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Sumo rushes into Crockett record books
By By Douglas FritzPress Sports Writer
dfritz@johnsoncitypress.comChorpee Sumo ran his way into the David Crockett record books this season.
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Email ArticleA powerful runner with a hint of speed, the senior set a school record for rushing yardage with 1,570 on 180 carries.
Sumo broke the record that was set by Josh Longworth in 2004. Longworth rushed for 1,098 yards that season.
The record was believed to be held by Sandy Johnson in the school’s first football season in 1971. However, Johnson’s claim to fame was more about scoring touchdowns than putting up big yardage numbers.
Johnson rushed for 1,073 on 155 carries that year, but may not have to give up his touchdown record for quite some time. Sumo didn’t even get half of Johnson’s scoring record, totaling 13 six-pointers to Johnson’s final tally of 28. Plus, Johnson had double-digit scores on 2-point conversion runs.
Johnson’s TD total was boosted by an incredible eight-touchdown effort in a 74-0 win over Daniel Boone in Week 9. Oddly enough, Johnson only had 15 carries for 79 yards in that game — but found the end zone in over half of his carries.
Johnson added two more touchdowns and 119 yards rushing in a bowl game loss to Sevier County on Thanksgiving Day. Crockett won eight games that season.
This year, it can be said Sumo was Crockett — not because he was a one-man show, but because even teams that focused completely on stopping him were not able to have much success in their approach.
Sumo rushed for over 200 yards three times, and over 100 yards eight times. His 71 yards in the season-ending loss to Daniel Boone was his lowest total of the season.
“Chorpee really worked hard last offseason and got bigger and stronger and faster,” said Pioneers’ head coach Kent Green. “He’s young for his grade because he just turned 17, so the extra year of maturity made a difference.”
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Soccer update: Class AAA Dobyns-Bennett and Class A-AA Greeneville earned spots in the state soccer tournament with victories in Saturday’s sectional contests.
The Indians punched their ticket with a 1-0 decision against Knox West while Greeneville moved right along with a 5-0 whipping of Pigeon Forge.
In other area sectional contests, Sullivan South had no defense for Oak Ridge in an 11-0 beating, and it was much the same for University High in a 9-0 setback to undefeated Christian Academy of Knoxville.
Dobyns-Bennett (17-3-1) will play Station Camp or Brentwood at 11:30 a.m. in Wednesday’s quarterfinals at Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga. Station Camp and Brentwood played their sectional game Monday.
The semifinals are Thursday and the finals are Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
As for the Greene Devils (17-5-1), they play unbeaten Franklin Page (21-0) in Wednesday’s quarterfinals at 11:30 a.m. at Chattanooga Christian.
The semifinals are set for Thursday at 4:30 with the finals slated for Saturday at noon at GPS.
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Volleyball update: Dobyns-Bennett won its first-ever state championship, topping Brentwood Ravenwood 25-22, 25-21, 25-18 in the championship match in Murfreesboro on Friday.
The Lady Indians joined a relatively short list of state team champions at Dobyns-Bennett in on-field non-individual-point-scoring sports. It was only the fifth such state title in school history, and the first in 14 years. Previous titles came in baseball (1952 and 1957), boys’ basketball (1945) and girls soccer (1995).
The Indians finished 52-3 on the season, and did not lose a game in their four matches at the state tournament.
It was also the first state title for coach Kathi Shaffer in her 26th season.
Ravenwood finished 51-4, with three of their losses coming to D-B.
In Class AA, South Greene finished at 23-3 after going 1-2 in the state event. The Rebels lost to eventual state champion Red Bank in the first round, but bounced back for a victory over Crockett County.
The Rebels then lost to Chattanooga Christian in four games.
In Class A, North Greene was two-and-done, losing to Trinity Christian and Summertown in three games. Boyd-Buchanan won the title.
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Cross country update: Teams from across the state will converge on the Steeplechase Course at Percy Warner State Park in Nashville for the state meet Saturday.
University High will try to add to its already impressive trophy case as it takes aim at state titles for both the boys’ and girls’ teams.
UH has won four straight Class A-AA state championships on the girls side. Also, Stephanie Davenport won an individual title in 2005, and Leah Nelson was a runner-up in 2006.
