TWO IN A ROW?! PERHAPS
Cougars Look to Finish Season Strong
: : Jeremy Smith : :10.27.2011: :

MTCS goes into its final game of 2011 with pride on the line instead of a playoff berth. It's the last game for these Cougar Seniors, and they will want to finish strong in front of the home crowd. Coming off a fantastic second half at M.J.C.A., the Cougars appear to be picking up at season's end.

Leading them into Friday's game is Stephen Brent. After setting 3 separate records last week, he's looking to finish his high school career on a high note by beating the Huntland Hornets. The Cougars have never lost to coach Bob Robertson's team.

Huntland has played some of the District 9-A teams close this year, taking Forrest all the way to the 4th quarter before giving up the go-ahead TD. The Hornets are coming off a loss to Eagleville.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB CLAY ROBERTSON (SR) - He was the District Offensive Player of the Year in 2010 despite his team ending with a 3-7 record. He beat out Stephen Brent for that honor. Dangerous? Without a doubt.

FB ZACH WOMACK (SR) - Womack was a big part of the offense last year for the Hornets, and the Cougars were able to bottle him up and keep him contained. It will be a tough task for this year's MTCS team to repeat.

OT MICHAEL DELUCA (SR) - Listed at 5'8 281, DeLuca is the leader of a Hornet O-line that was hit pretty hard by graduation. Only 3 linemen on the 2011 Huntland team played there last year. It's the one area of concern coach Robertson identified in the preseason.

Expect Brent Hofbauer to get another start at QB for MTCS, coming off of an 81-yard passing performance against the Saints. He was able to develop a bit of a rhythm with the Cougar receivers, and has been as close to a regular starter at the position as the team has had this year.

Oakley Starling, Parker Richardson and Justin Winn have had their bright moments this year, as well. They will need to have their best outings of 2011 on Friday night and haul in those passes. Richardson has also had a great year as place kicker. He hasn't missed a point-after.

PREDICTIONS

JEREMY: MTCS is feeling great after the comeback a week ago and will look to make it two in a row to finish 2011. The drive of the seniors will the team to a victory on Senior/Homecoming night 35-21!

JAY: The Cougars know they can win. They also know nothing has really gone according to plan this year. This is the last game of the year, though, and Brent and company will be flying high after last week. Cougars win and go out in style 28-24.

Kickoff is 7 pm at Throneberry Stadium, so come out and join us as we celebrate the end of some fabulous high school football careers! GO COUGARS!!!

THE STEPHEN BRENT SHOW
Senior RB Breaks Records and Leads Cougars to Win
: : Jay Brunner : :10.21.2011: :

I'll admit it. At halftime, Jeremy Smith and I were saying "Here we go again." We said it multiple times, because the Cougars were trailing the Mt. Juliet Christian Saints 27-7. We should have known better.

After a halftime talk that took place not in a locker room, but on a hill beside the press tower at Suey Stadium, the Cougars were a different team. It was arguably the best 24 minutes of football MTCS has played. Ever.

It was led by one player you would expect leadership from. It was led by one player who has fought through more than any one young man should expect in a football season. It was led by Stephen Brent.

The senior did have some great numbers at halftime. Nine carries for 106 yards and a touchdown, including an 82-yard scamper for the score. Ten tackles. But, oh, there was so much more to come.

Now, Stephen will be the first guy to tell you that stats are the last thing that matter to him during a game. If he can help his team win, he's happy with whatever contribution he makes. But in tonight's game he did more than contribute. As he's done for the last 2+ years, Brent put the team on his back and changed the game entirely.

The Cougars got the ball to start the second half, and promptly went 67 yards on 9 plays, including a 27-yard pass from Hofbauer to Starling, and capped by a 1-yard Brent TD run to make the score 27-14. Brent Hofbauer had a great 18-yard blast on the previous play.

After a defensive stop on 4th down, MTCS got the ball at their own 40, and set up a screen pass to Brent that went 20 yards. After a Saints' penalty put the ball at the 11, Brent again got the call and plowed in for his third TD. The score was 27-21, and a missed Saints' extra point in the first half looked like it might be the difference.

Keith Pickard recovered a fumble on the Saints' next possession, giving Brent and Company the ball on the 32 yard line. How about a 32-yard run for a 4th TD? That pushed Brent's rushing yards to 175, and the talk in the press box became loaded with talk of broken records. The score was 28-27, the first time the Cougars had led in a game this year.

On their next drive the Cougars were stopped and forced to punt, but the defense quickly returned the ball into the hands of the offense. Eleven runs later, Brent had his 5th TD, this time a 4-yarder, breaking the record set by Cody Harrell in 2006 for touchdowns in a game. 35-27.

Earlier in the drive, after two false start penalties, Stephen Brent broke yet another record: Most rushing yards in a game. A ten-yard run got the ball from the 16 to the 6 and pushed his total rushing yards to 249. That breaks the previous mark of 246 yards set by R.J. Miller back in 2009. It also got Brent to the sidelines with what appeared to be a cramp. He left for one play, and Coach Stewart called timeout to allow Brent to walk it off.

After another defensive stand and an Austin Melton forced fumble and Gavin Burgess recovery at the Saints' 30, the Cougars looked to ice the game away by running the clock. Can I get another helping of Brent, please? Four runs, 30 yards, touchdown number 6. Final score 42-27.

To say there was jubilation on the MTCS sideline would not begin to describe the scene Friday night. The biggest comeback in Cougar history came on a night that seemed destined to go against the Orange and White. But that's why they play 4 quarters, folks.

It was Stephen Brent's night, but there were others who contributed in a big way. Brent Hofbauer went 4/11 passing for 81 yards and had several big gains on crucial downs, finishing with 21 yards rushing. Oakley Starling and Justin Winn each had big catches for over 25 yards each. Dakota Vaught(5 tackles), Keith Pickard(4 tackles, forced fumble, fumble recovery), Franklin Roberts(2 sacks), and Steven Barker(4 tackles, 1 for loss) had bang-up nights on defense.

The Cougars ran a total of 59 plays tonight, for a season-high 468 yards of offense. They were penalized 6 times for 47 yards, but only 2 of those came in the second half.

So time to take a deep breath, and on to Senior Night to face the Huntland Hornets. It's back to Throneberry Stadium as the Cougars will also be celebrating Homecoming as well. Kickoff for this special evening is 7:00 pm as the Cougars look to finish the season in style.

GO COUGARS!!!

Best Chance For A 'W'
Cougars Finish Road Trip With Most Winnable Game
: : Jeremy Smith : :10.19.2011: :

MTCS comes into this final road game of 2011 at 0-8, a mark very unfamiliar to all of us who have come to enjoy three straight playoff appearances by the Cougars. Is now the time for MTCS get back in the winning column?

One would think so, since Mt. Juliet hasn't had much to like in 2011 either. They do have a record of 2-6 but have only scored a total of 96 points while giving up 303. Compare that with MTCS, scoring 91 points and giving up 370, and something's gotta give Friday night. The Saints are coming off of a 48-0 loss to DCA.

The next two weeks are both very winnable games, but if you had to pick one that you have the most confidence in then it would be this week.

MTCS has shown some progress in areas and regressed in others as the season has gone on. With the postseason obviously out of the picture, getting a win is what's important now to this team, the fans, and the school.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

OL CARVER HIBBETT (SR) - The team leader in the trenches, Hibbett measures (according to Murphy Fair's magazine) 6'3, 205 pounds. He was All-Region last year and plays at tackle and D-end.

