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Is SEC still best football conference?
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The mighty Southeastern Conference has six schools in the Top 25, with Alabama and LSU atop the rankings and the toast of college football once again.

An impressive eight SEC teams have managed to break into the Top 25 this season.

But while it seems everyone in the SEC is enjoying success, that's not the case. The bottom half of the league has had some downright embarrassing moments.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said even the SEC can't win every game.

"I know as a league, we have a lot of pride. We expect to win every game no matter what," Mullen said. "That's a good thing. But in today's college football, that's not always possible."

Not even when teams are playing at home.

Louisiana-Monroe went on the road and shocked Arkansas and had Auburn on the ropes while Western Kentucky stunned Kentucky in overtime in Lexington. Mississippi was crushed 66-31 by No. 14 Texas at home; the Rebels haven't given up that many points since 1917.

Vanderbilt's loss to Northwestern on the road was certainly disappointing for a program trying to build a better reputation under second-year coach James Franklin. Mississippi State barely escaped an upset at Troy.

But the surprising losses and close calls haven't done much damage to the SEC's reputation as it goes for a sixth straight BCS championship.

The six SEC teams in the Top 25 are more than any other conference. It seems when one SEC team drops out of the rankings, another pops in.

After Arkansas was knocked out, Tennessee moved up. Once the Vols fell out of the rankings, Mississippi State was there to take their place.

LSU center P.J. Lonergan said he's been surprised by some of the early season scores, but points out that underestimating any SEC opponent is a bad idea. The No. 2 Tigers travel to face Auburn on Saturday.

"Arkansas losing to (Louisiana-Monroe) was unexpected. Auburn struggling has been unexpected," Lonergan said. "But I've been here for games against opponents when you are not pumped up for because you think they are not up to your level. You get a surprise.

"Everybody is good in the SEC. The record doesn't matter."

Maybe, but some are much better than others.

And the problems have contributed to the perception that the SEC is top heavy. Mullen disagrees.

"I think that's just football," the coach of the 23rd-ranked Bulldogs. "There's a lot more balance in college football than there used to be. There are very few teams who can just roll the ball out there and play. If you don't play well, you're probably not going to win the game and it really doesn't matter who is on the schedule."

Even most of the league's struggling teams seem to have reason for hope.

— Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson, who has been out since suffering a concussion against Louisiana-Monroe, is expected to return soon — though Wednesday morning he hadn't been medically cleared for contact. His presence will immediately make the Razorbacks a factor in all their remaining games.

— Ole Miss has proven to be one of the league's most explosive offensive teams, ranking second out of 14 teams with 500.7 total yards per game. The Rebels just have to find ways to stop opponents.

— Vanderbilt appears headed in the right direction even after the Northwestern loss. The Commodores nearly knocked off South Carolina in the season opener and have another chance to break through this weekend at Georgia.

— Kentucky has looked inept, but sophomore quarterback Maxwell Smith leads the league in passing, throwing for 966 yards, eight touchdowns and four touchdowns. The Wildcats are much like the Rebels in that an inexperienced defense is the main problem.

One problem for SEC teams that struggle is the poor performances are magnified by nearly flawless efforts by the league leaders. Alabama has outscored its first three opponents 128-14. LSU has a 145-31 advantage.

But Arkansas coach John L. Smith isn't complaining.

"I think it's good for the league," Smith said. "Again, anytime you have that power at the top ... We all strive to get there. I think it makes us all better — the entire league."

 

WCHS baseball, softball compete in weekend tournaments
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One day after a close home win over Cumberland County Thursday night, the Warren County baseball team was back on the road for a weekend tournament slate. Taking part in the Viking Classic, the Pioneers went 2-2 across Friday and Saturday’s contests.

Kicking things off against Huntland at Tullahoma High School Friday evening, Warren County notched its third straight victory with a 4-3 decision over the Hornets.

Sam Robinson had three of the team’s eight hits. Ryder Gilispie followed with two. Tyler Adams, Jerren Harris and Keaton Rowe each added one hit.

