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Sponsor Cougar Football Broadcasts! Middle Tennessee Christian School Football is actively seeking sponsorship of its High School Football broadcasts. Broadcast sponsors would help to offset the expenses associated with the service. In partnership with ATWSportscast.com, MTCS, and ThisisCougarFootball.com, announcers Jay Brunner and Jeremy Smith are bringing the excitement and suspense of Cougar Football 2010 live to the world via the internet. Get in on the action by becoming a sponsor today! We are currently looking for businesses and local groups to contribute. All advertising will be done live during Friday night broadcasts of Cougar Football. Per-Game Cost: $25 for text-only ad; $50 for text and 30 sec. video ad Text would include business slogan(s) and brief explanation of services. Video advertisements would be provided by client. Client would sponsor individual aspects of the game. These aspects include: One Quarter of each game Pre-game "Keys To The Game" segment MTCS Time-outs Starting Offensive Lineups Halftime Show The "Orange Zone" Sacks First Downs Example: "It�s time for tonight's ThisisCougarFootball.com Keys To The Game." Example: "This Quarter brought to you by ThisisCougarFootball.com. Even when it's not game day, you can still keep up with the Cougars. This-is-Cougar-Football-dot-com provides you with news, stats, highlights, and more. Log on today and get in on the action!" Text and video ads would be run immediately preceding or following sponsored aspect(s), and at random throughout the game. Become a sponsor of Cougar Football Today! Call 615-556-8113 or email Jay Brunner: jay@thisiscougarfootball.com or Rob Mathis: rmathis@mtcscougars.org to begin your sponsorship or for more information. GO COUGARS!
2009 - Season In Review Setting the stage for 2010 : : Jeremy Smith, Jay Brunner : : 7.25.2010 The 2009 season started off with one of those age-old questions: How would the departure of the seniors change the dynamic of the team? But it was another pair of questions that would occupy MTCS during the summer and early fall: How would the Cougars handle another head coaching change? And with the new TSSAA playoff format going into effect, would the Cougars� chances of getting to the playoffs for a second straight season be dashed? The answers surprised more than a few people surrounding the program by year�s end. The season started off at home against Friendship Christian, with R.J. Miller out with an illness and Stephen Brent recovering from a preseason injury. The Cougars turned it over eight times, and the Commanders proved overwhelming, leaving MTCS stunned by a 47-3 loss. Not the way the Cougars wanted to start off after a playoff season, but they knew they had to put it behind them quickly in order to prepare for their next game on the road at Watertown. Stephen Brent returned for the Week 1 contest against the Tigers, but his efforts weren�t enough as the Cougars were blanked by Watertown by a final of 25-0. R.J. Miller was again absent due to the illness, but the Cougars did improve in many areas that night. The defense allowed only six points in the 2nd half, and after having 11 penalties in Week 0, the Cougars totaled Zero Penalties for the night. The Cougars would return home the following week to play their first district game against the Raiders of Moore County. An 0-2 record looked rough on paper, but with a win, MTCS could be right back on track and have a key District victory under their belts. It was a memorable night in Murfreesboro on September 4, 2009. Throneberry Stadium was filled with fans wanting to witness a district game and the return of R.J. Miller. They weren�t disappointed. Miller turned in an incredible performance, going for 246 yards on 21 carries in the 30-7 shellacking. The Cougars did even better in the turnover department on this night: they didn�t give away the ball once. The Cougars would head back on the road to play Ezell-Harding the following week, looking to even their record at 2-2. R.J. Miller got things rolling on the first play from scrimmage as he intercepted a Blake Mitchell pass and returned it near midfield. Later in the 1st half, R.J. Miller was tackled hard on a 4th down play. He left the game and would not return. The game turned into a back and forth affair, with not much scoring to speak of. MTCS did themselves no favors by having four turnovers, including one on the last possession in which they could have won it. The lone touchdown was scored by Nathan Coats, but at the end of the night it wasn�t enough as the Cougars dropped to 1-3 after a 12-10 loss. The bright spot in the 1-3 record is that MTCS stood at 1-0 in district play and at the top of the standings. The Cougars would head to Unionville in Week 4 to take on the Vikings of Community High School, and this one was over early. Stephen Brent had a career night going for 177 yards on 22 carries as R.J. Miller got the night off. Ivey Starling even got into the act, throwing his first TD pass: a 13 yard lob to Chris Brandon. The defense once again came to play as they held the Vikings to only 67 total yards on 35 plays. The 48-0 beating on the road moved the Cougars to an important 2-0 in district play. The Cougars would head home the following week to take on the Lions of Cannon County in Week 5. R.J. Miller was out again, so the Cougars put the