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Titans Pull Out Improbable Win Over Chargers, 23-20
Story by Jim Wyatt, TitansOnline.com
Clinging to a three-point lead in the closing seconds on Sunday, things didn’t look good for the Titans.
The Chargers had the ball at the one-yard line, first and goal. On the clock, just 34 seconds.
On the sideline, Titans rookie A.J. Brown knows what he was thinking.
“Honestly,” Brown said with a smile, “if I was the coach, I would have let them score so we’d have a chance to get the ball back and have a chance to score.”
Then, something crazy happened.
Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard knocked the ball out of the hands of Chargers running back Melvin Gordon at the goal line on a second-down play – just moments after a Los Angeles touchdown call was reversed. The ball ended up on the arms of defensive lineman Jurrell Casey, who was in the end zone.
A review confirmed the fumble, and the scene at Nissan Stadium did, too – the Titans had pulled off an improbable win, 23-20 over the Chargers.
“I would say the win probability was a high 96 percent for them to win,” said Woodyard. “But we fought, and we defended every blade of grass. We kept fighting, and we never gave up.”
Casey could hardly believe it as he celebrated with his teammates.
“The ball dropped into my arms,” Casey said. “The next thing you know, the crowd was going crazy and we’d won the game. It was crazy. But man, we needed this. This is huge.”
The Titans improved to 3-4 on the season with the win on a day quarterback Ryan Tannehill stepped in as the team’s starting quarterback.
Tannehill played well, throwing for over 312 yards a pair of touchdowns while engineering one impressive drive after another. Tannehill ended up completing 23-of-29 passes with the two scores, and he finished with a passer rating of 120.1.
What had been a stagnant offense in recent weeks with Marcus Mariota at the helm suddenly looked more potent, and 22 first downs and 403 yards of offense was a welcome relief. Running back Derrick Henry did his part, too, rushing for 90 yards and a touchdown.
“It felt good,” Tannehill said of the offense. “Obviously we did some good things, moved the football, put some points on the scoreboard. Guys played extremely hard from the beginning of the game. I’m really proud of the way the guys played.”
Tannehill found receiver Tajae Sharpe open in the back of the end zone for a five-yard touchdown to give the Titans a 16-10 lead with 13:11 left in the contest. It capped a 14-play, 85-yard drive that took 7:09 off the clock.
After the Chargers cut the lead to 16-13 with 10:55 left on a 50-yard field goal by kicker Chase McLaughlin, the Titans answered back and appeared on the verge of being able to win going away after Henry’s 11-yard touchdown run gave the Titans a 23-13 lead with 6:39 left.
But the Titans allowed a 41-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Philip Rivers to running back Austin Ekeler to make it 23-20 with 5:09 left and after Tannehill was stopped on a fourth-and-one near midfield late, the Chargers were in a position to win it before the heroic goal line stop.
“The football gods were on our side tonight,” Titans safety Kevin Byard said. “It was amazing – probably the best Titans game I’ve been a part of for sure. We just have a mentality on defense that we have a blade of grass to defend and not give up on anything.
“Things might not have looked good, but we kept playing hard and we found a way to win.”
Earlier in the game, Tannehill connected with receiver Corey Davis for an eight-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-10 at the half. The touchdown toss capped an eight-play, 86-yard drive with just 23 seconds left on the clock before halftime.
The Titans took a 3-0 lead early on a 45-yard field goal by kicker Cody Parkey before the Chargers scored 10 straight points to take a 10-3 lead. Los Angeles got on the board with a 29-yard field goal by McLaughlin before a one-yard touchdown pass from Rivers to Gordon.
First-round pick Jeffery Simmons saw his first action after being activated from the Non-Football Injury list on Saturday, and he recorded a sack and two tackles for a loss, along with four overall tackles.
The Titans return to Nissan Stadium next Sunday to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“That was a crazy game, with a crazy ending,” Sharpe said. “I’ve never really had a game come down to something like that, so it was great. It was fun to watch the ending from the sideline, watching our defense do its thing – I felt like a fan out there.
“Now we need to carry the momentum from this and keep it going. We needed this a whole bunch. After a couple of losses, you kind of forget what this feels like. But coming in the locker room after win like that, it electrifies everybody and gives everybody the spark that we needed.”
Nashville SC Moves Into 1st Place with Saturday Win
Three goals in the first half were more than enough as Nashville SC moved back into first place in the Eastern Conference with a 3-0 win over Atlanta United 2 in the regular season finale at First Tennessee Park on Saturday night.
A headed goal from Forrest Lasso from a corner in the 23’ minute and a brace from Daniel Ríos in the 32’ and 39’ minutes sealed the three points on a cool night in the Music City.
