CHARGERFAN

Lakeland had an elementary school but no high school. Then they decided to add a high school. They have added one grade at a time. The first year, they had freshmen only. I can’t recall where they are in their development, but they may add a senior class in the Fall of 2025. Somebody else can correct me if I’m wrong on that. This has put them behind the eight ball, when they were fielding teams with no upperclassmen. I think that eventually they will be a powerhouse. I would classify the Lakeland community as upper middle class. It’s a relatively new bedroom community in Shelby County.

Here is the Covington schedule per Coach T Fri Aug 22. 7:00 PM Lakeland Prep Fri Aug. 29 7:00 PM at Haywood Fri Sep. 5 7:00 PM Douglass Fri Sep. 12 7:00 PM at Brighton Fri Sep. 19 7:00 PM Obion County R Fri Sep. 26 7:00 PM at Ripley R Fri Oct. 3 7:00 PM at Bolivar Central R Fri Oct. 17 7:00 PM Dyersburg R Fri Oct. 24 7:00 PM McNairy Central R Fri Oct. 31 7:00 PM at Westview R

I was personally there to witness the last 5 of the 6 silver balls that Covington has won. If my memory is correct, those losses were once to Portland, twice to Fulton, and twice to Alcoa. My personal evaluation is that we didn’t lose those games because of the offense we were running, but because the teams that won just fielded more talent. You have to understand the culture around the Covington program. Crestview Middle School is the primary feeder school for Covington High. Our system is set up to utilize the running game (primarily the wing-T) all the way through grades 6, 7, and 8. This continues in high school. When Covington throws the ball, most of the catches have been made historically by our running backs. For whatever reason, we have not had many top-notch receivers come through our program. We recently had a quarterback from Covington who was a great passer. However, Brock Glenn chose to attend private school in Memphis where they threw the ball a lot. He is now on the Florida State team. Could Covington have revised our offense to use his talents? I’m not sure. Did we have the O-line to protect him and the receivers he needed to be successful as a Charger? I don’t guess we will ever know. I do know that Westview had the older Simpson (now a QB at Alabama) a few years ago. He is apparently a real talent. Still, when WV was in the same region with CHS during his time, Covington defeated his team handily every time the two teams met. We were still running the ball, but WV at that time apparently did not have the talent around Simpson to win the region. I wonder if Brock could have succeeded with the talent we would have put around him. Bottom line, unless Covington could somehow get a different talent pool, I personally don’t think that just calling more pass plays will lead to success. You have to play a system that matches your talent.

The Commercial Appeal posted this article about the Coach Kirby Return to Covington: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/02/20/tennessee-high-school-football-jr-kirby-covington-leaves-henry-county/78974410007/ Why JR Kirby left Henry County football after three weeks, returning to Covington as coach Wendell Shepherd Jr. Memphis Commercial Appeal J.R. Kirby grew increasingly uncomfortable as Henry County's football coach, leading to his resignation three weeks after accepting the position in Paris and his eventual re-hiring at Covington last Friday. Kriby told The Commercial Appeal that undisclosed details emerged about his role as the Patriots coach that left him questioning his decision to accept the job last month. Kirby replaced James Counce who left for Rockvale, but resigned just weeks removed from his Jan. 27 start. He interviewed last Friday with Covington — where he's spent the previous eight seasons, the last six as head coach. Covington announced that evening that it had re-hired him. "I had to come back here and re-interview," he said. "I'm humbled and excited to be back." Kirby said he resigned at Henry County without a job or promise that he'd be able to resume coaching the Chargers. "The interview process was thorough and thoughtful," Covington principal Carlin McGlown said. "We understood that this was more than just a hiring decision—it was about the future of our football program." Kirby's time on the job at Henry County Kirby said his exit centered on two reasons — not being told his responsibilities as a teacher and not being told about forthcoming changes to the school's daily schedule during his two-week interview process. "They could not answer me," Kirby said of his requests to learn what subject he'd teach. "I thought they had to work the numbers but that ended up not being the case." Kirby said he was unaware of Henry County's shift to a shorter athletic period to close the day — a change Kirby found unsuitable for offseason training — until after he'd started work. "If they would've said that, I probably wouldn't have taken the job," he explained. Henry County's administration would not comment on specifics of Kirby's departure, but the county's director of schools, Dr. Leah Watkins emailed a statement to The Commercial Appeal. "Henry County wishes Coach Kirby success as he returns home to Covington," Watkins said. "Our community, administration, and staff had hoped he would become a valuable part of the Henry County football legacy of excellence. Throughout his time with us, our community, administration, and coaching staff fully supported his transition and the initial work he began with our team." Kirby said he and his family have received backlash from Henry County supporters for his perceived lack of commitment on social media. However, he says his "plan was to be at Henry County" — evidenced by the changes he'd begun to make to the locker room and multiple house tours he took with his wife. Ultimately, he says he felt uncomfortable uprooting his wife and three children permanently. "It's a good place and I can't say enough about the kids," Kirby said. "They're gonna have a great team." "I bet people there have changed jobs for the betterment of their family and that's all I've done," he added. Both Watkins and Kirby expressed regret that there was no opportunity for Kirby to speak with his players before his departure. "I wish I could've talked to the kids and told them I was leaving," Kirby said. "I didn't feel right walking back on that campus with everything that's been said since then." Offensive coordinator Blake Goforth served as Covington's interim coach during the past month. Kirby returns after leading the Chargers to an 11-2 finish and TSSAA Class 3A quarterfinal appearance last season. Kirby has a 60-16 career record through six seasons. "Coach Kirby’s track record speaks for itself," McGlown said. "His commitment to our student-athletes, his understanding of Covington’s culture, and his passion for this program made him the right choice. (The Kirby family's) return isn’t just about football; it’s about bringing back a leader and his family who understands what it means to be part of Charger Nation."