load on the legs of Stephen Brent. The Cougars kept it close through the first half, but as the 2nd half progressed, a Starling interception led to an easy Lions TD to seal the Cougars� fate. The Cougars had many chances late in the 3rd and 4th to come back, but never could mount any offense. The Cougars would fall to 2-4 overall after a 26-6 loss, but were still atop the district standings at 2-0. R.J. Miller returned to begin the key stretch of district games to finish the season at Forrest. But it appeared that the Cougars weren�t ready or just flat out weren�t good enough to beat the Rockets on this night. On the opening play of the game Levell Quezaire took the handoff and ran 80 yards for a TD, setting the tempo for the evening. What had been a stout Cougar run defense was exposed badly, as they gave up 410 yards on 45 carries for an average of 9.1 yards per carry. The only positive on the night was an R.J. Miller punt return for a TD. But with the offense only getting 122 total yards it really hindered any chance the Cougars had to win, and they fell 37-7. The Cougars fell to 2-5 overall and 2-1 in district play. Even with the district loss, MTCS was still in great position to reach the postseason. Nathan Coats took it upon himself to lead the Cougars to a key district win over Huntland in Week 7. On defense, Coats dominated with 13 tackles, 3 for loss, and a sack. On the offensive side of the ball he had a career night as well running for 86 yards on 7 carries and 2 TD. R.J. Miller made noise of his own, going over 100 yards rushing for the first time since his record performance in Week 2. The Cougar defense rose from the ashes of their thumping at Forrest, limiting the Hornet offense to only 161 total yards. With the 28-0 win they would push their record to 3-5 overall and most importantly 3-1 in district play. MTCS would play their last home game of the regular season the following week, facing a familiar foe in Cascade on Senior Night. In what seemed to mirror the 2008 game against Cascade, the Cougars held a 21-7 lead at halftime. But as the 2nd half got underway things turned bad, then got worse. Stephen Brent went down on his 3rd carry of the half with a separated shoulder which would unfortunately end his season. After going 7-of-9 on 3rd down in the 1st half, the Cougars did not convert a single 3rd down in the 2nd half. That, combined with two Starling interceptions, led to 21 unanswered points for the Champions as they came from behind to beat the Cougars 28-21, leaving the team and fans in disbelief. As the Cougars fell to 3-6 overall and 3-2 in district play, they would head into their bye week and prepare for their Week 10 matchup at Eagleville with the playoffs still likely on the horizon. The MTCS-Eagleville game was moved up to Thursday night due to heavy rain chances the following night. Many people wondered if they would be ready to play on a Thursday night, but the answer to that was a resounding yes. The Cougars headed into the game knowing that they were in the TSSAA State Playoffs for the 2nd straight season along with Eagleville. The matchup between the two was set to determine seeding and a potential home playoff game for the winner. Ivey Starling had his coming out party and really started showing his maturity and skill at the quarterback position. Starling went 8-12 on the night for 120 yards and a TD to Jordan Watson. A solid defensive performance assured that the Cougars clinched the 1st overall seed in District 9 with a 17-10 win. MTCS would end the season 4-6 overall and 4-2 in district play. The Cougars had managed another successful season and had the opportunity to make it even more special against the Gordonsville Tigers. November 13 was a momentous day at Throneberry Stadium. While not achieving the regular season success of the previous team, the Cougars of �09 did what needed to be done, and surpassed Phillip Shadowens� squad by earning a first round bye, and hosting their first ever home playoff game. Throneberry Stadium was packed, with fans of both teams lining the fences around the entire field. The atmosphere was electric, to say the least, and it attracted at least one one big name in Middle Tennessee sports coverage: News 2�s own Joe Dubin. A halftime lead left the home folks rocking, and everyone was on pins and needles as the second half started. But whatever Gordonsville head coach Ron Marshall said to his team in the locker room, it seemed to work, as the Tigers began to dominate, and the Cougars began to despair. Chaz Smith, Cody Woodmore, and Vincent Jackson showed their skills well, and in the end it was too much for the valiant home team. Gordonsville prevailed 34-20, and would move on to the quarterfinals at South Pittsburg, while the Cougars were left to celebrate another historic run, albeit with a grain of salt, and perhaps a tear or two. Heading into 2010, new questions are being asked: If not now, then when? MTCS returns starters to 7 positions on each side of the ball this year, and according to some, the offense might be �the most exciting ever.� With a large senior class, 2010 looks to be the best opportunity for the Cougars to get over the hump and win their first playoff game. With so many seniors graduating after this campaign, it may be several years before MTCS can put together this much talent again. No pressure, right? 2010 Awaits�.. GO COUGARS!!!