The night shone gold for two Nashville players as Matt Pickens kept a clean sheet, earning the USL Championship’s Golden Glove award as the most effective keeper in the league, and Daniel Ríos scored twice, giving the star forward back-to-back 20-goal seasons. It is the first time any player in USL history has scored 20 goals in a season twice.
In the Eastern Conference standings, Nashville SC jumps back into first place with the three points, passing idle Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. The pressure now jumps to Pittsburgh as a Riverhounds SC loss or draw will clinch the East for Nashville SC.
Here are three takeaways from the victory.
1) Pickens Is Gold
Nashville keeper Matt Pickens capped a stellar 2019 regular season with his 14th clean sheet to lead the USL Championship and in the process won the Golden Glove. The 37-year-old veteran allowed a paltry 16 goals in 25 matches including just five in his last 15 matches of the season. His 0.64 goals against average is the second-best mark in USL Championship history. His 14 clean sheets matches his total from last season and stand the two totals stand as two of the three best clean sheet seasons in league history, falling one short of the best-ever total of 15. There is only one Matt Pickens.
2) Ríos Makes History
Two first half goals from Daniel Ríos gave Nashville’s first MLS signing a second-consecutive 20-goal season, the first time in league history a player has hit the 20-goal mark in two different seasons. Ríos’ brace was the fourth time this season that he has scored multiple goals in a match. He also finishes the year as the Eastern Conference goal leader and just two away from the league’s best total of 22 scored by Solomon Asante of Phoenix Rising FC.
3) Nashville Sets the Total
With 67 points, Nashville SC leads Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC by two points with a match in hand. Pittsburgh can surpass Nashville with a win tomorrow in its final match of the USL Championship season at Birmingham Legion FC. Birmingham clinched a playoff spot tonight, but a win could bump Legion FC into 9th place in the East. Nashville fans will want to tune into the match at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN+ to see if Nashville can win the Eastern Conference title.
Up Next
Nashville SC gets to stay at home at First Tennessee Park in the Conference Quarterfinals of the USL Championship Playoffs presented by Nissan. It will await its opponent which will be determined in the Play-In Round on Wednesday night. Regardless, Nashville will host at 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 26. Tickets for the playoffs are available here.
10/20/19 — Margie Ruth Tucker Medley
Graveside services for Mrs. Margie Ruth Tucker Medley, age 80, of Estill Springs, TN, will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 20, 2019, at New Brick Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until 1:45 PM at Manchester Funeral Home on Sunday before the service. Mrs. Medley passed from this life on Friday, October 18, 2019, at Manchester Healthcare in Manchester, TN.
Margie was born in Winchester, TN, to the late Johnnie and Lottie Tucker. She was a machine operator for Eden Industries before retirement. Margie loved being outside in her flower bed and watch hummingbirds.
In addition to her parents, Margie is also preceded in death by her loving husband, Edward Medley; one son, James Kevin Medley; one daughter-in-law, Angela Medley; three brothers, Paul, Frank, and Bill Tucker; two sisters, Faye Banks and Mary Foster. She is survived by one son, Claude C. Medley; one daughter, Vickie Evans (Stephen); two sisters, Joyce Randolph and Betty Wimberley; two grandsons, Jason Evans (Lacey) and Matt Evans (Kristy); two great-grandchildren, Luke and Libby Evans.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Manchester Funeral Home in remembrance of Mrs. Margie Medley.
Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Medley family.
10/20/19 — Stella Louise Lowe Rayfield
Funeral services for Mrs. Stella Louise Lowe Rayfield, age 79, of Manchester will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Sunday, October 20, 2019, at Coffee County FuneralChapel with Bro. Benny Benjamin officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Mill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:00 PM until the time of service at the funeral home. Mrs. Rayfield passed from this life on Friday, October 18, 2019, at Bailey Manor in Manchester, TN.
Stella was born in Manchester to the late Homa Jarrod Lower and Mary Alice Taylor Lowe. She was a homemaker and a member of Fountain Grove United Methodist Church.
Stella was preceded in death by her parents, Homa Jarrod Lowe and Mary Alice Taylor Lowe; her loving husband of 39 years, Everett “Ray” Rayfield; one son, Bruce Rayfield; one brother, Landon Lowe. She is survived by three daughters, Judy Rayfield Spears (Jimmy), Vickie Rayfield Ham, and Penny Rayfield Stringer (Kip); one sister, Ruth Lowe Freeze; eleven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren.
Coffee County Soccer Team Falls in District Title Contest
Competing on their home field for a district championship for the 3rd year in a row, the Lady Raider soccer team of Coffee County CHS welcomed Franklin County to the Raider Soccer Field on Thursday. Coffee County outshot the visiting Rebelettes but could not get a ball into the back of the net. In a match you heard here on Thunder Radio, Franklin County claimed the heart-breaking 1 nil win over the Lady Raiders.