WR TREVOR WEST (JR) - The Saints' best returning receiver, West plays in the defensive secondary as well.

CB BRANT LAMBERTH (JR) - Lamberth was in the running for the QB job at the start of the year, but we don't know for sure if he won it. Regardless, Murphy Fair describes him as a "shut-down corner" and should have his name called on plays against the Cougar passing attack.

Both MTCS and MJCA have very young teams. The 3 seniors listed on the Saints' roster are all linemen, but there are plenty of juniors and sophomores too. This is the most even matchup for the Cougars all season, and in most areas, these teams are dead even. Again, something's gotta give.

PREDICTIONS

JEREMY: This has to be the time doesn't it? MTCS is in their final road game against an opponent they should finally get a win against. MTCS wins 35-20!!

JAY: Stephen Brent is the leader of this team. As such, he has been able to convince his team this season that wins and losses don't matter. That may be true, but going 0-10 in 2011 would definately be a sour spot with these seniors. Brent and company know that this week is their best shot, and they get it done. Cougars win 42-17.

This is the last non-District game of the year, so kickoff will be 7:30 instead of 7:00. A short trip up I-840 will get you to MJCA, so we will see you there. GO COUGARS!!!

Payback Administered
Eagles Ride Stellar First Half to Win
: : Jay Brunner : :10.15.2011: :

Emotions ran high for both teams at Talon Field last night as the Cougars and Eagles renewed their rivalry. Unfortunately, emotion wasn't enough to overcome early mistakes for MTCS.

On the Cougars' first drive, a tipped pass dropped into the waiting hands of the Eagles' Andrew Jernigan, who took it in for a defensive score. Eagleville never looked back. Racking up two defensive scores and a touchdown on special teams, the Eagles continued their undefeated season with a 48-7 beating of the Cougars.

A huge boost to MTCS was the return of Britt Roberts. That's right, the man expected to be out for the year with a broken bone in his hand suited up and played last night, catching a 15 yard pass with a huge, club-like bandage on his right hand.

Coach Stewart decided to go with rotating quarterbacks again this week, although Brent Hofbauer took the majority of the snaps. He finished the game 9-21 passing for 77 yards, a TD and 2 interceptions. Peyton Buckner was 1-6 for 15 yards. Freshman Justin Winn caught the lone TD pass, an 11-yard strike from Hofbauer.

Stephen Brent again led his team in tackles with 8, and rushed 18 times for 64 yards.

With 2 weeks left in the 2011 season, the Cougars have possibly their best chance at a win coming up next Friday against the Saints of Mt. Juliet Christian. The last road game of the year will find the Cougars mad and looking to take out the frustrations of a disappointing season out on someone.

This is not a District game, so kickoff will be 7:30 pm up in Mt. Juliet. We will see you there. GO COUGARS!!!

Rivalry Week
Is Emotion Enough For A Win?
: : Jay Brunner : :10.11.2011: :

There's not a lot of flashy adjectives needed to describe this Week's game. It's the Cougars and the Eagles, the rivalry that in recent years has been dominated by MTCS.

The way the schedule has worked out, the Cougars have played 2 of the last 3 times at Eagleville, and this week will make it 3 out of 4. But MTCS is riding a 3 game winning streak, and look to make it 4 in a row beginning at 7 pm Friday.

The Eagles have run the table so far, leading the District with a 7-0 record. They have what looks to be a playoff-seeding match at the end of the year against District #2 Cascade, so the question arises: Even though this is a big rivalry game, will the Eagles be overlooking the winless Cougars?

PLAYERS TO WATCH

RB NATHAN JERNIGAN (SR) - He is the playmaker, rushing, receiving out of the backfield, tackling, he even threw a touchdown pass to his brother Andrew a few weeks ago.

WR WILL AKINS (SR) - The deep threat, Akins is also the punter and starting free safety.

RB CHRIS HALE (SO) - When Jernigan was out at the beginning of last season, Hale came in and made a name for himself. The combo of Hale and Jernigan has frustrated many defenses since.

Will coach Stewart use a rotating quarterback system like he did last week against Forrest? If so, it may keep the Eagles guessing on defense. Brent Hofbauer is the better runner, while Peyton Buckner has the better arm, and a good mix of run and pass is essential for a victory.

PREDICTIONS

JAY: The Cougars have history on their side, not having lost at Talon Field in 4 years. Throw out the records when these two teams go at it, because it's all about desire and bragging rights. Who gets them this year? Cougars make it 4 in a row and win 21-20.

JEREMY: Depth has been a major issue for the Cougars this year. So has experience. The Eagles ride their advantages in both to a win and end the streak in this rivalry. Eagleville wins 35-14.

Kickoff for this huge District game is 7:00 pm in Eagleville. Come on down Highway 99 and get to Talon Field! We will see you there. GO COUGARS!!!

ROBERTS LIKELY DONE FOR YEAR
: :10.06.2011: :

Daily News Journal Prep Sports Editor Tom Kreager has said that sophomore QB Britt Roberts is most likely out for the remainder of 2011 with a hand injury.

Roberts went down late in the game against Community last week, but finished the game. The injury was noticed at that time but was not thought to be serious. Freshman Peyton Buckner should get his 3rd start at quarterback tomorrow against the Rockets.

He's The Rocket Man
Stop Ray, Stop Forrest
: : Jay Brunner : :10.03.2011: :

October 1, 2010: R.J. Miller scampered into the north endzone from 10 yards out, and the Cougar celebration began. Coach Kyle Stacey and all-state running back Zach Ray led their Forrest Rockets off the field and onto the bus.

On Friday, that bus returns to Murfreesboro, bearing a Rockets' team looking for payback for a double-overtime 41-35 loss.

RECORD-SETTER UPDATE: After checking our stats from the last 3+ seasons, we have determined that Oakley Starling's 134 yards receiving last week at Community sets the record for most yards receiving in a single game. Once again, congratulations to the sophomore receiver!

The Cougars need to mark Rocket senior Zach Ray and put somebody on him the moment he steps off the bus. Because as goes Ray, so go the Rockets. Last week at home against undefeated Eagleville, Forrest scored 2 touchdowns. Ray ran for one and THREW for the other.

The Rocket offense is nothing that the Cougars haven't seen before, potent on the ground and adequate through the air. It's an offense that is averaging 28.8 points a game. Who else do the Cougars need to look for?

PLAYERS TO WATCH

#10 RB ZACH RAY (SR) - So we start with the obvious. Cougars fans who traveled to Unionville last week saw the ball go to Austin Lees almost every play. So it will be Friday with Ray. Expect him to get the ball 30+ times.

#14 QB BROOKS LAMB (JR) - A good game manager. It helps when all you have to do is turn and hand it to Ray. he is a serviceable passer, but with the loss of Taylor Abrigo and other standout receivers to graduation, his primary target will probably be Ray. Surprise, surprise.

#41 FB RICHIE SMITH (JR)- Opening holes for Zach Ray, Smith can get out in the flat on play action and really make defenses pay. If Ray gets winded, Lamb will give it to Smith and the big bulldozer will go to work.

A quick shoutout here to ForrestRocketFootball.com. A great website with plenty of great info on their team, including a current roster (For us broadcasters, that's a great thing). Visit them and brush up on the Cougar opponent this week!

