Story by Rusty Ellis
The Cookeville Cavaliers find themselves sitting at 1-2 after a heartbreaking 21-14 defeat at the hands of Lebanon last week.
Despite the loss, there were plenty of signs of improvement for the Cavaliers. After falling behind 14-0, the offense put together a touchdown drive at the end of the first half to get on the board. The defense stepped up in the second half, only allowing a single touchdown drive and keeping the Cavaliers in the game.
The difference in the game proved to be a couple miscues on defense, as well as a big defensive stand from Lebanon on the one-yard-line.
“I thought we played hard after falling behind 14-0 to a really good team,” CHS head coach Jimmy Maynord said. “We gave up a flea-flicker that led to their first score, and then we gave up one that we worked on all week in a blown coverage on a post-wheel for a touchdown…we tied it up, and then we missed a few tackles on the fastest kid on the field. That was the only good drive they had in the second half after we tied it up. Then we get it down to the six-inch-line and don’t get it in, which would’ve tied it up.”
Maynord says it was a great football game to be apart of, even though it ended in a tough loss for his team.
“It was a great football game against an explosive team,” Maynord said. “You look at the stat-sheet, we probably should’ve won the game. We had 33 minutes for time of possession, and we had 350 yards on 63 snaps…we had more first downs, and on third down conversions, we were 6-13 and they were 1-8. It’s disheartening when you lose a close one like that, but the positive is I’m proud of the kids and their effort. It obviously shows that they’ve made improvements since week one.”
This week’s contest needs no introduction, as the Cavaliers renew their yearly rivalry with White County in Sparta. Last year’s game was one of the most entertaining of the season, as the Warriors went score-for-score with the Cavaliers until the fourth quarter when Cookeville pulled away in a 56-33 victory.
“The thing that sticks out to me the most is that they are an experienced football team,” Maynord said of the Warriors. “That group has been playing together for a long time. They’re big on offense and defense, and they are very physical…I’ve been impressed with them. They had a game last week like we did the first week; they couldn’t get out of their own way.”
At the top of Maynord’s list of priorities is finding a way to contain Malaki Dowell. Dowell made quite the name for himself in the annals of the rivalry last season when he rushed for 297 yards and four touchdowns on 18 carries.
“We know that (Dowell) is a big part of what they do,” Maynord said. “We really made a lot of mistakes in our run defense last year, but he’s a good player. How he goes is how they go…he’s hard to tackle. He’s a strong kid, and it starts with him. He’s the one that can hurt you the most.”
The two teams will battle it out in Sparta on Friday at 7 P.M. and is the co-game of the week. The game will be live-streamed on Upper Cumberland Reporter 2 on Facebook.