Ensworth, CAK and Friendship Christian all repeated as champions with Ensworth winning their third straight Division II-AA title while CAK beat Milan for the Class 3A title for the second straight year and
Friendship Christian won the 2A title for the second straight year before heading off and playing in Division II-A in 2013.
Whitehaven gained revenge on Maryville for their 23-7 loss in 2011 when Ole Miss commitment Mark Dodson converted a two point conversion run in the first overtime of a 36-35 win for Whitehaven.
A common theme that seven of the state champions had in common were they were run first teams only CAK relied heavily on the pass, the seven other state champions are run heavy.
So here are my thoughts on the three days of titles in Cookeville.
A. Eight running backs over 2,000 yards
2,000 yard running backs were also in vogue in Cookeville as eight backs gained the magical mark over the weekend, including three in Jalen Hurd, Mark Dodson and Jacob Warbritton who hit the 3,000 yard mark and all three broke the state record of 3,068 yards set by former Powell star Dy'shawn Mobley in 2011.
In 2011, only five backs at the state championship games gained over 2,000 yards while Mobley became only the second behind BGA's Troy Fleming to gain 3,000 yards in a season.
Jalen Hurd, Beech- The junior who was named Class AAA Mr. Football Back of the year on Monday had a record breaking game in Beech's 56-35 win over Columbia on Friday.
Hurd rushed for 394 yards (a new state record in a title game) and scored seven touchdowns (a new state record as well) as the Buccaneers capped off an undefeated season with their second Class 5A title win over Columbia in four years.
His rushing total for the 2012 season now is 3,357 yards and he scored 43 touchdowns.
Mark Dodson, Whitehaven-The Ole Miss commit put his team in his back and his touchdown and two point conversion run in overtime gave the Tigers their first state championship.
Dodson was unstoppable as he gashed the Maryville defense for 318 yards and scored five touchdowns and
Whitehaven gained a measure of revenge for their 23-7 loss to Maryville in the 2011 title game.
He was named the Gatorade Player of the year and broke Mobley's record as well and has 3,295 yards and 38 touchdowns on the year.
Before the state title game, Dodson had set the Shelby Metro record for rushing yards in a year with 2,977 yards.
Jacob Warbritton, Huntingdon-The senior quarterback was the first player to break Mobley's record as
he rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns in a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to Gordonsville in the 1A title game.
In Huntingdon's semifinal win over Nashville Christian, Warbritton broke Marco Dailey's TSSAA record for most rushing yards in a single season by a quarterback.
Coming in to the 1A game, he had rushed for 2,938 yards and scored 41 touchdowns, now he stands at 3,101 and scored 43 touchdowns on the year.
Top 5 Most Rushing Yards in a Season by Individual
3,358-Jalen Hurd, Beech, 2012
3,295-Mark Dodson, Whitehaven, 2012
3,101- Jacob Warbritton, Huntingdon, 2012
3,068-Dy’Shawn Mobley, Powell, 2011
3,008- Troy Fleming, BGA, 1998
Johnston White, Covington- Unfortunately for White he was the only one of the eight rushers to not gain at least 100 yards as he rushed for 73 yards and scored a touchdown in the Chargers 39-14 loss to Fulton in the 4A game.
White still had a special season as he rushed for 2,673 yards and scored 43 touchdowns on the year.
He was impressive on defense though as he registered nine tackles, 2.5 for a loss from his cornerback spot.
Corn Elder, Ensworth- Became the school's all-time leading rusher as he rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns in the Tigers 31-14 win over MUS.
Elder now has 6, 361 career rushing yards as he gained 2,595 yards on the season and scored 39 touchdowns.
He is second only to Donelson Christian Academy Lorenzo Edwards (6,553) in most career rushing yards gained in Nashville.
Daryl Rollins, Fulton- The junior burst on the scene in the fifth game of the season with a 20 carry, 348 yard game against Gibbs.
Since Rollins has been huge and in the Falcons 39-14 win over Covington, he rushed for 142 yards and scored once.
For the season, he rushed for 2,558 yards and scored 31 touchdowns.
Kaelin Cason, Gordonsville- Like Rollins, Cason is a junior and came on strong for the Tigers as they won their last 13 games and the state 1A title.
Cason was huge late in the title game gaining tough yardage for the Tigers in his 165 yard, one touchdown day.
For the season, Cason gained 2,033 yards and scored 28 touchdowns for Gordonsville.
Arkel Coleman, Milan- The senior had a big game (198 yards and a touchdown) in the Bulldogs 48-14 lopsided loss to CAK.
His rushing total for the season is 2,018 yards and 36 touchdowns.
