Football is back in Metro Nashville
We have been waiting since last December to see the youngins strap the pads on for some high school football, and this weekend did not disappoint. Maplewood High School hosted this season’s first official high school football preseason games in the 47th Annual Metro Nashville Jamboree. We had an opportunity to see Maplewood, Hunters Lane, Pearl Cohn, and Stratford play last night.
The first game between Pearl Cohn and Stratford was a preview of what to expect from the Firebirds as they seemed to be in mid-season form. Pearl Cohn was led offensively with seniors Jimmy Ferrell and Rontavius Groves who seem to be in sync with each other from the get go. Ferrell who has several offers displayed his big arm going deep on the first drive to Groves who also has offers from the likes of West Virginia, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, and Illinois just to name a few. The firebirds offensively and defensively look to be a force yet again, defensively junior Antwon Malone defensive end set the tone on not allowing the Spartans to advance the ball past the line of scrimmage. The Spartans were led by legendary head coach Maurice Fitzgerald showed glimpses of promise going into the 2015 season. Senior running back/wide receiver Corey Simmons holding an offer from Wofford looked in his prime and ready for his run at All Metro campaign. Simmons wheeled off several nice runs offensively, and held his own defensively against the Firebirds. Senior offensive lineman Ty McKibben led the offensive line opening up holes for Simmons to run through. McKinnen seems to be flying under the radar currently and will be a great pickup for the right program. Once the dust settled after the two quarters played last night the Firebirds look poised to make a run as one of the top teams in Metro Nashville, and quite possibly in Tennessee.
In the second game of the evening we saw the Warriors of Hunters Lane take on the host school Maplewood Panthers. The Panthers came out strong with several offensive weapons leading the charge, last year’s Metro Nashville Freshman Player of the Year Raymon Mitchell at the quarterback position came out slanging the pigskin to junior basketball sensation turn wide receiver Bo Hodges. The offensive duo of these two will be something special to watch this season. Out of the backfield junior running back Jeremy McDowell led the rushing attack with a big 50+ rushing touchdown to get the offense rolling. Maplewood’s defense held the Warriors to a goose egg on the scoreboard, and look to be on course to be a force to be reckoned with going into the fall. Coach Arcentae Broome has his Panthers ready for a run at being hopefully one of the top teams this season in Nashville. When the game was over the Panthers held the scoreboard to 21-0 over the Warriors.
Thursday night was just the first night in a very exciting weekend, as we then went over to Cane Ridge Friday night to watch the first game of the evening between Antioch and Hillwood. Antioch with first year and former 1987 Gallatin state championship as a player coach Calvin Hall is poised to take a struggling 3-7 Antioch Bear team from last year’s disappointment to hopefully a year of resurgence. Former Father Ryan standout and Vanderbilt star quarterback Kurt Page takes over at the helm for a potential offensive juggernaut Hilllwood Hilltoppers this season.
Antioch’s bowling bowl ball running back Josh Leavy got things started with a 3yd rushing touchdown to go up 6-0. Just a few players later Hillwood quarterback and baseball standout Terron Smith connected with Jamal Kirklen on a 60yd bomb for the score. Smith to Kirklen will a common theme this fall, as these two hooked up several times throughout the evening. Hillwood looks to benefit most this fall with the addition of the new offensive scheme coach Page has installed. The back and forth scrimmage between these two teams ended up being pretty knotted up with a Hillwood win off a go ahead touchdown run from running back DeShawn Kinzer at the end of the second quarter.
The second game of Friday evening featured Metro Nashville Glencliff Colts vs the Mount Juliet Christian Academy Saints. MJCA coached by ex- Pearl Cohn assistant coach Dan Davis looks to make his mark on his Saints this season, while the Colts are coached by Brandon Easley and his son Malcolm Easley leading the team. MJCA seemed to be led by a committee of players as the young Saints were a force to be reckoned with led by Austin Collier, Alex Pitman, and Preston Sloan. The Colts QB offensive captain Malcolm Easley was inactive nursing an injury, which made way for senior defensive captain Akol Madu to showcase his talent in attacking the run from the secondary position. Both teams gave each other some good competition in an open scrimmage that was also evenly matched throughout the game.
The third and final game of Friday evening featured Whites Creek vs Cane Ridge in a matchup up of 1-29 in the past three seasons Cobras coached by former Houston/Tennessee Oiler Rayna Stewart. And 1st year Head Coach to Cane Ridge Eddie Woods from Memphis Melrose in West Tennessee. Woods inherits a good Ravens team that is coming off a 5-6 season and a first round win over Blackman. While the Cobras were looking for some momentum going into regular season play this Friday, one of the high points was the play of lineman Caleb Beasley defensively. While the Ravens dominated with their defensive play and offensive play of Emarie Barton, DJ Thorpe, Austin Jackson, and Isiah Owens. These four young men from the Ravens displayed over matched athleticism and skill that could have back in the playoffs and make a potential deep run with the new alignment. Cane Ridge took control of this game from the beginning not looking back a quick pitch and catch from QB to receiver, then several defensive fumbles and recoveries from the Cobras.
