For the fifth consecutive season the Loudon Redskins (8-2, 3-2) have earned a berth in the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association (TSSAA) playoffs.  This year, the seventh-seeded Redskins will begin their postseason run with a trip to Bledsoe County Friday night.

The Redskins were without quarterback Wade Plemons last week when they defeated Kingston 36-7 for their sixth straight win, but according to Loudon Head Coach Jeff Harig, the junior signal caller should be healthy and ready for Friday's game.  "Wade will play," Harig said.  "The MRI was just to find out if he could weight train." 

Harig said he was quite pleased with the way the bracket shook out for his team Saturday morning.  "To get the matchups we got and to stay away from the two teams that finished first and second in our district until the third round . . . we couldn't have asked for more," he said.  Harig was referring to his team missing both Alcoa and CAK until the third round.  Those are the only two teams to give Loudon a loss this season.

As for Friday night's game, Harig indicated he's still a bit in the dark about Bledsoe County, but that he does have some idea what they like to do.  "The only thing I know (about them) is what we watched on film the past two games," he said.

From those game tapes, though, the coach was able to gleen that the Warriors run their offense primarily from the I-formation and that they are a very balanced team.  "Almost 50/50 between running and passing," Harig said.  He added that his team will have to watch out for two good running backs and a "really good wide receiver that they like to get it to."

However, Harig said Loudon should have the advantage in the trenches.  "Our advantage will be found in the offensive and defensive line.  We are going to be much bigger than they are," he said, but he added a caveat.  "But they have some quickness to them that can give us problems too."
On the defensive side of the ball, Harig said the Warriors run a 3-3-5 (three linemen, three linebackers and five defensive backs) formation and "like to blitz a lot."  The Redskin running game will have to find lanes in amongst the blitzing backers to gain ground Friday night.

Bledsoe County is the number three seed in Loudon's quad, behind Alcoa (#1) and Polk County (#2).  Like Loudon, the Warriors finished the regular season with an 8-2 overall record, but unlike the Redskins, Bledsoe clinched its district championship with a 4-0 District 7(2A) record.
The only losses the Warriors sustained came against Marion County 21-6 and Rockwood 27-25.  They defeated Coalfield 20-14, Midway 29-13, Notre Dame 53-0, Faith Covenant Academy 47-12, Sequatchie County 35-31, Harriman 34-7, Grundy County 49-26 and Chattanooga Christian 63-34.
This was a resurgent year for the Warriors, as they finished last year with a 1-9 record.  Their combined record the past three seasons prior to 2009 is 10-22.

Their last two playoff appearances have lasted only one game each, with a combined margin of defeat of 68-25.
The Redskins have had some success in the postseason, winning at least their first game every year but one of their current streak.  The only exception was in 2007, when the Redskins fell in the first round to CAK 23-0.

They made it three games deep in two seasons and were knocked out in the second round once.  Each time the Redskins went three games deep in the playoffs, it was Alcoa that eliminated them.
Should the Redskins win Friday night, they would then be matched up with the winner of the Kingston/Polk County game.  If Kingston comes out on top, Loudon would get them at home.  If it's Polk County that wins, the Redskins would remain on the road.  It wouldn't be until the next round that the Redskins would have to face off with either Alcoa or CAK, should either make it through their bracket unscathed.

For now, though, the Redskins will have to focus on Bledsoe County.  Game time is set for 7 p.m. Friday night in Pikeville.