Cougars Clip Eagles' Wings MTCS-EHS Rivalry Heats Up in Soggy Eagleville : : Jay Brunner : : 10.31.2009 Big questions loomed over the Cougars’ regular season finale at Eagleville: Would they be ready to play on Thursday night? Would the rain hold off? Would the third chapter of this budding rivalry live up to expectations? The answer to all three was a resounding Yes. On a soggy Thursday night in Eagleville, the two 1A playoff teams in District 9A battled for the top seed and bragging rights in what has become the best rivalry in Rutherford County football in a long time, second only to Oakland-Riverdale. After a fumble ended the Cougars’ first drive of the game, Clay McCarver and Chris Brandon stepped up on defense, with McCarver wrapping up Eagles running back Nathan Jernigan for a 9 yard loss and Brandon sacking quarterback Will Duke on the next play. The rest of the first half resulted in both teams trading punts and turning the ball over on downs, will no real advantage either way. Then in the last 5 minutes of the half, MTCS’s defense held on a 4th down sneak by Duke, getting the ball at the Eagleville 49 yard line. Several plays into the drive, Ivey Starling hit Chris Beasley for a 24 yard catch and run that put the ball on the EHS 3. The next play was obvious: give it to Nathan Coats have him take it in for the touchdown. With 20 seconds remaining, that’s exactly what happened. To start the second half, Eagleville drove 59 yards on 10 plays but had to settle for three. After a Cougar 3-and-out, however, Jordan Watson had his punt blocked, giving the Eagles possession at the MTCS seven. Two plays later, running back Trint Jordan gave the Eagles the lead with a 5 yard touchdown run. As the third quarter clock ran out, MTCS was faced with a 10-7 deficit in a crucial game. Nobody bothered to tell Ivey Starling to feel nervous, though, and on the first play in the 4th quarter, Starling hit Chris Brandon on a seam route for a 42 yard gain to the EHS 18. It was his longest completion of the year. The Cougars eventually called on Trevor Brunsvold to tie the game at 10, and the junior delivered, putting up 3 points with a 31 yard field goal. A tie game in the fourth quarter. Another close fight between MTCS and EHS. The series tied at one game apiece. A referee that will have to stay as far away as he can from Eagleville for a long, long time. On the Eagles’ next possession, the Cougars forced and 3-and-out, and Will Akins was back to punt. A bad snap caused Akins to bobble the ball, and several Cougars applied immediate pressure. Akins rolled out to his right, looking to make a play and keep the drive alive, but ran smack into the referee, and went down at his own 6 yard line. After a holding penalty and a Nathan Coats run, MTCS faced third-and-goal at the 11 yard line. In a clutch play, Ivey Starling delivered, throwing a perfect lob pass to Jordan Watson in the endzone for the game-winning score and Starling’s second TD pass of the year. The defense still had work to do, however. After an exchange of punts, Eagleville drove the ball to the MTCS 34. With just under 7 seconds to go in the game, Eagles’ quarterback Will Duke put the game on his shoulders with a draw play. He broke through the line and into the secondary. And in a play that put an exclamation point on the entire season to that point, senior linebacker Nathan Coats, playing back in coverage, grabbed the ankles of Duke at the 17 yard line and brought him down to end the game. The Cougars have secured the top 1A playoff seed in District 9A, so it’s back to work as the season continues. A series of program firsts greeted the Cougars Saturday morning, as they learned of their first round Bye in the playoffs, and also learned of their first ever home playoff game on November 13, when MTCS will host the winner of the Gordonsville/Lookout Valley game. Congratulations to all the players, coaches, parents, and fans in the MTCS high school football program for a great regular season and the will to keep fighting. The Cougars outscored the other 3 1A teams in their District by a total of 75-17, so it’s not surprising to see them enjoying the fruits of their hard work. Now the work continues as it’s “win or go home” from here on out. We at thisiscougarfootball.com hope to see you at Throneberry Stadium on November 13th for the 7 pm kickoff. If you need a high school football fix this coming week, head back to Eagleville on Friday to watch the Eagles host the Monterey Wildcats in their first round game. GO COUGARS!!!
Cougars Playoff Bound! Eagleville Win Clinches Berth for MTCS and EHS : : Jay Brunner : : 10.24.2009 The regular season finale in 2008 had MTCS fans and Forrest fans on the edges of their seats as the Cougars and Rockets fought it out for the last playoff spot in Region 5. This year, the Cougars took care of business early, winning the games they needed to and it allowed them to sit back and wait during their week off. With a 24-14 Eagleville win over Huntland last night, the waiting game paid off and pushed the Cougars into the playoffs for the second straight year. Now the questions are: Who will MTCS face in the first round, and will they play at Throneberry Stadium? The answer to the second question may come next Friday night when the Cougars play Eagleville at Talon Field. A Cougar win would give them the #1 playoff seed in District 9-A, and possibly a first round home game. The first question will probably not be answered until all games are final Friday night. With the convoluted playoff system and the wildcard berths, etc., it will be difficult to predict just who MTCS will face. But we can try! If MTCS clinches the 1-seed next week, they would probably face a 2-seed from either District 7/8 (which are combined for playoff purposes) or District 10. If the playoffs started today, that means the Cougars would face either Monterey (Dist. 7/8) or their old nemesis McEwen (Dist. 10). If MTCS is defeated by the Eagles, they would play a 1-seed, which means they would face off with either Gordonsville (5-4) or Jo Byrns (9-0). So there is added pressure to win so the Cougars can avoid a first round matchup with the Red Devils, who have outscored opponents this year a mind-blowing 317-61. Congratulations to Coach David Peden and staff for getting this team to the playoffs in his first year at the helm, and to the team for working hard, never giving up, and fighting through the injuries, penalties, and turnovers to reach the postseason. GO COUGARS!!!