PREDICTIONS

JAY: The Rockets took undefeated Eagleville all the way to the wire last week. Unfortunately, I don't think we can expect another double overtime win. Forrest's run game may well dominate. Rockets win 35-21.

JEREMY: We've seen the Cougar run defense get picked on several times this year. Coordinator Steve Williams will have his men ready to play, but it won't be enough against the talent in the Rocket backfield. Forrest wins 42-21.

Can Brent extend his rushing success into a third-straight game? Can Britt Roberts and Oakley Starling get into a rhythm again?

These questions and many more will be answered Friday at 7:00 pm. Come out to Throneberry Stadium; we'll see you there! GO COUGARS!!!

Always A First Time
Vikings Get First Win Ever Over Cougars
: : Jay Brunner : :10.01.2011: :

Austin Lees to the right. Austin Lees to the left. Austin Lees up the middle. Repetitive? Yes, but for the Community Vikings it worked to perfection last night in their 40-28 win over MTCS.

Offense was in high supply in the firt half for both teams, leading to a 21-21 halftime score. Stephen Brent ran roughshod over Viking defenders with 111 yards and a score before the break. He added 37 receiving and another TD through the air.

Coming into the second half, both teams were looking to slow the pace down and eat clock. Enter Austin Lees. In a series of sweeps and straight-ahead runs, Lees broke through the Cougar defense countless times.

For a quick change of pace, wideout Zack James caught a lob pass between 2 Cougar defenders and raced for a score. It would be part of a 19-point second half for Community.

Positives for MTCS: Hello, Oakley Starling. The sophomore put up career numbers in the receiving category, hauling in 5 catches for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns. Did he set any records? Hold on, we're checking....

His average yardage per catch (26.8) is definately a new MTCS record. Congrats, Oakley! We'll need to check the stats from 2008 to find out about the other numbers. Check back soon on that.

Britt Roberts came storming back after his pulled groin in pregame at Cosby 3 weeks ago, putting up some big numbers. He finished last night 12/22 passing for 159 yards with 3 TD and 2 INT. Those 3 touchdowns are the most thrown by a Cougar QB since Scot Bartilson threw 4 at Community in 2008.

Roberts was a force on defense as well, picking off a pass, forcing a fumble, and recovering one as well. Brent added another 12 tackles to his total, bringing it to 42 on the year. Trevor Brunsvold led the Cougars in total tackles last year with 45.

So it's back home next Friday for Homecoming against the Forrest Rockets and their running back Zach Ray. Let's hope we get another thriller to match last year's double overtime game.

Again, this will be a District game, so we'll have a 7 pm kickoff. We'll see you at Throneberry Stadium. GO COUGARS!!!

THE TIME IS NOW
Cougars Seek First Win in 2011
: : Jeremy Smith : :09.29.2011: :

The Cougars have had a rough 2011 season, but we all knew going in that it would be a rebuilding year after losing 17 seniors. The Cougars have brought in a new head coach and a lot of good young talent.

These Cougars have been improving week after week and in Week 4 we saw the offense have great signs of life. The Cougars are facing a team with just one more win than they have and a team they have had great history against.

As the Cougars make the trip down to Unionville, they must put the first five games out of their mind. They're over and all MTCS can do now is build on what they have and move forward. They've had a bye week to rest and prepare for the Vikings and we should all see a well prepared team come game time.

Brent is coming off a very impressive game against Moore County in which he came close to an MTCS record with 17 tackles and scored all three touchdowns.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB QUINN FROST - Although we don't have any information on this young QB, he is a very impressive dual threat and can burn the defense if they're not careful.

WR ZACH THOMAS - He appears to be Frost's main target, and the rumors have been swirling about the Vikings' "quick-strike passing game."

PREDICTIONS

JEREMY: This has to be the week doesn't it? MTCS is rested, they should have Britt Roberts back at QB, and they have a great history against the Vikings. I think MTCS picks up their first win of 2011 by winning 28-14.

JAY: If the Vikings are going to try slinging it all over the field, I like the Cougars' chances. Their pass defense has been a strength so far, and Britt Roberts will return to the secondary. Cougars win 34-24.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm since this one's a Disrict game. We will see you down in Unionville. GO COUGARS!!!

Raider Run Game Keys Win
Brent Solid In Return
: : Jay Brunner : :09.16.2011: :

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." 1 John 5:14

As much as we try to deny it, football's just a game. The Friday night lights have to be switched off at some point, and life goes on.

For senior running back Stephen Brent, and for the entire MTCS family, one life in particular will go on, and it overshadows everything that happened between the sidelines tonight.

During the summer, Tony Hughes was taken to the hospital with an illness. We here at TICF.com won't even attempt to understand the details, but one thing was clear: Tony was not expected to survive.

His Facebook wall overflowed with messages. "I'm praying for you," was the most common. His wife Laurie updated his status several times a week.

Fast forward 5-6 weeks. We begin to see pictures of Tony; Him getting a haircut stands out. Laurie's posts begin to show hope. Hope that Tony might beat this thing. Hope that he would get to come home and resume a normal life.

It happened. Doctors released him, and Tony came home last Thursday, September 8. Again, we won't speculate on the details of his in-home recovery, but personally, I never in my wildest dreams imagined what would happen tonight.

I know at this point you're reading this, Tony, and are really embarrassed that we're writing an article that's about you and not the game. Sorry, brother. Deal with it. You are a private miracle, shared by many.

Rumors starting circling about an hour before game time that Tony Hughes would be attending the game. It was true, although he did a good job of hiding in plain sight.

At halftime, as the Cougars were coming off the field, Tony went down to the fence to greet Stephen. It was an emotional moment, one that was repeated at game's end.

And we can't forget: Stephen put on a show. Twelve carries for 116 yards and 2 touchdowns. Two catches for 69 yards and a touchdown. Seventeen tackles, just 3 tackles shy of setting the new single-game record.

Tony stands as the perfect example of the power of prayer and the strength of the MTCS family. Yes, the Cougars lost. Yes, they are 0-5 on the year. None of it matters.

Hey, it's just football.

Welcome back, Tony. You were never really gone.

Here Come The Raiders
Injuries The Story For Both Teams
: : Jay Brunner : :09.13.2011: :

A nice weekend in Gatlinburg was just what the Cougars needed after another tough road loss. MTCS now comes back home to Throneberry Stadium to welcome in their second District foe of the year, the Moore County Raiders.

The home team has won each of the last two contests between these squads, and this Friday could see the same result. It's time for the spread offense to find its legs and show on the scoreboard.

Freshman QB Peyton Buckner looks to get his second consecutive start after coming on in relief of the injured Britt Roberts last week. TICF.com is still waiting on news of Roberts' condition and the length of his absence.

The Raiders are coming off of a close 18-6 win against East Robertson last week, and second year coach Scott Smith is looking to even his District record at 1-1.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

WR/QB NATHAN MATLOCK (SR) - In their game against Eagleville two weeks ago, Matlock hauled in the lone touchdown pass of the game and had several nice runs, according to the Moore County News. Murphy Fair listed Matlock as the Raiders' QB, and he may be a multi-positional threat. He was his team's leading rusher in 2010, and carried 19 times for 61 yards against Eagleville.

QB J.P. EVANS (JR) - Evans appears to be getting the majority of the snaps from under center this season, but don't be surprised if Matlock lines up at QB and we see a little of senior Justin Durm as well. Evans was 4/12 passing for one TD and one pick against the Eagles, and added 57 yards rushing on 15 carries.

