Football Preview 2018

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2018 HIGH SCHOOL

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

BRIGHTON • COVINGTON MUNFORD • TIPTON-ROSEMARK Ke'Shun Gant, Brock Lomax and Codarries Page

DISCOVER

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

2018 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW

PUBLISHER Rochelle Stidham publisher@covingtonleader.com E D I TO R I A L Jeff Ireland, jireland@covingtonleader.com P H OTO G R A P H Y Phil Ramsey Photography Jeff Ireland, jireland@covingtonleader.com GRAPHIC DESIGN Echo Day, eday@covingtonleader.com Alan Erwin, awerwin@covingtonleader.com A D V E RT I S I N G Andy Posey, aposey@covingtonleader.com Ryan Cousar, rcousar@covingtonleader.com CLASSIFIEDS/RECEPTION Cindy Motes, cmotes@covingtonleader.com COMMERCIAL PRINTING Cindy Motes, cmotes@covingtonleader.com LEGALS, BOOKKEEPING Kathy Griffin, kgriffin@covingtonleader.com

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THE LEADER

111 S. Munford Street Covington, Tennessee 38019 w w w. c o v i n g t o n l e a d e r. c o m

A N AWA R D - W I N N I N G P U B L I C AT I O N , B E S T SPECIAL SECTION 2018

Former Leader sports editor Roland Weir stopped by the office recently and chatted with Jeff Ireland and Andy Posey about a 1971 football game, which Weir covered and Ireland ranked as one of the best ever played. See page 6 for more.

Predictions are basically guesswork A couple of weeks ago, during my weekly segment on U.S 51 Country's Adam and Chad Show, I was asked to go through every game on the schedule for Brighton, Covington, Munford and Tipton-Rosemark and predict who would win.

I obliged because it's kind of fun to do, but except for a handful of games that you pretty much know are mismatches, it's guesswork.

That's just how high school football goes.

Unless you're returning 18 starters from a team that won a state title a year ago, there are going to be question marks. That's probably one of the reasons half of the coaches in this area have no hair.

The only thing I can say for sure is that last season was a banner year for three Tipton County teams and Rosemark. All four made the playoffs, something that doesn't happen most seasons, two of the teams (Munford and Covington) spent time ranked in the state's top 10.

And, of course, Covington made it to the state title game, Brighton advanced to the semifinals for the first time and Munford won a playoff game for the first time in a decade.

There are some offensive stars back for all four teams, but there are plenty of holes to fill as well. Munford has 11 new starters on defense and a new quarterback, Brighton and Covington are rebuilding their offensive and defensive lines and Rosemark will be working in a new quarterback and four offensive linemen.

How many games will each team win? I predicted eight for Covington, seven for Munford, six for Brighton and seven for TRA. My predictions were way off last year, so do what you will with that information.

One thing is for sure, though: You should know a lot more about each team after reading the following pages. And there's something in here for you Tipton County football historians with the top 10 games ever played in county history.

As always, thanks to the coaches – Marty Wheeler, Nick Markle, Robin Jacobs and Colin Pinner – for all their cooperation. Enjoy.

Jeff Ireland, Sports Editor

6 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

10 Ranking the

best high school football games ever played STORY BY JEFF IRELAND

There have been an incredible amount of memorable football games played over the years by Tipton County's high school teams. We solicited suggestions on Facebook for the best games ever played, and the response was overwhelming. The hard part was winnowing the list down to 10. Ranking them was challenging. The only thing everybody agreed on was what the top game was.

With all that said, here are the top 10 Tipton County high school football games every played:

LYONS ROARS IN DOUBLE OT WIN What: Covington vs. Obion County Central When: Nov. 11, 2011 Where: Covington High School Shelton Lyons will not go down as one of the best players in Covington High football history.

But on one Friday night in the second round of the

10

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 7

BEST HIGH SCHOOL GAMES OF ALL TIME playoffs he came up huge twice to help his team pull out a postseason win that had a little bit of everything.

With time winding down and the Chargers tied with Obion County at 28-28, the Rebels were driving and it looked like they might end Covington's season.

Lyons came up with an interception with 44 seconds left and the game went into overtime.

Each team scored a touchdown and extra point in the first overtime. Colliar Robinson ran two yards for a score in double overtime to put Covington ahead 42-35.

The Rebels answered with a TD when they got the ball back and decided to win it or lose it on a two-point conversion.

Enter Lyons.

He made an open-field tackle on a reverse to end the game and propel Covington into the quarterfinals.

“He jumped and I was there and wrapped him up,” Lyon said after the game. “It felt good, exciting. He had been talking all night.”

Covington trailed 28-21 in the fourth quarter before putting together an 80-yard drive. Britt Dunn hit Carlos Burton for a seven-yard TD on fourth and goal with 5:17 left.

Johnston White also had a huge game for Covington, racking up 240 yards and two scores on 29 carries.

The Chargers went on to beat Chester County in the state quarterfinals to make the semifinals for the first time in six years.

Maplewood stopped Covington a win short of the state title game. It ended up being a building block for the Chargers, who advanced to the title game the following season.

“This team is resilient,” Covington coach Marty Wheeler said. “They don't fold. It is not by chance they are where they are.”

10-YEAR STREAK FINALLY BROKEN

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What: Brighton vs. Covington When: Sept. 12, 2007 Where: Covington High School Heading into this Week 4 game, the rivalry between these

Sept. 12, 2007: Brighton beats Covington and ends it's 10year losing streak against its in-county rival. Leader files

two county teams had not really been much of a rivalry.

Brighton began playing varsity football in 1997, a year after the school opened its doors, and the Cardinals had played Covington 10 times. Covington had won every one of them, and most of them were not close.

Covington beat Brighton 58-13 that first year and a string of blowouts followed: 33-0 in 1999, 47-6 in 2000, 32-0 in 2001, 40-0 in 2003 and so on.

By the mid 2000s, though, Brighton began to catch up.

In 2006, a few days before the teams played for a ninth straight season, I wrote a column in the paper predicting this would be the year Brighton broke through.

That year it was close, but Covington squeaked out a 12-7 win.

I can still remember a few people in the crowd, led by Covington super fan Millie Pullen, playfully mocking me from the stands in the closing seconds.

Turns out I was a year off with my prediction.

Brighton quarterback Shiler Smith was the offensive standout for Brighton. He scored on a pair of keepers in the first half to put the Cardinals ahead 13-0 with 9:58 to go before halftime.

Covington, which was 1-2 under firstyear coach Brian Beaubien and would eventually go on to a very disappointing

8 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

2-8 season, was not ready to give up its dominance over the Cardinals just yet.

Thomas Hall hit Morgan Kimball for a TD pass later in the quarter to cut the lead to 13-6, but Smith answered with another rushing TD and Brighton went ahead 20-6.

Hall scored on a keeper moments later and with under a minute left in the half, Hall hit Kerby Wiseman on a TD pass that was set up by a long kickoff return by Clifford Dye. The extra point was missed, nobody scored in the second half and Covington's streak ended at 10 in a 20-19 loss to the Cardinals.

Brighton beat Covington the next four seasons before the Chargers beat them in 2012. Since then it's been a pretty even rivalry, and it all really got going back on a September evening in 2007.

After that loss in 2006, Wolfe, who was known to be very emotional, told me he appreciated me picking them to beat Covington that season. He said it gave them confidence.

After the 2007 breakthrough win, he told Leader reporter Conner Franklin, “Being the first Brighton coach to beat Covington was not the most important thing to me.

I'm really happy for the kids because they have worked hard in preparation for this game. Brighton is just a great school

Covington's Glenn Starks begins to celebrate his gamewinning touchdown in the overtime period on Oct. 13, 1989 against ECS. The Chargers knocked off the seventh ranked team in the state, 24-21.

with great kids.”

'I HAD TO DO IT FOR MY BROTHERS' What: Munford vs. Brighton When: Oct. 16, 2015 Where: Brighton High School

8

There really could not have been much more on the line in a regular season game than there was on a crisp October night in Brighton three years ago.

Munford was 8-0, ranked ninth in the Class 5A state poll and on a serious roll under fiery second-year coach J.R. Kirby.

Brighton, which had been dominated the year before by Munford, was 7-1.

Second-year head coach Robin Jacobs, and the rest of the Cardinals, were trying to prove last year's 2-8 record was a fluke.

And, oh yeah, there was a region and Tipton County title up for grabs and an overflow crowd was on hand.

All of those side stories added up to a game to remember.

Kirby allowed me to hang out with him and the team all day Friday and his team was fired up, to say the least.

“Last year we knocked on the door,” Kirby said, referring to his team nearly winning a region title. “This year we're kicking it in.”

Through three and a half quarters, it looked like Munford would be kicking in that door. Marcus Webb intercepted a pass with 9:37 left in the game and Munford began moving down the field looking to increase its 20-10 lead.