A Tale of Two Halves
Cougars Let Big District Game Slip Away : : Jay Brunner : : 10.18.2009 Stephen Brent sat helpless on the bench after just his 3rd carry in the second half, with trainers icing down his left shoulder and his left arm in a sling. He and others at Throneberry Stadium watched in horror as a 21-7 halftime lead slowly evaporated, leading to a heartbreaking Senior night loss and the assurance of a losing record for the first time in 2 years. The Cascade Champions came in to this big District matchup undefeated against 9A opponents, with MTCS second at 3-1. The Cougars jumped on top in the first quarter with a 2 yard Nathan Coats run at the end of their first possession. Logan Waldron made one of his two fumble recoveries on the next Champion drive, giving his team possession at the Cascade 44. Nine plays later, Nathan Coats punched it in once again, from 3 yards out. The second half started badly for MTCS and only got worse, as two Ivey Starling interceptions followed injuries to both Stephen Brent and Thomas Byrd. The Cougars did not convert a single 3rd down in the final 24 minutes after going 7-of-9 in that category in the first half. They gained a total of 10 yards on offense in half number two. In a scene reminiscent of the 35-21 come-from-behind win by Cascade a year ago, the Champions proved that lightning can strike twice by putting up 21 unanswered points and pulling out the victory 28-21. Cascade will hang on to the top spot in the District while the Cougars will fall to third after a Forrest win over Huntland. The Cougars are off next Friday, a time to heal and to watch the outcome of the Eagleville/Huntland game. If Eagleville wins, both the Eagles and Cougars will advance to the playoffs as the top two 1A teams from District 9. The season-ending fight between Eagleville and MTCS would then be for the top seed. The Cougars have 2 weeks to stew and plan for the Eagles, and it looks like Coach Steve Carson’s team will have to foot the bill for a disappointing loss this week. Go Cougars! Cougars Playoff-Bound? Probably MTCS Controls Own Destiny : : Jay Brunner : : 10.10.2009 Head Coach David Peden was curious why he got the celebratory ice bath on Friday night after his team’s shutout win. “You can tell we haven’t had football long, if they’re doing this before we’ve clinched anything,” said Peden in a post-game interview. True, the Cougars aren’t a lock for a playoff spot after this win, but the bulk of the work is done. With an Eagleville win over Huntland in Week 9, the Cougars and Eagles will lock up the two available postseason spots for 1A teams in District 9. The regular season finale at Talon Field in Eagleville on October 30th would then be for positioning, with the winner taking the top playoff seed and possibly getting a first round home game. Rain once again threatened the festivities at Throneberry Stadium Friday as the Cougars hosted the Huntland Hornets on Homecoming night. The wet conditions brought forth the turnovers again as well, with 5 total fumbles in the game. The Cougar defense reemerged after a week of hibernation, limiting the Hornet offense to just 161 total yards. Senior Nathan Coats tore into opposing players, grinding out his best performance of the year with 13 tackles, 3 for loss, and a sack. On offense, Coats turned in another career performance, rushing for 86 yards on just 7 carries and 2 touchdowns. His first score was a thing of beauty, a 65 yard scamper that showed both his strength and speed. Junior R.J. Miller made noise of his own, going over 100 yards on the ground for the first time since his record-setting Week 2 clinic versus Moore County. He ended the night with 109 yards on 12 carries, including a 40 yard touchdown run. On defense, he contributed his second pick of the year. Other big contributors to the win include Ivey Starling (4-yd TD run), Chris Beasley (29-yd run, fumble recovery), Clay McCarver (5 tackles, 1 pass break-up), and Jordan Watson (3 punts-104 yds, 2 pass break-ups). MTCS will play at Throneberry Stadium for the last time in 2009 next Friday, as the Cougars will host the ever-dangerous Cascade Champions on Senior Night. Coach Peden and staff will be looking to improve the secondary and keep penalties to a minimum. The team got hit with 8 penalties for 94 yards Friday night, their highest total in that category since Week 0 versus Friendship Christian. However, the last 3 15-yd pass interference penalties were heavily debated and booed by the large Cougar crowd. Kickoff for Senior night is set for 7:30. Go Cougars! Cougars Fall in Rematch from 2008 Poor Rush Defense and Turnovers Key in Cougars’ Loss : : Jeremy Smith : : 10.04.2009 It appeared at the opening kickoff that the Cougars weren’t prepared to play. Levell Quezaire took the handoff on the first play of the game and went 80 yards for a touchdown and that set the tempo for the rest of the night. What had been a strong Cougar run defense for the first 6 games was exposed badly on this night as they gave up 410 yards on 45 carries for an average of 9.1 ypc. So obviously there is work to do as the Cougars have tough games to finish the season. Miller on the night carried it 15 times for 63 yards while Brent carried it seven times for 29 yards. It was a case of the offense really never getting a rhythm going and the offense simply could never mount a drive. The Cougars were only able to account for only 122 total yards of offense with the only spark of the game coming from a R. J. Miller punt return for a touchdown to cut the lead to 17-7. But on the next possession the Rockets scored a touchdown to put away any momentum the Cougars may have gained. The Cougars will return home next week to face the Huntland Hornets on Homecoming night. The Cougars will hope to make some improvements and adjustments as