#2 Whitehaven @ #1 Cane Ridge

[dannyq]

On 11/18/2017 at 4:51 PM, RavenNation2016 said:

This game is going to be packed.... get there early 

Cane Ridge coach Eddie Woods 'very familiar' with semifinal foe Whitehaven

 

Michael Murphy, USA TODAY NETWORK – TennesseePublished 10:58 a.m. CT Nov. 22, 2017

     

 

 

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Brentwood Academy's star QB went down with a shoulder injury, but the Eagles advanced to a third straight Division II-AAA state title game with a 28-6 victory.George Robinson / USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee

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(Photo: Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean)

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The Cane Ridge football program will be in uncharted waters come Friday night. 

Thanks to senior Jarad McCray’s late-game heroics— a 73-yard kick return for touchdown to secure last week’s 21-18 win over Ravenwood — Cane Ridge has advanced to the TSSAA semifinals for the first time in school history.

“We couldn’t go out like that (in the quarterfinals) again,” said McCray, a three-year starter. “That was the worst 12 months of my life.”

More:TSSAA high school football semifinals preview

And while McCray and the rest of the Ravens are in unfamiliar territory, third-year coach Eddie Woods will be feeling right at home for his squad’s 7 p.m. clash against defending Class 6A state champion Whitehaven.

 

 

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Week 14: High school football action

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Cane Ridge's Theo Chisom (10) celebrates after their 6A quarterfinal victory against Ravenwood at Cane Ridge High School in Antioch, Tenn., Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean

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It’s not because Cane Ridge will be hosting its first semifinal appearance, either.

The Memphis native and 2001 Melrose graduate has been in this situation before — long before he ever donned a headset.

“I’ve been here as a player, in this situation,” said Woods, who won a Class 3A state title with the Golden Wildcats as a sophomore in 1998. “So I pretty much know how the kids feel, and I think that will help me coach them in the fourth round.”

More: Tennessean Midstate Top 10 high school football poll: Large schools

His familiarity doesn’t stop there, though. He also possesses an intricate understanding of Friday’s opponent.

Woods, who’s compiled a 32-5 record with two region titles in three seasons at the Southeast Nashville public school, squared off against Whitehaven three times while serving as head coach at his alma mater from 2012-14.

Aside from their positions on the field, there's little to tell Cane Ridge identical twins Jarad and Jared McCray apart. Michael Murphy / USA Today Network - Tennessee

The former TSU tight end probably would have liked to forget those lopsided district defeats to the Tigers, but he’s awfully glad he filed them away instead.

“I’m very, very, very familiar with them, playing them in Memphis,” said Woods, who was outscored a combined 144-18 in three meetings with Whitehaven. “And they’ve been in this situation quite a few times.”

Friday marks Whitehaven’s seventh semifinal appearance in 14 seasons under Rodney Saulsberry, a two-time Tennessee Titans High School Coach of the Year award recipient. The two-time state champion Tigers also have posted eight district and region titles during that stretch, along with 10 seasons of 10 wins or more.

Whitehaven coach Rodney Saulsberry (Photo: Justin Ford/Speacial to The Commercial Appeal, The Commercial Appeal)

 

Led by a powerful rushing attack that’s averaging just less than 200 yards per contest, along with an opportunistic defense that’s tallied 28 takeaways (19 interceptions, nine fumble recoveries), the Region 8-6A runner-up Tigers undoubtedly will be the Ravens’ toughest test to date.

Senior running back Chris Witherspoon has racked up 1,415 yards and 15 touchdowns on 212 carries this season, while Vanderbilt commitment Rayshad Williams has taken back two of his team-leading five interceptions for touchdowns.

 

“They’re a beast of a program,” Woods said.

Don’t mistake his respect for fear, though.

“We’re going to let it all hang out,” Woods said. “We’ve never been here before, and we can only go up, so we’ve got nothing to lose from that standpoint.”

After all, Cane Ridge has thrived with its backs against the wall. Just take a look back to last week.

“They’re a great team,” McCray said of Whitehaven. “Our coach has some friends over there, and we want to put them on this field and beat on them. But we’ve got a lot of work to do before then.”

 

Edited November 22, 2017 by dannyq

[kwc]

Cane Ridge seeks first semifinal appearance

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By CHIP CIRILLO

Cane Ridge’s road to the semifinals passes through Williamson County.

 

The Ravens (11-1) host Ravenwood (10-2) in the Class 6A quarterfinals Friday night after beating Centennial in the first round and Brentwood last week.

Another Williamson County team, Independence, ended Cane Ridge’s season the past two years in the 5A playoffs.

“Well, they definitely can play you tough,” Cane Ridge coach Eddie Woods said of Williamson County teams. “They’re very disciplined, so it makes you better as a coach going against them week in, week out, especially in the playoffs where everything has to be in order.”

Ravenwood takes a six-game win streak into the quarterfinals, including last week’s 34-7 victory over Independence.

“They’re getting hot at the right time of the year, so that’s always a concern,” said Woods, whose team is seeking its first semifinal appearance in school history. “They run a lot of misdirection things.”

