Cookeville storms ahead early to win
|
Those scores would prove to be the difference-maker, as the Pioneers held tough in the second half but couldn’t overcome the early deficit, eventually falling to the visiting Cavs, 27-6.
“They stepped up in the second half,” said coach Chris Madewell. “We held them, we scored six, and if you look at it that way, we won the second half.”
But the first half was all Cookeville’s high-powered rushing attack would need, as the Cavaliers established their ground game early. After a 60-yard return on the opening kickoff by Morgan Toline, Cookeville’s Stevie Buckner led the way as CHS marched downfield on its opening possession, going in from the 11 to complete the drive.
The ensuing kickoff was fumbled back to the Cavs at Warren County’s 18, and five plays later Buckner struck again, scoring on a 1-yard dive.
Tyler Turner, who finished with 90 yards on eight carries, scored on a 1-yard run as the first quarter drew to a close, and went in from the 12 for what would prove to be Cookeville’s final TD late in the half.
“I told the boys that, just like all year, when we face adversity — when we get knocked down — we’ve got to get back up and fight back,” Madewell said of his halftime speech to the Pioneers. “I think they answered the call, and went out there and got after it.”
The Pioneers began moving the ball successfully in the third quarter, but finished the period still scoreless after turning the ball over on downs twice. The defensive unit held the Cavs in check, however, shutting them down for the remainder of the game.
Warren County avoided the shutout with just over four minutes to play in the game. After the defense held its ground in the red zone, stopping CHS on fourth-and-goal, the Pioneers took over on their own 1-yard line.
A Joey Haston pass on second down to Brad Stewart got the ball out to the 16, and sophomore Preston Smith found an opening and scampered 84 yards for the game’s final score.
“We changed things inside defensively in the second half, and we held them, I was proud of them for that,” Madewell said. “Offensively, we’ve got some work to do, but they were backed up on the 1-yard line and came out of there for a score. That’s something we haven’t seen in a long time, and something we can build on.”
With the loss, WCHS fell to 0-5 overall and 0-2 in Region 3-5A play. Cookeville improved to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in region play.
NOTES: Jonathan Bratcher started at quarterback for the Pioneers Friday night, but suffered a concussion after being sacked in the first half. The junior, who had another concussion two years ago as a freshman, was taken to the hospital after the half.
“He came in at halftime and sat down there, and just started having this weird look on his face, then said he didn’t remember anything,” said Madewell, who traveled to the hospital with trainer Tim McIntosh after the game to check on his player.”You can’t be too careful about something like that, so we sent him to get checked out.”
Bratcher is scheduled to see his personal doctor Monday.
With Bratcher out, Joey Haston finished the game at QB for the Pioneers. Haston suffered a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee earlier in the week, but was able to play while wearing a large brace.
• T.J. Jarvis, who finished with 10 carries for 54 yards, left the game in the second half after re-aggravating a hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener against Centennial.
• Junior fullback Mario Pezzimenti returned to action, after missing the Pioneers’ last two games.
Pezzimenti finished with 20 yards on seven carries in his first game since being injured by a thrown helmet during halftime of Warren County’s game at Shelbyville.
• Senior lineman John Morrison was ejected from Friday’s game midway through the third quarter, after being flagged for his second personal foul of the game.