Observations from the first weekend of the Midstate high school football season …
Preseason pays off: The better team on the scoreboard in Sunday’s nationally televised matchup between Oakland and host Blackman appeared to be the better conditioned team as well. Oakland linebacker Josh Smith and tailback Josh Cunningham missed significant time in the second half of Blackman’s 28-21 win – apparently with cramping issues – and Kevin Prather, a linebacker who played little on offense, lost a fumble on the second of his two fourth-quarter rushing attempts.
Transfers make sudden impact: Making his first start on national TV, Oakland’s Christian Haffner acquitted himself well after transferring from Lebanon. The 6-1, 170-pound junior finished with 198 yards on 11-of-18 passing and rushed for 17 yards on four carries – the latter number impacted by a 10-yard sack – while converting a pair of third-down situations with his legs. At Beech, former Ripley running back Rodrick Napper rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries in a 26-14 win over Station Camp. Vic Johnson rushed for 103 yards and three TDs on five attempts and Gabe Angel caught a 23-yard scoring pass for Cookeville in a 44-0 win against Monterey. Both played last year at Wilson Central.
New offense boosts Riverdale: Another transfer, Cortland Owens, threw for 177 yards in his debut with the Warriors after leaving Cane Ridge. Riverdale opened with a 21-0 win over Siegel, posting 400-plus yards behind its spread attack that veteran coach Ron Aydelott and his staff installed over the offseason after running the Wing-T for virtually his entire career.
Uneasy lies the head …: Henry County and Trousdale County each opened defense of their state titles in less-than-stellar fashion. Henry County dropped a 21-14 road decision to a solid Liberty Tech team that reached the second round of the 4A playoffs last year and has made the state semifinals twice in the last five years. Trousdale, meanwhile, was shocked 27-21 in overtime by Macon County in a result that may announce the Tigers’ arrival as a factor in the District 8-AA race.
Business as usual: Ensworth’s 21-14 win Friday night over perennial Kentucky power Louisville Trinity was the second in as many years for the Tigers, who are focused on a fifth consecutive Division II-AA championship. P.J. Settles, who suffered a season-ending knee injury late last fall, went 12-for-15 for 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns in his return.
Reach Maurice Patton at 615-259-8018 and on Twitter @mopatton_sports.
