Memory Lane: 1996 Pearl-Cohn Firebirds 20 Year Anniversary

[BoardHater71]

Regular Season Schedule & Results

 

Page (Won: 40-14)

Hillwood (Won: 39-9)

Mt. Juliet (Lost: 0-3)

Beech (Lost: 13-47)

David Lipscomb (Lost 14-16)

Father Ryan (Lost: 12-31)

Springfield (Won: 34-6)

Antioch (Won: 20-6)

Maplewood (Won: 28-6)

Cheatham County (Won: 20-6)

 

 

Playoff Schedule & Results

 

Hardin County (Won: 22-7)

Memphis University School (Won: 20-15)

Collierville (Won: 8-0)

Fayette-Ware (Won: 28-20)

Knoxville Halls (Won: 18-14)

 

Season Averages:

 

Points Scored Per Game: 21

Points Allowed Per Game: 13

 

All-State Players

 

Albert Washington (OL)

John Henderson (DL)

Buck Fitzgerald (DB)

 

 

Season Summary

 

This was the team that shocked the state in 1996. They began the season 2-0 and then lost 4 consecutive games. They won their final 4 games of the regular season and then went on a magical playoff run that culminated at Vanderbilt Stadium with father Maurice Fitzgerald and son and starting QB/DB Buck Fitzgerald leading the way. The following year, 1997, they returned a great nucleus and went back-to-back with one of the most dominant teams to ever step football on a football field at the high school level in this state's history.

[AlcoaBasketball]

Great team. Pearl-Cohn beat a solid team to win the state title too. Halls was stacked that year with 5 All-State players (2 linemen: Justin Satterfield and Stacy Rutherford; LB Dustin Johnson; DB Adam Weaver and RB Scott Carter).

[DCTIGERFAN]

I was only 6 in 1996, so this bit of history is just a little before my time. With that said, what's the story with this particular team? I had no idea they had 4 losses going into the playoffs. What all changed for the team and got things turned around for them starting with game number 7 when they closed out the regular season with 4 straight wins?

 

It's rare a state champion has that many losses, especially at the higher levels of play. It reminds me of the 2005 Livingston Wildcats team that had 5 losses headed into the playoffs. Wilson Cates lead them on a magical run, that's for sure. They ended up beating two teams that they lost to during the regular season, while knocking out a undefeated Notre Dame team in the semifinals.

 

Fun fact: In 2005, the 3a state champions (Livingston) lost 14-12 to the undefeated 1a champions (Trousdale County) during the regular season.

Edited July 16, 2016 by DCTIGERFAN

[BoardHater71]

I was only 6 in 1996, so this bit of history is just a little before my time. With that said, what's the story with this particular team? I had no idea they had 4 losses going into the playoffs. What all changed for the team and got things turned around for them starting with game number 7 when they closed out the regular season with 4 straight wins?

 

It's rare a state champion has that many losses, especially at the higher levels of play. It reminds me of the 2005 Livingston Wildcats team that had 5 losses headed into the playoffs. Wilson Cates lead them on a magical run, that's for sure. They ended up beating two teams that they lost to during the regular season, while knocking out a undefeated Notre Dame team in the semifinals.

 

Fun fact: In 2005, the 3a state champions (Livingston) lost 14-12 to the undefeated 1a champions (Trousdale County) during the regular season.

The region in 1996 was loaded. The top 2 teams in the region that season were Father Ryan & Beech. Pearl-Cohn had to win out to make the playoffs and defeated a 6-4 Cheatham County team in week ten to qualify. The big thing that changed about that team was the belief that they could win. I always say that once PC ever gets hot and develops a mindset that they cannot lose then they're hard to beat.

 

In 1997 when the state moved the "big boys" to D-II the region was Pearl-Cohn, Maplewood, Stratford, Whites Creek, Springfield, Clarksville, Kenwood, Cheatham County, and Beech. That was the season that Pearl-Cohn lost the season opener to MBA (23-22). The following 14 games of the 1997 season/playoffs the Pearl-Cohn defense allowed 58 points total (4.1PPG). I believe from Weeks 8-14 they didn't allow a single point to any of their opponents that year.

[buckeyeball]

I got to see those teams up close and personal. What really changed for them seemed to be coaching. Those two seasons they played with discipline. Cut down on turnovers and penalties. Defensively they were great. Offensively they were pretty basic. Just too big and strong. The qb in 97 was a fantastic athlete. Could literally do it all.

Edited July 16, 2016 by buckeyeball

[BoardHater71]

I got to see those teams up close and personal. What really changed for them seemed to be coaching. Those two seasons they played with discipline. Cut down on turnovers and penalties. Defensively they were great. Offensively they were pretty basic. Just too big and strong. The qb in 97 was a fantastic athlete. Could literally do it all.

If I remember correctly he, Danny Perry, transferred over from Maplewood and was eligible in '97.

[FBfan26]

Regular Season Schedule & Results

 

Page (Won: 40-14)

Hillwood (Won: 39-9)

Mt. Juliet (Lost: 0-3)

Beech (Lost: 13-47)

David Lipscomb (Lost 14-16)

Father Ryan (Lost: 12-31)

Springfield (Won: 34-6)

Antioch (Won: 20-6)

Maplewood (Won: 28-6)

Cheatham County (Won: 20-6)

 

 

Playoff Schedule & Results

 

Hardin County (Won: 22-7)

Memphis University School (Won: 20-15)

Collierville (Won: 8-0)

Fayette-Ware (Won: 28-20)

Knoxville Halls (Won: 18-14)

 

Season Averages:

 

Points Scored Per Game: 21

Points Allowed Per Game: 13

 

All-State Players

 

Albert Washington (OL)

John Henderson (DL)

Buck Fitzgerald (DB)

 

 

Season Summary

 

This was the team that shocked the state in 1996. They began the season 2-0 and then lost 4 consecutive games. They won their final 4 games of the regular season and then went on a magical playoff run that culminated at Vanderbilt Stadium with father Maurice Fitzgerald and son and starting QB/DB Buck Fitzgerald leading the way. The following year, 1997, they returned a great nucleus and went back-to-back with one of the most dominant teams to ever step football on a football field at the high school level in this state's history.

Looking at these score it crazy after all these years Lipscomb is always a toss up game

[orngnblk]

Great team. Pearl-Cohn beat a solid team to win the state title too. Halls was stacked that year with 5 All-State players (2 linemen: Justin Satterfield and Stacy Rutherford; LB Dustin Johnson; DB Adam Weaver and RB Scott Carter).

Stacy is a terminal manager at Kinder Morgan in Knox,I see him just about everyday.Big ole boy and a good guy,we have talked football for years he was a good lineman!

[AlcoaBasketball]

Stacy is a terminal manager at Kinder Morgan in Knox,I see him just about everyday.Big ole boy and a good guy,we have talked football for years he was a good lineman!

Never met him obviously, but glad to hear he's doing well. Halls was good back in those days.

[devilsden]

Halls had a good run also.  Scored a lot of points on offense, gave up very little on defense and had a better than average kicking game. I believe Halls missed a FG early in the game and also fumbled inside the 5 going in early in the 2nd half.

Edited July 28, 2016 by devilsden

[My28SweepRight]

Seen this team upclose and personal, played college ball with Al Washington. They get my vote for the best Metro-Davidson County team of all time.

[BoardHater71]

Seen this team upclose and personal, played college ball with Al Washington. They get my vote for the best Metro-Davidson County team of all time.

The 1997 Pearl-Cohn team vs the 2003 Hillsboro team would have been a great game.