WEEK 13 Athens vs Thurgood Marshall

[A-Town Big Dog]

I haven't seen anyone on here saying they thought Athens would win this game, most people are hoping they may be able to compete a little with a team that could very well be the best in D3. I'll tell you straight up, I know most Athens fans don't expect to win this game and many don't think they can stay very close but that doesn't mean the kids on the team shouldn't believe it until someone proves them wrong. I don't know what people outside of Athens expect of this team, most teams would kill to play in a Regional Final. I think a lot of you still have hard feelings about Athens changing leagues and now that thery have found some success outside of the "weak" and "terrible" TVC you feel the need to pile on. Athens is in only their third ever playoff appearance (second in a row) and now has their first two wins ever in the playoffs, back to back league titles, and a combined 19-1 regular season mark over the past two seasons....I'll take that any day as would fans of any team across the state.

[Tyler_Durden]

Very well said A-Town. Most teams and fan bases would love to be where Athens is right now. You don't get there by being "weak." I'm not even an "Athens homer" as Paladin says, but I am certainly objective enough to give credit where it is deserved, and I'm observant enough to notice when a person just simply embittered, angry, negative, closed-minded and absurd to the point of NEVER giving credit where it is deserved.

Speaking of such...

Unless you are a local" homer", most peope in ths state who know anything about football knows how this one is going to end. We'll meet you back here to "discuss" the final score and why Athens got blown away. Some answers to why already exists -- the Regional is the weakest in the state ( except for TM) and Athens wouldn't not have gotten this far in other regions. No one wants to own up to the weak Athens schedule -- no problem, as TM will school all of you in who played a tougher schedule and is ready to play in the playoffs. Finally, and I don't want to put too fine a point on this -- many here think Athens will play with and score often on TM. Good luck with that one. In order to do that, you have to match up with the abilities that TM has on D. Everyone here is raving about TM's O or Athens' O. The reality is Athens hasn't faced an athletic team the scope of TM's D and will NOT match up well at all. But, hey, save your comments for me, as we'll meet up here and the explanations should be hilarious. You should have closely matched teams in a Regional Final. The game SHOULD be competitive. But..............................

Se you back here after the game, sports fans..........................

Everyone will be here, and the way you've set it up, unless Thurgood Marshall "blows away" Athens then you will have nothing to say.

When you first started bashing Athens it was how weak their league is and how they would never compete with anyone their size... then it was how Shawnee would give them a dose of reality... now all but 1 of 30 teams in the entire region sucks....

You seriously have zero credibility. Thanks for providing the entertainment though. Sure helps pass the time until the next game......

[Spartan]

Paladin has and has always had zero credibility. He talks negatively about activities that involve children. Yes children.

[OneHitWonder]

GO BULLDOGS!!!!

[freethrow]

The only quality win that Athens had this year was against Shawnee and they probably wasn't the best team they played, I'd say Gallia was. The region is very, very weak but sometime things work in your favor and this year it's worked in Athens favor. So take advantage of the breaks and enjoy Saturday. I'm happy to see they moved down from DII few years back or they may not be in the playoffs even at 10-0. Again enjoy it

[A-Town Big Dog]

I will say this, I believe Thurgood Marshall is the best team in the region and they were the odds on favorite to win the region when the playoffs started (and they'll likely win it) but that doesn't mean we shouldn't encourage and support a great group of kids.

[A-Town Big Dog]

The only quality win that Athens had this year was against Shawnee and they probably wasn't the best team they played, I'd say Gallia was. The region is very, very weak but sometime things work in your favor and this year it's worked in Athens favor. So take advantage of the breaks and enjoy Saturday. I'm happy to see they moved down from DII few years back or they may not be in the playoffs even at 10-0. Again enjoy it

Last season Athens finished 10-0 and had a 28.45 computer average good enough for second in D3 R12 it also would have been good for second in D2 R7 (where they would have been if they were still D2).

[A-Town Big Dog]

Regions go up and down drastically, point totals that get you higher seeds some years don't get you in the playoffs other years, just the way it is.

[grndma1]

Good Luck Athens. Grndma1 is cheering for you. Play your best, stay safe, play fair, and enjoy one of the best seasons, as the great team you are this year.

[doubleplay643]

Unless you are a local" homer", most peope in ths state who know anything about football knows how this one is going to end. We'll meet you back here to "discuss" the final score and why Athens got blown away. Some answers to why already exists -- the Regional is the weakest in the state ( except for TM) and Athens wouldn't not have gotten this far in other regions. No one wants to own up to the weak Athens schedule -- no problem, as TM will school all of you in who played a tougher schedule and is ready to play in the playoffs. Finally, and I don't want to put too fine a point on this -- many here think Athens will play with and score often on TM. Good luck with that one. In order to do that, you have to match up with the abilities that TM has on D. Everyone here is raving about TM's O or Athens' O. The reality is Athens hasn't faced an athletic team the scope of TM's D and will NOT match up well at all. But, hey, save your comments for me, as we'll meet up here and the explanations should be hilarious. You should have closely matched teams in a Regional Final. The game SHOULD be competitive. But..............................