That's when Deavius Terry changed the game. He intercepted a pass at his own 10-yard line and returned all the way to Munford 9. Brighton scored three plays later when Malik Jackson hit Austin Kelley on a third down TD pass to cut the lead to 20-17 with 8:03 left.

After a Munford three and out, Brighton drove 65 yards on nine straight running plays. Jackson capped off the drive with a two-yard TD run that gave Brighton a 2420 lead it would not lose.

K.J. Adams and Cameron John each had a sack on Munford's ensuing drive and that was that.

Munford beat Bolton the following week to clinch the Region 8-5A title.

Both teams ended up losing in the first round of the playoffs two weeks later, but anybody who was at that Week 9 showdown will never forget it.

Terry was in tears after the game and at a loss for words to describe what had just happened.

“I was just thinking about my team, how much we've been through,” he said while wiping blood away from his nose. “I had to do it for my brothers.”

THE PITCH

7

What: Covington vs. Evangelical Christian School When: Oct. 13, 1989 Where: Covington High School

Entering the 1989 football season, it had been 18 years since Covington had made the state playoffs.

And after a Week 6 loss to district foe Briarcrest set up a home game with Evangelical Christian School, which was undefeated and ranked seventh in the state, it looked like Covington was going to miss the playoffs again.

Back then, only the top two teams from each district made the playoffs. Considering Covington was about the play the the first place team in the league and was already in fourth place, it looked like it was going to be a 19th straight season with no playoffs.

But Oliver Smith and Glenn Starks pulled off one of the most memorable plays in Covington history in a 24-21 win.

The score was tied at 18-18 through regulation, so an overflow crowd was treated to overtime.

ECS kicked a 29-yard field goal on its first possession and Covington took over the ECS 10 with a chance to win it or tie it.

After a run up the middle netted nothing, Covington coach Steve Zurhellen called for a quarterback option. Smith ran left, drew some ECS defenders and pitched to tailback Glenn Starks.

According to the account in The Leader, “In two steps he was around the corner and had his hand in the air. Everyone in the stadium knew he was about to score.

A mob of peopled swarmed the Charger team in jubilation following the score while the ECS supporters stood in amazement at what had happened to their team.”

Smith, who is now a financial advisor in Covington, remembers that final play like it was yesterday.

When Zurhellen called for a pitch left, he was concerned because he knew he'd have to pitch it with his off hand.

Before the snap he noticed the defen-

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 9

10 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

BEST HIGH SCHOOL GAMES OF ALL TIME sive end and cornerback on that side were cheating forward, looking for an inside run.

He knew then he would be pitching it.

He said Starks was was signaling number one before he even received the pitch.

“He was on the nine (yard line), and he was giggling. I could actually hear him giggling,” Smith said recently. “He knew he was going to score and he had to bring his hand down to catch the pitch. Then he put it back up.”

Covington went on to beat Harding Academy, East and Ridgeway over the final three weeks of the season to make the playoffs for the first time since 1971.

Trezevant ended Covington's season in the first round of the playoffs, but it was quite a season for the Chargers.

Covington would not make the playoffs again until 1993. Three years later the Chargers started an 11-year postseason streak.

DID HE OR DIDN'T HE? What: Covington vs. Munford When: Aug. 21, 2015 Where: Munford High School

6

Perspective is everything.

If a Munford fan, player or coach was to write a headline for the Cougars' dramatic 17-14 win in the season opener over Covington three Augusts ago, it would be something like this: Cougars stuff Chargers on late goal line stand.

A Covington supporter would see it differently: Officials blow call, rip win away from Covington and hand it to Munford.

Either way, it was the wildest ending to this longstanding Tipton County rivalry.

Regulation ended with the score at 1414.

Covington got ball first and went nowhere, setting up a potential gamewinning field goal for the Cougars. Dalton McCann, however, missed a 21-yarder and the game went into overtime number two.

Munford went on offense first and went backward, prompting Cougar coach J.R. Kirby to send out McCann for another try, this one from 29 yards. McCann, who was in tears on the sideline after missing the first field goal, made this one, setting up the ending that people are still talking

Brighton vs. Southwind, 2017

about.

The Chargers moved inside the one-yard line and head coach Marty Wheeler faced a decision: try and send the game into a third overtime with a field goal attempt or go for it. He decided to go for it.

Freshman quarterback Brock Lomax went headfirst into a 22-player pile on a sneak. The officials ruled he came up short and Munford celebrated.

Photos and videos circulated on social media which Covington fans believed showed Lomax scored. Munford saw the same images and believed it confirmed what the officials' call.

If they had instant replay in high school football the call probably would have stood because of a lack of conclusive evidence.

Both teams went on to enjoy successful seasons. Munford went 8-3 and advanced to the playoffs. Covington finished 9-3 and advanced to the second round.

There were a lot of happy faces on the Munford sidelines that night. Kirby, who is now an assistant coach at Covington, said “Somebody was going to be in tears either way.”

McCann, who ended up being the hero, was still in tears after the game.

Said McCann: “I'm just glad we got it.

It's not for me. It's for all of them. They're first before me. I should have made it (the first one) but I'm glad we got it.”

'WE HAD A COME TO JESUS' What: Brighton vs. Southwind When: Nov. 10, 2017 Where: Brighton High School

5

Twenty days before Southwind made the trip to Brighton for a Class 5A second round playoff game, Brighton put 69 points on the board in a regular season win over the Jaguars.

Knowing that, the fans in attendance that night knew the Cardinals were capable of scoring a lot of points against Southwind.

It's unlikely, however, that anybody in attendance believed Brighton could erase a 34-7 halftime deficit. That's exactly what the Cardinals did, though, to pull off what has to be the biggest comeback in Tipton County high school football history.

“We had a come to Jesus,” Brighton quarterback Malik Jackson said. “We just had to get our stuff together, and we did.”

“We just wanted it, you know?” Brighton running back Lance West said.

Brighton's massive comeback was just the beginning of the drama on that November evening.

Aaron Alston picked off a pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown with 5:28 left in the third quarter to cut Southwind's lead to 34-21. At that point the

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 11

BEST HIGH SCHOOL GAMES OF ALL TIME comeback began to seem possible.

West scored on a short TD run right before the end of the third quarter and three minutes later Jackson broke off a 91-yard TD run to put Brighton ahead 35-34 early in the fourth. At that point, Brighton had scored 28 points in a little more than 12 minutes.

It seemed to wake up Southwind, which put a TD and two-point conversion on the board moments later to go up 42-35.

Brighton answered quickly when West came up with a 47-yard TD run. The extra point was blocked, leaving the Cardinals down a point with 3:20 left in the game.

Would this unbelievable comeback come in a losing effort? It would not.

Sam Dunlap recovered an onside kick for Brighton and two plays later West ran 35 yards for a touchdown. Jackson ran for the two-point conversion and Brighton led again, 49-42, with 2:28 left.

Southwind wasn't done yet. The Jaguars scored with 33 seconds left and decided to go for two and the win. Keionte Newson broke up a pass in the end zone and the game was over? Not quite.

The Jaguars managed to recover an onside kick and get into Brighton territory, but Newson ended one of the wildest games in these parts when he intercepted a pass at the 10-yard line as time expired. He slid to the ground and Brighton stormed the field with a 49-48 win.

The win put Brighton into the state quarterfinals for just the second time in school history. The Cardinals won a wild one at Henry County a week later to make the semifinals for the first time. Beech finally stopped Brighton in the semifinals.

“At halftime we said we know we can score points,” Brighton head coach Robin Jacobs said, “but, honestly, I didn't know we were going to get 42 in the second half.”

Who did?

MAGIC IN NASHVILLE What: Covington vs. Pearl-Cohn When: Nov. 24, 2017 Where: Pearl-Cohn High School Even the most optimistic of Covington Charger football fans

4

had to be thinking a great season was going to end on a chilly football field in Nashville last November.

After Xavier Shepherd hit Jayden Harrison on a 47-yard TD pass midway through the second quarter, the Firebirds led Covington 21-0 in a Class 3A semifinal game and there were not a lot of signs that things were going to get any better.

Pearl-Cohn had scored on three of its first possessions. The only thing that kept them from a scoring a fourth time was a fumble. Mr. Football finalist Jimmyrious Parker was picking up yardage in big chunks and Covington's offense was not moving the ball.

But Pearl-Cohn made a crucial mistake just before halftime, Covington's offense and defense came alive and a junior made the kick of his life as the Chargers pulled off a comeback for the ages.

Covington gave its fans some hope with an 80-yard TD drive late in the second quarter.

Pearl-Cohn’s offense nearly got those points back before halftime, driving to the Covington 11 with 15 seconds left. With no timeouts left Pearl-Cohn tried to get closer for a field goal or possibly score, but Shepherd was tackled at the 2-yard line. The final seconds ticked off the clock and Covington went into the locker room down 21-6, but with some momentum.