they are now hitting the stretch run of the season and try to make the playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. GO COUGARS! Lions Win “Jungle Battle” Rain and Miscues Cost Cougars : : Jay Brunner : : 09.26.2009 In a match-up of jungle cats, the Cougars hosted the Lions of Cannon County Friday night, in a game where a wet football and some costly mistakes ultimately cost the home team a victory. MTCS kept it close and played well through the first half, allowing the Lions only 14 points while putting up 6 of their own on Ivey Starling’s second rushing touchdown of the year. A couple of big plays through the air by Cannon County led to the margin at the break. The second half began well for the Cougars, as they forced a 3-and-out. But 6 plays into the drive, a Starling interception set the Lions up at the MTCS 17, and 4 plays later the visitors tacked on 6 more points to extend the lead to 20-6. Each team had several more possessions in the following 16 minutes, with punts back and forth and neither team taking advantage. Mid-way through the 4th quarter, however, a terrible call by the referees gave the ball to Cannon County at the Cougar 49. Three plays later, quarterback Lee Cooper tucked it in and ran 41 yards for the final Lion score of the night. MTCS quarterback Ivey Starling, building on the confidence boost of his first touchdown pass last week, aired it out for the Cougars 23 times, connecting on 10 passes for 75 yards. Stephen Brent ran the ball 30 times for 90 yards. While the loss is a tough one for the Cougars, the rest of the schedule is the “important stretch.” Four straight District games await MTCS to finish the regular season. The team travels next Friday to Chapel Hill to take on the Rockets of Forrest High School. A win would move the Cougars to 3-0 in the District, where they currently hold the top spot. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30, Go Cougars! Cougars Dominate Vikings in Shutout Win Starling Throws First TD Pass of the Season : : Jay Brunner : : 09.19.2009 After a long run, senior Nathan Coats was brought down in a puddle near the 26 yard line. As he splashed around and got back to his feet, he pumped his fists, fired up. There was no better picture to describe the Cougar victory in Unionville Friday night, as MTCS rolled to a 48-0 shutout win over Community in soggy conditions. From Christian Barrett’s 33-yard kickoff return to start the game, the Cougars grabbed hold of the momentum and never looked back. Touchdown runs of 12 yards and 60 yards by Stephen Brent, along with TD runs of 1 and 2 yards by Coats put the game out of reach early, but quarterback Ivey Starling still had some things to do. In the third quarter the young sophomore signal caller threw his first career touchdown pass, a 13 yard lob to a wide open Chris Brandon, one of only 7 pass attempts in the game. Starling turned in his best performance of the season, completing 4-of-7 for 55 yds and the score. His best pass was a 35 yard laser over the middle to his favorite target Jordan Watson, who got the ball inside the Viking 5 and set up one of Coats’s touchdowns. Stephen Brent put the ground game on his shoulders, turning in his best work of the year, racking up 177 yards on 22 carries. His 60 yard scoring run was a thing of beauty, with a quick cutback and a burst of speed that left everyone in the dust (or mud, in this case). Brent would average over 8 yards per carry. The Viking’s offensive coordinator was quoted in Thursday’s Shelbyville Times-Gazette as saying that fumbles were costing his team big. Such was the case Friday night as the Cougars recovered 6 fumbles thanks to the wet conditions. Junior Ryan Glidden, making his first defensive appearance of the night, made it one to remember. The Vikings’ 6th fumble bounced away from the pile of linemen, and Glidden scooped it up, returning it 84 yards for the final Cougar score late in the 4th quarter. The MTCS defense once again came to play, allowing only 67 total yards by Community on 35 snaps, an average of less than 2 yards per play. The Cougars ended the night with 278 total yards on offense, with 223 of them on the ground. They also ended the night with their once-clean, white uniforms in rainbow shades of green and brown. MTCS returns home to Throneberry Stadium next Friday night to take on the Lions of Cannon County. Kickoff at 7:30. Cougars Bite, Scratch, Claw Back, But Fall Miller Sprains Shoulder in Loss : : Jay Brunner : : 09.12.2009 The threat of rain hung ever-present over the Don Freudenthal Complex in Antioch on Friday night as the Cougars fought the Eagles of Ezell-Harding Christian School in Game 4. R.J. Miller got the ball rolling for the defense on the first play from scrimmage, intercepting a Blake Mitchell pass and returning it for 12 yards to the MTCS 48. The first Cougar drive ended shortly thereafter on an interception on 3rd down. A 3-and-out for Ezell followed, and the Cougars started their next possession at the Eagle 41 yard line. After maneuvering down to the Eagle 8, the field goal unit was called on, and Trevor Brunsvold answered, making his third kick of the year, a 25-yarder to put MTCS up 3-0 late in the first quarter. The rest of the first half was a back-and-forth affair, with neither team able to move the ball well enough to score. Late in the second quarter, however, a dagger was shoved into the hearts of Cougar coaches, players, and fans when R.J. Miller received a crushing tackle on a fourth down play. He would leave the game with 71 all-purpose yards and would not return. Luckily, Coach Peden described the injury as a low-grade shoulder sprain, and said that R.J. would be back in practices next week. The first Eagle possession of the second half nearly resulted in the first touchdown of the night. On 3rd-and-3 from the