Sand Mountain Reporter

CROSSVILLE — Crossville head football coach Bill Smith has completed the Lions’ schedule for the 2010-11 seasons, which will be the program’s first classification period as a 4A school.

“It’s definitely going to be a challenge,” Smith said. “Our kids are already working hard in the weight room.

“Our schedule is up on our weight room board, and they see it every day when they come in the weight room.

“I gave them two days off after our final game with Douglas — Saturday and Sunday — and we started back lifting on Monday.

“We started the season physically weaker than most of our opponents, so we’ve made a commitment in the weight room.”

The Lions will compete in 4A, Region 7 with Guntersville, Douglas, DAR, Cherokee County, Butler, Fairview and North Jackson.

Crossville’s non-region games will be against Geraldine, Hanceville and Locust Fork.

“Some of the rivalries that we had in our (3A) region are now taken away,” Smith said.

“Sardis and Sylvania and some of those games that have happened for a long time have been taken away because they’re in a nine-team (3A) region, and we couldn’t fit out our schedules together.

“The only week that we could fit Geraldine in was game 10, so we’re able to keep that rivalry, which is one of the oldest rivalries in the state. We’ll be looking forward to that game.”

The Lions will kick off region play by hosting Guntersville, followed by a home date against Cherokee County.

Guntersville won the 4A state title in 2006, and Cherokee County will take on Deshler in the 4A semifinals Friday night. Cherokee County was the 4A state runner-up in 2008.

“We have Guntersville here week two, followed by Cherokee County here week three,” Smith said.

“That will be two of the best programs that have played back-to-back during the regular season on this field. We have to travel to North Jackson later on in the year.

“We feel like this is arguably the toughest 4A region in the state.

“The south region of Jackson, UMS (-Wright) and Thomasville might argue with that, but it’s definitely the toughest north region, as far as three teams that are almost always in the top 10 at the same time with North Jackson, Guntersville and Cherokee County.

“I know Guntersville and Cherokee County will travel well, and those should be huge crowds in week two and week three.

“We’re just working hard to be competitive in this 4A region. Our kids are actually looking forward to it.”

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Publisher: Ben Shurett

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