The Titans are keeping their 1-2 offensive punch together.

One day after reaching a long-term deal with quarterback Ryan Tannehill, the Titans found a way to keep running back Derrick Henry in the fold for at least one more season as well.he Titans on Monday placed the franchise tag on Henry, who led the NFL in rushing in 2019.

Tennessee used a non-exclusive franchise tag on Henry, which means he can receive offers from other teams with the Titans having the opportunity to match. If Tennessee declines, the other team must give the Titans two first-round draft pick — making it unlikely another team will make Henry an offer this offseason.

It was a critical and necessary development for a team looking to build on last season’s trip to the AFC Championship Game.

Earlier this offseason, Henry expressed his desire to remain in Tennessee.

The Titans are allowed to negotiate a long-term deal to replace the franchise tag until July 15th, after which time Henry would have to play the 2020 season under the one-year franchise tag.

“I want to stay with the Tennessee Titans,” Henry said. “They are the ones that took a chance on me – 31 teams passed on me on the draft and they selected me. I have a lot of love for Tennessee. I have a lot of love everyone in that organization.”

Henry, selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2019, was named the FedEx Ground Player of the Year and second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press after leading the NFL with a career-best 1,540 rushing yards on 303 carries.

Henry ranked third in NFL with 18 total touchdowns, and he ranked second in the AFC and fourth in the NFL with 1,746 yards from scrimmage.

Henry was a real workhorse in the postseason, setting a franchise playoff record with 182 rushing yards at New England (1/4/20) before resetting it with 195 rushing yards at Baltimore (1/11/20). Henry gained 69 yards on 19 carries in the AFC title game loss at Kansas City.

Henry was the only running back in the NFL to average more than 100 rushing yards per game (102.7) this season.

From Weeks 10-13, he joined Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (1985), Eric Dickerson (1984) and O.J. Simpson (1976), as well as Adrian Peterson (2012) as the only players to record at least 145 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown in three consecutive games in NFL history.

In his first four NFL seasons, the former Heisman Trophy winner at the University of Alabama Henry has racked up 3,833 yards and 38 touchdowns on 804 carries.

In an interview at the Pro Bowl in January, Henry told Titans Online he’s hungry to win a Super Bowl.

“In a perfect world, I wish everybody could come back, and we could make another run at it and end on the right note,” Henry said. “I am definitely hungry, not only to get better myself, but to win a Super Bowl.

“My goal every year is I always want to be better than the year before. So that’s what I’ll be striving for heading into next season. I want to do everything I can do to help the team win a Super Bowl.”

The Coffee County CHS softball team traveled to Hazel Green, Alabama on Saturday for a softball tripleheader.  Fighting off multiple wet fields and multiple schedule changes, the Lady Raiders ended the day with a 1 and 2 record against some good competition in the Trojan Classic.  The Lady Raiders dropped games to Pisgah, AL and Ardmore, AL before closing out the day with a big win over Arab, AL.

Opening the day against Pisgah, the Lady Raiders got on the board first in the bottom of the 1^st inning when Kiya Ferrell scored on a passed ball.  Pisgah used 4 hits, an error and a hit batter to plate 5 runs in the 4^th inning for the win.  The Lady Raiders were held to 3 singles as Olivia Evans and Haidyn Campbell each added singles.  Keri Munn took the loss in the circle surrendering but 1 earned run as Coffee County fell 5 to 1

In the 2^nd game of the day, Coffee County saw Ardmore jump out to a 7 to 0 lead in the first inning.  The Lady Raiders were held to 3 hits in the game led by Justus Turner’s double.  Ashley Evans and Ferrell each added singles.  Emily Schuster took the loss for the Lady Raiders in the circle. The Lady Raiders fell by a final score of 7 to 0.

In the nightcap, the Lady Raiders finally got their bats working as they pounded out 9 hits as Munn, Kaitlyn Davis and Ashley Evans all finished with 2 hits.  Ashley Evans finished with a single, a double and 3 RBI while Ferrell had a 2 RBI double.  Davis went the distance in the circle scattering 6 hits and striking out 2.  The Lady Raiders claimed the 10 to 2 victory.

