| Lions, Chargers prep for 2010 postseason debuts | By: Stephanie Sturgis – Weakley County Press Sports Editor
| Posted: Friday, November 5, 2010 11:08 am
| 
Closing in — The Westview secondary will be called upon to slow down an Oakhaven passing game led by QB Blake Diggs in their contest Friday night. Photo by Stephanie Sturgis | | | The Westview Chargers and Dresden Lions are two teams in contrast heading into the first round of the TSSAA football playoffs at 7 on Friday night.
The Chargers are a senior-led team filled with playoff veterans, while the Lions will be making their first TSSAA playoff appearance since the 11 DHS seniors were just beginning their gridiron careers as sixth-graders in 2004.
Westview, despite winning the District 13-2A crown with an undefeated record against district foes, must travel to Memphis to take on the Oakhaven Hawks (8-2, 3-2 16-2A).
The Lions (8-2, 3-2 District 13-A) will host the Forrest Rockets (6-4, 3-2 District 9-A) at Rotary Field. It will be the first home playoff game at Dresden since the 2003 season when the Lions lost their opening round contest to Memphis Treadwell, 26-19.
The 2010 Lions will be squaring off against a Rocket team that is loaded with larger players. Dresden will rely on its quickness and never-quit attitude.
Dresden’s roster isn’t actually completely without some postseason experience. After compiling a 7-3 record in a program-changing season in 2009, the TSSAA didn’t offer a playoff wild card berth to Dresden, but the Lions were invited to and did win the Cumberland River Bowl.
The Lions are building on that experience.
“They’ve played a lot better than I even thought they would. I’ve got to take my hat off to all my assistant coaches for getting the very best out of what we’ve got out there. Everything good came about because of the coaching staff and the kids’ desire to work hard and carry on what we started last year. Those guys last year got it rolling and the guys this year have carried it on and done bigger and better things. It just amazes me,” Dresden head coach Scott Hewett said after his team’s win last Friday night.
The Rockets are keyed on offense by senior quarterback Dane Leonard and running back Zach Ray maneuvering behind a big offensive line. Forrest has lost three of its past five games.
In their 19th playoff appearance in school history, the Chargers will be making their second trip to Oakhaven in three years. The Chargers rallied twice to beat the Hawks in 2008.
The Westview defense will be challenged to slow down a Hawk passing attack led by quarterback Blake Diggs. Diggs’ favorite receivers are Terrencio Waddell and Paris Williams.
Both teams will enter the contest with momentum. Oakhaven’s defense has allowed no more than 12 points in winning six in a row to close out the regular season, but the last six Hawk foes are a combined 11-47. Westview has won five of its past six games. Those half dozen Charger opponents sport a combined record of 26-34. | | | | |