“Our score before halftime and their error not coming away with points at the end of the half were big momentum swings for us,” Covington head coach Marty Wheeler.

Indeed they were because Covington looked like a different team in the second half.

The Charger defense, after allowing 271 yards in the first half, gave up just 48 in the second half on seven snaps. Meanwhile the offense put together three TD drives, all of which covered at least 80 yards. The comeback was kick started when Brock Lomax hit Tyrese Winfrey for a 79-yard TD pass just 46 seconds into the third quarter.

With the scored tied at 21 early in the fourth quarter, it looked like Covington was on its way. Parker, however, broke a 49-yard TD run to give Pearl-Cohn the lead again.

Covington answered with an 80-yard TD drive that ended with a six-yard run by

12 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

Lomax that tied the score at 28 with 4:34 left.

After the Charger defense held on PearlCohn's ensuing possession, Covington drove 40 yards to the Pearl-Cohn 28 and called timeout with three seconds left.

Covington junior Alex Cook had made just two field goals all season and they were basically long extra points: 22 and 23 yards.

He had missed an extra point earlier the game.

Despite that, Wheeler sent his kicker out for a 45-yard field that could send the Chargers to the state title game.

Pearl-Cohn called a timeout to make Cook think about the stakes, but it didn't matter. Cook's kick sailed through the uprights with room to spare and a wild celebration ensued.

Covington ended up losing a heartbreaker a week later to Alcoa in the state title game, but that evening in Nashville will live on forever.

POISE, DETERMINATION AND PRIDE What: Covington vs. Montgomery Bell Academy When: Nov. 19, 1971 Where: Nashville

3

The 1971 Covington football season was a significant one for several reasons.

Integration had been implemented the year before when all-black Frazier High School joined almost all-white Byars-Hall to form Covington High School.

Tom Barton, who was a junior in 1970, compared the experience to the movie “Remember the Titans,” where a football team deals with the same situation.

The 1970 team was called the Covington Wildcats, which was the mascot name for Byars-Hall.

When the 1971 football season rolled around, students at Covington were polled to determine a new nickname and Covington became the Chargers.

The new-look team with the new name went on to make history as the Chargers rolled through the regular season with a perfect 10-0 record.

Back then, teams had to be undefeated

1971 Covington Chargers

to qualify for the four-team state playoffs.

Teams also needed to have played a challenging schedule. White Station, which also went 10-0 that season, didn't even make the playoffs, but Covington did and they made the most of the opportunity.

Before the season even started, junior lineman Leonard Smith died on the practice field.

“It was bad, real bad,” Barton said. “We dedicated the season to him and I think that kind of galvanized us.”

On the first play from scrimmage that year against Millington, Jim Baddour broke a 70-yard TD run and the Chargers were on their way.

The team traveled to Dudley Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University in Nashville for a semifinal game against Montgomery Bell Academy, which was ranked first in the state in Class AAA, the state's largest classification.

“We had a lot of confidence going into that game,” Barton said. “Nobody had been able to stop us all year.”

MBA's defense could not either.

Covington fell behind 7-0, but tied the game with 3:43 left in the first half on a three-yard TD run by Baddour.

Moments later, Charlie Moss intercepted an MBA pass and returned for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead. Nelson Hunt picked off another MBA pass just before halftime to preserve the lead.

Late in the third quarter, MBA earned a first down at the Covington five-yard line, but the defense held.

With 4:17 left in the game, Tucker Ashford hit Henry Glass for an 11-yard TD to

put Covington ahead 21-7.

MBA scored a TD with 2:09 left in the game, but Covington was able to run out the clock and leave town with a 21-13 win and a berth in the state title game the following week.

About half of the 5,200 fans in attendance in Nashville were estimated to be Covington fans.

Tennessee High beat Covington 52-0 in Bristol the following week, but that didn't take the shine off a historical season.

In The Covington Leader's account of the win over MBA, sports editor Roland Weir wrote, “Poise, determination and pride were the ingredients that carried Covington.”

'I STILL REMEMBER THE BIG PILE-ON' What: Munford vs. Mt. Juliet When: Nov. 28, 2007 Where: Mt. Juliet High School

2

The 2007 season was one of firsts for the Munford football program.

Under third-year head coach Darry Marshall, the program was making huge strides.

The Cougars routed a powerful Germantown team 43-16 in the Class 5A state quarterfinals to advance to the state semifinals for the first time in school history.

Marshall said he liked his team's chances heading into the semifinals.

“I felt pretty confident we could play with them,” Marshall said. “I was pretty

hopeful.”

The game, played in front of an overflow crowd, was a classic defensive struggle with neither team able to muster much offense.

Munford's defense held Mt. Juliet to 147 total yards and Munford finished with 240.

Fifty-six of those yards came on the gamewinning drive, which utilized a play called 30 buck sucker.

Marshall said Mt. Juliet's linebackers were very good at reading Munford's guards and had, for the most part, stymied the Cougars' rushing attack, which was the team's bread and butter.

The play was a fullback trap where the guards went outside, hoping to take the linebackers with them and open up the middle of the field. It worked like a charm on that final drive that started with 4:22 left in the game and Munford trailing 9-7.

Fullback Barry Rivers gashed the middle of the line for a couple of big-gainers, Dernice Wherry had a couple of nice runs and Jason Johnson hit Josh Jones on a 10-yard pass play as Munford raced against the clock.

Munford reached the 10-yard line with less than 10 seconds left. Out of timeouts, Johnson spiked the ball to stop the clock and kicker Ryan Miller trotted on the field to try a 27-yard field goal that would send Munford to its first-ever state title game.

Mt. Juliet called a timeout to ice him, but it didn't work. Miller's kick split the uprights with seven seconds left and the Cougars were on their way to Nashville.

“I still remember the big pile-on in the middle of the field with all the football See GAMES, page 53

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 13

BRIGHTON

WR/DB Keionte Newson

Brighton's seniors are, from left, front, Solomon Davis, Luke Latimer, Shawn Dupuy, Russell Webb, Andrew Brooks, Hunter Twisdale, Thomas Murphy, Will Hefner, Zach Sartin; back, Christian Jones, Bailey Howard, Christian Holly, Tyler Bridges, James Carson, Eli McClain, Austyn Knapp and Dallas Dooley.

2018 Brighton Cardinals

Brighton's sophomores are, from left, front, Dalton Dickerson, Josh Fleming, Ande Blackthunder, Wesley Ervin, Nick Gooden, Levi Latimer, Gavin Haynes, Dawson Sherfield; second row, Trais Hector, Ben Dunlap, Laquell Dye, Demaryo Gatlin, Joe Lizzi, Miller Countess, Brycelee Chaco, Jeremiah Lightsey, Malik Mason, Brady McCoy; back, Beau Russell,HIGH Dima Barker, Cameron Leem, Jeremiah Wilson, Cody Yarbrough, Austin Welsandt, Brandon 16 SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ Logan FALL Quinley, 2018 Hanks, Christian Vandiver, Jordan Counts and Trenton Carlton.

Brighton's juniors are, from left, front, Cannon Clark, T Allen, Christian Vandiver, Miller Countess, Cameron Gre son, Ben Roberts, Carter Easley, Tyler Burnett, Aiden Gri Jackson Kelley and Nick Johnson.

2018 AT A GLANCE

BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL

ark, Tyrique Thompson, Ayden Hall, Chrishun Maclin, Sam Dunlap, John on Gregor, Gary John, Dalton William, Michael Armour; back, Joe Williamen Grimes, Noah Norris, Keionte Newson, Jackson Fields, Jonathan Maley,

HEAD COACH: Robin Jacobs (5th season) LAST YEAR: 9-5, lost to Beech in Class 5A state semifinals RETURNING STARTERS: 3 offense, 3 defense KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: QB Nick Johnson, WR/DB Keionte Newson, RB Andrew Brooks, WR Christian Holly, DL Bailey Howard, LB Sam Dunlap KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB Lance West, WR Aaron Alston, QB Malik Jackson, DE Cameron John, DL Spencer Cartwright, DL Jordan John, LB Demetrius Frisson

New expectations

T

Cardinals looking to repeat success minus last year,s stars STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFF IRELAND

2018 Brighton coaches

The 2017 season was record-breaking for the Cardinals. There's really no other way to put it.

After making it to the state quarterfinals for the second time in school history, the Cardinals beat Henry County in Paris to make the state semifinals for the first time ever.

Beech stopped the Cardinals a win short of an appearance in the state title game, but it was a special season by any measure. The fact that Brighton did all this after losing three of its first four games made the accomplishment even more impressive.

“Realistically, if the ball bounces a different way we could have been playing in Cookeville (the site of the state title game),” Brighton head coach Robin Jacobs said. “These kids got a great experience. We want to give these guys a great high school experience where 25 years down the road they remember this.”

