PREP FOOTBALL: Harmon: 'It's win or go home'

BY BRIAN T. SMITH
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

BRISTOL, Tenn. – Redemption and opportunity.

The Tennessee High Vikings can claim both tonight, when they face off against the Morristown West Trojans at 7 p.m. at the Stone Castle in a Class 4A first-round playoff game.

First, the redemption.

Last season, the Vikings lost 28-21 to Sullivan South in the Mountain Lakes Conference regular-season finale championship game.

Tennessee High then came out flat and uninspired the following week against the Volunteer Falcons in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs. The result: a disappointing 21-14 loss at the Stone Castle.

This year, the Vikings (7-3) again fell one game short of the MLC title, losing 28-8 to South last Friday at the Castle.

However, this time around, Tennessee High has no intention of participating in a repeat performance of last year’s frustrating first-round exit from the playoffs.

“From now on, it’s win or go home,” said Tennessee High junior quarterback Taylor Harmon, who has completed 62 of 102 passes this season for 848 yards and nine touchdowns.

“To play playoff football, you have to be prepared. We were prepared last year, as far as the coaches – they prepared us for the game; we knew what we were supposed to do. But our mindset as a team wasn’t there last year. … We can’t have that again [tonight]. … I can’t remember the last time Tennessee High got beat in the first round, other than last year. That’s something that can’t happen twice in a row.”

To stave off déjà vu, the Vikings must contain a 6-4 Morristown West squad that has outscored its last two opponents 71-24, and possesses an offensive attack that has averaged 28.4 points per game this season against a consistently higher-caliber of opposition than Tennessee High has faced all year.

“They’re going to come over here with fire in their eyes,” Vikings coach Greg Stubbs said.

Tennessee High plans to answer the Trojans’ fire on two fronts.

The run-first Vikings will lead with junior running back Keenan Shepard (224 carries for 1,313 yards and 16 touchdowns) on offense, and then mix in a play action fake-based passing game once the ground attack is established.

Meanwhile, Tennessee High’s defensive front seven – led by senior linebackers Matt McClellan and Trevor Crump, and junior defensive lineman Bradley Tallman – will attempt to slow down Morristown West’s running game and limit big, game-breaking plays.

The latter have been game-enders for the Vikings this season.

Each time Tennessee High has matched up this year against high-quality competition – Dobyns-Bennett, Science Hill, Sullivan South – the Vikings have hung tight and basically been even in the game’s first 15 minutes.

However, costly mental mistakes and ill-timed turnovers by Tennessee High in the final minutes of the first half in each game allowed the Vikings’ opponents to jump – and stay – ahead.

“I told [the kids] last week … thank the good Lord … he’s going to give us another opportunity next week to come back in this stadium and play one more time,” Stubbs said. “And I challenged ‘em. Maybe this time, we can get it right.”

Stubbs feels his team is on track to do so.

He said the Vikings practiced well this week, rebounding quickly after the loss to South.

And Stubbs now sees a new possible path for his team if Tennessee High can shut down and knock off Morristown West: A win over the Trojans gives the Vikings a 50-50 chance to take on MLC-foe Elizabethton – who Tennessee High defeated 42-20 on Oct. 17 – next week at home in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs.

But first, the Vikings must protect the Castle.

“You never know in these playoff situations what’s going to happen,” Stubbs said. “We do know one thing … that will happen: winners will go on and losers will go home.”

btsmith@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2569

If you go
Who: Morristown West Trojans (6-4) at Tennessee High Vikings (7-3)
What: Class 4A first-round playoff game
When: 7 p.m., tonight
Where: Stone Castle in Bristol, Tenn.
Radio: WOPI-AM (1490) and WXSM-AM (640)

Tennessee High will win if: The Vikings can minimize mistakes and turnovers, and hold the Trojans under 20 points. Turnovers played a major hand in all three of Tennessee High’s losses this season, while the Vikings’ run-first offensive attack makes it hard for Tennessee High to play catch-up if it falls behind early.
Morristown West will win if: The Trojans can grab an early lead and silence the pro-Viking crowd at the Castle. Morristown West has outscored its last two opponents 71-24. And a fast start for the Trojans will most likely result in another first-round playoff knockout for Tennessee High.