The Cookeville Cavaliers are looking for their first 2-0 start to the football season since 2017. To get there, they will have to defeat rival Livingston Academy.
The Cavs are looking to build on the momentum the gained from a 28-0 season-opening win over cross-county rival Upperman.
“Under the circumstances… I really felt like we were okay,” said CHS head coach Jimmy Maynord on his team’s week one performance. “I’m not pleased with how we played, I think we’ve got to be more physical and a lot of technique issues.”
Kickoff between the Wildcats and Cavaliers is set for 7 p.m. at Tucker Stadium at Tennessee Tech University. The game has been moved to Thursday due to the threat of inclement weather Friday night.
The Wildcats are coming off a 12-10 win over Westmoreland. Maynord said Livingston does a lot of things on offense.
“Offensively they’re doing a lot of stuff,” said Maynord. “The quarterback’s (Parker Coleman) a very good runner. He’s very athletic… They’re probably young at a lot of positions, but I know Livingston. They’re going to be physical. Coach Lamb is going to have his team prepared. We’re going to have to play well.”
In the win over Upperman, senior running back Logan Sides rushed for 159 yards and a touchdown in his CHS debut. Maynord said the game is a snippet of what they expect from Sides.
“I was a little nervous for him since he hasn’t played since middle school,” said Maynord. “I thought he responded well. There’s still some things we’ve got to work on to get a little bit better. Running behind our pads a little bit more, punishing tacklers and things like that. But the kid did a great job carrying the football.”
Senior running back BJ Billen left the UHS game in the first quarter with an apparent injury. Maynord said several backs will get an opportunity in Billen’s absence, including Sides, Evan Whited and Samuel Durand.
“When you get an injury it’s next man up,” said Maynord. “We’ve got to have people step up and play. (Whited)’s definitely capable. Sam Durand is a capable running back. Drew Dyal can run the football. Austin Davenport was a tailback last year and we kind of converted him to a wideout. We may move him back to running back just to give us added depth at that position.”
The CHS backs will be facing a LA defense that gave up only one touchdown against Westmoreland.
Defensively, the Cavs relied on linebacker Cade Apple in week 1. He will be facing a Wildcat offense led by dual-threat Coleman.
“Cade played exceptionally well (against Upperman),” said Maynord. “He had 18 total tackles. That’s a big game for anybody.”
In a season featuring a lack of offseason tape due to no scrimmages or jamborees, the Wildcats opened their season facing a unique wing-T offense on a rainy night. Maynord said the possibility not having an opponent’s entire arsenal on tape presents challenges.
“When you see us, you see what we are,” said Maynord. “I’m not sure we know exactly what they are just because of two things. They’re facing wing-T team which you don’t see much of anymore and obviously playing in that type of weather limits what you can do. There’s still some unknown about them plus they’re a young team and a new team.
Livingston won the 2019 meeting 28-21 with a last-minute touchdown, but Cookeville is 4-1 in the last five meetings. Maynord said it is a rivalry game.
“Livingston’s always been good athletes,” said Maynord. “They’re right down the road. Coach Lamb is a former Cookeville Cavalier himself. I know those kids are going to be physical and ready to play. It’s a good gate for us. They’re close, which makes it even better for us. We hope we can keep that series going.”