If 2018 is going to be memorable in a good way, the Cardinals are going to have find ways to win games without most of the stars from last year's team.

Lance West, Aaron Alston and Malik Jackson, Brighton's biggest three offensive weapons last season, all graduated. West was one of the state's leaders in all-purpose yardage, Alston was a top-notch wideout and Jackson was a dangerous dual-threat quarterback. The offense leaned heavily on those three the last two seasons.

The good news is that junior Nick Johnson, who started some at quarterback last year, returns.

“There's not much he doesn't do well,” Jacobs said. “His football IQ is through the roof. He gets it to the receiver and it's up to them to catch it. We haven't done that (catch it) very well in 7 on 7s, though.”

With departure of Alston and the loss of senior wideout James Carson to a season-ending injury, just who Johnson will be passing to is a bit of mystery.

The leading candidates are junior Keionte Newson and senior Christian Holly. Holly is a 6-3, 240-pounder who looks like a tight end but HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 17

can move like a wideout. Newson, a standout at safety last season and a college prospect, goes 6-2, 205 and will play wideout this year as well. Senior Solomon Davis will be an option at wideout as well.

Newson feels confident about Brighton's newlook passing game.

“Nick will sit in the pocket and a throw a dot every time,” Newson said. “That's what I like about him. He'll throw it away when needed, but if he feels like he can thread that needle he'll thread that needle.”

“It's definitely good to have some experience from last year,” Johnson said. “I feel very comfortable with my teammates.”

At running back look for senior Andrew Brooks to get plenty of carries. He played behind West last year and saw a lot of action. Senior Hunter Twisdale is another option at running back and Holly could get some carries as well.

“You just have to fill the role you're given and try to do your job,” Brooks said when asked about the prospect of getting more carries this season.

On the offensive line senior Thomas Murphy, who saw some action last year, will start at center. The rest of the candidates to start up front – Ayden Hall, Austin Wilsant, Ben Roberts and Maximus Moses – have seen very little varsity action.

“If they do well,” Jacobs said, “we'll be fine.”

“We've got some new guys in there,” Murphy said.

“We're trying to work them hard and get back to where we were last year, being physical.”

Three of Brighton's starters last season on the defensive line – Cameron John, Jordan John and Spencer Cartwright – are now playing with Southeast Missouri State. Defensive ends Bailey Howard and Christian Jones figure to start at defensive end.

Jacobs said the defensive tackle spots are still up for grabs.

Michael Armour, Sam Dunlap and Josh Fleming will play linebacker. Darius Lewis, Luke Lattimer and Chrishun Maclin will join Newson in the secondary. Lewis is a freshman and Fleming is a sophomore.

“We have some young talent,” Lattimer said. “I feel like we're doing pretty good. We just have to step up and do our best.”

Jacobs is taking over as defensive coordinator this year. Brighton's defense struggled at times last season, giving up 40 or more points four times.

“I hope we can do better this season,” Howard said about the defense. “We have a new coordina-

18 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

Brighton's defensive backs are, from left, front, Christian Vandiver, Jeremy Lightsey, Luke Lattimer, Solomon Davis, Gavin Haynes, Nick Gooden, Joe Lizzi; back, Keionte Newson, Aiden Grimes, Zach Sartain, James Carson, Tyler Burnett, Chrishun Maclin, Brycelee Chaco and Levi Lattimer.

Brighton's offensive linemen are, from left, front, Dima Barker, Beau Russell, Cameron Leem, Ayden Hall, Maximus Moses, Cameron Gregor, Austyn Knapp, Dalton Williams; back, Logan Quinley, Cody Yarbrough, Thomas Murphy, Ben Roberts, Austin Welsandt, Jackson Kelley, Malik Mason and Gary John.

Brighton's wide receivers are, from left, front, Demaryo Gatlin, Dawson Sherfield, Brycelee Chaco, Solomon Davis, Will Hefner, Brandon Hanks, Tyrique Thompson, Christian Vandiver; back, Carter Easley, Jackson Fields, Tyler Burnett, James Carson, Keionte Newson, Christian Holly and Dalton Dickerson.

BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL

Brighton's linebackers are, from left, Levi Latimer, Shawn Dupuy, Trais Hector, Sam Dunlap, Aaron Alston, Josh Fleming, Michael Armour and Dallas Dooley.

Brighton's quarterbacks are, from left, James Carson, Ande Blackthunder, Nick Johnson and Keionte Newson.

Brighton's running backs are, from left, Joe Williamson, Hunter Twisdale, Wesley Ervin, Andrew Brooks, Bailey Howard and Christian Holly.

Brighton's defensive linemen are, from left, front, Christian Holly, Dalton Williams, Braden McCoy, Eli McClain, John Allen, Miller Countess, Jeremiah Wilson, ben Dunlap; back, Noah Noris, Russell Webb, Dalton Dickerson, Tyler Bridges, Trenton Carlton, Jeremiah Lightsey and Bailey Howard.

Brighton's special teams' players are, from left, front, Cannon Clark, Nick Johnson, Dalton Dickerson; back, Russell Webb, Austyn Knapp, Bailey Howard and Beau Russell.

tor this year and he has more of a go-through-it, attack mentality.”

There are a lot of question marks on both sides of the ball. But for most fans, that won't matter.

There are always expectations on a team coming off a state semifinal appearance.

“It's a lot of pressure,” Davis said, “but we can handle it.”

“There's definitely pressure,” Jacobs said. “That (making the state semifinals) doesn't happen every day … To be honest, you want that expectation to go that far every year. We're not planning on being second place (in the region). I'm not going to tell you we're going to be first, but we don't plan on being second. We're going to go as far as we can go.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 19

BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL

Monumental win Brighton overcame a lot to pick up biggest victory in program history

There were a lot of factors working against

“Oh man,” Brighton head coach Robin

the Brighton football team on the chilly eve-

Jacobs said recently when asked about that

ning of Nov. 17, 2017 in Paris, Tenn. as the

game. “Everybody looked at us as maybe we

Cardinals prepared to play Henry County in

can do it, but they get to the first round and

a Class 5A state quarterfinal game.

get beat.”

It was just Brighton's second-ever quarterfinal appearance in its 21-year history, with the

STORY BY JEFF IRELAND

If all that wasn't enough, Henry County had sentiment on its side.

previous one coming in 2003 when Brigh-

Three weeks before that game, James

ton's seniors were in preschool. Brighton had

Counce Sr., a legendary high school coach

never made it to a state semifinal game.

who retired after leading Henry County to

Henry County, meanwhile, had won two state titles and was a regular in the quarterfinals.

those two state titles, died of a heart attack at age 68.

James Counce Jr., the legendary coach's

Before Brighton beat Dyer County two

son, was and is Henry County's head coach.

weeks prior in the first round, it had been six

When he took the field Nov. 17 he was wear-

seasons since the Cardinals had won a playoff

ing a tie, which is not typical attire for a high

game.

school coach.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 21

BRIGHTON HIGH SCHOOL

GO FIGURE ★ 7 Years it had been since Brighton had won a playoff game before beating Dyer County last November ★ 4 Seniors from last year – Aaron Alston, Cameron John, Jordan John and Spencer Cartwright – who signed with DI Southeast Missouri State ★ 6 Playoff wins in Brighton history. The Cardinals picked up three of them last season.

SCOUTING REPORT TIPTON-ROSEMARK COACH COLIN PINNER ON BRIGHTON Brighton's always got great athletes. Here, in the last few years, you really see they're starting to put some things together. They've always had great athletes, but now it seems like they have a system that fits them. They spread you out, put you in tough situations … Seems like they always have a quarterback and a running back who can hurt you.

I'm just glad I don't have to defend them.

The elder Counce interviewed Jacobs for his first coaching job many years ago and Ja-

ever.

The players on this year's Brighton roster

“To take your bunch and beat them up

were asked about the game a few weeks ago.

there?” Jacobs said. “I'm not saying it's a state

Most of them didn't seem to understand how

“When I walked into that stadium his son

championship win, but it was pretty surreal.”

big it was. Sure, they said it was exciting, but

was dressed like his dad,” Jacobs said. “He

Brighton's three offensive stars – Malik

they are too young to understand it's signifi-

never wears a tie. I was just like, 'Holy cow!'”

Jackson, Lance West and Aaron Alston – each

cance to a fan base and coaching staff that

As it turned out, none of that mattered as

had big games in the win, but what was prob-

understands how special it was.

cobs said he is “as classy as anyone.”

Brighton beat Henry County 34-31.

Brighton has had some big wins in its history. Beating Covington for the first time in

ably the play of the game was made by wide-

Junior Keionte Newson said, “That was real

out Tyler Burnett, who had just five catches

important. To me, that was our best game.

entering the game.