Cougar 39, Ezell QB Blake Mitchell fired a long pass to Lance Capitano near the 20. Capitano dipsy-doodled his way out of several Cougar tackles and seemed destined for the end zone. Senior defensive back Jordan Watson had other plans, though, and stripped the ball from Capitano at the 7 yard line. Rolling into the end zone, the fumble was recovered by Christian Barrett for a touchback. The Eagles would not be denied, however, and after another interception, Ezell went to the air at the Cougar 4, with Capitano throwing a touchdown pass to Cory Teague. The point after was no good, and the Eagles took the lead 6-3. After a third MTCS turnover on their next drive, things went from bad to worse as Ezell recovered a fumble and returned it to the MTCS 20. From there it was 5 plays and a 9 yard pass from Mitchell to Tyler Wilson to give the Eagles a 12-3 lead early in the 4th quarter. All was not lost. Thanks to some costly Ezell penalties and a fumble recovered by Tyler Williams in Eagle territory, the Cougars drove 35 yards in 8 plays, leaving Nathan Coats to take it in from 2 yards out for his first touchdown of the year. The Brunsvold PAT closed the gap to 12-10 with just over 8 minutes to play in the contest. A Chris Brandon sack effectively killed the next Eagle possession, and the Cougars got the ball back with over 3 minutes to go and a chance to win the game. But Ivey Starling’s 3rd interception of the night gave the ball back to Ezell at midfield, and from there the Eagles ran out the clock for the victory. The Cougars hit the road again next week, heading to Unionville and a matchup with the Vikings of Community. The trip will end the longest road swing for MTCS this season at 2 games. Throneberry Staduim will then host 3A opponent Cannon County in Week 5. While the Cougars end this week with an overall record of 1-3, they sit atop the District 9 standings alongside Cascade and Eagleville at 1-0. Cougars Run Through The Raiders The Return of R.J. Miller Sparks The Cougar Victory : : Jeremy Smith : : 09.05.2009 Just over a week ago R.J. Miller was in the hospital with an illness that caused him to miss the first two games of 2009. But on Friday night against Moore County, he showed everyone that he is 100% and is prepared to lead this team as they try to make the playoffs for the second straight season. Miller had a breakout game with 246 yards on 21 carries and two scores as the Cougars blew it open late in the game to win by a score of 30-7. They moved their record to 1-2 overall, but the important mark of 1-0 in district 9 play. The Cougars got on the board first as Miller got the pitch and ran it 80 yards for a score. But the lead was short-lived as Moore County running back Nathan Matlock took the handoff and ran 75 yards for a touchdown the very next play. The next drive the Cougars drove 62 yards on 11 plays ending in the first of two Stephen Brent rushing touchdowns. Brent finished the night with 11 carries for 65 yards and the two scores. Meanwhile the always reliable Nathan Coats finished the night with nine carries for 44 yards. And it seemed every time the Cougars needed a big first down Coats would pound through the middle and pick it up. The Cougar defense was stout. Chris Brandon lead the way with ten tackles and he seemed to be in on even more plays than that. Seven times the Raiders went for it on 4th down and only converted once. Two of those times were inside the MTCS ten yard line. Turnovers have been a problem through the first two games but the Cougars improved on that drastically as they didn’t turn the ball over once all night. Penalties were also held down as they had only five for 43 yards. The Cougars don’t play another district game until Week 7 against Huntland, but after a big win over Moore County, the Cougars are looking to build momentum as they head into the heart of their schedule. They begin the first of a two game road trip this Friday as they travel to Ezell-Harding looking to even their record at 2-2. Cougars Blanked By Tigers Brent Sees First Action as Cougars Fall to 0-2 : : Jay Brunner : : 08.28.2009 Stephen Brent stepped in to lead MTCS in rushing in Week 1, but his efforts weren’t enough to keep the Cougars from an 0-2 start to 2009. Racking up 79 yards on 20 carries, Brent saw his first playing time of the year but was unable to find the endzone as Watertown kept MTCS off the scoreboard, winning by a final tally of 25 – 0. He also had 4 tackles on defense. The Cougar defense limited the Tigers to just 7 points through the first 21 minutes, but a turnover and suspect tackling led to 12 Watertown points just before the half. Tiger quarterback Dalton Phillips had 2 touchdown tosses in the first half as well. The second half was a bright one for the MTCS defense, as they allowed just 6 points for the entire 24 minutes. The rush defense was particularly stout, keeping the opponent ground game bottled up for the second straight week, allowing just 79 yards on 28 carries, an average of 2.8 yards per run. Another dramatic turnaround for the Cougars came in the area of penalties. After amassing 107 yards on 11 penalties against Friendship Christian last week, MTCS went the entire game at Watertown without a single flag against them. Nathan Coats added 63 yards on 18 carries, giving him a two-week total of 113 yards rushing. He added 5 tackles as well, bringing his season total to 11. Turnovers cost the Cougars in Week 0, as they lost 8 balls to the Commanders, but in Week 1 they got back on track, forcing 3 Watertown fumbles and recovering 2, while only losing one fumble and an interception. Our thoughts and prayers are with R.J. Miller and his family as the junior battles an unknown illness that put him in the hospital early in the week. Hopefully his recovery is speedy and coaches and fans see him return