Friday Night Lights Back In Mt. Juliet

by. Aby Goodman (D1 Highlights Intern)

Friday night lights are back! The Mount Juliet Golden Bears traveled to Austin Peay State University to face off against the Clarksville High Wildcats. Watching warm-ups and seeing the pace set by both Head Coach Trey Perry of Mount Juliet and Head Coach Issac Shelby of Clarksville clearly set a tempo of domination for both squads from the jump. Within the first few seconds of the game, the Bears set the bar high on the first play of the game with Aidan Raines (6-SR) scoring a huge 65-yard touchdown for the Bears, the 6’1 180lb Tailback had an explosive game. Defensively, the Bears did an amazing job stopping the Wild Cats running and passing game. Big hits and plays were made by Colton Reeder (10-SR) with a big interception to put the ball back on Bear territory. Other key players that stood out were Tony Thompson (32-SR) with a big block knocking the ball away from the Wildcats and gaining the ball back for the Bears as well, late in the second-half. Thompson is a 6’3 220lb Linebacker with great speed and ability to make hard hits. Marcello Walton (28-JR) also had a big game, by polishing off the Bears already explosive run game and adding a few points late in the game as well.

However, the Wildcats played an intense ball game even with key player Malik Santiago (26-SR) currently being out due to an injury earlier in the week. The Wildcats had many young men step up and help out offensively, defensively, and certainly on special teams. With the Bears leading, the Wildcats opted for a 10yd field goal by Caden Patterson (14-SR) finishing out their first series with the ball. The 5’9 170lb kicker stepped up on special teams with a second field goal from an amazing 53yds out, late in the second-half. The Wildcats’ own Jake McDivitt scored the only touchdown for Clarksville on a pass by Quarter Back Ford Cooper.

After the game, we spoke with “Coach T” (Trey Perry, son of former Head Coach Rodger Perry and took over the program in 2013)

D1H: “How do you think this preseason game has set the tempo for this upcoming season?”

Coach: “I think we learned a lot tonight and I think Clarksville learned a lot tonight, first of all we’re overjoyed and thankful for Austin Peay having us for the second year in a row and hosting this is an awesome setting for football, but I think we learned a lot I think we played stretches of really good football and then I think we played a few stretches where we need to be smarter you know. . . and that is what fall camp is about learning from some of those mental errors if you’re seeing the effort is there then you can obviously build off that and the effort was there tonight.”

D1H: “Of course you guys did amazing what sets this group apart from groups you’ve had in the past?”

Coach: “The senior class. There is a lot of accountability in that class, they lead by example a lot, they don’t have to talk a lot, but they lead by example the guys follow obviously there is a lot of experience coming back from last year, so they’re more comfortable in a lot of these game settings but I think that would be the biggest difference.”

D1H: “And speaking of the experience that you just brought up what would be some of the players you see taking impact rolls this upcoming season?”

Coach: “I think on defense our outside linebacker position on both sides has done a really awesome job that is a tough position to play in our defense because there is a lot of movement and they got to be in a lot of places, change up coverages, blitzing, play a big tight end and you know they’re asked to do a lot and those guys do a really good job offensively obviously our tailback position with Aidan (Raines 6) has been really explosive but I do think our perimeter run game and our passing game is a head of last year right now”

We also spoke with Colton Reeder (10-SR) who had a big interception late in the first half.

D1H: “What did coach say to you all at half time to keep the tempo going for you all”

Colton: “Really nothing its basically just the teammates on the sidelines getting us all the tempo we need and our coverages going through and everyone playing their part”

D1H: “You had an awesome interception at the beginning of the game does that help you gain confidence for this upcoming season and do you anticipate being an impact player this year”

Colton: “Yes, I plan on doing that for the team and for the coaching staff because they push me to do great things”

Lastly, we asked current student-coach Jalan Sowell to name a few players he anticipates big things from and with a decently sized list, to name a few: Aidan Raines, Tony Thompson, Micheal Ruttlen, Conor Ruzek, Cody Glass, and Marcello Walton.

Overall, I anticipate this season being a BIG year for Mount Juliet’s football program. For the most part this team is bigger, stronger and faster than last year even with the loss of a few key players. I see a bright future for this program if veterans and rookies alike step up and play their part. Next week, the Bears will be playing in their last pre-season game, playing in the Bears/Bucs bash on August 12.

Next up on August 9, I will be doing an in-depth interview with Aidan Raines specifically discussing the recruiting process, his perspective on playing at the next level, previous stats, and much more as my Player of the Week at Mt. Juliet High School.