Gilispie and Harris were both credited with one RBI each.

Adams, Robinson, Gilispie and Adrian Harris each scored one run.

On the mound, Miguel Garcia pitched four innings, finishing with four strikeouts, two hits, three runs and four walks. Keagan Thompson followed for two innings, striking out two.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers were held scoreless in an 8-0 shutout against the host Wildcats. Robinson had Warren County’s lone hit of the game.

Hayven Jones pitched 1.1 innings, recording one strikeout, four hits, seven runs and two walks. Jerren Harris came on for 2.2 innings, finishing with two hits, one run and four walks.

Back in action for day two of the tournament at Cascade High School, the Pioneers bounced back with a 9-8 win over the host Champions Saturday morning.

The team finished with nine hits, led by Adams and Robinson with two each. Gilispie, Jerren Harris, Adrian Harris, Woogs Bryan and Corban Felton all added one.

Bryan led the team in RBI with four of its eight. Gilispie, Felton, Jerren Harris and Brady Norris each brought in one.

Jaytton Baker went 3.1 innings on the bump, striking out five and coming off with eight hits and five runs. Lealon Arnold followed for 1.2 innings, striking out one and adding two hits and three runs. Gilispie pitched for one inning and recorded two strikeouts and one hit.

Closing out the weekend against Alabama’s Heritage Christian, Warren County came out on the losing end of a 14-6 contest. At the plate, Jerren Harris led the way with two of the team’s eight hits. Adams, Gilispie, Bryan, Felton, Adrian Harris and Evan Snapp all followed with one each.

The Pioneers posted four RBI, with two each for Adams and Snapp.

Snapp had two of the team’s six runs, with one each for Adams, Gilispie, Felton and Jones.

Braden Whinnery pitched 2.2 innings, striking out four and surrendering seven hits, five runs and one walk. Rowe followed for 0.2 innings, adding four hits and five runs. Up next was Keagan Thompson, who went one inning and came off with five hits and four runs. Daylen Holguin wrapped up the day, striking out one and allowing one hit over 0.2 innings.

WCHS softball goes 1-3 through weekend

The Lady Pioneers got their Southern Warrior Classic schedule started with a game against Summertown Friday evening, a matchup in which they fell 10-1.

Warren County finished with six hits, with two each for Ky Damon, Lola Wells and Kaydence Wiser.

Wiser had a home run in the top of the fourth inning for the team’s lone run.

In the circle, Ceilee Gudat pitched 3.1 innings and finished with one strikeout, nine hits, 10 runs and two walks. Kyaira Sharpe followed for the game’s remainder, closing out the last 0.2 innings.

The Lady Pioneers were again bested in their second Friday night game, falling 10-2 to Moline (Ill.).

Wells led the Warren County hitting effort with two of the team’s six. Damon, Callie Roberts, Cortlyn Porter and Ali Young each added one.

Wells and Lily Rains had one run each.

Ruby Denning had one strikeout and gave up eight hits, 10 runs and three walks across all four innings.

The Lady Pioneers had better luck in their Saturday morning opener, flying ahead with an 11-run fifth inning to take down Illinois’s Oswego East 15-9.

Warren County racked up 12 hits over the course of the game, with two each for Rains, Wells, Sharpe, Porter and Addison Smith. This included home runs for both Wells and Smith. Damon and Young both added one hit each.

Smith led the Lady Pioneers in RBI with four of their 15, followed by Sharpe with three. Rains and Wells both had two RBI. Damon, Wiser, Porter and Young all tacked on one.

Sharpe pitched the first four innings and came out with 13 hits, nine runs and two walks. Denning added one hit across one inning.

Warren County was unable to duplicate this in their final game of the weekend later that afternoon, falling 3-2 to Stewarts Creek.

The team notched six hits, with two each for Rains and Porter. Damon and Wiser both added one hit.

Rains had the Lady Pioneers’ lone RBI.

On the rubber, Gudat pitched all five innings, striking out three and finishing the day with five hits, three runs and one walk.