to the field very soon. The Cougars must now look ahead to Friday night, when they host the Raiders of Moore County High School in the first District game for both teams. The Raiders are also one of the 3 teams that MTCS must beat in order to have a shot at a second-straight playoff berth. A lot is on the line Friday night at 7:30 at Throneberry Stadium, and if the Cougars can continue to improve in the turnover department, they can pull out their first victory of 2009. Cougars De-Clawed by Injuries Brent, Miller, Ware sidelined as MTCS falls : : Jeremy Smith : : 08.21.2009 Coaches, players, and fans were left stunned by the lopsided score Friday night, as Game 1 of Cougar football 2009 left MTCS on the short side of a 47-3 drubbing at the hands of Friendship Christian. The biggest factors in the hefty margin were injuries and turnovers, as the Cougars gave the ball away 6 times on the ground and twice through the air. Missing faces included sophomore Stephen Brent (hip pointer) and junior R.J. Miller (illness). The void at tailback was filled by third-stringer Christian Barrett, who had the best night of any of the men in orange, rushing for 78 yards on 14 carries. Senior Nathan Coats added 50 tough yards on 16 carries, as well as 6 tackles on defense, two of which were for loss. The leading Cougar tackler of the night was senior linebacker Chris Brandon with 8 total tackles, with 2 for loss. Senior defensive back Jordan Watson also added an interception in the end zone, stopping a Commander drive. A bright spot for MTCS was the kicking game, as junior Trevor Brunsvold nailed a 38-yard field goal early in the 2nd quarter for the Cougars’ only points. In the return game, junior Chris Beasley averaged 20.2 yards per return, thanks to a 73-yard kickoff return in the third quarter. An Ivey Starling interception stopped the Cougars in the Orange Zone a few plays later. As the team looks to put Week 0 behind them, they enter practice this week looking to rebound and beat back the injury bug. Coming up at 7 pm on Friday, however, is another tough test in the Watertown Purple Tigers. Senior QB Dalton Phillips will look to air it out against the Cougars, and his team will also be searching for their first win after a 42-19 loss against White House-Heritage. Look for the Cougars to stress ball security and look to the running game to carry them to victory in Week 1. Fall Practices Begin : : Jay Brunner : : 07.27.2009 Clouds gave way to bright sunny skies early Monday as the Cougars took to the practice field for the first official fall drills. Several starting spots will see fierce competition in the coming weeks, including quarterback and running back. In the backfield, senior Nathan Coats and sophomore Stephen Brent will be working for starting positions, but both should see plenty of action rushing the ball. Coats will line up at fullback, and Brent at tailback. With the graduation of Scot Bartilson and the departure of Gabe Welker, the QB spot is up in the air. Sophomore Ivey Starling looks ready to step in and take the reins, but junior Chris Beasley can offer junior-high experience at quarterback and lighting speed, so expect the competition here to continue well into August. The depth in the trenches is a strength for MTCS this season. Four of 5 offensive line starters return, led by seniors Logan Waldron at center and Seth Williams at right tackle. Fellow seniors Chris Liddle, Bo Evans, and Ty Scarborough will see action as well, along with juniors Clay McCarver, Brad Chambers, Brice Holmes, and Austin Lowe. On defense, look for that same lineup to attack opposing offenses, with Liddle and Waldron likely choices at D-tackles, and Williams and Scarborough at D-end. Linebacker is also a stacked position, led by Nathan Coats and fellow senior Chris Brandon. Junior Thomas Byrd is an option here as well, and younger players such as sophomores Keith Pickard, Adam Parker, and Stephen Brent could make appearances as well. Ty Scarborough, Brice Holmes, and Bo Evans could drop back to play here, too. Overall, the Cougar front 7 has the talent and the depth to be the best that MTCS has ever seen. The secondary has the most question marks coming into 2009 after the graduation of Dillon Wade and Chip Dunn. Senior Jordan Watson will be the leader here at corner, with juniors R.J. Miller, Chris Beasley, and Christian Kile rounding out the defensive backfield. The biggest question: Who will back them up? Brent could be an option here in a tight situation, and we won’t rule out sophomore Steven Barker, who gained considerable height in the offseason. Once the starters have been named, the Cougars face possibly their toughest opponent in team history, the Friendship Christian Commanders. Playoff contenders each of the last 9 years, they finished runner up in the Blue Cross Bowl in 2006. The season opener is less than 4 weeks away, and the excitement is building. On August 21, hopefully all the questions can finally be answered. Cougars Head into the “Undiscovered Country” : : Jay Brunner : : 05.22.2009 The commencement ceremony for the Middle Tennessee Christian School Class of 2009 is scheduled for this Saturday. As the seniors get ready to head off to places and futures unknown, parents, faculty, and friends will be remembering all the good times from the years past. So to keep with this tradition, we at thisiscougarfootball.com offer this look back at six men who did their part to change the football program forever. Scot Bartilson - #8, Quarterback, Defensive End. Scot started every game for the Cougars in 2008, leading them to an overall record of 7-4. He passed for nearly 1,600 yards and threw 17 touchdown passes. A great stat is his 4 scores on the ground with -16 rushing yards! He managed 12 tackles and 2 sacks on defense as well. The QB is always viewed