2016 Football Preview

discover A supplement to the leader • Fall 2016 $2.00

2016 high school

Football Preview

Brighton • Covington Munford • Tipton-rosemark

Will he do it?

Senior RB T.J. Smith is poised to become Covington's all-time leading rusher

INSIDE

Unforgettable

A look back at a unbelievable game-winning play

Meet the new coaches Markle, Pinner take top spots at MHS, TRA

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Letter from the editor

2016 High School Football Preview

Publisher Brian Blackley bblackley@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 Fred Brooks Photography Jeff Ireland, jireland@covingtonleader.com Graphic design Echo Day, eday@covingtonleader.com Alan Erwin, awerwin@covingtonleader.com A dv e rt i s i n g Andy Posey, aposey@covingtonleader.com Heather Hyslop, hhyslop@covingtonleader.com Classifieds/reception Heather Lindsey, hlindsey@covingtonleader.com Commercial Printing Richard White, Print Assistant LE g a l s , b o o k k e e p i n g Kathy Griffin, kgriffin@covingtonleader.com

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided. The Leader reserves the right to determine the content provided within this publication. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in Discover does not necessarily reflect the endorsement of the product and service by The Leader. Discover is copyright 2016 Tipton County Newspapers LLC. Reproduction without written permission is prohibited. If you have any questions or comments about this publication please call The Leader office at 901-476-7116 or send an email to news@covingtonleader.com.

About the Footb all Preview

This special annual publication of The Leader is made possible by many advertisers and contributors who want you to experience and discover one of Tennessee’s finest counties. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information provided.

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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

m

The past, present and future “My yesterdays walk with me. They keep step, they are gray faces that peer over my shoulder.” - poet and novelist William Golding I've been trying for years to work a quote from a British writer into a football story and now I finally have, giving English teachers across the county a reason to pick up a copy of the 2016 High School Football Preview magazine.

So what in the world does this quote have to do with a high school football magazine about returning starters, playoff possibilities and wing-T offenses?

Since you (probably) asked, I'll tell you.

The primary feature story in the following pages is about the legendary 2000 playoff game between Covington and Westview. You know, the one where Darron White turned the game around with a 99-yard strip-and-dash TD. I interviewed several people involved in that game and I think you will find their recollections interesting.

Another story revisits last year's Brighton-Munford game, which figures to go down in football lore as one of the best games ever played in these parts.

There's also a piece about a running back who has a father peering over his shoulder as he chases the all-time Covington rushing record.

With all that, plus thousands of words about this year's teams, coaches and players, we hope you will enjoy looking into the past, present and future of high school football in Tipton County.

Jeff Ireland Sports Editor

FEATURES brighton

6

p. 15

★ Covington

p. 25

High School Football Preview 2016

★ munford

p. 35

★ tipton-rosemark

p. 45

Unforgettable

Remembering a miraculous play made by the 2000 team

31

Senior RB T.J. Smith, son of another great CHS running back, could become the school's all-time leading rusher

15 Brighton anticipating great season with

35 Though they have a new coach, MHS

addition of former Wooddale player

hoping success continues to increase

45

TRA hoping new places, faces help move progress along

52 middle school football

an unforgettable play

That game was crazy. It was one of the most exciting games of my life. If it wasn’t recorded people wouldn’t believe it. – Darron White, 2000 Covington Chargers

6 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

←Covington sophomore Antonio Gaines fights through a tackle for extra yardage in action against Westview on Nov. 17, 2000. Darron White's strip and ensuing 99-yeard touchdown return gave Covington a 27-21 win and propelled the team into the state semifinal. File photo

→ Covington lineman Clarence Mason leads the way for tailback Darron White in action against Martin Westview in a game that would lead the team to a fourth straight region title. File photo

Unforgettable story by JEff Ireland

Players and coaches remember a miraculous play that helped land the 2000 Chargers in the state tournament

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 7

W 8 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

an unforgettable play ←Covington defenders Chris Mason, left, and Craig Cates put pressure on Portland quarterback Richard DePriest in the BlueCross Bowl in November 2000. Portland went on to win the Class 3A state title, 43-0. File photo

W

What many people consider to be the greatest play in Covington football history almost never happened.

In the fall of 1997, Darron White was a freshman who new coach Jeff McFerran had heard plenty about.

White and fellow freshman Jonathan Poe were considered the kinds of players who could dramatically change a program.

On the very first day of practice, McFerran told White to run after some sort of transgression.

White remembers the day well.

“I was like, ‘Man, I’m not doing this. He was like, take your a—home!’

I was like, ‘Alright,’ and I took my stuff home. He came to the house that night. He had to make his point.”

McFerran remembers that day as well.

“He respected my decision, apologized like a man and came back. From then on we always got along.”

Three years later, on Nov. 17, 2000 on a frigid night in Covington, the Chargers and Martin Westview were tied 21-21 with 1:15 left in a state quarterfinal 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 White and the team’s other 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.

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.

Westview got the ball back and drove all the way to the Covington 24yard 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.

I thought it would be enlightening, not to mention really fun, to track down some of the people involved in that game that I covered 16 years ago and get their thoughts.

My attempts to reach some of the Westview people involved were unsuc-

cessful, but I did talk to Mike Hutchens, the longtime sports editor of the Union City Daily Messenger. He had recently interviewed Westview coach Don Coady, who just retired after 25 years at the school.

“He told me that was one of the most painful losses of his career,” Hutchens said. “He coaches a lot of games. You know if he remembers it, it was a tough one.”

Locals pretty much tell the same story: an amazing play made by an amazing player that made an amazing season even more amazing.

But, considering it was 16 years ago, some details differ depending on whom you talk to. Some people thought it was third or fourth down, but it was actually second down. Some players thought Covington was behind before White’s touchdown.

I remember White slamming the ball to ground as he entered the end zone. White says he just ran into the end zone and started celebrating about the 50-yard line.

Marlon Heaston, who was a sophomore that year, backs up my assertion.

Everbody else just remembers the incredible rush they felt as White ran down the field and into history.

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 9

an unforgettable play

The observers Steve Holt

He has been the public address announcer for Covington High School football, baseball and basketball games for many years and still serves in that role.

Don Clark

He has served as Holt’s spotter in the football booth for several years.

Darron White

daniel holmes

marlon heaston

craig simonton

The players Darron White

The coach

Jeff McFerran served five years as Covington’s head coach and left to

He played wide receiver, running back and defensive back during his career and rewrote the Charger football record books during his four years at Covington. He went on to play wide receiver at the University of Memphis, where he ranks fourth all-time in receptions (137) and eighth in yardage (1,649). He currently lives in Atlanta, works for Home Depot and has five sons.

take the same position at Tipton-Rosemark Academy after the 2000 season. He is currently the head coach at Hartfield Academy, a private school in Flowood, Miss. Pictured in the 2000 Football Special were, front row, left to right, Brad Warmath, Doug Miller, George Pinner and Ned Lewis; second row, left to right, Geno Miller, McFerran, Jake Linville and Jason Barnes.

Daniel Holmes

A player and A Coach

He was a junior defensive end that year. Holmes is the athletic director and head football coach at Evangelical Christian Middle School in Cordova.

Marlon Heaston

He was a sophomore linebacker on that team.

After teaching several years in Tipton County, Heaston is now the principal at Kenwood Middle School in Clarksville, Tenn.

Craig Simonton

He was a junior linebacker and tight end on that team. Simonton now works for Hydratek in Covington.

