Blaze in the News!!! Three teams ranked in top 5 Oakland, Blackman, Siegel state contenders MURFREESBORO — It has been called the toughest football league in the state in the past by national websites. Teams in District 7-AAA — a league entirely comprised of Rutherford County teams — can perhaps stake that claim again this year after three of the league’s teams were ranked in the top five of this week’s Associated Press’ Class 6A statewide poll. Oakland (6-0) is ranked second in the 6A poll. Blackman (6-0) is fourth and Siegel (4-2) is fifth. Siegel’s two losses are to Oakland and Blackman. Maryville (5-0) is ranked first in the poll and has been all season. Defending state champion Whitehaven (6-0) is ranked third. It marks the first time in history that three Murfreesboro football teams have been ranked in the top five of the same Associated Press statewide poll. It is believed to be the first time that three Rutherford County teams were ranked in the top five in the same poll. Three Rutherford County teams were ranked in the top six of the 2010 Class 6A poll multiple weeks. “I don’t remember a time in the 20 years that I’ve been a head coach or an assistant coach that we’ve had three teams ranked in the top five in the same division of football,” said Blackman coach Philip Shadowens, who won two Class 5A state titles during his tenure at Smyrna. “That says something. From what I’ve seen on watching video of other teams — Siegel, Smyrna, Oakland and other teams — is that there is a lot of talent in our county. I think we have three of the best five teams in the state in 6A.” Shadowens said a lot of that credit should go to the talented athletes currently playing in the county. Rutherford County had two other teams ranked in this week’s AP poll. Smyrna (5-1) is ranked seventh in the 6A poll to become the fourth Rutherford County in that poll for the third consecutive week. The Bulldogs host Siegel on Friday in a matchup of ranked opponents. In Class 2A, Eagleville (5-1) is ranked eighth. “I would say top to bottom there are probably more quality teams this year,” Oakland coach Thomas McDaniel said. McDaniel, who is a former Riverdale assistant, said he also cannot remember a time when three teams were ranked in the top five. In 2010, Rutherford County had four schools in the 6A poll like this year. ***Courtesy of the DNJ 9/30/13***
Posted on: Tue, 01 Oct 2013 22:04:22 +0000