One thing I am noticing worse this year than in years past is kids getting penalized for hard, clean hits. North had a kid catch the ball tonight take 1-2 steps and our guy hit him hard but ultimately it was chest-to-chest. It wasn’t the best tackling form but the kid went down. It was a hard hit but the crown of his helmet never lowered and it gets called for a personal foul. At Swain a few weeks ago, a kid is blocking on kickoff return and hammers a kid that is running toward him and he got rung up for a blindside block. They were facing each other the whole time. It is like every time you hear a “lick” truly get laid, it’s penalized. Hard hitting is not a penalty, in and of itself, but it seems like it is becoming that way.
Mountain 8 2026
- Thread starter MHHS"12
- Start date
Matchups get more interesting this coming Friday. Pisgah/Franklin is almost always a good one. Tuscola/Smoky has the potential to be great!
Tuscola and Smoky should be a good one and a good environment as Tuscola gets their first home game in a month. I said on the the other thread these two seem very equal to me, I give Tuscola a small nod in explosiveness. Two very good RBs but Trantham has the edge on breaking more.
As for Pisgah/Franklin, I expect the Pit will be lively. For us, I would like to see no turnovers, if we get beat on a deep pass or run we hustle and do not give up and start jogging 30-40yds from the end zone (heart), show we are capable of throwing passes to make manageable 3rd downs instead of continually throwing 15+ yard passes for the majority of our passes, and not have to resort to the stacked I just because we are struggling in the other facets. Our Defense has played good overall, just handed a lot of crappy situations from our offense and special teams. Basically we need to play clean football with heart in all 3-phases. If we do that I’m happy regardless of what the scoreboard says.
I think Franklin’s 20pts better than us if they execute well and we execute well. If we aid them like we have Enka, Smoky, and North this game could be ugly. Clean and show improvement is my goal. Looking forward to the trip and us showing progress. Healthy bodies coming away for both teams.
As for Pisgah/Franklin, I expect the Pit will be lively. For us, I would like to see no turnovers, if we get beat on a deep pass or run we hustle and do not give up and start jogging 30-40yds from the end zone (heart), show we are capable of throwing passes to make manageable 3rd downs instead of continually throwing 15+ yard passes for the majority of our passes, and not have to resort to the stacked I just because we are struggling in the other facets. Our Defense has played good overall, just handed a lot of crappy situations from our offense and special teams. Basically we need to play clean football with heart in all 3-phases. If we do that I’m happy regardless of what the scoreboard says.
I think Franklin’s 20pts better than us if they execute well and we execute well. If we aid them like we have Enka, Smoky, and North this game could be ugly. Clean and show improvement is my goal. Looking forward to the trip and us showing progress. Healthy bodies coming away for both teams.
You know how it is at the pit. You walk in 15 points down…. LOL j/k biltmorecane..
You know how it is at the pit. You walk in 15 points down…. LOL j/k biltmorecane..
Hope the Pisgah fans that are traveling to the Pit enjoy the new digs (just not to much!). Hope we don’t need the stripes, but it’s nice to know we have them. 
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-Smoky will beat Tuscola .Just hope the Bears can keep it close. We lost games at the pit when we had the better team, and we are not the better team this time.Franklin is the best team in WNC.
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Lots of parity in this conference this year. Makes for good ball down the stretch.
Still a lot of ball to be played, I wouldn’t go crowning us just yet. Plenty of WNC teams that have a chance to be the best right now. Health for all the teams is my wish now.
Yes but his backup is out for the year. We do have a Soph who could be a good one. He needs to step up now!!!
Did any of the Pisgah folks attend the JV game? I don’t know anything about the game but the score looks like it was a good one. Looking forward to welcoming you guys to the new “Pit” tonight. I’ll be watching on FPSN.
I didn’t attend the JV game but I believe we gave a long TD pass toward the end of the game ( final minutes, not seconds)that was the go ahead and winning score. It sounded like it was even throughout.
I’ll be headed to the Pit tonight. We’ll see how it turns out. If we play clean, I’m anticipating 35-14 Franklin.
I imagine Pisgah will have some fans that don’t make the drive and end up at the Tuscola game. I think Tuscola wins that one by 7
I’ll be headed to the Pit tonight. We’ll see how it turns out. If we play clean, I’m anticipating 35-14 Franklin.
I imagine Pisgah will have some fans that don’t make the drive and end up at the Tuscola game. I think Tuscola wins that one by 7
Would love to get your thoughts on the new stadium afterwards at some point.
Pisgah turned the ball over three times and that cost them.We still had a chance at the end, but Franklin stopped us on a fourth and one at their 25.Still it was a good game.Hope we can keep it that close going into the fourth tonight.Think they was a little over two minutes left when Franklin scored.
Franklin 35 vs Pisgah 0 3Q, the Bears have hurt themselves as much or more than the Panthers in this one so far.