The offense and the defense played together

2007 ranks right up there. Erasing a 27-point

With Brighton trailing 24-21 late in the

deficit the week before the Henry County

third quarter, Jackson found Burnett streak-

Jacobs still remembers walking into that

game to beat Southwind was pretty darn im-

ing down the middle of the field for a 47-yard

packed stadium last November with Henry

pressive.

TD and a 27-24 lead. Brighton never trailed

County's infamous siren blaring.

But beating a tradition-rich program on the road to make the semifinals for the first time is Brighton's most monumental win –

again.

“When we got there, I told Coach (James)

“It wasn't even supposed to be thrown to me,” Burnett said after the game.

as a whole.”

Comer, 'This is all right. This is the way it's supposed to be.'”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 23

COVINGTON

TE Rob Hendren

Covington's defensive backs are, from left, Dallas McKee, Hayden Palmer, Andrew Scott, Breshun Dyson, Ke'Shun Gant, Josh McGarity and Codarries Page.

Covington's defensive linemen are, from left, front, Ka wood, Kendall Owens; back, Abraham Conklin, Fab Geary.

2018 Covington Chargers

Covington's linebackers are, from left, Ryan Parish, Kameron Johnson, Fabian Richards, Eli Patrick, Josh Tyus, Tucker

Geary and Rob Hendren.

26 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

Covington's offensive linemen are, from left, Bobby Lee, ham Conklin and Kendall Owens.

ont, Kameron Johnson, Bobby Lee, Eli Patrick, Blake Jacket, Kevin Earn, Fabian Richards, Huntley Rose, K.J. Fayne, Ryan Hodge and Tucker

by Lee, Blake Jacket, Ryan Hodge, Huntley Rose, Kevin Earwood, Abra-

2018 AT A GLANCE

COVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

HEAD COACH: Marty Wheeler (10th season) LAST YEAR: 13-2, lost to Alcoa in Class 3A state title game RETURNING STARTERS: 5 offense, 6 defense KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: QB Brock Lomax, RB Ke'Shun Gant, RB Codarries Page, TE Rob Hendren, LB Caleb Winfrey, LB Setrickious Hall KEY PLAYERS LOST: WR Tyrese Winfrey, OL Ethan McDivitt, OL Tommy Flanagan, OL Tucker Chumley, WB Benton Glass, DL Tyrese Toliver

Lofty expectations

B

There are some concerns, but Chargers appear equipped for more postseason success STORY BY JEFF IRELAND ★ PHOTOS BY PHIL RAMSEY

Big expectations always surround the Covington Charger football program.

Coming off a four win season? Fans: You better at least make the playoffs this year. Made the state quarterfinals last year? Fans: The semifinals sounds good this year.

Considering the team returns a pair of running backs who combined for more than 3,300 yards, a quarterback who has started every game since he was a freshman and four starting linebackers from a team that played in the state title game last December, you can imagine what some people around town are talking about.

Marty Wheeler, who is in his 10th season as head coach and was an assistant coach in Covington in the early 2000s, is used to all this by now.

The expectations don't seem to bother his players either. In fact, they seem to embrace it.

“We're the hunted,” said senior offensive lineman K.J. Fayne. “We've got to come hard because everybody is coming for us.”

“It's the same goal regardless, but I think teams will be out to get us,” said Brock Lomax, the aforementioned quarterback returning for the fourth season as a starter. “I think last year we were kind of the underdog, but this year it's kind of the reverse.”

If there is a concern for Wheeler, and for coaches there are always several, it's the defensive line.

Three guys – Octravious Lewis, Jonathan Mason and Tyrese Toliver – who started on the defensive line in last year's state title game graduated.

The fourth, senior Bobby Lee, has moved to offensive guard.

Seniors Josh Tyus and Fabien Richards and juniors Colby Mason and Blake Jackett are candidates to fill those roles and there others players behind them competing for spots.

“The defensive line is really where we got hit hard more than anything,” Wheeler said. “Hopefully these guys will pick it up quick and we'll get better there.”

Behind those players things are more concrete.

Junior Caleb Winfrey and senior Setrickious Hall return at linebacker.

Each had more than 100 tackles a season ago. Andrew Scott returns at that position after a solid sophomore season and Breshun Dyson is back after starting as a freshman.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 27

COVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL Chucky Olden and Quentin Booker, both starters in the secondary last season, graduated. Donovan Dotson returns as a starter at one of the cornerback spots. Guys like Marcus Hayes, Jalen Fayne, Miles Starks and Colby Somerville are candidates to fill the other spots.

On the offensive side of the ball, it all starts with Lomax and senior running backs Codarries Page and Ke'Shun Gant. Page rushed for 2,214 yards a season ago and Page finished with 1,256. Lomax threw for 1,373 yards and needs just 150 yards this season to become Covington's all-time passing yardage leader.

“It seems like just yesterday we were talking about Brock not even being old enough to drive to practice and now we're getting ready to begin his fourth year here,” Wheeler said. “He's always had good leadership skills and he's taken it to a different level now. He's a guy who makes things happen. He's a winner.”

Page and Gant look almost identical in pads and are both listed at 5-5 and 160 pounds, but they have different skill sets. Page is a little more shifty, while Gant is more powerful.

Per Covington tradition, the Chargers figures to be a run-first team. But with an experienced quarterback could they pass more?

“In the words of Marty Wheeler, at the University of Covington we run the ball,” senior tight end Rob Hendren said with a smile.

“We may have the ball more in the air this year; I'll leave it at that,” Wheeler said, adding that his team likes to throw the ball on its own terms, not when they have to on third and long. “At the end of the day, we want to win the football game. It doesn't matter if we threw it every down. Then it'd be like, 'Why don't you run the ball?' We throw it a lot in pregame. If anybody wants to see us throw it, come at 6:30.”

When Covington does take to the air, Hendren figures to be a primary target.

The Chargers took a big hit at wideout with the graduation of Tyrese Winfrey, who racked up 788 yards, 10 touchdowns and a ton of big plays last season.

Wheeler said Starks, Dodson and Josh McGarity are candidates to fill that role.

“Hopefully the combination of those three will help fill the void,” Wheeler said.

Three starters on the offensive line graduated.

Fayne and Eli Patrick return as starters and Lee, Huntley Rose and Ryan Hodge will fill in the other spots.

“It's been a little hard at times trying to get the news guys into it, but it's going to work out,” Fayne said.

He was talking about the offensive line, but the same sentiment applies to the team as it seeks to meet expectations.

Covington's quarterbacks are, from left, Andrew Scott, Brock Lomax and Marcus Haye

Covington's wide receivers are, from left, front, Jacob Parish, Ahmad Jackson, Myles Starks, Marquese Hall; back, Keith Brown, Donovan Dotson, Marcus Hayes, Jalen Fayne, Cameron Johnson and Jackson Whaley.

Covington's running backs are, from left, Ahmad Jackson, Lareko Burton, Breshun Dyson, Marcus Hayes, Ke'Shun Gant, Codarries Page and Jayden Gentile.

30 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

COVINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

Triple threat Two cousins and a quarterback give Charger offense a lot of options STORY BY JEFF IRELAND

There have been some very effective Covington offensive triple threat combinations over the years.

Gant will garner a spot among the best in Covington history.

Lomax has started every game (38) since

Back in 2012, when Covington made a

he was a freshman. After throwing for 1,383

run to the state title game, Johnston White,

yards last season he needs just 150 more this

Carlos Williams and T.A. Watson were quite

fall to become Covington's all-time leading

a trio.

passer.

In 2003, another state title game season,

His backfield mates were relatively un-

there was Allen Williams, Damien Smith and

known until bursting on the scene last year.

Michael Grandberry.

Gant ran for 2,214 yards and Page finished

Darron White, Antonio Gaines and Jon

with 1,256.

Ashford were very challenging for defenses to

Two years ago, when Page and Gant be-

deal with during Covington's run to the state

came full-time varsity players, they were kind

title game in 2000.

of unknown to their coach as well.

Trying to determine who's the best is im-

“I spent the first year they were out here

possible, but there's no doubt this year's se-

calling them by the wrong name,” Wheeler

nior combo of quarterback Brock Lomax and

said with a laugh. “In pads they really do look

running backs Codarries Page and Ke'Shun

alike.”

32 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

GO FIGURE ★ 43,470 Combined rushing yardage last year by seniors Ke'Shun Gant and Codarries Page ★ 5 Appearances Covington has made in the state title game ★ 150 Passing yards senior quarterback Brock Lomax needs this year to become Covington's all-time leading passer

Even without pads, Gant and Page, who are cousins, look very similar. They both sport dreadlocks and are listed at 5-5, 160 pounds.

“If you get them in cleats and they get on their tip toes, they might be 5-6 or 5-7,” Wheeler said. “If you ask them they'll say 5-9.”