Ravenwood made it to the quarterfinals last year after winning the 6A championship in 2015. The Raptors were 6A runner-up in 2014.

Woods has compiled a 31-5 record since arriving at Cane Ridge three years ago.

“We pride ourselves on trying to outwork everybody,” Woods said. “We just want to be that blue-collar, had-working team. Our administration has given us everything that we need to be successful.”

The Ravens pride themselves on their athleticism.

“One thing we say it Cane Ridge is we don’t play kids by position,” Woods said. “Everybody is an athlete so we train the same. Our linemen run a lot. We’re just trying to be as athletic as possible at each position.”

The Ravens avenged their only loss of the season with a 28-13 win over Brentwood in the second round.

Cane Ridge has won 10 straight since a 41-21 loss to Brentwood on Aug. 25 in week two.

“We were trying to force things the first time against them and also, we’re just trying to create a culture at Cane Ridge that we hate to lose,” Woods said.

The Ravens’ 3-4 defense has posted four shutouts.

“We knew coming into the year they probably would have to carry us a good deal of the season until some of our guys grow up,”’ Woods said. “Those guys have been great for us, putting us in good position, giving us short fields and creating turnovers like last week against Brentwood. I think we had about three turnovers.”

Identical twins Jared and Jarad McCray have put up impressive numbers for the Ravens.

Jared has 1,344 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns and Jarad has five interceptions, including three for TDs at safety. Jarad has caused five fumbles.

The seniors both have offers from Murray State in addition to other schools. They’re three-year starters. 

“Two of the most underrated athletes in Middle Tennessee,” Woods said. “Jarad brings that defense together and Jared brings the offense together.”

Linebacker Jashun Bryant had 12 tackles and Rishone Burleson had two sacks against Brentwood. Dewayne Johnson added six tackles and two sacks.

“Jahsun played great against Brentwood,” Woods said. “We beat a heck of a football team. Everything had to come together and our defense played lights out.”

Sophomore Devon Starling leads the Region 5-6A champs in rushing with 1,922 yards and 25 TDs out of their spread offense. He rushed for 180 yards and two TDs against Brentwood.

Freshman receiver Quenton Barnes (6-2, 185) already has offers from South Carolina and Tennessee. 

“He’s just one of those kids, that if you’ve been coaching awhile, you just get one of these every 10 years,” Woods said. “Just a freak of nature, man. He can beat you with speed and he blocks well, too.”

Woods coached at his alma mater, Melrose, before arriving at Cane Ridge in 2015.

After suffering through a 0-10 season his first year, the Golden Wildcats went to the playoffs in 2013 and 2014, finishing 8-3 and 8-4.

As a player, he helped Melrose win the Class 3A title with a 35-34 win over Kingston in 1998. Then he played tight end at Tennessee State.

“That community has been around, like, 100 and something years and it was actually the first community where in the South an African-American person could own land, so there’s a lot of pride there,” Woods said of Melrose. “Very rich in history. I grew up there and I coached and played there.”

[BlackHavenSenator]

7 hours ago, vuau1989 said:

Whitehaven struggles with them Nashville boys in the semis. Ravenwood gave them two straight years of exits and now it’s CRs turn. CR 24 Da Haven 17. Sorry bout it! 

Too bad Ravenwood didn't show up these last 2 seasons to get those Ls back. 

[RavenNation2016]

6 hours ago, Havengrad04 said:

I just hope they throw it Rayshad’s way

The Vandy commit! This going to be a good game

[Haven04]

5 minutes ago, RavenNation2016 said:

The Vandy commit! This going to be a good game

Oh yea, the kid is nice; 6’3 with great ball skills.   I’m sure he’ll be shadowing that stud twin receiver u guys have all game. Don’t be surprised if you see him on offense as well. 

[RavenNation2016]

I told u guys we’ve been waiting on this game.... we knew going from 5A to 6A that in order to make to state, We will have to face Whitehaven.. we’re not falling for all the talk that whitehaven is down this yr. that’s Bs we know u guys got horses in the stable. We ready... we tryn to make history and whitehaven is in the way.. 

[BlackHavenSenator]

10 hours ago, RavenNation2016 said:

How well do whitehaven cover? We have a high tempo offense... we’re pass heavy... whitehaven has struggled is past with passing teams

We definitely have the scheme and athleticism to check y'all. I like that #2 and #6 y'all got

[BlackHavenSenator]

Just left Da Haven... the guys looking good and relaxed, loose even.

[FBfan26]

30 minutes ago, BlackHavenSenator said:

Just left Da Haven... the guys looking good and relaxed, loose even.

I forgot yall played Cordova and shut then down. CR and dova is alike min the big names dova

[dannyq]

  Cane Ridge over   Whitehaven

 

We're underdog's for this one.

[MidTennFootball]

Honestly suprised at the amount of ppl taking CR in this one. Da Haven is gonna eat CR's offense alive

[PIONEERS12]

Cane Ridge wins this one.