B. Ranking the state title game 1-8
1. Whitehaven beats Maryville in Classic overtime game.
The last game of the Blue Cross Bowl title games was the best as both undefeated teams slugged away at one another and Whitehaven won the game 36-35 behind an Herculean performance from Dodson (318 yards, 5 touchdowns).
The Whitehaven defense came up with four Maryville turnovers, the most the Rebels have committed in a state game.
Turnovers are a key stat when playing Maryville for a state title, the Rebels are known for capitalizing on others turnovers and not beating themselves.
In Maryville's six state title wins in the previous nine years, the Rebels averaged only one turnover per game, but in their losses to Whitehaven (2012), White Station (2009) and Hillsboro (2008) they turned it over 10 times or 3.5 turnovers a loss.
Maryville Turnovers in State Games Last Nine Years
2012-4 Turnovers in 36-35 loss to Whitehaven
2011- 1 Turnover in 23-7 win over Whitehaven
2010-1 Turnover in 23-21 win over Smyrna
2009-3 Turnovers in 37-27 loss to White Station
2008-3 Turnovers in 10-7 loss to Hillsboro
2007-0 Turnovers in 28-13 win over Maplewood
2006-1 Turnover in 35-10 win over Hillsboro
2005-1 Turnover in 23-10 win over Melrose
2004-2 Turnovers in 7-6 win over Melrose
2. Gordonsville 21, Huntingdon 20- Another game that had the makings of overtime as Mustang sophomore running back Glynn Hilliard scored from 34 yards out to cut the lead 21-20.
But Huntingdon coach Eric Swenson decided to go for two and the win but Gordonsville’s defense rose up and stuffed Jacob Warbritton to preserve the lead.
On fourth and three, Gordonsville punter Nic Payne escaped the Huntingdon rush and gained 12 yards to pick up the first down and give Gordonsville their first state title since 1984.
3. Ensworth 31, MUS 14- Corn Elder wanted two things in the Division II-AA title game against MUS.
Elder wanted to help his Tigers win their third consecutive state championship and he wanted to carry the ball more than two times which he did in 2011 before he got hurt and missed the rest of Ensworth’s win over Baylor.
He was front and center this season as he rushed for 217 yards and scored three touchdowns as Ensworth outscored MUS 14-0 in the second half to turn a tight 17-14 halftime score into a 31-14 final.
4. Beech 56, Columbia 35- The rematch of the 2009 Class 5A state title game saw Beech junior Jalen Hurd break four records as the Buccaneers won their second state title in four seasons.
Hurd broke the single season rushing record that Jacob Warbritton had set earlier in the day, he rushed for 394 yards which broke Omar Williams single game record of 322 he set last year in St. George’s win over USJ.
He also found the end zone, a state game record seven times and also scored 42 points in the game which broke the record of 36.
Hurd’s record breaking performance overshadowed a great individual performance by Columbia senior wide receiver Dre Hall in the loss.
Hall caught 12 passes for 184 yards and scored on a 72 yard catch and run from quarterback Matthew Markham.
5. Fulton 39, Covington 14- Covington came out like gangbusters but it was Fulton who finished like a champion in the Class 4A state title game.
The Chargers (14-1) moved the ball at will on their first two drives as running backs Johnston White and Tyrone Tipton scored from 6 and 26 yards out to give Covington a 14-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
But Fulton’s defense stiffened up and their offense behind the running of junior Darryl Rollins (142 yards, 1 TD) and the passing of fellow junior quarterback Penny Smith scored 39 unanswered points to make the game a blowout.
The Falcon defense even got into the scoring act as linebacker D.J. Campbell intercepted a pass and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
6. CAK 48, Milan 14- A rematch in the Class 3A title game produced the same result as 2011: A runaway win for Christian Academy of Knoxville.
The Warriors (14-1) behind the proficient arm of two time Class AA Mr. Football Winner Charlie High (35 of 42 passing, 461 yards, 6 TDs) and the ball hawking skills of senior wide receiver Davis Howell (15 catches, 172 yards, 2 TDs) helped CAK to their second straight blowout of Milan.
Both High and Howell set state records in the game as High is now the state's all-time passing leader with 10,978 yards.
He is also the state leader in career touchdown passes with 131, while Howell is the national leader in career catches as he has now has 358 besting the old record of 349 by Ben Wonderly of Sherwood, Ohio.
Milan running back Arkel Coleman had a solid game in defeat as he rushed for 198 yards and scored once for the Bulldogs.
7. Friendship 44, Adamsville 7- For the second straight year, Friendship Christian’s defense played large in the Commanders dominating 44-7 win over Adamsville.
The Commanders defense allowed only 245 yards of total offense while sophomore running backs Steven Hollis (161 rushing yards, TD) and Austin Taylor (87 yards, 3 TDs) gashed the Cardinal defense.
