NILvana Sports
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Henry County’s Season Ends, but Their Statement Was Already Made
By the time the final horn sounded Friday night, the scoreboard told only one story. But anyone who followed Henry County football this fall knows the real story was written long before the quarterfinal loss, and it is one built on resilience, growth, and a team that refused to fold even when many around the
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The New Chaos of College Basketball Roster Building
Tre’Jean Watkins College basketball roster building has evolved in many ways from the days of the 80s and 90s. We started with traditional high school recruitment, building rosters solely from high school basketball players with dreams of higher education, playing college basketball, and reaching the NBA. Then came the international player pipeline, a significant diversion
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The Quiet Collapse of Small College Athletics
Tre’Jean Watkins In recent years, a growing number of private D3 and NAIA institutions have closed altogether, primarily driven by declining undergraduate enrollment and the financial instability that follows. This trend is troubling for higher education as a whole and even more alarming for small college athletics. These schools rely heavily on steady enrollment, especially
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The Quiet Collapse of Small Colleges: Why Private D3 and NAIA Programs Are Disappearing
Tre’Jean Watkins In recent years, we’ve seen a wave of private D3/NAIA schools cease operations entirely, primarily due to declining undergraduate enrollment, which has led to financial difficulties. It’s a concerning trend for a couple of reasons. One, since these schools are academically focused, undergraduate enrollment relies solely on students who can’t afford higher-tier D1
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College Football Playoff Rankings Reactions: Who Rose, Who Fell, and Who’s Still Searching for Respect
College Football Playoff Rankings Reactions: Who Rose, Who Fell, and Who’s Still Searching for Respect By: Ethan Hu The latest edition of the College Football Playoff Rankings dropped on Tuesday night, and with it came some new debates, a few surprises, and questions about how the committee views teams’ resumes. Here’s the latest Top 25:
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Quarterfinal Spotlight: Patriots Prepare for Centennial
All Eyes Turn to Centennial Centennial Scouting ReportCentennial enters the quarterfinals at 6–5 and arrives with confidence after winning three straight road games. The Cougars opened their postseason with a strong showing against Station Camp and followed that with a 38–19 victory over Memphis Central. Their offense can score quickly, and once they find a
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Lelan Gordon Emerges as a Two-Way Force for McKenzie High School
McKenzie High School found a reliable and relentless leader this season in junior standout Lelan Gordon, a player whose impact stretched across every inch of the field. Whether lined up at middle linebacker, defensive back, or wide receiver, Gordon delivered production that anchored the Rebels on both sides of the ball and showcased why he
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Patriots Take Care of Business. Now It’s Centennial’s Turn.
Friday night’s victory was a complete performance. Henry County had explosive offense, opportunistic defense, and clutch special teams play. It was the type of statement win that tells the rest of the bracket they’re in trouble if they have to travel to Paris. Spellings Leads the Way Quarterback Ayden Spellings delivered one of his best
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Defense Defines the Difference: Eagles Grind Out Another NFC North Win
Lions vs Eagles, Week 11 By Will Weir The Eagles can win another defensive game against an NFC North opponent. The defense for the Eagles over the last two games has been flat-out amazing. They have allowed 7 points to the Packers and 9 points to the Lions, who were the second-highest-scoring offense in
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USJ’s RB Jackson Pugh Is A Relentless Workhorse
Jackson Pugh has become the heartbeat of the University School of Jackson football. A senior running back with college-level production, Pugh has powered the Bruins’ offense week after week and now stands among Tennessee’s elite as a Mr. Football semifinalist. A Season of Power and Consistency Pugh’s numbers tell the story of a player who