But their diminutive size has not slowed them down. In fact, Wheeler thinks it's an advantage.

SCOUTING REPORT MUNFORD COACH NICK MARKLE ON COVINGTON I'm sure they're going to be loaded. I think they just lost a few linemen …

Coach (Marty) Wheeler does a great job with those guys. I know that it's going to be a battle when they show up for that Aug. 17 game. I know they've got to get some redemption from last year. I know we've been kind of circled on their schedule from last year. They're bringing everybody back. I expect them to have a great season.

“He's quicker, faster,” Gant said about Page. “He's a guy I can count on.”

the backfield.

“I would much rather have a guy running

Lomax is fully aware he's lucky to have two

at their height than a 6-3 guy,” Wheeler said.

backs behind him who combined for nearly

“I think they compliment each other really

3,500 yards a season ago.

well.”

knows he has two great options with him in His coach likes his options as well.

“That doesn't happen very often, especially here,” Wheeler said when asked about hav-

“It makes the offense a lot easier,” Lomax

ing three seniors returning after big statistical

Page and Gant have known each other

said. “They know what they're doing. If I for-

junior seasons. “To be honest with you, we've

since berth and grew up playing together for

get a play I can ask them and they can tell

had some good quarterbacks here, but they

the Tipton County Chiefs.

me.”

were more pocket-type quarterbacks. He's a

While they look the same, their running styles are different.

“He's a great runner,” Page said about his cousin. “If somebody gets in his way he's going to run them over.”

As a quarterback, Lomax, of course, likes to throw the ball.

dual-threat quarterback and he's faster than people think. It opens up our schemes …

When asked if Covington was going to pass more this season, he said, “I hope so.”

Having those three in the backfield has allowed us to be more versatile and makes it

But however things work out, Lomax

harder for teams to prepare for us.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 33

MUNFORD

RB Noah Robertson

Munford's defensive backs and wide receivers are, from left, front, Quelyn Boyd, Preston Hayes, Jarra Dowell Jr., Terevic Clark, Joseph Mullins; back, Joseph Woodard, Jaxon O'Neal, Ja'Shawn Adell, Treveon Hawkins, Mark Yarnold, Lemerious Payne, Bryson Jernigan, Jesse Savage, Alexander Weatherwax and Dalton Allen.

2018 AT A GLANCE

MUNFORD HIGH SCHOOL

HEAD COACH: Nick Markle (3rd season) LAST YEAR: 9-3, lost to Henry County in second round of Class 5A state playoffs RETURNING STARTERS: 3 offense, 1 defense KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB Noah Robertson, QB Ja'Shawn Adell, OL Ryan Flanagan, OL Paul Kinnaman, DL Max Lodrique, DB Jesse Savage KEY PLAYERS LOST: RB Chaz Hayes, LB Marcus Webb, QB Nathan Davenport, RB Kylan Washington, OL Kollin Williams

New faces, new places

T

Cougars looking to continue momentum with a lot of new starters STORY BY JEFF IRELAND

Munford's defensive linemen are, from left, front, Tobie Hurd, Logan Cramer, Ryan Byram, Chris Ferrell; second row, Francisco Hernandez, Paul Kinnaman, Max Lodrique, Tyler Mayfield, Miguel Sanchez, Zach Roberts, Trevor Holley, Colton Wallace, Carson Roberson; back, Jakob Wignes, Jevon Bonner, Nate Mears, Jalen Dyson, Ryan Flanagan, Trevor Holley and Dalton Davenport.

Munford's offensive linemen are, from left, front, Derek Ross, Logan Cramer, Ryan Byram, Chris Ferrell; second row, Francisco Hernandez, Paul Kinnaman, Max Lodrique, Tyler Mayfield, Miguel Sanchez, Zach Roberts, Trevor Holley, Colton Wallace, Carson Roberson; back, Joseph Mullins, Jevon Bonner, Trace Parker, Ryan Flanagan, Trevor Holley and Dalton Davenport.

Munford's running backs are, from left, Preston Hayes, Quelyn Boyd, Noah Robertson, Lemerious Payne; second row, Jacoby Miguel, Tobie Hurd, Baker Osbourn, Terevic Lark, Mark Yarnold; back, Mark Cononico, Treveon Hawkins, Hastin Dodson and Jalen Dyson.

The Cougars have been good the last four seasons, compiling a 29-15 record over that time span, making the playoffs three times and spending some time in the top 10 of the Associated Press state poll.

But one thing the program had not done during that successful run was win or host a playoff game. That changed last season when Munford beat Clarksville 42-14 at home in the first round of the state playoffs. Munford's last playoff win before that came in 2006.

While that win was a huge step for the program, this year's players, most of whom were not starters on that team, are not dwelling on last season.

“It was big for the community, big for the team,” said head coach Nick Markle. “We only have four (players) back, though, so what I talk to them about is we can't live with last year's team. This a fresh start. We talk about not becoming complacent because that can creep in very quickly.”

“It was an amazing feeling,” senior center Ryan Flanagan said, “but we don't live in the past. We're working on ourselves right now.”

If Munford is to put itself in position to win and/or host another playoff game this year, the Cougars will have to do it with a largely new cast of characters.

The defense will have 11 new starters. The lone full-time returning starter from that side of the ball, Ja'Shawn Adell, moves from linebacker to quarterback this season, replacing two-year starter Nathan Davenport. Six sophomores are expected to start.

On offense, senior linemen Paul Kinnaman and Flanagan return as starters, as does senior running back Noah Robertson. Everybody else will be first-time starters.

With all that said, the return of the team's most productive offensive player from last season – Robertson – is huge.

He ran for more than 1,500 yards and scored 21 touchdowns (both team highs) last year and should be in store for a big senior season.

“When you talk about Noah Robertson you talk about a kid who does everything the right way,” Markle said. “Inside and outside the classroom, on and off the field, he's just a fine young man. He's the guy who leads by example. He's not a rah-rah guy that much, just a blue collar guy. He works his butt off every day and sets an example for these young guys what it takes to be successful.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 37

Adell, who did play quarterback for two seasons at his previous high school in Indiana, will be running Markle's triple option offense. How those two work together is crucial.

“It's new, but Ja'Shawn is a good quarterback and he's confident,” Robertson said. “That makes everybody else confident. With us two in the backfield, we have so much chemistry. We're probably the closest two in our grade. I feel like we're going to do great things this year.”

Said Adell: “It's been a long process, I'm not going to even lie to you, but as the months have gone along I've become more comfortable. With a triple option offense you have to trust the players around you.”

Adell beat out four other players during the preseason to earn the starting role and Markle feels like he can get the job done.

“He just came into camp and took the quarterback spot,” Markle said. “We have high expectations for him managing the offense, making sure we hold on to the ball and eliminating turnovers. That's the way we win football games. We're putting a lot on him.”

“I think we're looking pretty good,” Kinnaman said about the progress of the offense. “Things are starting to come together.”

When Munford takes to the air, which is not all that often, look for junior Bryson Jernigan and sophomores Jesse Savage and

38 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

Dalton Allen, all of whom are over six feet tall, to be the primary targets.

“They all have good size and we're looking for mismatches,” Markle said. “When we do throw it we need to complete it.”

Seniors Max Lodrique and Toby Hurd, a 5-11, 240-pound transfer from Arizona, will lead the defensive line.

Markle expects Hurd to make an immediate impact.

“He's probably the strongest player on the team,” Markle said. “I expect big things out of him. He's a guy you have to respect and double team.”

Senior Baker Osborne will head up a linebacking corps that will feature several new faces.

MUNFORD HIGH SCHOOL

In the defensive backfield, Savage, who started two games last year as a freshman, will hold down one of the cornerback spots. Sophomores Travion Hawkins, Kelton Mason, Jarra Dowell and Jacoby Miguel are also expected to contribute as first-year varsity players.

“These young men are very talented,” Markle said. “We're just throwing them into the fire. They're going to have to learn on the fly.”

“The defense is looking good this year,” Lodrigue said. “We have a lot of people stepping up.”

Munford's linebackers are, from left, front, Dalton Davenport, Noah Robertson, Backer Osborn; back, Mark Cononico, Trace Parker, Dalton Allen and Francisco Hernandez.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 39

MUNFORD HIGH SCHOOL

Tough love Coach, players believe a good chewing out can be constructive STORY BY JEFF IRELAND

Season three of the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U” chronicles the Independence Community College football team, which is full of players with Division 1 talent who have landed at the junior college in Kansas for various reasons.

Some of been kicked off of bigtime football teams while others have struggled academically. Most of the players are trying to find their way back to high-profile programs.

It's an interesting behind-the-scenes, all-access look at a football team, but the star of the show is clearly head coach Jason Brown.