RB COLE BOYCE (SO) - Boyce apparantly left the game against Eagleville with an injury after just 5 carries for 21 yards. No word on the severity of that injury, but Boyce was replaced by senior Cody Cashion, whom the Cougars will also want to watch out for.

Cougars that hopefully make it back into the lineup this week are: Stephen Brent, Dylan Ritter, Jordan Evans.

THURSDAY INJURY UPDATE: Stephen Brent will be back for the Cougars, but Dylan Ritter is still out with a concussion.

PREDICTIONS

JAY: The injuries continue to pile up for both of these teams. Who will we see playing where? Should Stephen Brent be back this week, the defense should be able to get some stops, and young Buckner has had a week to get used to the idea of being the starter. MTCS wins 24-20.

JEREMY: It's time for That Game. That one where your team defies the odds and gets the win to set a tone for the rest of the season. Why not right before the bye week? Cougars win a sloppy one 14-7.

Kickoff is set for 7 pm since this is a District game. See you at Throneberry Stadium! GO COUGARS!!!

Hey Peyton, Guess What?
Freshman QB Starts After Roberts' Injury
: : Jay Brunner : :09.12.2011: :

Freshman quarterback Peyton Buckner was going through pregame warmups at Cosby high school like he's done all season, expecting some possible playing time later on in the game. When the opening whistle blew, however, it was Buckner that took the first snap.

Sophomore QB Britt Roberts, on in relief of Ivey Starling, went down after dropping back to throw in the pregame. He was taken to the sidelines with an apparent groin strain, was stretched out and went back on the field to complete the drills.

Barely 5 minutes later Roberts was down again, having severely strained the same muscles, possibly even torn them. That's when Peyton Buckner got the surprise of his life.

By game's end, Buckner had given a good account of himself, finishing 8/23 for 49 yards and an interception. But his memory of this game will be his first Cougar touchdown, a 4-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Unfortunately, those were the only points of the evening for MTCS, as they dropped their 4th straight contest in 2011 by a final of 40-6 to the Cosby Eagles. The Cosby ground game, led by senior Nick Koenig, proved too much for the Cougars to bear after the shock of losing yet another quarterback for what appears to be an extended period.

Defensively there were some bright spots, namely sophomore linebacker Dakota Vaught. Vaught was a turnover machine, forcing one fumble, recovering two, and making an interception. He also led the Cougars in rushing with 67 yards on 10 carries.

Now back home to Murfreesboro just in time to welcome the Moore County Raiders to town. The home team has one each of the last 2 matchups, and quarterback Nathan Matlock will be familiar to Cougar fans, as he was responsible for the only Raider points against MTCS back in 2009. His 75 yard TD run tied the game early after R.J. Miller's 81 yard TD run the previous play.

A District game means a 7:00 pm kickoff at Throneberry Stadium, so come out and supprt your Cougars as they finish up the first half of the season! Next week is the Cougars' Bye week.

GO GOUGARS!!!

Are We There Yet?
Cougars Making Second-Longest Road Trip Ever
: : Jay Brunner : :09.06.2011: :

This week is an interesting one for MTCS. A 230-mile road trip is in store Friday, followed by a night's stay in Gatlinburg. Focusing on the game may be difficult for the team.

Ivey Starling, pending the results of an MRI, should be back in the lineup after missing last week's game against Cascade. Britt Roberts proved more than capable in relief, but it's always great to have your senior leader on the field rather than on the sidelines.

WEDNESDAY INJURY UPDATE: Ivey Starling will have season-ending knee surgery on Sept. 20 to repair a torn meniscus and broken tibia. He is expected to make a full recovery. Senior running back Stephen Brent will miss this week's game at Cosby with a shoulder injury combined with concussion-like symptoms.

Ivey sets the records for consecutive starts by a Cougar QB for both a single season (12) and for a career (25). Congrats!

Unfortunately, history is not on the Cougars' side when playing on long road trips. When driving 73 miles or more for a game, MTCS is 3-6 all time. When they travel over 100 miles for a game, their mark is 1-4. That win came at Perry County in 2007. This week's trip, the second-longest in school history, will be 230 miles (9/8/06 @Rossville Chr. 241 miles).

So what can the Cougars expect from an opponent they are facing for the first time? That's tough to say unless you're an Eagles fan or happen to have a subscription to the Newport Plain Talk. Thanks to Murphy Fair's yearly magazine we know which Eagles to watch for, but stats have been hard to come by.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB DREW SCHREDER (JR) - He likes to go to his tight end Tim Patterson, throwing 2 strikes in the Eagles' week 1 blowout of King's Academy. Schreder threw 3 passes total that night, all of them for scores.

RB NICK KOENIG (SR) - Together with Dylan Rone, Koenig provides the bulk of the defense for Cosby, as well as the bulk of the rushing yardage. King's Academy managed a total of 63 yards of offense against the Eagles, while Koenig ran for 97 yards and a score. He added an 82-yard kickoff return TD as well.

LB DYLAN RONE (JR) - As mentioned, Rone competes with Koenig for carries and tackles. Last season Rone did well, grabbing 2 interceptions and making 34 tackles.

Even with Britt Roberts taken out of the passing game to play QB, the Cougar receivers stepped up and made some great catches. Parker Richardson, Oakley Starling and Dylan Ritter all got on the stat sheet with big catches. Stephen Brent also caught Roberts' first career touchdown pass.

The defense has been gashed recently up the middle, and the special teams has not played up to par. Look for both these aspects to be much improved.

PREDICTIONS

JAY: Wow. The shock of losing your senior QB for the year and your senior running back for the week is enough to make you wonder. Britt Roberts is now the man in the shotgun for MTCS, taking him out of his receiver spot. Coach Stewart has some motivating to do, but I think he is more than up for the challenge. MTCS STILL WINS 21-17.

JEREMY: I can't ignore history. Hopefully Coach Stewart can get his team focused quickly once they get off the bus, but it might not be enough. In fact, I unfortunately think it won't be. Cosby wins 28-14.

Kickoff will be 7:30 EST, 6:30 CST. Go to Cougars Live in the Media tab on the left and watch! GO GOUGARS!!!

Moving On....
Roberts Shows a Glimpse of the Future
: : Jay Brunner : :09.03.2011: :

MTCS President Lynn Watson came up to the press box after the final whistle last night and quickly turned the scoreboard off. No one could blame him.

With the starting QB on the bench and the defending District champs in town, the Cougars were the obvious underdogs. The 65-7 final told several stories: The future is bright for MTCS; Cascade coach Kenny Parker likes to run up the score and keep his starters in through the 3rd quarter in blowout games; Last night is over and it's time to think Cosby.

Late in the second half, backup QB Britt Roberts led the Cougars on an 81 yard drive, throwing an 11-yard touchdown to Stephen Brent on 4th down and 7. It was an impressive performance, and Cougar fans were treated to a glimpse of the successful future of the program. Roberts finished his night with some respectable stats: 15/25 for 100 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT.

The Cougar defense allowed 224 yards rushing, but most of them were gathered by Champion leader Jared Carkuff. Keith Pickard led the Cougar defense with 4 tackles and a fumble recovery.

