By Michael Lindsay
The first Friday night of the 2023 high school football season has wrapped up with multiple Upper Cumberland programs picking up victories. UCR takes a quick look at each Friday night win on the Upper Cumberland:
Upperman’s Statement vs. Fayetteville
What was thought to be a pick’em Friday evening was all Bees as Upperman dominated Fayetteville, 26-0. Baxter shut out a Tiger offense led by Rivals 3-star recruit Sam Willoughby while dominating the second half offensively. After a Bronzden Chaffin first-half touchdown gave the Bees a 7-0 halftime lead, Upperman scored 19 second-half points to pick up the victory.
Stone Wins Another Thriller
The Cardiac Cats are back as Stone Memorial defeated Cookeville 25-20 on a last-second touchdown pass from quarterback Nick Osmun to receiver Bear Eldridge. Osmun went 19-32 for 344 yards and 4 touchdowns along with 12 carries for 58 yards. Eldridge caught 9 passes for 209 yards and 4 touchdowns.
York Institute Gets Revenge Over Clay County
Upperman wasn’t the only program to avenge a loss from 2022 by a 26-0 margin on Friday. York Institute defeated Clay County by the same score in Jamestown in a matchup that saw the teams combine for 8 turnovers. It was York who weathered the storm for the victory, however, to start the season 1-0. York quarterback Myles Leffew rushed for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns offensively while returning a fumble 40 yards for a third touchdown on defense.
Game One of the Curtis Beaty Era in Sparta goes to the Warriors
White County quarterback Tripp Pinion put on a show in Chattanooga as the junior quarterback had over 200 yards and 4 touchdowns in Sparta’s 28-13 victory at Silverdale Academy. The win is the first for new Sparta head coach Curtis Beaty.
Monterey Comes Back For 25-14 victory at Cannon County
New faces are all over the field for Monterey, but the standard stays the same as the Wildcats traveled to Cannon County and left Woodbury with a 25-14 victory. Cannon County took a 14-13 lead into the fourth quarter before a 40-yard touchdown by Kole Bowman flipped the script for Monterey.
Jackson County, Cumberland County Win One-Possession Games
Two programs that won two games each last season picked up week one victories as Jackson County won at Clinton County (KY) 21-20 and Cumberland County won at Scott, 10-7. Cumberland County quarterback Bryson Wilson rushed in a 24-yard touchdown in the third quarter before Scott answered to tie the game at 7. The leg of CCHS kicker Jamie Perez was the difference, though, as he nailed a 22-yard field goal with 1:49 remaining for the 10-7 win.
Red Boiling Springs Dominates Sunbright, 61-0
The Red Boiling Springs Bulldogs posted the largest win in school history Friday as they won at Sunbright, 61-0. The game marks their largest margin of victory and most points scored in a game in school history.
*Macon County is scheduled to play at Westmoreland on Saturday at 7 p.m.*