He gets results on the field, but his

coaching style is over the top, to put it mildly. While bad language is certainly nothing new for football coaches, even in high school, he takes it to a new level, sprinkling F-bombs into just about every sentence he speaks.

Brown gets into physical confrontations with coaches, cusses them out frequently and threatens to fire someone on a daily basis.

Through all this, there is a lot of loyalty expressed from his coaches and players.

It all begs the question: How much is too much?

Munford head coach Nick Markle, who is known as a relatively calm

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 41

MUNFORD HIGH SCHOOL GO FIGURE ★ 11 Years it had been since Munford had won a playoff game before the Cougars beat Clarksville last season ★ 0 Defensive starters from last year who will be playing the same position this year ★ 21 Touchdowns scored last year by running back Noah Robertson, which led the team

SCOUTING REPORT COVINGTON COACH MARTY WHEELER ON MUNFORD

Their schemes and philosophies on football are very similar to us. They like to run the football first and establish the line of scrimmage. The type of offense they run, an option offense, it forces you to be really disciplined on the defensive side of the ball.

On defense, they're a team that's going to make you earn everything you get. They're very good at what they do.

coach by high school standards, and his players were recently asked about the show. Most of them had either seen it or heard about it.

Markle has been coaching for several years and has been around some fiery coaches.

“I've seen both ends of the spectrum,” he said. “I've seen coaches that never yell, very even-keeled. I try to be that way, but it's very difficult at times. I've seen others where their blood pressure has to be off the charts because they're yelling from start to finish.”

Munford's seniors have been playing organized football for 10 or 12 years and each one has felt the wrath of an unhappy coach. But they said they feel like it's part of the game and it generally comes from a good place.

“You just take the coaching,” Ryan Flanagan said. “You say 'yes, sir' and do better next time.”

Said Max Lodrigue. “You can't really take it at face value. They're going

to be hard on you because they want you to get better. You have to look past what they say, look at the film and see how to improve it.”

Markle played football in high school and concedes that things have changed.

“People talk about that old way of coaching,” he said. “We're in a new era with our youth, with social media and having to be aware of things that can be broadcast out there.”

Nevertheless, there is plenty of tough coaching going on. Visit a high school practice or a game in Tipton County and you will see some yelling.

Maybe even a facemask shake or two.

But, at Munford at least, the players believe it's done in a constructive way.

“Everybody has to get better,” Munford senior Noah Robertson said. “I just take coaching well. When somebody gets on me I just listen and build on that.”

“Football is a passionate sport,” Marle said. “You have to have some

42 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

emotion to play this game. You can't just come out here and be ho hum about things. That bleeds over to practice some times. We expect so much out of these young men that sometimes when we come up short of those expectations we, as coaches, show our frustration … I try to teach our guys to be teammates. If a coach is over there getting on some guy a teammate is supposed to say, 'Hey, man, don't worry about that, we're gonna get e'm next play.' Be positive, be uplifting.”

Munford quarterback Ja'Shawn Adell views it as tough love.

“To me, when a coach gets on me, I feel like the coach loves me,” Adell said. “If they didn't love me they wouldn't be getting on me. I love when a coach gets on me because that means I'm doing something wrong.

Monday through Thursday I want the coaches to get on me because when Friday comes I won't have that problem.”

TIPTON-ROSEMARK

RB Mac Fullen

The TRA juniors are, from left, front, Donald Crowe, D McCranie and Jake Massey.

The Tipton-Rosemark seniors are, from left, front, Franklin Garner, Howard Gray, Shae Nolan, Peyton Ryan; back, Christian Stafford, Nathan Bradley, Jackson Rickard, Jake Roane and Clayton Brown.

The Tipton-Rosemark juniors are, from left, front, Stanton Con Jones; back, Carson McWherter, Ethan Petrowski, J.T. May,

2018 TiptonRosemark Rebels

The Tipton-Rosemark sophomores are, from left, front, Aidan Sprenkle, Zakris Vinson, Mac Fullen, Ryan Hill; back, Porter Hughes, Evan Coats, Hale Parchman, Heath Harrald and Bryce McLane.

46 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

The Tipton-Rosemark freshmen are, from left, Payne Fullen, T

2018 AT A GLANCE

TIPTON-ROSEMARK ACADEMY

owe, Daniel Haley, Ben Hart; back, Tully Dunagan, Tucker Pittman, Zach

The next step?

T

on Connell, Seth Cannon, Jordan Artzer, Jonah Van Kampen, Mac Fullen, Logan . May, Jay Hiegel, Wyatt Crawley and Matthew Coats.

ullen, Thomas Patton, Gibson Phillips and Luke Hayes.

HEAD COACH: Colin Pinner (3rd season) LAST YEAR: 7-4, lost to Middle Tennessee Christian in first round of DII-A state playoffs RETURNING STARTERS: 5 offense, 4 defense KEY PLAYERS RETURNING: RB Jake Roane, RB Mac Fullen, RB J.T. May, OL Christian Stafford, DL Nathan Bradley, LB Jordan Artzer KEY PLAYERS LOST: QB Donald Crowe, RB Carter Weakley, LB Zach McCranie, OL Grayson Crum, OL Mason Reeves

TRA coach not satisfied with last year,s breakthrough season STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFF IRELAND

The 2017 TRA football season was groundbreaking on some level.

Rosemark won seven games for the first time in 15 years and started 5-0

for the first time in school history.

It was an exciting time for the Rebel football program, especially in the

midst of that five-game winning streak. A reporter came from Memphis to report on it and everybody was pumped up.

While head coach Colin Pinner was certainly happy with the program's

success relative to recent TRA history, he has a different perspective because he was an assistant coach and player on some very successful Covington teams.

“The thing now is not to get complacent,” said Pinner, who is entering

his third season at Rosemark. “We were 5-5 the first year and 7-3 last year and everybody starts talking about what a great job your'e dong. I don't feel like 7-3 is that great. You want way better than that. How do you not become complacent? How do you keep your kids from becoming complacent? 7-3 and a first round (playoff ) exit is not what we're looking for.”

If the progress is going to continue this season, Pinner will lean on an of-

fensive backfield that returns three starters: seniors Jake Roane and Clayton Brown and junior Mac Fullen.

Fullen racked up 1,155 yards and 15 touchdowns, Roane added 1,005

yards and 14 scores and Brown was steady as well, averaging 7.5 yards per carry. Juniors Howard Gray and J.T. May also made contributions as the Rebels averaged 285 rushing yards per game and 8.2 yards per carry.

Roane and May assault the middle of the line while Fullen, Brown and

Fullen follow up with big-gainers.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 47

Fullen has a chance to set several TRA

“The offense lost a lot of linemen,” Fullen

career rushing records this year. Like Roane,

said. “I think that was a big loss, but we have

he has gotten a lot bigger over the past two

some young guys coming up who have been

seasons.

working hard.”

“Jake has built himself into a monster in

On the defensive side of the ball, senior

the middle,” Pinner said. “He's that rare

Shae Nolan and junior Ethan Patrowski,

combination of good grades and a 33 on the

both of whom will play some receiver, return

ACT, but he wants to run through the goal

as starters at cornerback. Gray will start at

posts. Most of those cerebral kids don't want

safety.

to do that … We like to pound the middle

Senior Nathan Bradley (6-3, 305) returns

and try to take the top off with the tailback.”

as a starting defensive tackle. He's struggled

Gray, Fullen and Roane each had TD runs

with injuries in the past, but Pinner believes

last year of 50 or more yards.

he can have a breakout season in 2018.

A new person will be handing the ball off to

Roane and Fullen will play outside line-

those guys as senior Peyton Ryan takes over

backer and Artzer will play on the inside.

at quarterback for Donald Crowe, a two-year

Artzer had a team-high 91 tackles last sea-

starter who graduated. Crowe's backup last

son, including 10 for loss.

year, Ryan beat out four other guys for the job during the preseason.

Pinner said he will try and find some rest for two-way players Roane, Fullen and

“In our system you have to read defenses

Artzer, meaning guys like Tucker James, Por-

and be the calm in the storm,” Pinner said.

ter Hughes and Payne Fullen should have a

“He does a really good job at that. The kids

chance to play at linebacker as well.

follow him.”

The Tipton-Rosemark linemen are, from left, front, Thomas dan Artzer, Carson McWherter; back, Matthew Coats, Ja Harrald and Wyatt Crawley.

This is the second season the Rebels are

Senior Christian Stafford is the lone re-

playing in the newly-formed DII-A. Before

turning starter on the offensive line, although

that TRA was grouped with schools that had

junior Jordan Artzer, an all-state linebacker

much larger enrollments.

last season, will move over to that side of the

The playing field is pretty even now and

ball. Junior Matthew Coats has earned a spot

this could be a pivotal year for the program.

there in the preseason and other positions are

Most programs are either on the rise or in

up for grabs by a group of underclassmen.

decline.

