Takeaways From The First Three Weeks Of The High School Football Season

Photo by Kailee Means

We are in week 4 of the high school football season. UCR sports director Rusty Ellis and Noah McKay each provided three takeaways from the first three games of the 2021 season.

Rusty’s Takeaways

1. The secondary duo of Michael Allred and Eli Saylors 

In Monterey’s 3-0 start, everyone is talking about the offense and how they’ve put away games using their excellent rushing attack. What needs to be noted is how solid the cornerback duo of Michael Allred and Eli Saylors have been. They’ve smothered opposing teams’ best receivers despite being not as physically imposing, as head coach Scott Hughes has said. They’ll be tested this week against Stone Memorial, but another good performance should garner these two some more attention.

2. Constant improvement from Cookeville quarterback Mace Thomsen 

Thomsen had as tough a matchup for a high school debut as anyone, but has since really shown some improvements against Livingston Academy and Lebanon. Notably, he made quick decisions and knew when to throw the ball away or tuck and run. Running backs Evan Whited and Jourdyn Burruss have helped as well, but I can see why Jimmy Maynord believes that all this kid needs is experience. He’s got all the tools.

3. Tripp Pinion’s value as more than just a backup quarterback: If you ask anyone what stuck out to them about White County last season, they might talk about the job Owen Adams did as the signal-caller after Malaki Dowell was hurt. With the emergence of freshman Tripp Pinion as a legitimate quarterback option, head coach Mark Fraiser is now able to use both Dowell and Adams, two of his best pure athletes, on defense with no restraints or injury concerns. That allows for the Warriors to have their best players on the field more than they already are, and that is a huge shot in the arm for that defense. An already-solid quarterback room got even better with Pinion’s addition, and all three have one more year together beyond 2021.

 

Noah’s Takeaways

1. Jaxson Rollins is a superstar

Jaxson Rollins had one of the great middle school seasons I have seen in 2019 at Avery Trace Middle School. Now, he’s had a phenomenal start to his sophomore season at Upperman. Through two games he has 188 yards and five touchdowns on just 14 carries. Rollins may be the second fastest player in the Upper Cumberland behind Malaki Dowell, and he has the power to match. As a key-cog in the UHS three-headed rushing attack, head coach Adam Caine can reduce his carries and keep him fresh. When he has gotten an opportunity, he capitalized. Get ready to hear and read his name a lot for the next three years.

2. Cookeville is improving, quickly

Three weeks ago I was one of the many who wrote off the 2021 Cookeville Cavaliers, but they have shown signs of being a rapidly-improving team. Rusty wrote about Mace Thomsen, but I’ve been impressed with the Cavs on defense and their mentality. The CHS defense bottled up a very good Upperman team for 3.5 quarters, shutout Livingston then kept the Cavs in the game against Lebanon. When CHS trailed 14-0 early in the game, I thought it was headed for a blowout, but the Cavs showed mental toughness to battle back and have a chance to win late. This is an inexperienced team, but they are getting better. If they can top Sparta in week 4, it may be the boost they need to make a run and get into the playoffs. 

3. All hope is not lost in Livingston

We figured this may be a tough season in the win column in Hogeye Country, but hope is not lost for Dale Flatt’s squad. Brodey Coffey has shown flashes of great potential, and as a sophomore he has plenty of time to develop. Locklan Hammock, Nathan Cowgill, and Jaden Lawerence are solid skill-players. The lines are very young, but will continue to improve. Most importantly, the Wildcats have not shown any signs of quitting in their first three games. There is a great football culture in Livingston, and the pieces are there to return to prominence. Patience will pay off in Overton County.