So a quick review for a quick game that saw the Mercy Rule go into effect before halftime. Next week the Cougars travel to Cosby in what could be the longest road trip in program history. Not alot is known about the east Tennessee team except that they are coming off a 2-8 season and are looking to rebound.

Kickoff is still TBA, but will probably be scheduled for 7:30 EASTERN TIME/6:30 CENTRAL. Stay tuned to ThisisCougarFootball.com for kickoff updates. GO COUGARS!!!

What, No Eagles?
District Opener Features Champions
: : Jay Brunner : :08.30.2011: :

For the first time in 2011 the Cougars will NOT be playing a team of Eagles. This time MTCS will host the offensive juggernaut of the Cascade Champions.

The Champs have had the Cougars' number for 3 years running, and it will take a Herculean effort for the home team to prevail. Cascade is coming off a loss to rival Jo Byrns.

Cascade coach Kenny Parker was quoted in the preseason as having to do some shuffling in his roster due to several issues. He's had several players transfer to Shelbyville Central High, and he's had to dismiss a couple of his players from the team.

Will it have any effect on the outcome of Friday's game? It's too early to tell, but not too early to know exactly who Parker's returning playmakers are.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB JARED CARKUFF (SR) - He may have surpassed his older brother Jacob in the annals of Cascade football. He's thrown for a score and run for 4 more in his first two games. His offense racked up 336 yards in their loss to Jo Byrns last week.

RB JAKIEL HUGHES (SR) - He's got 324 rushing yards and 2 scores so far, with 197 of them coming against Mt. Pleasant in Week 0.

CASCADE RECEIVERS - It's nice when a Carkuff is throwing to you. Senior Ryan Rippy caught a TD pass last week, and Gavin Elmore and Carson Tapley have been in the mix as well.

The spread offense is starting to find its legs, and a coming-out party would be just the thing to get Throneberry Stadium rocking on Friday night. Ivey Starling may be in for a rough time if his receivers can't step up and make catches, and Stephen Brent will be a focal point of the Champion defense.

PREDICTIONS

JAY: It's time to stop talking about how young and inexperienced the Cougars are. It's like beating a dead horse, but it's also the best explanation of the team's season so far. Now the Champions are coming, and they know how to score. I don't like these kinds of predictions, and I hope I'm wrong. Cascade wins 35-15.

JEREMY: Tough, tough, tough. I like the Cougars' chances at getting more points up on the board than in the last 2 weeks, but I don't think they'll get enough. Cascade wins 28-7.

Kickoffs for all DISTRICT games this season are set for 7 pm instead of the usual 7:30, so be sure to show up a little earlier than usual. We will see you at the stadium. GO COUGARS!!!

Eagles can Run? Who Knew?
Ezell Downs MTCS
: : Jay Brunner : :08.30.2011: :

Ivey Starling lay on the field on Friday in some pain, personifying the feelings of the Cougar faithful as they watched their team drop to 0-2 on the season.

Under constant pressure and forced out of the game several times, Starling nevertheless threw his first touchdown pass of the year against Ezell-Harding. It wasn't enough, however, and MTCS was able to manage only the one score in a 28-8 defeat.

Miscues and mental mistakes were the team's downfall, with several bad snaps and several dropped passes. The Eagles' first few drives began in MTCS territory. It was a good first half however, with the Cougars allowing just 108 total yards, and being down 14-0 at the break was not a terrible situation.

Eagle QB Blake Smotherman emerged in the second 24 minutes. He led the Ezell ground game to 209 yards on 14 carries in the second half, gathering most of them himself. Touchdown runs of 73 and 56 yards by Smotherman put the game out of reach.

Britt Roberts had his best game of this young season, forcing a fumble and recovering it, deflecting 3 passes, and earning a QB sack. Coming on in relief of Starling, the sophomore was 2/5 passing for 17 yards.

As for Ivey himself, he showed great grit and determination, coming back time and again from what seemed like severe injuries. He finished his night 8/20 passing for 55 yards with 1 TD and 1 pick. COOL STAT: Ivey was the team's leading rusher with 13 carries for 31 yards.

Last week we said that Stephen Brent would need to get more involved if the Cougars were to have any success this year. Mission accomplished in Week 1, as the senior rushed 12 times for 29 yards, hauled in 2 catches (one for a 2-pt. conversion) and added 5 tackles on defense. While it's still not near the action he was getting in 2010, his workload is steadily increasing each week.

A big bright spot for the Cougars to take with them this season: their pass defense gave up a total of 50 yards to Ezell. If that can continue, the next few weeks could be very interesting for opponents.

Next up, the 5-time defending Region/District champs, the Champs. The Champions of Cascade come to Murfreesboro looking to continue their domination of MTCS. We will see you at Throneberry Stadium this Friday! SPECIAL NOTE: All DISTRICT games for the Cougars this year are scheduled for 7 pm kickoffs. GO COUGARS!!!

On The Road Again
Another Flock of Eagles Awaits
: : Jeremy Smith : :08.23.2011: :

The Cougars are coming off a disappointing 38-7 loss in which they saw QB Ivey Starling go down with what appeared to be a concussion. While Starling was in action though the offense showed promise as he went 9-11 passing and showed great ball distribution.

The Eagles are coming off of a 4-7 season in which they made the Division II playoffs and lost to Southern Baptist 23-0 in the 1st round. The Eagles defeated the Cougars by a score of 14-7 in 2010 after a 12-10 defeat in 2009. The Cougars look to finally get over the hump and beat these Eagles in this non-district matchup.

The Cougar ground game is off to a slow start in 2011. Stephen Brent after one game has a total of 10 rushing yards on only four carries. We all knew the Cougars offense would change a lot after moving to the spread, but if MTCS hopes to have success this season they must be balanced. With Brent being the best player on the team, getting only five touches is nowhere near enough.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Justin Woodard

Terrance Jones

Corey Teague

Here are some key stats from last season's loss vs. Ezell Harding:

Stephen Brent: 21 Carries 155 Yards, TD, 3 Tackles

Stephen Barker: 9 Tackles

PREDICTIONS

Jeremy - The Cougars lost a tough game last year once again to the Eagles. Third time’s a charm hopefully for the Cougars as they hope to finally get over the hump against these Eagles. Cougars win 14-7.

Jay - The defense must get better and not allow another 277 yard rushing performance. Coach Williams will have been in his players' ears this week, and it should be enough to get results. If Ivey Starling is cleared to play, the cougars have a great shot to even their record. MTCS wins 20-13.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm this Friday on the road at Don Freudenthal Complex. The Cougars look to even up their record at (1-1) and get their season back on track. We hope to see you at the field and GO COUGARS!!!

Rough Start, Better Finish
Cougars Fall, but Show Bright Spots
: : Jay Brunner : :08.21.2011: :

The Brian Stewart era at MTCS began with a packed house and a ton of excitement generated by a new offense. Would those be enough to get the Cougars their first win in a season opener in 3 tries?

When the final whistle blew Friday night, there were few smiles and the excitement had long since faded. The Week 0 curse had struck again.

Nashville Christian was able to take advantage of this young Cougar team and used a powerful run game to take a 38-7 win home with them. The Eagles rushed for a whopping 277 yards, with almost 130 of those coming in the first quarter.

The Cougar spread offense did have its moments of brilliance, with QB Ivey Starling finishing the night 9-for-13 passing for 91 yards. Starling went down with what is believed to be a concussion after a vicious sack by the Eagles' Hayden Mueller just before halftime. Sophomore Britt Roberts came on in relief and managed the rest of the game well, going 5-of-8 for 20 yards.