In 2011 Friendship Christian’s defense pitched a shutout in a 34-0 win over Dresden.
8. Webb 47, ECS 14- Webb’s three headed rushing monster of Todd Kelly (118 yards, 2 TDs), Robby Strachan (132 yards, 2 TDs) and Aaron Blance (81 yards, TD) staked the Spartans to a big lead as they hammered ECS.
The Spartans led 27-0 at the half and scored on seven of their first eight drives of the game, and Webb has now won three of last four Division II-A state titles.
C. BEST BY POSITION
The Best Players by position in my opinion at the State Title games
OFFENSE
QB-Charlie High, CAK, Sr.- Passed for 461 yards on 35 of 42 passing with six touchdowns
RB-Jalen Hurd, Beech, Jr-.Rushed for 394 yards and scored seven touchdowns
RB-Mark Dodson, Whitehaven, Sr.-Rushed for 318 yards & scored 5 touchdowns & a 2-pt conversion.
RB-Corn Elder, Ensworth, Sr.-Rushed for 217 yards and scored three touchdowns
WR-Dre Hall, Columbia, Sr.-Caught 12 passes for 184 yards and one touchdown
WR-Davis Howell, CAK, Sr.-Caught 15 passes for 172 yards and two touchdowns
OL-Ian Isbell, Friendship, Sr.
OL-Tyler Coen, Gordonsville, Sr.
OL-Jay Heins, Ensworth, Sr.
OL-Aubre Jones, MUS, Sr.
OL-Brett Kendrick, CAK, Sr.
ATH-Jacob Warbritton, Huntingdon, Sr.- Rushed for 163 yards and scored twice, made six tackles and a sack on defense.
DEFENSE
DL- Daiqu’on Norfork, Covington, Jr.- Made nine tackles including a sack on defense and rushed for 113 yards on just five carries on offense
DL-Audra Smith, Whitehaven, Sr.- had nine tackles, three for loss and had a fumble recovery.
DL- Liam Willoughby, Webb, Soph.- had seven tackles including one for a loss
LB-D.J. Campbell, Fulton, Soph.-Was the Defensive MVP with 8 tackles, an interception return for a touchdown and forced a fumble.
LB-Brandon McCoy, Gordonsville, Sr.-Made 13 tackles from his linebacker spot.
LB-Malik Church, Columbia, Jr.-Made 12 tackles and recovered a fumble
LB-Chris Carroll, Beech, Sr.-Made 10 tackles, two for loss and two sacks
DB-Johnston White, Covington, Sr.-made nine tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss
DB-Darius Sims, Whitehaven, Sr.- Picked off a pass and recorded 10 tackles for the Tigers.
DB-Matt Bolton, MUS, Sr.-Made 13 tackles for the Owls
DB-Brian Coulter, Maryville, Sr.- Was busy from his safety spot as he made eight tackles.
UT-Jacob Dengler, Adamsville, Soph.- Made 10 tackles including 2.5 for loss
D. Top Offenses
Top Offense Outputs over the Title Games
1. CAK- 608 (461 passing, 147 rushing)
2. Beech- 469 (435 rushing, 34 passing)
3. Columbia-465 (356 passing, 109 rushing)
4. Webb-453 (406 rushing, 47 passing)
5. Whitehaven-446 (420 rushing, 26 passing)
E. Winning Streaks Going into 2013
Ensworth-21
Beech-15
Whitehaven-15
Gordonsville-13
Webb-12
Friendship-11
Fulton-6
CAK-5
Toyota East/West All Star Game On Saturday
The 6th Annual Toyota East/West Football All-Star Game will be held Saturday on the campus of Tennessee Tech University at 1 PM (CST).
The West leads the series 3-2 and won the 2011 game 20-14, and the 2012 roster is star studded with ten players that have committed to colleges.
The East team led by Greeneville head coach Caine Ballard features seven commitments in Malik Foreman (Dobyns Bennett, Vanderbilt), Will McKamey (Grace Christian, Navy), Logan McCarter (Sevier County, Furman), Zach Stuart (Knoxville West, Lamar), Jacob Revis (Rhea County, UTC), Austin Sanders (Bradley Central, Tennessee) and Dalton Ownby (Alcoa, MTSU)
The West roster led by Trousdale County head coach Kevin Creasy has three commitments in Jalen Reeves Maybin (Clarksville NE, Tennessee), Max Starver (Brentwood Academy, Florida) and Demaris Peppers (Fairley, Minnesota).
Both rosters are below.
East Roster
http://www.taca.net/TACA-East-roster2012.pdf
West Roster
http://www.taca.net/TACA-West-roster-2012.pdf
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