Led by region champion Carter McVeigh, the boys seek their first state title since 2007. They were state runner-up in 2006.
In Class AAA, Region 1 campion Michael Mansy will take aim at the school’s first individual state title since Walter Deneen won back-to-back titles in 1981-82.
On the girls’ side, defending champion Science Hill will have to pick up the pace to repeat. In the region, they finished second to Dobyns-Bennett.
Region champ Molly Foster will try to win Science Hill’s first individual state title since Whitney Spannuth won back-to-back crowns in 1991-92.
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Football playoff odds: Here’s a look at how teams stack up for first-round games.
Class 6A — Maryville by 24 over Dobyns-Bennett.
If running back Chris Sensabaugh plays for the Indians, it might be a little closer. This is a chance for one of the biggest upsets in D-B history because the Indians are usually favored.
Class 5A — Tennessee High by 42 over Seymour, Daniel Boone by 7 over Morristown East, Sullivan South by 14 over Knox Powell, Morristown West by 3 over Knox Catholic.
The Vikings can just about name their score while Daniel Boone will likely have its hands full. East averages 31 points per game while Boone only allows 14 a contest.
Class 4A — Greeneville by 29 over Chattanooga Central.
This should not be a test for the Greene Devils.
Class 3A — Elizabethton by 20 over Cumberland Gap, Sullivan North by 12 over West Greene, Gatlinburg-Pittman by 14 over Happy Valley, Austin-East by 6 over Johnson County.
The Cyclones should be in good shape if their defense plays up to its normal level.
North may struggle with the Buffaloes for at least a half.
Happy Valley will need a outstanding running attack to have a shot at the upset.
Johnson County needs to take care of the ball, and maintain possession for long periods.
Class 2A — Rockwood by 30 over Unaka, Hampton has a bye.
The Tigers’ defense is tough, and the Rangers will be hard-pressed to score many points.
Class A — Sunbright by 14 over Cloudland.
Sunbright is coming off three straight losses, but the Highlanders still have the underdog role.
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Pick of the week — Daniel Boone 26, Morristown East 23.
It will come down to a few plays here or there, and the Trailblazers have been making those plays throughout the season.
Picks record: 9-1.
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Player of the week — Armando Canepa of Science Hill.
With its season coming to a close, Science Hill got a good send-off from the senior running back.
Canepa carried 22 times for 161 yards and scored two touchdowns to pace the Hilltoppers to a 35-14 win over Sullivan Central. Canepa scored on runs of 1 and 11 yards.
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The Hogs Award — Happy Valley Warriors.
Ball control was a must for the Warriors to beat Johnson County, and the “War Hogs” did their part in a 14-6 victory. Clearing the way for 374 yards on 53 attempts, the lineman allowed Happy Valley to average 7.1 yards per carry.
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Defensive unit of the week — Happy Valley Warriors.
Needing a win to reach the playoffs, the Warriors responded with a superb defensive effort. They limited the Longhorns to 84 yards rushing, 54 coming on one play, and forced 13 incomplete passes in 17 attempts.
Happy Valley had two interceptions and a fumble recovery while barely missing the shutout on a 36-yard, 4th-and-18 Hail Mary pass in the final minute of the game.
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This Week in Prep History — November 1, 1996.
South Greene running back Kevin Howlett rushed for 312 yards and scored five touchdowns in a 45-23 win over Powell Valley.
In a two-week span, Howell totaled 609 yards and 10 touchdowns.
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There’s absolutely no doubt. Tennessee High finishes the season as the No. 1 team in the Prep Top 10 rankings.
Impressive Greeneville bumps Hampton from the top five as the Bulldogs struggled to beat Cloudland on Friday.
Team W-L Prv
1. Tennessee High 10-0 1
2. Elizabethton 8-2 3
3. Sullivan South 8-2 2
4. Daniel Boone 8-2 4
5. Greeneville 7-3 6
6. Hampton 9-1 5
7. Sullivan North 8-2 7
8. Dobyns-Bennett 5-5 8
9. David Crockett 4-6 9
10. Happy Valley 5-4 nr