Senior Dylan Ritter burst onto the scene Friday, flying all over the field on both sides of the ball. He ended his night with 4 catches for 35 yards and 3 tackles. He also swiped away an Eagle pass.

Freshman Jordan Evans had the best chance at an early Cougar touchdown, catching a lob pass from Starling in space. As he appraoched the endzone, however, he was cracked from behind and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Eagles.

Sophomore Dakota Vaught returned to form quickly and provided the lone score for the home team late in the game with an 8-yard scamper. He finished as the Cougars' leading rusher with 4 carries for 47 yards and the TD. It's the first time since 2008 that MTCS has scored a touchdown in their first game.

Senior Stephen Brent set a goal of 2,000 all-purpose yards for himself this season, and after Week 0, he has a total of five. Brent rushed 4 times for 10 yards, and his one reception saw him dropped for a loss of five yards.

This week's opponent is another flock of Eagles, this time the Ezell-Harding version. Ezell is 2-0 against MTCS in the last 2 years, but they also lost last week, 56-0. There's a great opportunity for the Cougars to even their record.

The first road game of 2011 will find the Cougars up I-24 in Antioch at the Don Freudenthal Complex to take on the Eagles. Come out and support the team as they look to get back on track. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm and our broadcast will start at 6:40. GO COUGARS!!!

Let's Get It Started
Week 0 Is Finally Here
: : Jay Brunner : :08.16.2011: :

The 2011 season kicks off Friday as the Nashville Christian Eagles visit Murfreesboro to renew an old Region 5 rivalry.

The Cougars are 1-1 against the Eagles, last playing them in 2008 and beating them 28-14. MTCS lost the year before 37-7.

This is a new-look Eagles team, on the rise after changing head coaches last year. Out went Charlie Lansdell, in came Jeff Brothers from Pope John Paul II. Coach Brothers immediately took his new team to the playoffs and an 8-2 record.

Graduation has hit Nashville Christian hard, costing the Eagles their three main weapons from 2010: Matt Ogle passed for more than 1,500 yards at QB, Nick Weiss rushed for 1,100 yards, and Thomas Knoblach was a 1,000 yard receiver. Knoblach was also the Eagles' punter and place kicker.

Of course, there are more than 3 players on a team, and the Eagles still have playmakers returning. All 5 starting offensive linemen from 2010 are back, and that may mean trouble for a young Cougar team. Let's look at their top 3 weapons this year.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

SAM COOPER (OL/TE/DE) Sr. - Cooper will probably participate in every play the Eagles make this year, on both sides of the ball. He's listed at 6'4, 220 lbs, so he'll tower over most of his competition. He averaged 19 yards per catch last season.

BRANDON MCCOY (RB/LB) Sr. - He saw limited action last year behind Nick Weiss, but still managed 235 yards and 4 scores. He should be the go-to guy in the Eagle backfield this year.

TAYLOR HENDRICKS (DB/WR) Sr. - Hendricks has speed to burn, and as a result blocked two punts in 2010. He played defensive back almost exclusively last year, but figures to be a part of the passing game this year.

The Cougars are 0-2 in their last 2 season openers, and they've been outscored in those games 61-3. Their last win in Week 0 came against Perry County in 2008 under Coach Shadowens. That needs to change this time around.

New head coach Brian Stewart has raved about his team's talent and speed at receiver. Players like Ty Hageman, Justin Winn, and Dakota Vaught will need to help out seniors Ivey Starling, Stephen Brent, and Keith Pickard and take advantage of any Eagle mistakes.

PREDICTIONS

JAY: There's nothing like the first game of the season, and this one will come down to who wants it more. The Cougars need to win these non-District games and give themselves the best chance possible to return to the playoffs. If Starling can get in a rhythm early and Brent can knock some people around, the big '1' should end up in the win column this week. Cougars win 28-21.

JEREMY: The Cougars have a proven leader at each level of their defense: Steven Barker on the line, Stephen Brent at linebacker, and Britt Roberts in the secondary. As a result, the MTCS defense should be able to carry the day and get their team a Week 0 victory. Cougars win 20-14.

Expect some sloppy play across the state Friday night; so it goes in the early stages of a new season. Penalties for false starts, holding, and offsides will probably fill up the stat sheets, and the number of mental mistakes will be high with every team. Those teams that are able to effectively manage their mistakes and move past them will be tasting victory at week’s end.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm. It's time to welcome Tennessee High School Football back to Throneberry Stadium! GO COUGARS!!!

How It Works
A New Fan's Guide to Watching Cougar Football Online

We want to welcome all of you who are new to the MTCS Football family, and thought we'd give you a few tips for enjoying the website and our online broadcasts.

Our game preview for each week will be uploaded to the site on Tuesdays. Game reviews are uploaded as soon as possible after the game goes final.

To watch our FREE online webcast of the game each week, we will have a large link on the home page that you can click, or you can select "Cougars Live" from the Media tab to the left.

District standings will be current all season long; you can see them in the upper right corner of the front page. The Schedule and Opponents pages will give you the inside scoop on each team the Cougars play this year.

The staff at ThisIsCougarFootball.com wish you and the Cougars a great season in 2011!!!

Successful Scrimmage
Players and Coaches Perform for a Stadium full of Fans
: : Jay Brunner : :08.11.2011: :

The Cougars and Lions battled during the regular season each of the past two years, but tonight Throneberry Stadium hosted only a preseason scrimmage between the two.

Normal scrimmage rules were used, with one point given for a touchdown. Possessions started on the 30 yard line and teams were allowed to run 10 plays, then switched from offense to defense. In this final tune-up for both teams, the Lions "defeated" the Cougars by a score of 3-2.

Stephen Brent got it started with a 38 yard run on the first play from scrimmage. A Starling-to-Winn pass picked up five. The drive stalled when Britt Roberts dropped a pass, but a swing pass to Brent picked up 11 yards and kept the drive alive.

Two plays later, Starling threw a touchdown strike to Ty Hageman and capped off a great opening drive.

Starling's first deep ball of the night went incomplete on the next possession, in the direction of Hageman. A pass to Britt Roberts was fumbled, and the Lions recovered.

One thing that stood out early in this one was the speed of the Cougars from the huddle to the line. MTCS ran 7 plays in the span of 3 minutes, and ended the night with nearly a 4-to-1 pass/run ratio. Welcome to the Spread offense.

The Lions countered with a quick scoring drive of their own, weaving through the Cougar defense. From there the Cougars began applying good pressure, forcing several incompletions.

"We're young, but we flew all over the field tonight," QB coach Mark Sharpe said. "We need to work on our coverages and assignments."

Back and forth the action went, with a huge tackle for loss by Hunter Rindahl firing up the Cougar faithful (and the senior lineman). For the Lions, their fans got to see a bright future at quarterback as the various Cannon County signal callers began slinging it all over the field.

After several possessions by each team, the coaches switched to red zone offense. After a sack of Ivey Starling, Stephen Brent popped a 19-yard run. Starling then ran it in himself. Parker Richardson got some reps at extra points, making one of two tries.

A tackle for loss and a clipping penalty put the Lions outside the 20, and a long pass wasn't enough to even the score before a short halftime.