“You just hope if we have to play some

“To be honest, I've never been in this situa-

young guys the experience in the backfield

tion as a third-year head coach,” Pinner said.

will offset that,” Pinner said.

“These are my kids now. You feel like this is

Concerning the offensive line, Stafford

the group that's going to start mirroring you.

said, “I figured it'd be really challenging, but

That could be good or bad. You'll see what

these guys are really good at what they do

you've really been instilling.”

and they're learning really fast. I think it's going to work out fine.”

SCOUTING REPORT BRIGHTON COACH ROBIN JACOBS ON TRA Obviously they're doing really good with Coach (Colin) Pinner. I know they have some kids that colleges are interested in. They've made leaps and bounds in their program.

48 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

The Tipton-Rosemark running backs are, from left, Howard Fullen and J.T. May.

TIPTON-ROSEMARK ACADEMY

homas Patton, Gibson Phillips, Hale Parchman, Luke Hayes, Jorats, Jackson Rickard, Nathan Bradley, Christian Stafford, Heath

The Tipton-Rosemark quarterbacks are, from left, Stanton Connell, Peyton Ryan and Aidan Sprenkle.

oward Gray, Seth Cannon, Jake Roane, Zakris Vinson, Mac

The Tipton-Rosemark Academy wide receivers are, from left, Ryan Hill, Evan Coats, JonahVan Kampen, Shae Nolen, Ethan Petrowski and Logan Jones.

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 49

No hair, no problem Follicly-challenged running back has no problem with joking about his condition STORY AND PHOTOS BY JEFF IRELAND

Back when Jake Roane was a skinny freshman on the Tipton-Rosemark Academy baseball team, he was warming up the TRA pitcher in the bullpen before a game.

An opposing coach walked by, observed Roane and his hairless head and commended a member of the TRA coaching staff for allowing Roane to take part in sports just like the other kids.

“I think it's really great what you guys are doing for him,” the coach said, having no idea Roane was playing because he was a good athlete.

Roane, who is now a 6-0, 185-pound standout senior running

50 HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018

back and linebacker for the Rosemark football team, has alopecia universalis, a condition characterized by the complete loss of hair on the scalp and body. It is an advanced form of alopecia areata, a condition that causes round patches of hair loss.

His white blood cells attack hair follicles, but there no other symptoms, said his mother, Leslie Roane.

“Actually,” she says, “his immune system probably works harder than most. He rarely even gets a cold.”

He does not remember that occasion, but there have been many like it since he was diagnosed at the age of four. To this day it's not uncommon

TIPTON-ROSEMARK ACADEMY GO FIGURE ★ 285 Rushing yards per game last year for the Rebels, one of the best totals in West Tennessee ★ 91 Tackles made last year by junior all-state linebacker Jordan Artzer, nearly twice as much as any other TRA player ★ 13 Combined number of 100-yard rushing performances last year by four different players: Jake Roane, Mac Fullen, Carter Weakley and Howard Gray The Tipton-Rosemark Academy wing backs and tight ends are, from left, Payne Fullen, Tucker James, Clayton Brown, Porter Hughes, Jay Heigel and Bryce McLane.

for somebody to walk up to him and his family at a restaurant and offer prayers, and sometimes to pick up the check.

“It's all really nice,” says Jake, “but of course we tell them I don't have cancer. I run into those things but it hasn't been a huge issue.”

Jake remembers when his parents began to see some issues with his hair. For a while he was getting as many as 25 steroid injections into his scalp on visits to the dermatologist to treat it. That stopped pretty quickly.

“It was more than he wanted to deal with,” Leslie says. “He finally said I'm good without hair.”

So one night, at age four, they shaved his remaining hair off and that was that.

“I do remember the night we shaved it off,” Jake says. “I was pretty upset. I didn't want to go to school the next day.”

To help with that issue, when Jake was in kindergarten his mom had

him write a story about his condition and she illustrated it. Presentations were made to various classes and pretty quickly it was no big deal to Jake's classmates.

“I think education is the key,” Leslie says. “That way there's not the questions, the bullying and the making fun.”

Of course, years later, that doesn't mean Jake's teammates won't have a little fun with their bald buddy.

His teammates have called him cue ball, Mr. Clean and Lord Voldemort, the bald character from the Harry Potter movie series.

“The first time I met him, he wasn't as big as he is now. We were little freshmen,” says TRA senior Christian Stafford with a big smile on his face. “I thought he had cancer.

Then everybody told me what the real story was. We've been messing with him and making fun of him ever since. It just like the team's joke.”

“I used to joke with him about it,” TRA coach Colin Pinner says, “but now that I've lost my hair I don't say anything about it.”

Jake takes it well.

“Of course,” he says with a smile when asked what if his teammates kid him about his hairless body.

“They like to talk about it.”

Junior Howard Gray was a newcomer to the program and school last season when he saw Roane for the first time. He was curious but didn't say anything about it until he was introduced.

“He is a really nice guy, helped me out a lot,” Gray says. “Ever since then we've been really tight. We hang out after practice, go eat. We just have a bond that can't be broken … Sometimes we tease him a little bit. He laughs at it and we laugh at it together. At the end of the day he knows that we love him as a brother.”

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PREVIEW ★ FALL 2018 51

BEST HIGH SCHOOL GAMES OF ALL TIME players,” Marshall said, and it wasn't just the kids on the team. “Everybody was out there. The celebration was awesome. It was just one of those real exciting moments in a lifetime that you hope you can experience.”

Riverdale beat Munford a week later in the state title game, a place Munford has not been since.

Marshall, who would go on to coach one more season before taking another coaching job, said a loss to Germantown in his first season was a turning point for the program. The Cougars for two late in the game but did not make it.

“I will always remember in the stands. There was a standing ovation for a long time even though we didn't win the game. That kind of set our program in motion and gave the kids the confidence that they could play with the best teams and the best players in the area.”

'IT WAS LIKE SLOW MOTION'

1

What: Covington vs.

Westview When: Nov. 17, 2000 Where: Covington

High School With a ton of talented seniors returning from a team that made it to the state semifinals the previous season, there was a lot of hype surrounding the 2000 season.

The general consensus among Charger fans was state title game or bust.

After shutting out Ripley and Frayser by a combined score of 75-0 in the first two rounds of the Class 3A state playoffs, Westview came to town for a quarterfinal game on a very cold Friday night.

Covington had already beaten Westview 26-19 in a regular season game a few weeks previous, so a close game was expected.

But nobody could have expected how the ending played out.

With the scored tied 21-21 with 1:15 left in the game, Westview had the

ball at the Covington 2-yard line and everybody in the stadium knew tailback Rafael Hill was about to get the call. He already had 167 yards rushing and Covington had been having trouble stopping him all night.

A touchdown would almost certainly spell the end of a great season and a career for a lot of seniors.

What happened

next is the kind of thing that silly sports movies are made off. The kind of play that makes you roll your eyes and say that could never happen in a real game.

Darron White stripped the ball from Martin Westview tailback Rafael Hill at the goal line and ran 99 and a half yards for the game-winning touchdown in a 2721 win.

BEST HIGH SCHOOL GAMES OF ALL TIME White stopped at the goal line and slammed the ball on the turf in the end zone as the crowd went wild.

Westview got the ball back and drove all the way to the Covington 24-yard line with eight seconds left, but Daniel Byram broke up a pass in the end zone on the game’s final play.

Covington went on to beat Jackson South Side in the state semifinals the next week to advance to the Class 3A state title game.

Portland beat the Chargers for the state title, but the Westview game remains etched in the memories of everybody involved.

Jeff McFerran, Covington's head coach at the time, calls it simply “the game.”

“We knew they were going to hand it to the tailback,” McFerran said. “No doubt about it. They were going to try and run it on us.

If they would have called a play action pass, every receiver probably would have been open. We committed to it. In my coaching experience, Darron just made the best tactical, smart football play I’ve ever seen. The fact that he ran up there and snatched the ball as the boy tried to extend it was special. It was less than a foot from the goal line. I’ll never forget when he snatched it and ran towards us; it was like slow motion.”

White said he talked to an official after the game game. He told him the ball was a half inch away from the goal line when White grabbed it.

According to White, defensive tackle Chris Mason grabbed Hill'ss ankles just short of the goal line.

“Rafael put the ball up on somebody’s back,” White said. “That’s when I saw an opportunity, so I took it, literally. It was more Chris than anything. That’s what really made that play. I was just playing defense. When I saw the ball I just took it.”

LANDON MOSS Son of Houston and Ginny Moss and grandson of Leonard and Brenda Moss

In loving memory

CHARLIE MOSS

Covington Chargers, ‘70-72 Ole Miss Rebels, ‘73-76

Maley-Yarbrough Funeral Home 1701 Hwy. 51 South, Covington 901.476.9778 ★ maleyyarbrough.com