Interesting. I have asked people for details, but everyone I asked is being mum.

It is official. JR Kirby has been rehired as the Covington. Football Coach, I’m personally very excited to have him back. To my mind, he’s the perfect fit for our Chargers. Welcome back, Coach.

We had a guy several coaches back who was going to run the spread offense. He was spectacularly unsuccessful. Covington has a history of putting very good running backs in the backfield to run the wing-T. I’ve been watching Covington football closely since my first kid was a freshman in 1982. Our best success has been with the wing-T. Personally, if we are gonna succeed with an offense other than the wing-T, I’m going to be like the folks from Missouri - “You’re going to have to show me”. Still, I’m for whatever can win for my Chargers.

Per the. Covington Gridiron Association, there are lots of applicants for the head coaching position. Applications will close Feb. 10, and interviews will start soon after. It’s my understanding that all of the current assistants have taken themselves out of consideration for this position.

I hear that Covington already has inquiries from several folks about the head coach opening. I also heard that applications will be taken til 2/1, and that we hope to name a coach by mid-February.

I understand that Covington has named assistant coach Blake Goforth as interim head coach. He is “home grown”, having played his high school football at Covington. I have supported Covington football since my oldest son was a freshman in 1982. I expect Coach Goforth to continue our winning ways. Here’s our win-loss record over the last 10 years: 2015 9-3 2016 6-5 2017 13-2 2018 13-2 2019 11-3 2020 8-2 (Covid year) 2021 9-3 2022 11-3 2023 10-3 2024 11-3 We have a strong winning tradition and I expect it to continue. Welcome, Coach Goforth and our wishes for good luck to Coach Kirby at his new school.

Maybe our West Tennessee schools have a different emphasis on football than you find in other parts of the state. As a long time Covington fan (and a 1962 graduate of its predecessor, Byars-Hall High) I can only recall a handful of players who transferred to Covington to play football. There’s a saying in football “you dance with who brung you”. Our philosophy in Covington is “you play with who you raised”. You can watch the Middle School program here and see the future high school players coming along. I have a grandson who just played his 6th grade year in the system. I personally am proud of what Covington has accomplished in football using this system. True, we have never won a Gold Ball, but we have played for it 6 times in our history and have 6 Silver Balls in our trophy case. If you read the Commercial Appeal article I posted about our 3A Mr. Football this year, Skylan Smith, one fact jumps out at you. Skylan is a heritage player at Covington. His cousins, Darron White and Michael Grandberry, were standout players for Covington in the past. That’s the kind of longevity we are building in Covington. It’s just my own preference, but I like this approach rather than fielding a team of “hired guns” who are there for a short time and then leave the community. Maybe this explains the difference between us and the rest of the state.

Interesting thread. I had not looked ahead to the schedule for next season. Wow! Covington and Haywood are playing again. That’s really great. Stacmot and I had discussed this in the past. These two teams have too much history to not be playing every year. As a Covington fan, this makes a lot more sense than scheduling some of the other non-region opponents we have played in the past. There will be years when one team is favored over the other, but this game has minimal travel, it’s a standing rivalry, you are pretty much guaranteed a good gate because each fan base supports their team, and it’s a good tough game to prepare both teams for later playoff games. You can’t control who you play in your region, but you can for sure pick the non-region opponents on your schedule. Congrats to both coaches and administrations for scheduling this game!