The second team made its appearance after the half, staying in the red zone offense. Quarterback Peyton Buckner completed passes to Brent, Winn and Oakley Starling, and running back Dakota Vaught added several runs. Richardson got some work in on field goals, making both tries.

On defense, Britt Roberts nearly picked off a pass, and on the next play the Lions tied the game with a 20 yard run. Working on goal line defense, the Cougars gave up a rushing TD but held the Lions on their second try. Another change of possession followed, with the teams switching back to the 30 yard line to start possessions.

Parker Richardson made a great catch in traffic to keep a Cougar drive alive, and Dakota Vaught added a 34 yard catch and run on the next play. Another Vaught run got the ball down to the 3, but the Cougars couldn't finish off the drive. Dylan Vaught then picked off a Lion pass, and that ended the night's activities.

Bright spots for the Cougars were the running of Stephen Brent, the power of Starling's arm, and the play of the young linemen. Brent ran 5 times for 85 yards and added 3 catches for 41. Starling ended his night early, going 8-of-15 for 32 yards and a touchdown. Backup Peyton Buckner was 5-of-6 throwing for 59 yards. Leading tacklers for MTCS were Keith Pickard with 4 and Brent with three.

Just over one week remains between now and opening night at Throneberry Stadium. The coaches and players will have lots to talk about and work on, but the fact remains: Football is almost here. GO COUGARS!

Scrimmage Thursday
Cannon County comes to Town
: : Jay Brunner : :08.07.2011: :

The Cougars will get a chance to hit someone else this Thursday as coach Joel Shrenk and his Cannon County Lions come to Throneberry Stadium for a scrimmage. Come out and watch Coach Stewart put the team through their paces and get a final tune-up before Week 0 prep begins! Kickoff at 7 pm.

Stewart Talks Shop
New Head Coach Realistic but Confident
: : Jay Brunner : :08.04.2011: :

Words like "young" and "inexperienced" are common when you talk about the Cougars this season, even when you're the new head coach. But Brian Stewart can also see the potential in his players, no matter their age.

"The biggest surprise for me is that all the young players have talent," Stewart said Thursday. "It's outstanding. We'll just have to learn to compete at a level we can be proud of. And we have to speed up."

Team speed is crucial when running the Spread offense, and Stewart believes that senior QB Ivey Starling will fit in to the system well. "We may run the 'I' some, but mostly we'll stick with the spread."

When asked about his team's chances for a fourth straight playoff trip, Coach Stewart provided the quote of the preseason: "I expect to make the playoffs, because I expect to win."

Several changes have been made to the coaching staff as well. Andrew Park has decided to pursue a teaching job in Nashville, and we wish him well with his future. Two new faces will be roaming the sidelines in 2011: Mark Hall (Def. and Off. lines) and Rashad Rayner (Receivers and Def. Backs).

Coach Rayner was a member of Brian Stewart's 2006 State Title team at Jackson Christian, and he received a full scholarship to Harding University. He is currently studying Business and Economics at MTSU. Coach Hall has had several coaching jobs, most notably he was defensive coordinator at Ezell-Harding under Alex Roberts, now a Cougar assistant coach.

All other Cougar coaches are back: Coach Sharpe with QB's, Coach Barker with running backs and linebackers, Coach Carver with D-Backs and Receivers, and Coach Williams as def. coordinator. Coach Stewart will also take on the offensive coordinator job.

It's an exciting time at MTCS. Footballs are flying, pads are popping, position battles are being fought, and above it all looms a meeting with Nashville Christian, now closer than ever.

Two weeks to go.

PRESEASON 2011
COUGARS TRY TO MAKE IT 4 STRAIGHT PLAYOFF TRIPS

Jeremy's Spring Report

The MTCS Cougars are coming off of yet another successful season in which they made the postseason for the 3rd straight year and also won the first playoff game in school history. Coach David Peden enters this year with perhaps the biggest challenge he has faced since taking over as head coach. The team loses 17 seniors from last year's playoff team and will need to rely on the leadership of players such as Stephen Brent and Ivey Starling to lead the 2011 Cougars if they hope to make yet another trip to the playoffs.

The Cougars return only seven starters from the 2010 team with four on offense and three on defense. The biggest hole that the Cougars will need to fill will be that of the offensive and defensive lines. Among those 17 seniors the team lost, many played in the trenches and even started. I'm now going to breakdown the names you should expect to see playing these positions in 2011 after speaking to the coaches and based on performances from last season.

Seniors:

STEPHEN BARKER- Anchor on both sides of the ball on the line. Turned out to be one of the most dependable and durable lineman in 2010. Expect to see him play defensive end and offensive tackle.

HUNTER RINDAHL-Came out during the season last year and saw some action on the defensive line. Very athletic for a lineman and could possibly play some TE as well. He has good size and strength and could be a breakout player in 2011.

Newcoming Seniors:

BEN BLACK-A manger for the past two seasons, but could be a run stopper in the middle on defense and has surprising quickness.

TRENT INMAN-A great trap shooter and will miss some of the preseason due to trap commitments, but could develop into a solid player.

Returning Underclassmen:

At guard and center, you will have the following players competing for spots:

CHRISTOPHER COLLINS (JR)-he played soccer in the spring and has got leaner and developed better footwork this offseason.

ZACH BRANDON (JR)-He could play some TE and also played some guard last season.

CARL MATHIS (SO)-He has a great frame and great potential. He has a good chance to be a starting tackle this year.

TREY BAUTISTA (SO)-Great potential as an underclassmen, hard worker, and could end in a starting role as a sophomore.

RYAN HASSELL (JR)-Saw some time at the line and FB last season and could play either one in 2011.

Newcoming Linemen:

DYLAN VAUGHT (FR)-He is a hard worker with great feet who could see early playing time.

LEO ORANTES (FR)-Workout machine, had great spring in the weightroom and could see early playing time.

GAVIN BURGESS (FR)-He had an outstanding year as an 8th grader until a knee injury. He's battled back and could make an instant impact.

IAN GREGORY (FR)-He has good size and will probably continue to grow over time.

FRANKLIN ROBERTS (SO)-Transfer from Coffee County. He has great size and determination to be a great player. He could see some TE this year.

BRAD BLACK (FR)-Brother to Ben Black.

Now that you have gotten to know who you can expect to see in the trenches, we'll move on to the skill positions on both sides of the ball.

Seniors:

STEPHEN BRENT RB/LB/FB-1,199 yards rushing in 2010 and was All-District and the District Back of the year.

IVEY STARLING QB/S-3rd year starter at QB.

KEITH PICKARD FB/LB-Started all season in 2010 at FB. He is very durable and reliable on both sides of the ball.

Newcoming Seniors:

PARKER RICHARDSON K/WR/DB-Skilled soccer player and could be a speed threat at WR.

DYLAN RITTER WR/DB-He is new to football, but is athletic and has a demeanor that may make for a pretty solid defensive back.

Returning Underclassmen:

TY HAGEMAN (JR) WR/DB-As long of a WR as the Cougars will have athletically. He has developed into his form and could be a breakout player in 2011.

BRITT ROBERTS (SO) QB/DB-started at FS last season and had two interceptions, including the game ending touchdown return against Watertown.

DAKOTA VAUGHT (SO) RB/LB-Saw limited action at RB in 2010 but is a hard runner with great vision.

BRENT HOFBAUER (JR) QB/DB-Backup at QB the last two seasons and has developed well in that time.

OAKLEY STARLING (SO) WR/DB-Brother to Ivey Starling.

