Congratulations to the 2021 Mitchell Mountaineers. They are undefeated in conference play for the second season in a row and the 2021 Western Highlands Conference Champions. In addition to winning the conference championship, the Mountaineers also won the Border Battle game against Avery. The Mountaineers have won the Border Battle game for eight consecutive years.
Before moving forward, it is important to acknowledge the hard work, effort, and sacrifices that comes along the way. The amount of time involved by the coaches and players is unbelievable. There are countless hours that go into a season long before it even starts. This is true for any sport not just football. Time is needed for skill development, strength, and conditioning, along with many other things. In many instances, it requires ‘plain old hard work’ getting ready to play. Once the season begins, there is even more work to do. Neither time nor space would allow me to mention everything that has to happen during the season. Those that have played any sport can relate to the time and work that it takes while the season is in progress. The young men on the 2021 M.H.S. football team is to be commended for their commitment to the success of this year’s team.
Throughout this season, the 2021 team has overcome more obstacles than I can remember and for sure the most in recent memory. The 2021 non-conference schedule included two 4-A teams, one 3-A team, and a top notch 1-A team from the Smokey Mountain conference. In week 3, the injury bug visited the Mountaineers and before it left, several starters including four linemen were out of action. In the last non-conference game, the Mountaineers had limited options on offense and defense. The young men that played in that game gave their best effort; but overall the team was limited. For the next couple of weeks, those injured players were used sparingly or not at all. Here at the end of the regular season, hats off to every member of the football team for hanging in there and fighting through adversity and to the team members that filled in until the injured players could return.
Coach Pitman has been at the helm at Mitchell for eight years. In eight years, he has won 84 games and is already the winningest coach in M.H.S. history.
Coach Pitman brings a wealth of knowledge of strength and conditioning to Mountaineer football. He also has an outstanding knowledge of football and he relates very well to his players. Over the course of his eight years, he has also assembled a solid coaching staff. From my perspective, they are both a fun and great group of men to be associated with.
The Mountaineers took a workmanlike approach to the Avery game. They went to work early in the game and by halftime, they had built a commanding 37-0 lead. At halftime, the coaches made the decision to rest the starters as much as possible and get the younger guys on the field. The heavy rain on Friday altered the approach to the game and as it unfolded, it continued to change the game plan.
The Mountaineers move on to the 2021 play-offs. Up first is South Davidson. This is a school and team that Mitchell hasn’t played at any time in the past. So, there isn’t a lot of knowledge about South Davidson Wildcat football. The offense that they run is like the offense that Robbinsville runs. They have two running backs that weigh in excess of 200 lbs. and they run the ball well. They have shown from time to time that they can move the ball. They have put together impressive drives, but often they are plagued with penalties or turnovers that stall their offense. Defensively, they have played well at times. They held five opponents to 20 points or less. Twice, their opponents scored 60 or more points. Even though their win/loss record isn’t impressive, they are a much better opponent than their record indicates.
The play-offs are here. The Mountaineer players and coaches are calling out to the Mountaineer Football family to get out and support the team. They are going to need the ‘twelfth man’. From this point forward in the season, there are no bad teams left. In one way or another, every team that is in the play-offs deserves to be in the play-offs. So, it is time to attend the remaining games regardless of the game site. Wear that purple, make lots of noise, and cheer the Mountaineers on to victory.
Go Mountaineers!