McFerran

We just clicked and got along personality wise. He could take it when I yelled at him, smile and go on and be Darron … I guess he had his moments where was perceived as a prima donna, but he was a team player. He just loved to win. That was probably his strongest attribute. He was one of the greatest practice players of all time and the moment was never too big for him. He never shied away from the big moment … I had heard about Darron when I took the job. There were two eighth-graders who were really good, Jonathan Poe and Darron White. They show up for the first day of practice, and Darron wouldn’t run. The very first day of practice I kicked him off the team. From then on, I never had a moment of trouble with Darron White.

White

No matter how hard he was, he was fair. He treated everybody the same, whether you were the best player or not. Coach McFerran, he was like my dad out there.

That’s the best way to put it.

10 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

The game Steve Holt

He (Hill) hit the line and was rebuffed. He surged back forward and stuck it out and of course Darron stole it and was gone the other direction … Back at the other end, the official who had the call as to whether he crossed the line or it was stolen was Kevin Simonton, Bill Simonton’s son … He’s a Covington boy. Just a little oddity …

I don’t do play-by-play. That’s not my job, but I was hanging out of the window yelling into the microphone. I have no idea what I was saying and I doubt anybody else had any idea what I was saying. Don Clark was holding on to my belt to make sure I didn’t fall all the way out. That was a wild one.

Don Clark

I don’t even remember what the score was at that time. I just remember Westview was about to score. If the game wasn’t already over, they were going to make sure it was. It looked like he was trying to reach it over the line and Darron just took it out of his hands. The next thing we knew he was taking it the other way for six. It took us a while to figure out what was going on, me anyway. It was the most surprising ending I’ve ever seen … We’re all fans so we get into the games. It seems like I may have reached over and grabbed him (Holt) by the collar to keep him from falling out of the window of the press box.

Daniel Holmes

Looking back on it, it was amazing how it played out. If they would have scored a TD they would have won the game. He (Hill) was giving us a lot of problems. It was kind of a miracle.

We all kind of knew that Rafael was going to get the ball. It was kind of like he ran into the line and got stopped. He was kind of turning and twisting to get into the end zone. Next thing I knew Darron ran away.

I didn’t even see Darron with the ball. I just thought, ‘The play’s not over. Where are you going man?’ When I looked, he had the ball. I think the other 21 people on the field were just like us: ‘Holy smokes, what just happened?’ Of course we all started running toward Darron, excited that just happened, but my logical part is like, ‘Is this going to work?’ … I remember it being super cold

that night. Did he drop the ball, did it pop up? I went home and watched on Action News 5. I remember Jarvis Greer saying it looked like Martin Westview is going to win this one, but Darron White’s got it …

It was kind of a miracle.

Jeff McFerran

We call it ‘the play.’ … Westview always worried me because they were so good. We thought we had the kids to win, but we were really nervous about it. They were playing better than us, but we were kind of hanging around, staying in it. We were always very confident when we were playing at home. I remember that game being such a battle of emotions. Westview was playing such good football. We just wanted to hold on and stay in it until the fourth quarter … I remember there was a timeout before the play and we had them over there. We said, ‘We can do this.’ We knew they were going to hand it to the tailback. 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. I was thinking we had just won this football game.

Darron White

I’ll tell you what happened. This was the play. We knew they were going to run the ball up the middle, somehow, some way.

People may think I was the star of that play, but it was really (defensive tackle) Chris Mason. Chris Mason grabbed Rafael by his ankles when he went to dive in and Rafael put the ball up on somebody’s back. 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 … I even talked to the ref after the game. He said it was half an inch away from crossing the line. I said, ‘How close was he to scoring?’ He said it was literally inches away.

The only thing I had on my mind was scoring. When I was running down the sideline I looked to my right and I saw Jonathan Poe (he missed the season with knee injury). I said, ‘Look at yourself with your bad knee.’

He was literally running down the sideline.

I was like, ‘Are you serious?’ At about the 50-yard line I held the ball up and they gave me a taunting penalty for that. I got cussed out after that … That game was crazy. It was one of the most exciting games of my life. If it wasn’t recorded people wouldn’t believe it.

Marlon Heaston

I wasn’t in on that play because it was the goal line package, but I played that last series when we stopped them at the end.

I just knew that we had lost that game.

We were all on the sideline with our heads down. Jonathan Poe was out for the season with a knee injury. Before that play, Jonathan had walked down to where that new scoreboard is. He was there with his head down … Rafael, instead of just trying to rush through the line, he extended the ball toward the goal line. Darron saw Rafael reach, so Darron takes the football out of his hands. When Darron took the ball, the crowd started screaming and you could see Darron break out of the back. No one could catch him. I believe when he got to the 50yard line you could see him holding the ball in the air. I remember, when Darron scored, Jonathan met Darron. Right before he scores, Darron takes the football and slams it over the goal line. I remember it as clear as day. The crowd was going wild. Thinking about it now, I can picture it just like it happened yesterday.

Craig Simonton

I was on the sideline that particular play.

I had rotated out. I remember before that play we were driving from our end of the field. We were at about the 50-yard line. Jon Ashford threw me a pass. I caught the pass and I was tackled after the catch. When I went down, the ball hit the ground and it spat out. The referees ruled it a fumble.

The tape showed that I was down. That sent them on that drive that ended at the goal line. I remember Darron snatching the ball. He just picked it right out of his hand and started running. He held the ball up in the air about the 50-yard line. It looked like they were about to score again. It was a heavy feeling. We hadn’t given up by any means, but it looked like the season was going to end … I remember we had just played Westview, maybe three or four weeks before … They had Justin Harrell, who went on to Tennessee. It was two really good battles, but we beat them twice.

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 11

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an unforgettable play

The season

CONTEN ER S In its AugusD Football Spect 2000 Leader's sport ial, The s staff said of that year's Cha Some scho ls rgers team: , if they are lucky, have oth ever y four or at one team has a chancefive years that way. The 200to go all the appear to 0beChargers that team.

McFerran

It was an amazing moment because it was just a culmination of a lot of things from the Covington side of it. Those kids had bought in to everything. They were willing to sell out and get to that point to turn the program into a 3A state power. It has now continued to be a power over the last several years. It was a special moment and a special play by a great athlete.

It was awesome to a part of it in the moment and to be the coach to get see all the excitement on the boys’ faces.

Heaston

Even though we didn’t win that championship, I think about all the work we put in before the season started. Just the team and camaraderie is what I remember. That play didn’t just happen. There was a lot of hard work from the players and the coaches.

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BRIGHTON

Senior RB/WR Malik Matthews is "probably the fastest guy" coach Robin Jacobs has seen in a long time, he said.

The Brighton seniors are, from left, front, Andre Golden, Nolan Combs, Malik Matthews, Braxton Middlebrooks, Tyler Lovell, Dalton Morgan, Blake Armour; back, Jake Borden, Jared Harper, Hunter Williams, Sam Mills, Braden Helton, Tylor Hill, Blaine Jones, Jaleel Johnson, Spencer May and Jalen Powell.

2016 Brighton Cardinals

The Brighton sophomores are, from left, front, Dalton Rushing, Caleb Cambers, James Carson, Hunter Twisdale, Andrew Brooks, Chris Miller, Luke Latimer, Bailey Howard, Zach Sarten; second row, Will Hefner, Christian Holly, Garrett Clements, Dallas Dooley, Tyler Bridges, Christian Jones, Earnest Holland, Dalton Dawson, Joseph Hilbert; back, Maximus Moses, Russell Webb, Tyler Dearen, James Carson, Rowdy Franks, Will Hammer, Jacob Hoy, Cody Spake and Wyatt Richard.

16 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

The Brighton juniors are, from left, front, Aaron Alston Colton Ledbetter, R.J. Piggie; second row, Nick Chamb A.J. Harris, Drew Twisdale, Josh Beckman, Blake Tay Jones, Jordan John, Conner Janes, Zach Strangefeld, back row, Russell Webb, Josh McFarland, Imari Allen, Alex Belew.

