H.S. FOOTBALL: Brandon's Beasts for Week 1
This past week in high school football was an eventful one with a few blowout games and some close calls as teams looked to prove whether or not the old football cliché is true: "Teams make their biggest improvement from their first game to their second."
Whether it was an improvement or not, there were a number of linemen and defensive players who showed significant improvement this week as their teams picked up big wins in the TSSAA's Week 1.
Here is a roundup of some of those players, and these are the ones who are honored this week as Brandon's Beasts:
• Reco Buchanan, Peabody: He had eight solo tackles, five assists, four quarterback hurries and a pass breakup while helping the Golden Tide defense at linebacker.
• Maleic Clark, Jackson Central-Merry: The lineman had four pancakes and graded high in blocking while anchoring the line that opened enough holes for 267 rushing yards in the Cougars' first win.
• Jacob Dengler, Adamsville: The linebacker had eight assists and six solo tackles with a sack and fumble recovery while not playing the fourth quarter for the Cardinals.
• Michael Hicks, Lexington: The offensive lineman for the Tigers earned a stack for breakfast with 15 pancake blocks in a big road win.
• Blane Miller, Scotts Hill: The defensive end had six tackles, two assists, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble as the Lions stayed undefeated.
• Zay Norman, Peabody: Recorded seven solo tackles and two assists with five of those tackles causing a combined loss of 17 yards with three quarterback hurries from the defensive end position.
• Cabe Sala, Bruceton: The lineman opened up a lot of holes that led the way for the Tigers' ground game for a big win.
• Jake Scott, Camden: The linebacker had an effective night with nine tackles, two for loss, a sack, an interception, two pass break-ups and a touchdown to help the Lions to their first district win.
• Andrew Willis, Bruceton: The linebacker was all over the place on defense making tackles to keep McEwen's point total down.
Brandon Shields, 425-9751