Today Garth is ready to give you the run down on Holston.  Share a few comments and let him know if you agree or disagree with his take on this season's Cavaliers!

Hello again!  Garth here.  Darth came over last night and we were reviewing some new Death Star blueprints over a case of cream soda when I got to thinking... How will Holston fare this year without PB&J? (Pratt, Bramlett, & Jordan).  Well, this was my conclusion...Lets get started with the Cavs!!

Damascus

Great place to live, even better place to live if you love gnats.  Damascus is the only place on earth where you can visit Dairy King and Cowboys, two places that only exist in the imagination of most people and also in Damascus.

The Cavs

Last year the Cavs kicked butt.  Lots of it.  Bramlett, Pratt, Blevins, Thomas, Casey, and a slew of others rampaged through the district losing only to George Wythe all regular season long.  Their glory days ended in a disappointing 2-0 slugfest between themselves and the always potent JI Burton Raiders.

This season looks to be..well.. different.  For the past three years the Damascus faithful were used to seeing their Cavs storm out to a strong start, whipping the entire Cumberland district and at least half the Hogoheegee.  This year the Cavs are minus several points-per-game.  Bramlett is now a bulldozer at a local Home Depot, John Pratt has a part time job throwing small children through the air for fun, Jordan Blevins catches them, and the rest of the graduates are off doing other things.  Really, what I'm trying to say is, those guys aren't there and Holston is in trouble.

Their recent scrimmage against Coeburn says it all.  Last year the Cavs were competing among the last four teams for who was best in state.  This year they couldn't put up one score against Coeburn, a team picked to finish in the middle of the Cumberland.  The Cumberland, a district who hasn't put a team past the first round of the Region D playoffs in the modern era.

The Outlook and stuff..

Matlock IS still there.  As long as he's still there then there is always hope.  Experienced senior Cody Blevins, Bramlett's runningback counterpart from last season, suffered a collarbone injury this preseason.  Reports are mixed about when he'll return, but with or without him, I sense about the same results.  Several key athletes are still around for the Cavs.  Daniel Applegate is a go-getter, John Dalia is a mow-through-er, and Dillon DeArmond is a run-around-er.  Without the key playmakers of the past, however, the Cavs will have to rely on these guys to step in and fulfill some big roles on the field.

Saint Paul - Afterall, it is Saint Paul.  They have the occassional good athlete but it's not going to be enough.  The Cavs should take this one out of shear athleticsm - Holston by at least 14

Twin Springs - Twin Springs boasts speed.  Which is what most Cumberland teams are forced to rely upon anyway.  This one could be close if the Cavs don't watch out. - Holston by 7

John Battle - The Cavs are going to hate me for this.  Ryan Witten has been turning things around in Battletown since day one.  Battle is on the way up this year and the Cavs are taking a step back.  - Battle by 2.

at Bland County - Bland has a good group of young guys coming up but Holston's old guys are too good.  Holston by 20

at Haysi - This game was supposed to be a challenge for the Cavs last year.  It ended up being a 27-0 mud-bath in favor of the home team.  This time around, Holston has to take the bus back in time to Haysi.  It's still 1983 over there and they play football well at home.  I expect a close bout but Haysi is improved this year and that bus ride is going to be terrible.  Holston's football team actually left yesterday to get there by the time this game starts.  Haysi by 6

at Northwood - The Panthers are in for a long year. The Cavs coast after halftime.  Holston by 28

at Rural Retreat - Coach Q moved on to better things.  Coach Moore has too.  The Indians will be the most improved team this year, not because Q left, but because experience pays dividends and RR has it all over the place.  Rural Retreat by 14.

at George Wythe - Has a cow jumped over the moon yet? No? Ok. George Wythe by 30.

Chilhowie - Beating Chilhowie last year was quite a milestone for the Cavs, having not topped the Warriors for several seasons.  Most of those same Warriors return and have a good memory for the agony of defeat.  Chilhowie by 28.

Patrick Henry - In terms of athletes, these two teams are about even.  In terms of toughness, Holston gets the edge.  Holston by 13.

After losing what Holston has lost, a 5-5 season is nothing to be ashamed of.  And with the state of most Region C, Division 1 schools, that is promising for a low seed in the playoffs.  Two of the games I have Holston losing are close ones and could go either way!  The gap between 7-3 and 5-5 isn't all that big this year, in my opinon.  Rebuilding years are inevitable when you graduate a handful of the best athletes to come through your school.  Be patient Damascus, Matlock has built your program straight up from the ground - glory days will soon return.