2016 at a glance

brighton high school

Alston, Malike Jackson, Collins Morton, DeRobert Currie, Jacob Davis, Chamberlain, Connor Smith, Lance West, Demetrius Fisson, Josh Dupuis, ke Taylor, Joseph Romero; third row, Ethan Reeves, T.J. Teamer, Jordan efeld, Zack Dickinson, Spencer Cartwright, Tony Hilbert, Tyler Carmack; Allen, Logan Murphy, Cameron John, David Rudd, Enrique Tolliver and

Head coach: Robin Jacobs (3rd season) Last year: 9-2, lost to Northeast in first round of Class 5A playoffs Returning starters: 5 offense, 2 defense Key players returning: RB/WR Malik Matthews, QB Malik Jackson, OL Brayden Helton, DE Cameron John, DE Spencer Cartwright, OL Spencer May

Brighton anticipating great football season

W story and photos by JEff Ireland

When Robin Jacobs sat down for the traditional preseason media interview several weeks ago, most of his assistant coaches were in the room with him.

The following question was posed about wide receiver Andre Golden, who transferred from Wooddale to Brighton during the offseason: “How much of a difference maker is he going to be?”

Jacobs' assistants all laughed out loud and flashed some big smiles.

Jacobs just grinned.

“In practice, all you have to do is get it in his ZIP code and he catches it,” Jacobs said. “He's not the fastest guy we've got, but he catches it and moves it down the field.”

While there are plenty of talented players returning for the defending Region 8-5A and Tipton County champs, it's impossible to ignore the impact Golden should have.

He racked up 77 catches and 1,394 yards receiving last year in 10 games. The reception total tied the all-time Shelby County regular season record and his yardage total set a new record. Both totals were tops in the state last year in the regular season.

“I think it's going to be a great season,” Golden said. “We're going to come out hard, fast, strong every game. There's a much better environment here. It wasn't like this at my old school.”

Golden is expected to line up on the same side of the field as returning senior Malik Matthews, whom Jacobs calls “probably the fastest guy I've seen in a long time.” Matthews will play in the slot and at running back in certain formations. Junior Aaron Alston is another returning receiver with plenty of experience.

“With him (Matthews) and Golden on the same side, that's going to create a lot of something for somebody, because they're going to have to worry about Aaron Alston on the other side,” Jacobs said. “Hopefully that's going to get somebody wide open.”

The player charged with getting those guys the ball is junior quarterback Malik Jackson, who split time starting with Chase Kidd last season.

Jacobs said sophomore Dalton Rushing could see some time at quarter2016 Brighton Freshmen

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 17

The Brighton defensive backs are, from left, front, Aaron Alston, Collins Morton, DeRobert Currie, Jacob Davis, R.J. Piggie, Braxton Middlebrooks, Tyler Lovell, Connor Smith; back, Demetrius Fisson, Hunter Twisdale, Lance West, Chris Miller, A.J. Harris, Blake Armour, Garrett Clements and Dallas Dooley.

The Brighton quarterbacks are, from left, Malik Jackson and Dalton Rushing.

back as well.

“He's ( Jackson) a really good quarterback, but he's got a really good quarterback back there with him,” Jacobs said. “I don't know that he'll push him like Chase did last year, but he can play the position.”

Jackson, a lefty who stands 5-5, is a serious threat to run the ball, but he completed some big passes last year too.

“He's got a chance to do really well,” Jacobs said.

“He can put the ball on the spot. Were going to roll him out a lot, which gives him an option to run it too. He's a pretty strong dose of run and pass.”

Up front, the Cardinals were hit pretty hard by graduation with the loss of guys like Drake Grimes and Jacob Clements.

Senior Brayden Helton, a three-year starter, will lead the way at center. Seniors Spencer May and Tyler Hill are projected starters at guard and junior Tyler Carmack will start at one tackle spot. The other tackle position figures to be filled by junior Jordan Jones or senior Jalen Powell.

“A lot of young guys have come in and stepped to the plate,” Helton said. “They've shown me, as a leader and three-year starter, that it doesn't take talent. It takes effort and want to have a good team.

We lost a bunch of guys and a lot of talent, but we have people who want it.”

On the defensive side of the ball, the Cardinals will have to find a way to fill the void created by the graduation of linebacker Zach Camp and nine other starters.

A lot of that responsibility will fall to junior defensive end Cameron John. Junior Spencer Cart18 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

The Brighton offensive linemen are, from left, front, Joseph Hilbert, Jordan Jones, Zach Strangfeld, Zach Dickinson, Sam Mills, Tony Hilbert, Earnest Hollan, Braden Helton, Dalton Dawson, Thomas Murphy; back, Maximus Jones, Tyler Hill, Russell Webb, Josh McFarland, Blaine Jones, Spencer May, Jalen Powell, Jordan John and Alex Belew.

The Brighton receivers are, from left, front, Will Hefner, Colin Ledbetter, Malik Matthews, Caleb Cambers, Jacob Davis, Collins Morton, Andre Golden, Aaron Alston; back, Drew Twisdale, Christian Holly, James Carson, Connor Smith, Will Hammer, Zach Sarten, David Rudd, Rowdy Franks, James Carson, Russ Fendley and Tyler Dearen.

brighton high school

The Brighton defensive linemen are, from left, front, Dalton Morgan, Bailey Howard, Jaquine Beard, Tyler Bridges, Ethan Reeves, T.J. Teamer, Jake Borden, Jared Harper, Hunter Williams, Spencer Cartwright; back, Imari Allen, Jaleel Johnson, Logan Murphy, Cameron John, Jacob Hoy, Cody Spake, Wyatt Richard and Enrique Tolliver.

The Brighton kickers are, from left, Nolan Combs and Josh Beckman.

The Brighton linebackers are, from left, front, Jordan John, Nick Chamberlain, Josh Dupuis, Drew Twisdale; back, Christian Jones, Christian Holley, Chris Miller, Drew Twisdale and Conner Jones.

The Brighton running backs are, from left, front, Hunter Twisdale, Lance West, Andrew Brooks; back, Malik Matthews and Tyler Lovell.

wright will book end him at the other DE spot.

“Cameron is probably the best defensive player we have right now,” Jacobs said. “Cartwright doesn't get as much press, but he's probably just as good.”

Jack Borden and Dalton Morgan, two seniors, will play on the interior of the defensive line.

The Cardinals are pretty young at linebacker, but Jacobs is confident guys like senior Blake Armour and juniors Josh Dupuis, Nick Chamberlain and Jordan John will step up. Senior Demetrius Frisson is the most experienced player in the secondary.

Last year was a breakthrough of sorts for the Cardinals. After going 2-8 in 2014, the Cardinals won nine regular season games, beat region and county rival Munford in a memorable game and came within an eyelash of advancing to the second round of the playoffs.

Heading into last season, many players said “2 and 8” to each other as motivation to not let that happen again. This year has a different feel.

“You look at them and they don't have a chip on their shoulder, but they don't want to lose either,” Jacobs said. “It's however you want to look at that.

We've had some 6:30 morning practices and they've practiced well. I'll give them credit for that.”

“We want it,” Helton said. “We've been busting our butts every morning at practice. We're ready to get some wins.”

Added Jacobs: “We may not have as much of an experienced team as we had last year, but hopefully by midseason we've won some games and will have some more experience.”

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 19

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brighton high school

The big game Brighton pulls off an upset against top-ranked 2015 Munford story by JEff Ireland

There's a feature story in this magazine about a football game in 2000 that Covington won thanks largely to a miraculous 99-yard strip-and-dash play made by Darron White.

Most longtime followers of Tipton County football know all about it.

What Brighton pulled off last year against Munford was not quite as dramatic or meaningful, but like that game, it figures to stand the test of time.