Skylan Smith has also been named the Offensive Player Of the Year by the Commercial Appeal. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/sports/high-school/2024/12/18/tennessee-high-school-football-skylan-smith-offensive-player-of-year-2024/76967093007/ In his years with Covington High School football, dating back to 2006, there were school records coach J.R. Kirby never thought would be broken. Ones like former Arkansas State running back Johnston White's career rushing yardage record (4,081), or former Memphis receiver Darron White's rushing touchdown mark (83). "I coached some of those guys that had those records and I never thought they'd be touched," Kirby said.Before the 2024 season, though, Kirby remembers scouring the record books and realizing that his star senior running back —coincidentally kin to White and other former Covington greats like former Memphis standout Michael Grandberry — was in striking distance. "He’s not but 800 yards away and he needs 19 touchdowns, he’s gonna smash that," Kirby remembers thinking. The touchdown record fell in Week 5 vs. Bolivar Central. Kirby quickly recounted the play, pointing to the south end of Covington's field around the 10-yard line. "The move he made right there," he said with a smirk and pause. "I was like 'Man, that's Skylan Smith.'" "It was a fullback quick pitch," Smith recalled with just as much glee as his coach. "That's my favorite play because I probably gained 10 or more yards every time. It's a great view of how we play. As soon as I'm tossed the ball, I look up and see every teammate blocking for me. It's brotherhood." Kirby rattled off more memorable runs, and just as many school records that fell during Smith's 2024 season. He carried the ball 198 times for 2,212 yards and 41 touchdowns. He added another 509 yards and six touchdowns combined receiving and returning, earning Covington and Tipton County's first 3A Mr. Football award and the title of The Commercial Appeal's Offensive Player of the Year. He guided Covington to an 11-2 record this season with its only losses coming against eventual 3A state runner-up Westview at the end of the regular season, Nov. 1, and in the state quarterfinals, Nov. 22. Smith, a four-year starter, finished his career with 709 carries for 6,214 rushing yards and 112 touchdowns. His name now sits atop school records for career rushing yards, career touchdowns, touchdowns in a game (6) and in a season (47). "He didn't just break them, he shattered them," Kirby said. "(Smith's) a great kid, high-character kid. He's special. You can't coach 4.37 (seconds in the 40-yard dash). People need to look past the fact that he's 5-foot-9, (185 pounds)." Smith proved special when Kirby first saw him in middle school, but he hit a different level as a senior, fueled by losing out on 2023's Mr. Football award which Sheffield's Radarious Jackson won. "Not winning last year, I had a big chip on my shoulder," Smith said. "This offseason, I went to work and got stronger in the weight room. I had something to prove, came out here, gave my all every game and worked my way to get back there.” His humility and work in the weight room is what sets Smith apart according to his coach. Plenty of players speak of games as things to cherish given the violence of the sport. In part due to his father, Smith views even the small things that way. "I cherish every moment in the weight room, on the field, anywhere," Smith said. "It can be taken away at any time." Winning the awards he did this season are things he'll cherish for a particularly long time. They're things the cousins like White and Jamarion Dowell before him, former Mr. Football finalists and semifinalists, fell just short of doing. "It felt great knowing that I came under them and did it and put Covington out there," Smith said. "I looked up to them a lot, especially from back in the day, just playing out in the field with them. It’s made me the back I am today.”

Thanks. Skylan did deserve this honor. I’m sure that Simpson at WV will be favored to win it in the future.

Per the Daily Memphian: https://dailymemphian.com/section/sportshigh-school-sports/article/48495/covington-standout-skylan-smith-wins-class-3a-mr-football NASHVILLE — It’s hard to put into words what winning Tennessee Titans Mr. Football meant for Skylan Smith, Covington High’s football program and the entire Covington community. But Chargers head coach J.R. Kirby gave it the old college try Tuesday, “It’s emotional,” he said. “I was crying, Mom’s crying. There were a lot of tears at our table. We’ve been knocking on this door a few times ... (and) we’ve had a lot of great players at Covington that weren’t even recognized. “Skylan’s a great kid and a lot of people from all different walks of the school were pulling for him. That’s not always the case. I was getting texts and videos of classes screaming, erupting and hollering. This means so much for our school and our community.” On several different levels. Smith, who was named the winner in Class 3A, is the first Mr. Football in Covington history. Additionally, he’s the first winner from Tipton County, and it came after he finished as a finalist in 2023 to Sheffield’s Radarious Jackson. But this year, his numbers were hard to overcome. Smith, a 5-foot-8, 180-pound senior, rushed for 1,585 yards — averaging nearly 11 yards per carry — and scored 31 touchdowns while adding six more on receptions and returns. Mr. Football only takes into account a player’s performance during the 10-game regular season but overall, the senior topped 2,000 yards and finished with 47 touchdowns for a Covington team that went 11-2 and lost to Martin Westview in the state playoff quarterfinals. Westview freshman quarterback Graham Simpson — who passed for nearly 2,800 yards and 44 touchdowns with no interceptions — and all-purpose standout Eli Graf from state champion Alcoa were the other finalists. Mr. Football voting doesn’t take career accolades into consideration either, but consider this: Smith will leave as Covington’s all-time leading rusher and touchdown scorer. “It was very nerve-wracking,” he said. “When I heard my name called, it was a sigh of relief since I didn’t get it last year. (After last year), I just went back to work and worked harder. We have a great coaching staff that just pushes us to be the best versions of ourselves.” And now he’s left a giant legacy for future players at Covington. That includes his younger brother, Jaheim, a 1,000-yard rusher as a sophomore for the Chargers this season. “It’s special for my city because I’m the first one to do it,” he said. “Maybe there are little kids who look up to me, who want to be like me one day. Hopefully, they can break records. I really want my brother (to break them) and keep the family tradition alive.” Added Kirby, “Where he’s at now is not a shock to me. We put a lot on him his freshman year and continued to build on that. He’s been the face of our program that last two, three years ... I know it means a lot to all the winners, but this kid right here, it’s going to stick with him for the rest of his life.” Smith was the lone area winner among the five local finalists who were recognized during ceremonies at Nissan Stadium.