Well…we definitely didn’t play clean. We’re struggling to protect the football. Our defense actually plays respectable, our playcalling and turnovers just keep putting too much on them over and over. My goal next week remains the same: play clean football with heart.
The Panthers didn’t need a ton of help but we gave them plenty. Congrats to Franklin and thanks for keeping it classy, we definitely could have been beat worse.
The Panthers didn’t need a ton of help but we gave them plenty. Congrats to Franklin and thanks for keeping it classy, we definitely could have been beat worse.
I missed some of the early part of the game as I had to work late. From what I saw you guys have talent. If I was your coach it would be practices of repetition! I would run 3 running plays & 2 passing plays until the kid’s perfected them. You could see the nerves on the broadcast. I will say this, if you guys can do a couple things good, you could surprise someone in the playoffs! Good luck going forward!
On a side note some thoughts on the new stadium?
Stadium is nice and looks great overall. Y’all have those fancy new flashing lights and like to let them do their thing.
. Flashing and dancing to the music. The red accent lights shining up the poles are nice touch. The way the track and long jump are set up the visitor bleachers feel like you’re a mile from the field. That makes it seem quiet. Nice, spruced up venue.Thanks domer10! GLStadium is nice and looks great overall. Y’all have those fancy new flashing lights and like to let them do their thing.
Going forward!
Thank you! Yes, there’s talent there. We’re just currently playing against ourselves and our opponents.
Can we fix it?
If you look at Pisgah’s schedule and scores you see a story that looks far more sad and somber and miles away from I actually think it is team wise. Some may bother to read, some not. I may be right, may not be but here me some reflections/observations, IMO.
Starting with Enka.
Enka got in our head (coaches included) before the game and we wanted to mash it down their throat. They stacked 11 in the box due to our offensive formation and we couldn’t. Egos took too long to move away from this. Bad punt due to punter mishandling snap. Results in Enka having great field position at the 5 going in. Flipped momentum of the game that we never completely regained. Kudos to Enka’s crowd for part of that. Tossed pick 6 on overthrown ball across the middle. Some bad attitudes show up by some on our squad and we miss our chance for a tackle and it goes for a TD.
Smoky Mountain
Smoky basically sent a 3-man rush the majority of the night and dropped 7-8 back into coverage usually at 10+ yards. We toss 3 deep balls into vacuum tight coverage and because Smoky had multiple bodies there, all interceptions. The other two interceptions were similar just throwing in “lanes” where the linebacker was waiting to jump the route and did because that was his position in coverage and we couldn’t see it. I felt like this game result was a lot us and some Smoky. We should have been beat by 40+ because Smoky was trying it just couldn’t happen.
North Henderson
Good opening drive that scores. Immediately kickoff and it’s returned for TD. A few more series we get our backs against the wall due to bad snap, have to punt, and sail the snap into the end zone for a safety. 9 points due to special teams in first half. Ended up getting a win with offensive play calls that can be successful against the North, East, and Brevard but not good teams. It’s too vanilla and we’re not physically imposing. We won’t physically dominate, physically mature opponents.
Franklin
Franklin scores first drive. 5+minutes. We get the ball, get a first down, called back for holding and then we fumble inside the 20. TD Franklin. Get the ball back, fumble inside the 20 again. TD Franklin. Roughly 2 minutes to go in the first. Franklin 21pts on maybe 100yds offense, Pisgah 0 on maybe 5-10 yds offense. We’re punch drunk the rest of the half. We do throw an interception on a HR attempt on 3rd and 8 instead of just trying for the first down. Franklin had it covered like a glove. Ball should never be thrown.
Solutions?
Obviously, prioritize protecting the football. A turnover free game in any of the above looks crazy different even if we lose and moral is way different both on the field and in the stands.
We vascillate on offense from stacked I goal line smashmouth offense to slinging passes 15+ yards. We seldom to never, throw underneath for what the defense is giving us and just take our yards or first down. Timing routes and passing game that helps move the sticks could help us a ton and boost our QBs confidence. A lot of effective pass plays to run under 10-yds.
After we throw deep and mess up, confidence wains on the field and for coaches and we line up in the stacked I and just try to chew clock and possibly win or at least lose by a little.
****If we get out of own way and play clean, results will automatically appear better on the scoreboard. We must prioritize confidence for our QBs, and probably need to shift to just one taking snaps. This isn’t a knock on either QB, it just needs to be done for the sake of the team and rhythm. The senior probably makes the most sense because this team needs leadership. To be our best version of ourselves, this team has to pass and run. We’re not a power team, smashmouth team, or a knock the top off the defense team, (especially when we mostly throw on long 3rds). This team needs effective yardage producing passes and runs to achieve balance and balance is essential for our identity****
There is a better team inside this group of players than a lot of our kids currently believe, than a lot of our fans currently believe, and than a lot of our opponents currently believe.