With Brighton trailing 20-10 and the third quarter winding down, Munford, which was 8-0 and looking to clinch the region title, was in the middle of what looked like a gamedeciding drive.

That's when Cardinal senior

Deavius Terry did his best Darron White impression. He intercepted a long pass at the Brighton 10 and returned it all the way back to the Munford 9-yard line. Brighton scored three players later to cut the lead to three and finished off the comeback on another TD with 1:59 left to win 24-20.

Brighton head coach Jacobs, who is in his third year as Brighton's head coach but has been coaching in the county for the better part of three decades, is focused on this season.

However, he doesn't mind taking a brief look back.

“I'd say it's probably second (in county history) behind Darron's play,” Jacobs said. “The interception

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 21

brighton high school

go figure ★ 7 Games won in a row last year from Sept. 11 to Oct. 30 ★ 139 Receiving yards per game for Andre Golden last season ★31 Points per game scored last year by Brighton

scout report You can't knock them because they're the county champs and the defending region champs. They have a lot of returning seniors who are well coached. I thought last year when we played them they schemed us up really well.

Coach (Robin) Jacobs does a great job having his coaches and players prepared for us and whoever else they might see. The first kid that comes to mind is Malik Matthews. He's a speed demon and always a threat. The quarterback (Malik Jackson) is going to give people a lot of problems with his speed. They're the king the mountain and its somebody else's job to knock them off. Hopefully it will be our job to do so. probably wasn't the biggest thing.

The return was.”

Many of Brighton's current players had not even been born in 2000 and have not even heard of Darron White. But they seem to realize it was a pretty special game.

A 9-yard pass on third-and-goal from Malik Jackson to Austin Kelley with 8:03 left in the game cut Munford's lead to 20-17. After the Brighton defense forced a three-and-out, the Cardinals drove 65 yards on nine straight runs. The drive ended with a two-yard TD run by Malik Matthews and a 24-20 Brighton lead.

“We were at the 2-yard line and I had my two seniors, Zach Camp and Austin Kelley, leading me into

the hole,” Matthews said. “I hopped in the end zone and we got the lead.

That made us region champs.”

“It changed the momentum of the season and got everybody pumped,” said senior Spencer May. “It made everybody think we were capable of beating people. It didn't matter as long as we worked together.”

Said senior Brayden Helton: “The biggest part about winning that game was the effort that we gave. It was a dog fight. You have to respect that they are our rivals and that always plays a part in it.”

The Brighton-Munford rivalry has been a good one for several years now. There have been blowouts by each team and some very close ones

22 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

the last decade.

Jacobs, who has been at Brighton since the school opened in 1996, has seen it all.

He said he will always remember the play Terry made, but being a pragmatic coach, he focuses on what the win meant.

“I remember we got to play for the district championship because of that win,” Jacobs said. “I mean, it's Munford. It's a big game. It's a district game. If Munford would have beaten us, they would have been district champs. We had a lot of players and coaches who had never been in a district championship game. Hopefully we get to do it again.”

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COVINGTON

Senior RB T.J. Smith made huge gains from his sophomore year to his junior year.

"If he improves that much this year, he's going to be something to see," said Coach Marty Wheeler.

The Covington seniors are, from left, Blaine Presley, CaDevin Tipton, Ish Jones, T.J. Smith, Hayden Powell, Andrew Owen and Cornelius Kemp.

The Covington juniors are, from left, front, Caleb Palme McCrory, Grayson Huggins; back, Benton Glass, Tom Lawson Maxwell, Jonathan Mason and Marvin Norfo

2016 Covington Chargers

The Covington sophomores are, from left, front, Tyler Harris, Ke’shaun Gant, Josh Tyus, Gunner Wallace, Cade Samp-

26 School Preview ★ Fall 2016 son, High Ryan Parish; back, Football Alex Cook, Huntley Rose, Brock Lomax, Rob Hendren, K.J. Fayne, J.T. Stegall and Fabian Richards.

Covington coaches from left, Dwayne Bennett, John K Blake Goforth, Jeff Nix, Felix Fayne.

Palmer, Trevon Brown, Jamal Mason, Austin Rose, Tucker Chumley, Isiah ss, Tommy Flannigan, Tyreese Toliver, Quentin Booker, Eathan McDivitt, Norfork.

ohn Katrosh, Tyler White, David Sage, Marty Wheeler, Jay Murphree,

2016 at a glance

Covington high school

Head coach: Marty Wheeler (8th season) Last season: 9-3, lost to Milan in second round of Class 3A state playoffs Returning starters: Offense 7, Defense 5 Key players returning: RB T.J. Smith, QB Brock Lomax, S Quentin Booker, RB Ish Jones, LB Cornelius Kemp, OL Hayden Powell

The hunter and the hunted

F

story by JEff Ireland ★ Photos by Phil ramsey

For some reason, Covington seemed to fly a bit under the radar last season among the three Tipton County teams.

Maybe it was because realignment forced the Chargers to play a bunch of Memphis teams instead of more traditional rivals. Maybe it was because Munford started the season 8-0 and Brighton won its first region title in several years. Maybe it was because the Chargers lost to Brighton and Munford.

But the facts are the facts and Covington had the most successful season in the county last year. The Chargers won the most games (nine, tied with Brighton) and went the furthest in the playoffs (second round).

And considering Covington returns one of the best running backs in the state and 11 other starters, there’s little reason not to believe the Chargers are in for another successful season.

With that said, head coach Marty Wheeler isn’t terribly interested in dwelling on last year, nor does he want his players doing so.

“What happened last year really has nothing to do with what we're trying to do now,” said Wheeler. “You have to focus every day and put a good week together.”

Heading into last season, the Chargers were coming off a 3-7 season.

Considering the Chargers were undefeated in region play in 2015 and nearly made the state quarterfinals, Covington will be a huge game on most teams’ schedules.

“Coming into this year, what’s different is, some days our kids come out and practice with a purpose,” Wheeler said. “Other days, they think we had a good year last year. There’s a difference between the hunter and the hunted. Last year we were the hunter. And now, when you win a region championship, make it to the playoffs and come close to the quarterfinals, you don't sneak up on people. You become the hunted. In our region, we're going to get everybody’s best shot.”

There are quite a few players back with experience to help fend of region challengers.

It starts with senior running back T.J. Smith, who rushed for 1,965 yards last season and earned all sorts of postseason honors.

“We never anticipated him having that many yards last year,” Wheeler said. “He really improved a tremendous amount from his sophomore to junior year on how to run the ball in our offense. If he improves that much this year, he's going to be something to see.”

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 27

The Covington defensive backs are, from left, front, Isiah McCory, Jamal Mason, Ke’shaun Gant, T.J. Smith and Quentin Booker.

The Covington quarterbacks are, from left, Benton Glass, Brock Lomax and Tyler Harris.

Handing him the ball will be quarterback Brock Lomax. He started all 12 games last year as a freshman.

“It's never an easy feeling when you leave practice and your quarterback is being picked up by his parents or his grandparents,” Wheeler said with a smile about his young quarterback. “And that's two years in a row.”

But Lomax, an all-around athlete who has grown to 6-1, has quickly matured, Wheeler said, physically and mentally.

“He looks calmer in the huddle and behind the offensive line,” Wheeler said. “Even though he's just a sophomore, we ask him to play bigger than a sophomore. With that said, he's the kind of kid I want as a quarterback.”

“I feel like I'm lot more experienced now,” Lomax said. “From eighth grade to now, there's a whole heck of a lot of difference. I think I'm starting to get used to it more and more.”

Lomax will be handing the ball quite a bit to Smith, but Wheeler said several other backs – sophomores Ke’Shan Gant and Codarious Page, seniors Ish Jones and Cornelius Kemp and junior Isiah McCory – will be in the mix as well.