Coffee County tentatively returns to action on Monday as they travel to McMinnville for a battle with Warren County.  First pitch is set for 5 PM at Warren County High School. 

The Westwood baseball team hosted Cornersville on Friday evening at Fred Deadman Park.  In a game you heard here on Thunder Radio, the Rockets rallied from 4 runs down to get an exciting win.  Westwood fought their way to a 13 to 8 victory. 

Westwood pushed across 3 runs in the 2^nd inning as they jumped out to a 3 to 0 lead.  And carried a 4 to 2 lead into the 5^th inning.  But Cornersville sent 12 batters to the plate in the 5^th inning to build an 8 to 4 lead and seize the momentum.  Not to be counted out, the Rockets tied the game in the bottom of the 5^th at 8 runs apiece and added 5 more runs in the 6^th to roll to the win. 

Westwood banged out 8 hits and got the benefit of 6 walks, 2 hit batters and 3 Bulldog errors to improve to 2 and 1 on the season.  Jaiden Warren came on in relief in the 5^th inning to get the win.  Cayden Trail was 2 for 3 with 2 singles, a walk, 2 RBI and 3 runs scored.  Jayden Carter was 2 for 3 at the plate with a double, 3 stolen bases and 2 runs scored.  Caiden Warren had a double, a single and 2 RBI. 

The Rockets were set to return to the diamond on Monday but with the closing of the school system due to the COVID-19 concerns, all Westwood prep sports are postponed until further notice.

Download the broadcast at: http://www.podcastgarden.com/episode/westwood-middle-school-baseball_154365

The Coffee County Middle School soccer team welcomed White County to Manchester for a conference match.  Wet field conditions at CCMS prompted the relocation of the match to the Manchester Soccer Park.  The change in venue would not prove to help the visitors as Coffee County captured a 9 to 0 Mercy Rule win. 

The Red Raiders opened up fast grabbing 6 goals in the first half.  Coffee County closed out the match in the 43^rd minute with their 9^th goal.  After a scoreless first 10 minutes, Manny Gonzalez netted the Raiders first goal in the 11^th minute.  Julius Norris added a goal in the 13^th minute before Javier Rodriquez added goals in the 17^th, 20^th, 23^rd and 25^th minutes.  In the 2^nd half, Norris completed a hat trick with goals in the 33^rd and 39^th minutes.  Emmanuel Rodriquez added a goal in the 43^rd minute to make the score 9 to 0 and end the contest. 

The Red Raiders tentatively returns home on Monday night for a match-up with perennial conference power Harris.  Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you the broadcast as part of the People’s Bank and Trust Hometown Sports Series.  Kickoff is set for 4:45 PM; we begin our live coverage with the pregame show at 4:30. 

Thursday Prep Results
CCMS Tennis swept Moore County – Girls won 6 to 3 & Boys won 8 to 1 – See the story HERE
CHS Tennis split with Tullahoma – Girls won 4 to 3 & Boys lost 4 to 3 – See the story HERE
WMS Boys’ Soccer stops Cascade – 4 to 0 – See the story HERE
CCMS Boys’ Soccer at Warren Co – PPD, Make-up is TBD
WMS Softball Huntland – PPD, Make-up is March 18th
CHS Softball at Shelbyville – PPD, Make-up is March 20th

Friday’s Prep Schedule
CNX – CHS Baseball HOSTS Pope John Paul II – make-up date is TBD
CNX – CHS Boys’ Soccer at Soddy-Daisy – make-up date is TBD
5:00 PM – CCMS Boys’ Soccer HOSTS White Co
5:30 PM – WMS Baseball HOSTS Cornersville
6:15 PM – CHS Softball vs. Scottsboro, AL at Hazel Green, AL Tournament
8:15 PM – CHS Softball vs. Pisgah, AL at Hazel Green, AL Tournament