Skill Position Newcoming Underclassmen:

PHILIP BONABI (SO)-Solid athlete who just played baseball last season.

CLAYTON MITCHELL (SO)-Soccer player who could be an excellent WR/DB and kicker option.

JUSTIN WINN (FR)-Transferred from Siegel Middle where he was a three sport athlete. He could make an impact and is very athletic.

The options the Cougars appear to be leaning toward at K/P are either Parker Richardson or Clayton Mitchell.

These are the names that expect to put on the orange and white in 2011. Some things may change as the spring and summer progress, but this should paint a pretty clear picture of this year's squad. This team has nine seniors with four of them being newcomers. The team is undoubtedly inexperienced after losing a lot of leadership and talent at key positions. This team however still returns enough players at the skill positions that despite the trenches only returning two seniors, look to once again pose a pretty stiff threat to the rest of the district and should once again challenge for a playoff spot.

Stewart Installs the Spread
Starling and Receivers to be Focal Points
: : Jay Brunner : :07.13.2011: :

The Dead Period is over, and new MTCS head coach Brian Stewart wasted no time getting to know his new squad and installing his offense. The Cougars will be running the Spread, an offense that uses the pass to set up the run by flooding the field with receivers.

Read more about Coach Stewart's first few days on the job by CLICKING HERE.

The season is just a month away! GO COUGARS!!!

BRIAN STEWART NAMED HEAD COACH
Returns to TN After a Year in Alabama
: : Jay Brunner : :06.27.2011: :

Brian Stewart has been announced as the next head coach for the MTCS high school football team. He will be coming back to coach in Tennessee after spending the 2010 season at Mobile Christian in Alabama.

Coach Stewart led the Jackson (TN) Christian program from 2006-2009, winning the State 1A title in his first year there. He left the Eagles with a 30-19 record over his four years, with 3 trips to the playoffs.

Stewart, while a hire from outside the program, obviously has massive experience in coaching private school teams, so he should have an easier time with fitting in at MTCS, and should be able to hit the ground running smoothly. ThisIsCougarFootball.com will have more details on the hire as soon as they become available.

Congratulations to Coach Brian Stewart, and good luck this season!

TSSAA Dead Period Begins

Today marks Day 1 of the mandatory 2-week Dead Period for all Tennessee high school sports. What exactly is the Dead Period?

The next two weeks will serve as a transition period from the 2010/11 season to 2011/12. Athletes and coaches will have no contact with each other, so this also serves as the official summer break for players. While those playing in fall sports (women's soccer, football, etc.) are still expected to be in the weight room periodically, all workouts are voluntary.

School administrations can still conduct some sports-related business, as MTCS is doing in its coaching search, but the TSSAA is effectively shut down for two weeks.

A bigger problem, according to football coaches, is the lack of practice time in pads this year. A TSSAA rule allows teams to put on the pads for the first time at the end of July, giving them 3 weeks of pads before their first games.

Unfortunately, this year's calendar has Week 0 games scheduled for August 19, cutting the available practice-in-pads period from 3 weeks to two. Coaches use that time to acclimate the players to the heat and to hitting each other. The push has been to allow players an extra week in July to put on the pads.

The dead period will end at midnight on Saturday July 9, and there should be an announcement of the new Cougar coach in the following days. In the meantime, two weeks is a long time. A very long time.

Schedule Change and Boston Butts
Support the Team by Buying Meat

The Cougars have decided not to put off their long road trip this coming season. The game against the Cosby Eagles has been moved back from Week 5(Sept. 23) to Week 3 (Sept. 9). This will move the Bye week to the 23rd and give the team a week off exactly halfway through the season.

To help pay for the expenses, the team will be holding a fund raiser. Here are the details from MTCSCougars.org:

Our Cougar football team will be traveling to Cosby, TN on September 9, 2011 for "Friday Night Lights!" To help cover the expenses, they are selling Boston butts from Slick Pig BBQ. Each Boston butt will weigh approximatley 6-8 pounds. It will be hot, cooked, and ready to eat! Price is only $30 each. They will be ready for pick up on Saturday, July 2nd between 9-10 a.m. at the MTCS gymnasium. Orders should be turned in no later than Monday, June 27th to Jamie Vaught. She can be contacted at jamielinvaught@gmail.com or 615-604-1170. Thanks for your support! GO COUGARS!

Decisions, Decisions
Resumes Coming in From Across the Country

A recent development in the coaching search is giving the MTCS head coaching job national attention.

Athletic director Dan Wilkerson has recently received a resume from a winning coach from the west coast. This candidate has applied for an assistant coaching position, but has the background to be a head coach. He played his high school ball at a well-known national powerhouse that has churned out multiple college and pro football stars.

Garnering this type of attention when searching for a coach can only help your program grow and reach untold heights. Good luck to Mr. Wilkerson as well as Principal Todd Miller and President Lynn Watson. We know you'll make the right decision for the school and the team!

PEDEN RESIGNS
TAKES OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR JOB AT BGA

MTCS Head Coach David Peden has resigned his position, taking an assistant coaching job at Battleground Academy. The search for a new head coach is underway, but the upcoming TSSAA "dead period", during which coaches and players can have no contact, may delay the decision.

Read all about this shocking turn of events at the Daily News Journal website.

DNJ ARTICLE (MON, JUNE 13)

Questions, Questions
Coaching Search Underway, Hopefully some Answers Soon

So who's next? That's the main question swirling around Rutherford County and MTCS. The departure of David Peden has left a head coaching void late in the offseason, and school administration are burning the midnight oil in order to fill it.

What, beyond the obvious, are the main questions that need answering? Here are a few big ones.

WILL A NEW HEAD COACH BE NAMED BEFORE THE TSSAA DEAD PERIOD BEGINS ON JUNE 26?

Waiting until July 9 (when the dead period ends) to announce a new coach will give that person just over a month before Week 0 kicks off to implement their schemes, introduce themselves to the school and the team, and get the ball rolling.

WILL THERE BE A COACH ALREADY ON STAFF THAT IS PROMOTED TO HEAD COACH, OR WILL THERE BE SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE PROGRAM BROUGHT IN?

This late in the year, and again, this close to the Dead Period, it would seem that looking within the program would be the right move. There would be familiarity with the coach and the playbook(s) and less time devoted to learning new terminology. There are 2 members of David Peden's staff who would be perfect for the job.

ALEX ROBERTS (OC/DL)- Coach Roberts has head coaching experience already, leading the Ezell-Harding Eagles for 3 years. His duties as head baseball coach would impact his presence for spring drills, but otherwise he could slide right in to the job.

STEVE WILLIAMS (DC/QB)- Coach Williams has coached AAA ball at Lavergne, and made the decision to split his time between the two schools in 2009, thanks to the urging of Peden and principal Todd Miller. Parents have commented that Williams is great in his handling of his players, both on and off the field, and elevating him to head coach would most likely get him to commit full time to MTCS.

WILL THE CHANGE AT THE TOP CAUSE ANY COMMITTED PLAYERS TO DECIDE NOT TO PLAY THIS YEAR?

This is a "wait-and-see" scenario. Most parents have said that the players will play ball, no matter who the coach is. The roster for 2011 is 35 strong, and hopefully will have that many names when the season starts August 19.

Ten days to go until the dead period begins. Stay tuned for developments as they happen. GO COUGARS!!!