Senior Andrew Owen and junior Parker McCubbin project to start at wideout.

On the offensive line, juniors Tommy Flannigan, Austin Rose and Tucker Chumley return after seeing a lot of time last year. Senior Hayden Powell and sophomore K.J. Fayne and will see time on the line as well. Junior Benton Glass and sophomore Rob Hendren will play tight end.

28 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

The Covington defensive tackles are, from left, Fabian Richards, CaDevin Tipton, Eathan McDivitt, Lawson Maxwell, Jonathan Mason, Marvin Norfork and Grayson Huggins.

The Covington offensive linemen and tight ends are, from left, front, Jamal Mason, Caleb Palmer, Trevon Brown, Austin Rose, Tucker Chumley, Isiah McCory, Grayson Huggins, Quentin Booker; back, Benton Glass, Tommy Flannigan, Eathan McDivitt, Tyreese Tolliver, Lawson Maxwell, Octravious Lewis, Jonathan Mason and Marvin Norfork.

covington high school

The Covington defensive ends are, from left, front, Trevon Brown, Tucker Chumley, Austin Rose, J.T. Stegall; back, Benton Glass, K.J. Fayne, Tyreese Tolliver, Huntley Rose, Hayden Powell, Tommy Flannigan and Rob Hendren.

Covington's wide receivers are Andrew Owen, Ryan Parish and T.J. Smith.

The Covington linebackers are, from left, Caleb Palmer, Jamal Mason, Blaine Presley, Andrew Owen, Cornelius Kemp and Gunner Wallace.

The Covington running backs are, from left, Quentin Booker, Alex Cook, T.J. Smith, Andrew Owen and Cade Simpson.

Juniors Eathan McDivitt and Caleb Palmer, who had started for two years on the offensive line, will move to the defensive line this year. Juniors Octavious Lewis, Jonathan Mason and Marvin Norfork return to the defensive line and sophomore Fabian Richards will see time there too.

Kemp is back as a starter at inside linebacker and juniors Jamal Mason and Latron Winfrey will play there too. Look for Owen and junior Parker McCubbin and senior Blaine Pressley at outside linebacker.

Junior Quentin Booker moves from linebacker to safety this year. He will be joined in the defensive backfield by Smith and sophomore Kylan Barbee.

Nobody is making any predictions within the Covington program, but it’s pretty clear the goals are pretty high. The Chargers’ three losses last year were by a combined 13 points.

“Winning is expected around here,” Lomax said.

“That's what we strive for. That's we expect to do.”

“I expect better things than last year,” Smith said.

“We have basically the same offense. Everybody's been stepping up on different days. If we keep doing that I think we can have a great year.”

“We feel like we left a lot of stuff undone last year,” Powell said. “This year we're trying to get it done.”

Said Wheeler: “I’m excited about the possibilities of what our team could be. I'm also very concerned if we don’t understand the process of what day-today means how disappointing it could be. That's really it.”

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 29

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Covington high school

Second generation running back The son of an alltime great finds his own success story by JEff Ireland

The Covington High School football program is known for a lot of things.

Winning a lot is probably at the top of the list.

From 1997 to 2006, the Chargers went 109-25 and advanced to at least the state quarterfinals the final eight years of that 10-year span. They made state title game appearances in 2000, 2003 and 2012.

Trotting out prolific running backs is probably second on the list. From Keno Anderson to Toby Smith to Lareko Boykin to Darron White to Antonio Gaines to Carlos Williams to Johnston White, the list goes on and on.

And now the tradition has gone on long enough that one of those great

backs has spawned another one.

Senior T.J. Smith, Toby’s son, is poised to possibly top them all from a yardage standpoint. After rushing for 1,965 yards last season, he needs 1,831 yards this season to pass White (4,830) and become Covington’s alltime leading rusher.

Back in 1996, Toby rushed for more than 350 yards in a single game. The subject of who’s better has come up in the Smith household.

“He'll tell me he's better than me and all that,” T.J. said with a grin.

“He wants to be better than me, but I don't think he's got nothing on me right now.”

The younger Smith is probably right. Toby was a bruiser who did most of his damage burrowing

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 31

Covington high school

go figure ★ 13 Combined points Covington lost by in three 2015 defeats ★ 1 Game Covington lost to from a team its own classifcation ★ 0 Losses against Region 8-3A teams last season

scout report I actually coached a lot of these kids at Crestview (Middle School).That group of kids, which are now juniors and seniors, are one the best groups of kids I've ever coached. Great kids. What coach (Marty) Wheeler and his staff, which is one of the best around, does is they push those kids really hard. With the character kids they have, I think they'll respond really well to it. I actually think they have a great shot at making a deep (playoff) run. T.J. Smith is one of the of the best backs in the area. His heart is huge … They have a great group of kids and they have some size, which is uncharacterstic for Covington. Coach (Johnny) Katrosh brings out defenses. It's hard to do things against them. Obviously I'm not there, but I'm from Covington and I love the place. It will always be home to me. I pull for them every Friday night. between the tackles. T.J.’s modus operandi is different.

“Basically I'm trying to get through the hole and bounce outside,” T.J. said. “I feel like I'm the fastest guy around.”

His teammates have noticed his athletic gifts.

“I don't know what not to say about T.J.,” said quarterback Brock Lomax. “He's got the speed. He's not the biggest of the biggest, but he sees the hole. He’s a heck of a running back.”

“He follows our blocks really well and always knows where to go,” said left tackle Hayden Powell. “He always makes something happen even when there's nothing there. He's a special guy.”

While several Covington run-

ning backs have put together some high-yardage seasons over the years, by and large, the program has been known for having multiple threats in the backfield.

Anderson and Toby played in the same backfield. The careers of Darron White, Boykin and Gaines overlapped and Johnston White and Carlos Williams shared the ball as well.

As is always the case, this year’s team has other guys who can run the ball.

“We would love to see him have a great year, but the way we're doing things now, the way we’re approaching it, it would be great to have a backfield to have some big numbers,” head coach Marty Wheeler said. “At the end of the day, we don't care who

32 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

scores or gets the yards. We just want to be successful.”

Still, Wheeler recognizes how unique the tradition of running backs is at Covington and acknowledges it’s pretty cool to see the son of one of the all-time greats get his chance to shine.

“Toby was before my time,” Wheeler said. “We've come to know each other pretty well. He's a guy who keeps up with Covington. He and Keno Anderson were really the first two running backs who started this whole deal of running backs. T.J. being able to come through this program and have some success so far, it is sort of unique you have a father and son who played at the same place and both have the type of success at the same position.”

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MUNFORD

Senior Garrett Baugh, the team’s top returning tackler, will lead the way from his safety position.

The Munford seniors are, from left, front, Logan Carnell, Garrett Baugh, Junior Watkins, Jesse Maley, Jakob Watson, Kyle Jones, Peyton Willis, Jonathan Pesnell; back, Austin Perry, Christian Valedez, James Strayhorn, Josh Millican, Tyler Cody, Trevor McPeak, Kenley Millican and Turner Gillmore.

The Munford juniors are, from left, front, Gordon S Edrington, Caleb Hall; second row, Cole Joyner, Da Kimonte Boyd, Josh Thomas; back, Matthew Cathey, Webb, Justin Cody and Bryar Naumann.

2016 Munford Cougars

The Munford sophomores are, from left, front, Jalan Huffman, Noah Robertson, Francisco Hernandez, Baker Osbourn, Owings, Max Lodrique, Paul Kinnaman and Ryan Flanagan.

