The Cookeville Cavaliers enjoyed a strong start to the 2020 football season with a 28-0 win over cross-county rival Upperman on Thursday night at Tucker Stadium at Tennessee Tech University.
The Cavaliers outrushed the Bees 324 yards to 58 as they secured their first win over Upperman in three years.
“We looked like a team that hasn’t played since last year,” said CHS head coach Jimmy Maynord. “A lot of mistakes and things we’ve got to improve on. That’s typical in the first game of the season… but I’m glad to get a win and glad for the kids. Good way to start the season.”
Upperman head coach Adam Caine said his team has work to do.
“(Cookeville) had the best player on the field, and he hurt us a bunch,” said Caine. “I don’t think I had my guys in good enough condition to compete… I’ve got to do something to rectify that. We kind of came in there and laid down a little bit, and we’ve got to fix that. We’ve got to find a way to get kids to play with some guts and some courage.”
A pivotal moment in the game came late in the first quarter. Upperman junior Ty Dutchess recovered a CHS fumble and returned it to the Cookeville seven-yard-line. The 3A Bees then got the ball to the one-yard-line before a penalty moved them back to the six. Cookeville ultimately forced an incompletion and a turnover on downs to get possession back.
The 6A Cavs then marched 97 yards down the field, exclusively on the ground with carries by seniors Stockton Owen and Logan Sides, on a drive capped by a 19-yard touchdown rush by Owen. Andy Crockett’s PAT gave the Cavs a 7-0 lead.
The Cavaliers then took the momentum of the game. On an attempted punt, the snap went over the head of Thomas Ensor. Sides took in a 29-yard touchdown rush on the ensuing play to move the score to 14-0.
Maynord said the Cavs had new things on offense they liked which allowed them to run the ball.
“We had some things coming in we thought was good for us that we haven’t done before,” said Maynord. “We were able to execute that and get some things going.”
Owen put the game away with a 66-yard touchdown rush on the Cavs opening drive of the third quarter to make it 21-0. He added a passing touchdown to Marcus Banks in the fourth to push the score the eventual final of 28-0.
Logan Sides was impressive in his debut game for the Cavs. He rushed for 159 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries.
Owen rushed for 133 net yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, he also went 5-7 through the air for 39 yards and a touchdown.
Maynord said he believes the best has yet to come for his senior quarterback.
“He did a good job,” said Maynord. “I still think there’s better to come. It’s typical first game jitters. There was a lot of good but I think it can improve. I think all of them can improve.”
Caine was complimentary of the Cavaliers’ quarterback.
“He was great last year,” said Caine. “He just seems to be a year older and even more competitive and not willing to go down or give up on any plays. That’s a great role model for our guys. We need to see that kind of effort. He’s a great player.
Ensor went 8-15 for 71 yards through the air for the Bees. Ty Dutchess went 2-7 for 23 yards. Dutchess added 32 yards on seven carries on the ground.
Caine said both his quarterbacks performed similarly to how they had in the offseason.
“It’s about what we’ve seen all preseason,” said Caine. “Up and down. Good decisions, bad decisions. I don’t think there was any separation there.”
The Bees will return to the field next Friday when they take on the Dekalb County Tigers. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. in Smithville.
Cookeville will look for their first 2-0 start since 2017 when they take on Livingston Academy next Friday at Tucker Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.