Team/coaches, I’m for you!!
Can we put together the pieces to show people?
Sorry, for the book.. Just some thoughts. Some (most) may not read this far anyways. Maybe it was just for me.
If you look at Pisgah’s schedule and scores you see a story that looks far more sad and somber and miles away from I actually think it is team wise. Some may bother to read, some not. I may be right, may not be but here me some reflections/observations, IMO.
Starting with Enka.
Enka got in our head (coaches included) before the game and we wanted to mash it down their throat. They stacked 11 in the box due to our offensive formation and we couldn’t. Egos took too long to move away from this. Bad punt due to punter mishandling snap. Results in Enka having great field position at the 5 going in. Flipped momentum of the game that we never completely regained. Kudos to Enka’s crowd for part of that. Tossed pick 6 on overthrown ball across the middle. Some bad attitudes show up by some on our squad and we miss our chance for a tackle and it goes for a TD.
Smoky Mountain
Smoky basically sent a 3-man rush the majority of the night and dropped 7-8 back into coverage usually at 10+ yards. We toss 3 deep balls into vacuum tight coverage and because Smoky had multiple bodies there, all interceptions. The other two interceptions were similar just throwing in “lanes” where the linebacker was waiting to jump the route and did because that was his position in coverage and we couldn’t see it. I felt like this game result was a lot us and some Smoky. We should have been beat by 40+ because Smoky was trying it just couldn’t happen.
North Henderson
Good opening drive that scores. Immediately kickoff and it’s returned for TD. A few more series we get our backs against the wall due to bad snap, have to punt, and sail the snap into the end zone for a safety. 9 points due to special teams in first half. Ended up getting a win with offensive play calls that can be successful against the North, East, and Brevard but not good teams. It’s too vanilla and we’re not physically imposing. We won’t physically dominate, physically mature opponents.
Franklin
Franklin scores first drive. 5+minutes. We get the ball, get a first down, called back for holding and then we fumble inside the 20. TD Franklin. Get the ball back, fumble inside the 20 again. TD Franklin. Roughly 2 minutes to go in the first. Franklin 21pts on maybe 100yds offense, Pisgah 0 on maybe 5-10 yds offense. We’re punch drunk the rest of the half. We do throw an interception on a HR attempt on 3rd and 8 instead of just trying for the first down. Franklin had it covered like a glove. Ball should never be thrown.
Solutions?
Obviously, prioritize protecting the football. A turnover free game in any of the above looks crazy different even if we lose and moral is way different both on the field and in the stands.
We vascillate on offense from stacked I goal line smashmouth offense to slinging passes 15+ yards. We seldom to never, throw underneath for what the defense is giving us and just take our yards or first down. Timing routes and passing game that helps move the sticks could help us a ton and boost our QBs confidence. A lot of effective pass plays to run under 10-yds.
After we throw deep and mess up, confidence wains on the field and for coaches and we line up in the stacked I and just try to chew clock and possibly win or at least lose by a little.
****If we get out of own way and play clean, results will automatically appear better on the scoreboard. We must prioritize confidence for our QBs, and probably need to shift to just one taking snaps. This isn’t a knock on either QB, it just needs to be done for the sake of the team and rhythm. The senior probably makes the most sense because this team needs leadership. To be our best version of ourselves, this team has to pass and run. We’re not a power team, smashmouth team, or a knock the top off the defense team, (especially when we mostly throw on long 3rds). This team needs effective yardage producing passes and runs to achieve balance and balance is essential for our identity****
There is a better team inside this group of players than a lot of our kids currently believe, than a lot of our fans currently believe, and than a lot of our opponents currently believe.
Team/coaches, I’m for you!!
Can we put together the pieces to show people?
Sorry, for the book.
. Just some thoughts. Some (most) may not read this far anyways. Maybe it was just for me.Part of the problem with the turnovers could be because we had different running backs , 5 was out along with one lineman.Would that have made a difference probably not but we might have at least scored.As for the new stadium, nice like the scoreboard and the flashing lights but it seemed like we were a long ways from the field.
Yes, I hope 5 gets to recoup. Odd injury for how it happened based on what I was told. Shin to shin contact. As for lineman, I’ve heard multiple things so hopefully it’s not long term.
5 and 20 both compliment each other well and provide balance for the other’s style of play. It would have had little, to no, effect for how this one played out but we’re at our best when both are rotating.
I didn't expect the Tuscola/Smoky game to be so lopsided. Was Tuscola just better or were there other underlying factors that contributed to the scoreboard?
Not bragging by any means. We were just better. .
Y'all have completely far surpassed my expectations and surprised me with your results so far this year! Keep it going and good luck against Franklin. They look to be the real deal this year!
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That happens. Not necessarily bragging. Especially if it's true. Looks like you all are rolling this year.