36 High Preview ★Werner, Fall 2016 Adam Noe; School back, ChrisFootball Ferrell, Tyler Mayfield, Jace Chance

The Munford coaches

don Scott, Kylan Washington, Nathan Davenport, Chaz Hayes, Cole er, Daniel Clark, Shane Broughton, Dalton Hanson, Jeremiah Horton, athey, Cameron Joyner, T.J. Scott, Kollin Williams, Josh Enger, Marcus

2016 at a glance

Munford high school

Head coach: Nick Markle (1st season) Last year: 8-3, lost to Henry County in first round of Class 5A playoffs Returning starters: 4 offense, 5 defense Key players returning: RB Chaz Hayes, DB Garrett Baugh, RB Kylan Washington, S Junior Watkins, LB Logan Carnell, LB Marcus Webb

Still trending upwards

T story by JEff Ireland

The rise of Munford’s football program the

last two seasons has been well documented.

After some miserable seasons, the Cougars won seven games two

seasons ago and started off last year 8-0, even earning a ranking in the state’s top 10.

The Cougars lost some key players from last year, but that happens to every team every season. What happened out of the ordinary is that head coach J.R. Kirby, who oversaw the resurrection, unexpectedly resigned last May to take a job as an assistant coach at Crockett County.

Less than 48 hours after he left, defensive coordinator Nick Markle was hired to replace him.

Though a different man is leading Munford into the future, Markle said a lot of things will remain the same. Kirby brought Markle, a long time friend, to Munford with him two years ago.

“The transition really wasn't that difficult because 90 percent of what we do on a day-to-day basis hasn't changed,” said Markle. “They know what's expected of them. Everything has kept trending upward.”

Munford has been a run-first offense the last two seasons, and with the return of a pair of key running backs, that figures to remain the same under Markle.

Chaz Hayes, the team’s leading returning rusher, and Kylan Washington, both juniors, will get plenty of work this season out of the offensive backfield.

“They’re both premier running backs,” Markle said.

“Of course we're going to pound the ball because that's what we do,” Hayes said. “I think there will be kind of the same results, but we just want to average more points and more yards per game this year.”

The Cougars took some losses to graduation on the offensive line, but Tyler Cody, a three-year starter, is back and will play center for his senior season.

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 37

“He’s our anchor on the line,” Markle said.

Jacob Ross, a two-year starter at quarterback, graduated. Junior Nathan Davenport earned the starting quarterback spot during the spring and will take his first significant snaps this season. Although the Cougars aren’t exactly expected to air it out this season, he will be asked to run the offense.

“He’s going to get his chance to shine,” Markle said. “He's a smart young man who really knows how to run the system. He makes some great decisions out there during crunch time.”

“You're going to be nervous your first couple of times, but that's just the way it's going to be,” Davenport said. “You'll get over it after a couple of snaps.”

Munford brings back quite a bit of talent on the defensive side of the ball with the return of the entire defensive secondary and experience at linebacker.

“The defense has had a great summer,” Markle said. “It’s key to what we're trying to do. The defense makes our offense that much better everyday at practice. We’re going into the season with the mentality of shaving off three points a game. We averaged 17 last year. If we can get that down to 14 we have a chance to win more ball games.”

Senior Garrett Baugh, the team’s top returning tackler, will lead the way from his safety position. Two more seniors – Jalen Wakefield and Junior Watkins – return as starters at cornerback. Junior Marcus Webb and senior Logan Carnell return as starting linebackers.

Munford’s region includes several teams who pass a lot, so Markle feels good about his final line of defense.

“We kind of dropped off at the end of last year in some crucial moments of the game,” Markle said. “We play a lot of these Memphis teams who like to throw it around the field, so it makes us feel confident back

there.”

“We’ve been looking pretty good,” Webb said. “We just need to get off the field on third down.”

One game does not make a season, but it’s no secret last year’s Week 9 loss to Brighton was a heartbreaker. The Cougars were 8-0 at the time and appeared to be in control in the second half before things went south in the fourth quarter. A win would have sewn up the region title, but that loss, plus a second one in Week 10, put Munford in third and forced them to travel in the first round of the playoffs.

“Yes sir,” Watkins said when asked if he still thinks about that Brighton loss. “We live on it.”

The rematch will come in Week 9, but there will be plenty of work to do if that game is going to have the same significance as last season.

“I feel like last year maybe they were content to make the playoffs,” Markle said.

“I can tell you right now this team is not that. They are hungry to host a game in the playoffs. These are things we talk about on a daily basis. I want to give the community something to be proud of. A home game in the playoffs, we feel like they deserve that because of all they give us.”

Although Munford has stacked up two impressive seasons in a row, the players and Markle acknowledge there is some pressure to not let the program slide back into mediocrity, or worse.

“There’s always pressure, but that's just how it is, especially being your senior year,” Baugh said. “I think me and my seniors, we're going to carry it this year.”

Said Markle: “I think there’s pressure for any season and any coach. We have a bunch of team players. We're here for each other, not individual goals. Nobody's going to put any more pressure on me than I put on myself. The pressure is going to be there. I feel it.”

38 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

The Munford offensive and defensive linemen

The Munford linebackers are, from left, front, Jalan Huffman, Da Osborn; back, Justin Cody, Chace Owings, Cameron Joyner, Lo and Kenley Millican.

man, Daniel Clark, Jesse Maley, Noah Robertson, Baker ner, Logan Carnell, Shane Broughton, Bryar Naumann

Munford high school

The Munford receivers and defensive backs are, from left, Gordon Scott, Josh Thomas, Kimonte Boyd, Kyle Jones, Garrett Baugh, Junior Watkins, Turner Gillmore, Jonathan Pesnell and Caleb Hall.

The Munford quarterbacks and runnning backs are, from left, front, Kylan Washington, Jalan Huffman, Noah Robertson, Baker Osbourn; back, Nathan Davenport, Daniel Clark, Jesse Maley, Cole Edrington, Chaz Hayes, Loan Carnell and Garrett Baugh.

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 39

REFUEL YOUR TEAM AT ®

Munford high school

The same thing, only different Coach, players talk about changes under new leadership story by JEff Ireland

During the last two seasons, it was hard for anybody watching a Munford High School football game not to notice head coach J.R. Kirby.

Wearing cowboy boots and khakis, he yelled, he high-fived players and coaches and his bald head glistened under the Friday night lights.

But make no mistake: That twoyear era is over and the Cougar players, coaches and fans are moving on.

Nick Markle, who came to Munford with Kirby and served as his defensive coordinator, has replaced him as head coach. The two are close friends, but they couldn’t be more different.

“It’s been the same really, but less yelling,” said junior linebacker Marcus Webb.

Added junior running back Chaz Hayes: “Coach Kirby was so intense.

He's (Markle) more of a calm guy.

He'll take you off to the side instead of yelling at you.”

During the team’s picture/media day last month, which coaches generally rank just lower than having one’s wisdom’s teeth pulled and just above the old turn and cough (maybe), Markle never raised his voice. Despite his calmer approach, things went smoothly.

“We came in here two years ago

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 41

munford high school

go figure ★ 8 Games won in a row last year to start the season ★ 10 Wins in August and September the last two seasons versus just one loss ★ 0 Losses against Brighton and Covington the last two seasons

scout report One of the things they always do at Munford is play very hard, regardless of who the coach is. We play them late in the season. If they get some wins and play some people hard, that could be a tough game for us. I'm not really sure how many starters they return, but I'm sure they'll be good. They'll do what they do very well. You have to adapt to to their style and get ready to play what I would call old-school football.

- Brighton coach Robin Jacobs to build this thing up pretty much from scratch,” Markle said. “I was not going to leave. I always wanted to see how it plays out. These guys have bought into what we're selling.

I felt like I owed it to them, my wife and my family to see it through. The kids have taken it well. They're very resilient. We just keep on moving on. They know they have something good going on here and they're not going to let anything derail them. I have the utmost respect for them.”

