guys and reducing the number of hits they take."
There also is extended playing time for less experienced players, adding experienced depth.
"But you also worry: Are we going to be in shape when we go four quarters?" Marion coach Ricky Ross said. "For us we just take that back to practice and how we practice. Between offense and defense our guys get 165 snaps in a day. Also, practice is a little faster-paced than a game, although it certainly is not as physical."
For Notre Dame, which will practice today, the regimen will be to review Friday's win, go outside and correct mistakes and then a heavy dose of conditioning.
"We still condition really hard three days a week, but the kids are really in good shape without playing a lot on Friday nights," Fant said. "Last year we were cutting back on conditioning. This year we're doing as much or more than when the year started."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at Twitter.com/wardgossett.