Se you back here after the game, sports fans..........................

Paladin, who in Region 12 got screwed out of the play-offs that should be playing TM then? You state that the regional final should have closely matched teams, so if Athens and TM aren't the best teams in the region, who then should TM be playing that somehow didn't make the play-offs? Bottom line is the two best teams in the Region as currently defined by OHSAA are playing for the final...if one team (TM) happens to be alot better than everyone else this year then that is just the way it is, but these are the two teams that made it.

I imagine game 14 and 15 for TM if they advance after Saturday night may look a lot like game 11, 12, and 13 for them in the play-offs as well. Athens go do your best you are one of the two best teams in the region, and from Ironman country go represent, lay it out, nothing to lose.

[LoganElm_grad09]

I really want Athens to beat Thurgood Marshall. About as classless as a staff can get when you are up 40 points at the half and leave in ALL of your starters and do freaking onside kicks. Heck, when we played them in the Final Four, we were taunted by several of their fans after the game. To say I have no respect for them is a gargantuan understatement.

I like to see a team with a knockout punch mentality, but a 40 point lead pretty much says the game is over.

Interesting factoid- AHS and TMHS won their oppeners in the 60's-20's range, being Circleville and Logan Elm. Logan Elm won the regular season matchup 31-0 in the midst of a 3 game slide by CV.

[questionmark]

The Return of the Weak Minded Paladin!
I'll tell ya, your comments just keep gettin' better and better.

This is just your finest work yet!
"most peope in ths state who know anything about football knows how this one is going to end. We'll meet you back here to "discuss" the final score and why Athens got blown away. - Paladin"

You have been mubbling this garbage for the past three weeks and you have been dead wrong every week. I guess you are one of those people who will keep on saying the same thing and then when it finally is right, you'll thump your chest like King Kong!

"the Regional is the weakest in the state - Paladin"

Again, dead wrong...but that doesn't suprise anyone on here. This Regional matches TWO teams that are (11-1) on the season. That is (22 wins) and only (2) losses between the two teams. (I did the Math for ya, didn't want you to get a headache). I would call that a pretty good match-up. Both teams are clicking on all cylinders with Athens riding an (11-game winning streak) and Thurgood Marshall riding a (7-game winning streak).

I'll take our Bulldogs, who have been in a few 'Dog Fights' this season. What Happens when Thurgood Marshall gets smacked in the mouth? What happens when all the stars don't line up for them? The Bulldogs know that sometimes things don't bounce your way and you have to find a way to win. They have played some really good Defenses this season, and they will see nothing new coming from Thurgood Marshall. The Coaches will have them ready, and the fans will be there again in the thousands!

Go BULLDOGS!
ELITE EIGHT in the STATE

[93Bulldog]

THE 'BUILT IN' RESPONSES ...

If Athens wins the TVC ... its because they are the 'big fish' in a little pond.
If Athens beats an SEOAL team ... its because they joined the TVC, which strengthened their program somehow.
If Athens wins a playoff game ... its because they got lucky with the match-up.
If Athens wins a regional semi-final ... its because the region is down.

... these will continue to matter what Athens does ... if they win a state title ... its because the entire state was down.

Just ignore the 'nay sayers' questionmark ... they just need a topic to post on since their teams are no longer playing.

[93Bulldog]

BTW ... THE WEEK 13 PREVIEW IS UP ... http://trivalleyconference.com/Feature_Article.html

Anyone wanting to see what coach Adams looked like as a player - click on the preview ...

[Herd554]

I'll take our Bulldogs, who have been in a few 'Dog Fights' this season.

No disrespect but reality. You faced a small Dog when ya played Gallia, but now you are about to face a PitBull. Good Luck in your Dog Fight!

[iluvgahs]

Saturday night bout 7 here come the pittbulls ARRF!! ARRF!

[moonshine]

Drew Pasteur is picking Thurgood Marshall!

[A-Town Big Dog]

Drew Pasteur is picking Thurgood Marshall!

As I would expect, so did JJ Huddle and Max Preps. Not much of a surprise, Pasteur has Thurgood as the favorite to win the State Title. Nobody is questioning that they are a GREAT team.

[Dundas]

Good luck Athens. You have represented the TVC well! Win or lose, show Marshall that there are football teams in the southeast!

[hsfbfan]

Athens meets their match this week.