Although the players and coaches have moved on, Markle said he feels like some of his players are out to prove Munford is now a strong program, not just a team that had two good years.

“The way the offseason began, losing Coach Kirby and a few other

coaches, these kids still feel like they have something to prove, maybe to themselves, maybe to the coaches that left and maybe to the community,” Markle said. “I feel like they have this chip on their shoulder they might not have had last year. Some of that stuff, coaches leaving, they took that personal. We appreciated all the things Coach Kirby and other coaches did for us while they were here, but we're moving forward.

That's all we can do.”

Two years ago, Munford was coming off six straight losing seasons.

Expectations were not very high.

After consecutive strong seasons, that has changed.

“The first year we were always the underdog,” Markle said. “Nobody gave us any credit. Last year, that

42 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

On our 8-0 run, we became the hunted. I still feel like we have that headed into this season, like we're a team to beat.

We're hungry to say we're not a joke; we're for real.

Nick Markle Munford head coach kind of changed. People started taking us more serious. On our 8-0 run we became the hunted. I still feel like we have that headed into this season, like we're a team to beat. We're hungry to say we're not a joke; we're for real.”

Junior quarterback Nathan Davenport added, “It's like a family thing.

It's about picking your brothers up.”

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tipton-rosemark

“He's going to make everything happen for us," Coach Colin Pinner said of senior RB Jose Flores.

The TRA seniors are, from left, front, Jose Flores, Austin Willins; back, Mason Reeves, Shelden Spence and Jack Owen.

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

2016 TiptonRosemark Rebels

The TRA sophomores are, from left, front, Jake Roane, Peyton Ryan, Franklin Gardner, Ryan Braden; back, Christian

46 High School Football Preview ★ Fall Stafford, Kevin Siegler, Nathan Bradley, Dawson Feathers and 2016 Clayton Brown.

The TRA freshmen are, from left, front, Stanton Connel Seth Cannon and Jordan Artzer.

2016 at a glance

tipton-rosemark academy

Head coach: Colin Pinner (1st season) Last year: 4-7, lost to Northpoint Christian in first round of DII-A state playoffs Returning starters: 3 offense, 3 defense Key players returning: OL Zach McCranie, OL Nathan Bradley, DE Austin Willins, RB Jake Roane, DL Austin Woodlands, RB Jose Flores

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

Connell, Jared Lafosse, Will Young; back, Matthew Coates, Mac Fullen,

Making progress

C

story and photos by JEff Ireland

Colin Pinner, who was hired as Tipton-Rosemark's head football coach back in December, knows a little something about program building.

He was an assistant coach under Marty Wheeler at Covington and Ripley and was part of rebuilding jobs in both places. He was an assistant coach at Covington in 2012 when the Chargers played in the Class AAA state title game. Fulton, Covington's opponent in that game, had twice as many players on its roster as Covington, but the game was competitive.

Playing teams with much bigger rosters is something TRA faces every year when it takes on league opponents like St. George's and University School of Jackson.

Despite making the playoffs the last three seasons, TRA has never beaten either of those two schools and most of the games have not been close.

“I know we have the talent to get to the playoffs,” Pinner said.

“Now we need to start having different goals: home field advantage in the playoffs. To do that you have to beat one of the big ones, USJ or St. George's. The goal now, and I've told them this, is to win a state championship. We've go to start working toward this. It doesn't happen overnight.”

This year could be challenging for the Rebels to make progress toward that goal. The team was hit hard by graduation, losing key players like quarterback A.J. Hightower, running backs Brodie Starnes and Colton Vaughn and starting linemen Christian Brown, Ethan Watson and Nate Phillips.

So it goes without saying there will be some new faces in new places for the Rebels this season.

Junior Zach McCranie, who played some running back last season, will move to guard. A pair of talented but inexperienced sophomores, Nathan Bradley and Christian Stafford, will hold down the tackle spots.

Jack Owen, a senior who did not play the last two seasons, is slated to play center.

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 47

“They are both physical players,” Pinner said about Bradley and Stafford. “They just need to grow up. We're really young at some important positions.”

Jose Flores, a senior, will play fullback.

“He's a tough, hard-nosed kid,” Pinner said. “He's going to make everything happen for us.”

Three players – Kevin Siegler, Peyton Ryan and Don Crowe – will be the mix to hold down the starting quarterback position.

Siegler is a transfer from Munford. Crowe is a junior and Ryan is a sophomore.

Senior Thomas Nichols returns to play tight end and wide receiver and sophomore Dawson Feathers is back after being injured last year to play tailback.

The Rebels have run a spread offense the last several seasons. Pinner, a disciple of the wing-t offense, will deploy that formation quite a bit this year. It's a formation that generally includes three running backs and two tight ends and is run-heavy with a lot of pulling linemen.

“I feel like you have to run the wing-t when you don't have a lot of huge linemen,” Pinner said.

“I think we've been playing really hard and we're getting better,” Owen said.

“We're looking to punch people in the mouth and play until the whistle blows. It's (the offense) a lot different. It's a lot easier in my opinion and think it's going to work a lot better than it ever did.”

“It's been going good,” Flores said about the new offensive style. “We're pretty much planning to shove it down people's throats.

We don't care if they know what we're doing. We're just gong to keep on forcing it

through them.”

“Once our entire offense gets used to the new style, we'll end up doing well,” Nichols said.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Rebels will be in pretty good shape, particularly up front. Bradley, Stafford and Austin Willins, a junior, will anchor things on the defensive line.

“Up front, we're as good as we have been,” Pinner said. “We just haven't been as physical as we need to be. We've got to address that.”

McCraney, Flores and Mack Fullen, a freshman who saw time as an eighth-grader last season, will also be key players on defense.

The Rebels lost to St. George's and USJ last season by a combined score of 139-7.

Overtaking them this year is an awfully tall order, but Pinner and his players are ready for the challenge and have other goals as well.

“My goal is to get in the playoffs again,” Willins said. “I've been to three since my freshman year. My goal is to get to a fourth for my senior year.”

Said Pinner: “The league is extremely difficult at the top. St. George's and USJ are where we want to be. We've got to start figuring out a way to compete with those teams. The last couple of years we had trouble getting into the fourth quarter. I've learned that if you can do that, the pressure flips from us to them. Three years ago we were down a score vs. St. George's and the whole dynamic changed; we just ran out of gas. We have to find a way to go into the fourth quarter with the same mentality.”

48 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

The TRA linemen are, from left, front, Matthew Coates, Nathan gan and Austin Willins.

The TRA running backs are, from left, Jake Roane, Franklin Gar Clayton Brown, Jared Lafosse and Jordan Artzer.

Nathan Bradley, Jack Owen, Christian Stafford, Tully Dunna-

n Gardner, Jose Flores, Dawson Feathers, Mac Fullen,

tipton-rosemark academy

The TRA quarterbacks are, from left, Peyton Ryan, Kevin Siegler and Donald Crowe.

The TRA receivers and defensive backs are, from left, Braden Ryan, Will Young, Stanton Connell, Ben Hart, Jake Massey, Mason Reeves, Tucker Pittman, Daniel Haley and Thomas Nichols.

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 49

Tipton-rosemark academy

TRA optimistic about Pinner In his first year as head coach, Colin Pinner's making a positive impact story and photos by JEff Ireland

For a while there, back in the mid 2000s, Tipton-Rosemark was having a little trouble keeping a head coach for more than a season or two.

That changed when Dodd Gengenbach was hired in 2010. He stayed for six seasons, leading the Rebels to the playoffs in his last three seasons.

He stepped down following last season and TRA hired Colin Pinner, who had been Gengenbach's assistant the previous three seasons. He also coached at Covington and Ripley.