as the leader of a team, and Scot performed admirably in the role. His best moment was, of course, the sneak for the go-ahead score in the closing minutes of the Forrest game, the game that propelled the Cougars into the playoffs. Devin Brunsvold - #54, Tackle, Linebacker. What can you say about Devin other than “game-changing-tackle-machine?” He ended the season as the state’s leading tackler, with 145 solo and assisted plays on defense. He also added 9 sacks and an interception into the mix. Opposing offenses had to know exactly where 54 was on every play, and still they couldn’t stop him. He also provided solid protection at left tackle for Scot Bartilson. Devin was being looked at by the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky, but decided to play football in Tennessee at Maryville College. Eric Compton - #26, Wide Receiver, Linebacker. Eric was the playmaker at receiver, one part of a trifecta of senior pass catchers that accounted for the majority of the MTCS offense in 2008. Over 11 games played, he amassed 37 catches for 526 yards and 8 touchdown grabs. Eric was a force on defense as well, contributing 46 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2 picks. His best moments came in the White House – Heritage game, where he made some absolutely amazing catches, and sealed the game late with a leaping, turning grab through double coverage in the endzone with less than 2 minutes to go. He recently signed a football scholarship with Cumberland University. Chip Dunn - #11, Wide Receiver, Cornerback. While not the tallest man on the field, Chip Dunn provided his own moments of excitement during 2008. Catching 28 passes for 312 yards and 3 scores, he stepped up when needed to provide that critical first down or that boost in energy when the team was down. When things were going well, he simply exploded with energy, screaming and fist-pumping, getting the crowd into it as well as firing up his teammates. His signature moment came against Nashville Christian, when he tipped a Bartilson pass to himself and raced 70 yards for the score. Chip signed to play college football in Greeneville, Tennessee. Kyle Pitts - #23, Wide Receiver, Linebacker. Kyle Pitts really came on like gangbusters during the second half of the season, where he tallied most of his total 13 catches, 237 yards and 2 touchdowns. His breakout game was a road struggle against Clarksville Academy, where he caught 2 passes, taking both in for scores. The second reception was a 75-yard sprint, the longest play from scrimmage for the Cougars in 2008. While he didn’t see much time on the defensive side of the ball, Kyle was a dangerous weapon for the Cougars and is a big loss for the team. Dillon Wade - #24, Running Back, Safety. Dillon Wade might be considered the most prolific player in Cougar football history. He did it all, from running, to catching, punt and kickoff returns, even throwing a pass in 2008. He racked up nearly 2,000 all-purpose yards in ‘08, with 1,200 of those on the ground. He added 6 touchdowns, 33 tackles and 2 interceptions as well. Over 4 years of high school ball, Dillon eclipsed 3,000 yards rushing despite an injury-plagued junior year and set almost every record a running back can set. He signed a scholarship with Harding University to play football starting in 2009. So as these young men walk across the stage and receive their diplomas on Saturday, they take with them historic achievements and leave us with moments of delight and euphoria that will last for a long time. They hand the football banner off to the next group of seniors, who will carry it through 2009 until they also depart into the future, that “Undiscovered Country.” To all the seniors of the Class of 2009, we at thisiscougarfootball.com wish you very bright, happy futures, and continued success in all you do. Good Luck, and Go Cougars!
Bright Cougar Future : : Jay Brunner : : 05.15.2009 Ask any of the 6 seniors from the 2008 Cougar team, and they’ll tell you that the season didn’t end well at all. The reactions to that, of course, would be “But you went to the playoffs for the first time ever!” or “It was an historic run!� While no one discounts the significance of last season, the coaches and players later said that they “really didn’t get off the bus” at Wayne County in November. One of the seniors was even seen commiserating with friends outside the locker rooms after the game, in tears. Not really the sort of reaction you’d expect after statistically the best season of Cougar football in the program’s short history. The point here is that the players who are coming back in 2009 are hungry. They’ve had a little taste of the playoffs, and they want more. They’re fueled by the less-than-stellar finish to 2008, and it will drive them to heights even greater. There will be 8 seniors to guide the 2009 Cougars. Men like Logan Waldron, who will anchor the line on both sides of the ball. And like Nathan Coats, who will be among the top tacklers in the state at season’s end. Now enter Head Coach David Peden. The former Brentwood Academy assistant is stepping into some very big shoes left open by the departure of Philip Shadowens. But Peden seems like the type of coach that high school principal Todd Miller wants: someone who will put down roots and run the Cougar program for a long time to come. Peden is stepping into a good situation. A talented group of eager young men wait to show everyone that last season wasn’t just a reflection of the coach’s reputation. Peden can literally come in with any system he wants and these kids will take to it like ducks to water. The cliché of “We’ve got something to prove” couldn’t apply more to these Cougars. They’ll do whatever it takes to make people believe that they’re for real. |
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