Administrators at TRA hope they have hired a man to provide some stability and lead the program to new heights.

50 High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016

“He's been a very stable force here,” said John Scott, head of schools at TRA. “He's a local person who has has a lot of connections in the community. Colin has a good pedigree.

He's coached and played for a lot of good coaches.”

When Pinner took over in December, his immediate focus was the weight room.

“The weight program we used have at Covington is second to none,” said Pinner, a 2003 Covington graduate. “We're going to do a lot of the same things here. Try to create more explosive players. You have to create an atmosphere where people believe

go figure ★ 3 Years in a row the Rebels have made the playoffs ★ 12 Seasons since TRA won a playoff game ★ 5 Games lost last year in the Rebels' first six games before winning three of four to make the playoffs

scout report

I was excited for Colin (Pinner) and his family when news broke that he got the (head coaching) job. I know that was a goal of his and something he was working toward. It's always nice to see guys, not only who you coached but coached with you, to move up and have an opportunity to be a head coach … I think you'll see some different things in their program. I would assume he'll be a big guy on the weight room. Our philosophies are a lot a like. I think you will see some changes, in my opinion, in their work ethic.

I think you'll see them pushed maybe a little harder than they're used to being pushed. He's going to try and find more ways to be competitive within the program.

– Covington head coach Marty Wheeler on TRA

they come here to compete.”

Players have noticed his impact.

“The weight lifting has been crazy,” said Austin Willins, a junior. “All my maxes have gone up 60 pounds since he got here. He's the best thing that's happened to Rosemark.”

“It's been a lot fun,” sophomore Jake Roane said. “He keeps it serious, but practices are where they are not unbearable. We've been making a lot of progress in the weight room.”

Jose Flores, a senior, has noticed the difference.

“We've had more of a get-to-it attitude this year,” Flores said. “Get straight to the point. Just get it done.”

Pinner, who coached in a state title game as an assistant with Covington in 2012, is not shy about saying his

goal is to win a state title at TRA at some point. But he knows that will take some time.

Starting next year, the Rebels will have a more realistic chance doing that.

The Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, the governing body for high school sports, voted last month to change the way Division II is classified. Starting next year, Division II football will go from two classes to three.

Just how they will be divided remains to be seen, but TRA will definitely be in the smallest classification.

Larger schools in their classification like Evangelical Christian School, St. George's and University School of Jackson could move up and out of TRA's league, meaning the Rebels

will be competing against schools closer to their size.

The Rebels advanced to the state title game in 2004 when there were three Division II classifications, so it can be done.

In the meantime, Pinner and the Rebels will keep pushing forward.

This is Pinner's first head coaching job at the varsity level.

“This my safe haven, where I go to work,” said Pinner. “It's a big change from being an assistant. A lot of paper work and things I never had to deal with.”

But things have been going well and Pinner and his players are excited about the program's potential in the future, and this season.

“I'd say we're pretty optimistic,” Continued on page 54

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 51

middle school football

Members of the Brighton Middle School football team are Adrian Murphy, T.J. Rivers, Jalen Fayne, Jax Butigan, Levi Latimer, Logan Rushing, Andrew Davis, Austin Latimer, Nick Gooden, Eli Bishop, Garrett Haley, Kenneth Toliver, Davin Barkelew, Jordan Counts, Chandler Carmack, Trey Parker, Dalton Dickerson, Tanner Stewart, Bronson Dupuy, Jarra Dowell, Roby Myers, Alex Thurner, Gavin Haynes, Jalen Terry, Emmanuel Thurman, Edwin Ling, Josh Fleming, Maddux Anderson, Jonathan Hines, Trais Hector, Anterius Wilson, C.J. Bonner, Wesley Ervin, Christian Vandiver, Rodrick Gooden, Jake Hawkins, De'Vion Somerville, Ke'Shun Lewis, Nick Moore, Darrien Lewis, Tristan Bohannon, Kade Dunlap, Evan Fargo, Joseph Woodard, Ricky Jones, Trent Carlton, Justin Spurlin, Ben Dunlap, Beau Russell, Corey Webb, Charles Brackey, Eli Burlison, Michael Baker, Tony Newman, Mason Rodriquez, Malikia Somerville, Cameron Leem, John Barnes, Alex Cox, Troy Delossantos, Jayvon Lee, Matthew Parker, Luke Perkins, Same Pietrowski, Kentrin Penn, Malik Mason, Harrison Moore, Jax Shannon, Jacob Rodriquez, Austin Welsandt, Christian Lemmons, Keegan Dortch, Conner Kirby, Alex Alsbrook, Alex Potter, Owen Griffin, David Morgan, Thorne Turner, Jackson Hanks, Lewis Beckman, Bryce Chaco, Kaleb Craig and Kyler Billings.

Members of the Crestview Middle School football team are Lareko Burton, Jamarion Dowell, Tyronzen Winfrey, Breshun Dyson, Marcus Hayes, Tyric Winfrey, Jacob Boren, Anthony Mason, Carson Ruffin, Parker Davis, Canden Owen, Hunter Elder, Brock Glenn, Tamarion Burnett, Blake Travis, Omarion Winfrey, Bremarious Tipton, Deondre McDaniel, James Bryant, Kejuan Dyson, Gavin Willard, Blaine Pruitt, Lane Butler, Christian Barbee, Seth Crook, Nick Harvell, Damarious Macklin, Laquell Dye, Jordan Palmer, Jackson Hughey, Tanner Northcott, Kyndrick Mason, Marquon Taylor, Mylian Sherill, Jalen Hall, Reed Chipman, Chandler Sales, Deondre Dyson, Robbie Dohnken, Jeffery Denson, Jasper Hunter, Cooper Canerdy, Jason Bryant, Aiden Griggs, John Cleaves, Slade Simpson, Atyron Smith, Kevin Earwood, Will Cornelius, Owen Taylor, Montarious Frazier, Lazurus Conklin, Dashawn Jones, Armani Middlebrook, Logan Wildes, Chris Godwin and Zack Collom.

Members of the Munford Middle School football are Erin Winthrop, Justin Livingston, Jacoby Miguel, Trent Suggs, Icarius Hodgin, Jake Bradley, Hastin Dodson, Joe Lizzi, Owen Gieger, Dalton Blakburn, Kelton Mason, Jaxon O’Neal, Jesse Wagoner, Ben Cerniglia, Cooper Gann, Hunter Davidson, Devyn Vickery, Jace Hodens, Zach Jacques, Hunter Gill, Jesse Savage, Traveon Hawkins, Aaron Landrum, Dallas Rhea, Tyrone Smith, Griffin Welch, Auvic White, Dalton Allen, Luke Lavelle, Nick Barraza, Gracen Nolen, Michael Larson, Nate Mears, Tyler Smith, Mason Lemmons, Jayden Morton, Robert Boley, Quinn Flanagan, Miguel Sanchez, Will Howard, Trevor Holley, Aubrey Durham, Xavier Russell, Josh Bowman, Zach Larson, Mark Connico, Jeremiah Sullins, Colton Wallace, Jalen Terry, Carter McCoy, Ethan Jones, Lavell Estes, Hayden Bryan, Trace Parker, Zach Roberts, Andrew Hutcherson, Cody Hutchison, Zach Smith, Colton Perry, Leslie McGroom, Waylon Cooper and Carter Oglesby.

High School Football Preview ★ Fall 2016 53

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said senior Wesley Gutheridge. “We know we have a lot of talent. We just have to execute during the game. We have a coach who knows what we can and can't do and just wants to make us better.”

“He's awesome,” said senior Jack Owen. “I love the energy. I feel like he's putting as much into it as we are. It's great to have a coach you want run through a wall for.”

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