Franklin County converted on a long through-ball in the 15th minute as the Rebelettes got behind the Lady Raider defense for goal which stood up for the final 65 minutes of the match. Coffee County outshot Franklin County 11 to 7. Lucy Riddle finished the match with 3 saves.
After the match, 10 different Lady Raiders were selected for All-District honors. Named to the 2nd team all-district team were: Jayda Wright, Kyleigh Harner, Britney Hernandez and Anna Amado. Named to the 1st team all-district team were Jenna Garretson, Reagan Ellison, Reyna Flores and Katie Cotten. Lucy Riddle was named the district keeper of the year and Maddy Jones was selected as the district forward of the year. First year Lady Raider head coach Lee Xixis was named the District 8AAA coach of the year.
With the loss, Coffee County will travel to Siegel on Tuesday night for the Region 4AAA semifinals. Thunder Radio will be on hand to bring you the broadcast as part of the 1st National Bank Hometown Sports Series. The location and starting time of the game will be announced over the weekend.
Download the broadcast at: www.Thunder1320.com/downloads
Friday Prep Schedule
6:30 PM – CHS Football at Warren County – Thunder Radio broadcast
Preds Disappointed with Effort in Loss to Coyotes
The Nashville Predators fell behind 2-0 in the first period and struggled to find their game against Arizona, as the Coyotes ultimately prevailed, 5-2, at Gila River Arena on Thursday night.
Preds blueliner Dante Fabbro cut the deficit to 2-1 and Nick Bonino scored his third goal in four games, but Nashville never drew even with the Coyotes after Phil Kessel’s first of two tallies on the evening put Arizona up by a pair at 10:34 of the first.
The result sees the Preds finish their three-game road trip with a single victory and their record moves to 4-3-0 on the season.
“Not good,” Preds Head Coach Peter Laviolette said of his team’s performance. “We were outworked and out competed, out skated, so we got what we deserved. We didn’t put anything into it, we didn’t get anything out of it.”
Arizona scored three times on the power play, including a pair from Kessel, and the Predators left disappointed with their efforts after a solid win in Las Vegas two nights earlier.
Juuse Saros made 27 saves on the night for the Preds to keep things within reach, but Nashville was never able to find the equalizer.
“They’re a good team, obviously, but I think we just came out flat,” Preds Captain Roman Josi said. “We didn’t win any battles. I thought the second was a little better, but still we have to play a lot better to beat a team like that.”
Arizona outshot the Preds by a 15-3 margin in the opening period, and they had a 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Christian Dvorak and Kessel after 20 minutes.
Nashville got some life in the second when Kyle Turris found Fabbro streaking into the zone, and the Predators blueliner fired a shot past Darcy Kuemper to get his club on the board.
“I saw a fast break, an opportunity to jump up in the rush, and Turris made a great play to find me in the slot there, coming in late,” Fabbro said of his goal. “I almost lost it, but was able to get a shot off and fortunate for it to go in.”
But before the middle stanza was finished, the Coyotes added their third when Jakob Chychrun converted on the power play, and Kessel added his second of the night in the third to make it 4-1. Bonino gave the Preds life late in regulation when he tipped in a shot in the slot, but Arizona quickly added an empty-netter to ice it.
“It’s tough being on the penalty kill all game and for guys to create energy off that,” Fabbro said. “We have to find a way to stay out of the box and continue our game within our structure.”
The Predators now head back home to begin a three-game set at Bridgestone Arena, and it starts Saturday night against Florida. No doubt they’ll be eager to erase the memory of this one in the desert.
“It wasn’t a great game from us,” Josi said. “They were the better team, and we got what we deserved.”
Notes:
Filip Forsberg missed Thursday’s game in Arizona due to a lower-body injury and is day-to-day. Daniel Carr took Forsberg’s spot in the lineup on the night.
The Predators return to Nashville on Saturday night (at 7 p.m. CT) to host the Florida Panthers to begin a three-game homestand. Anaheim and Minnesota will also make stops in Tennessee next week.
MPD promotes two to investigators; hires new officers
The Manchester Police Department has announced the hiring of two new patrol officers and the promotion of two other officers to the investigation division of the department.
Newly hired are Leah Carrick and Jeremiah Kirk, both have been deputies with the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department. Manchester Police Chief Mark Yother said he expects the two officers to start within the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, Manchester Police Department officers Jamie Norris and Benjamin Sneed have been promoted to be investigators. The move to investigations beginning December 1.
“I’m really excited about it,” said Yother. “I think they are both extremely hard workers. They have proven that since day one. They follow up their cases now on patrol.”
Norris has been with the department for four and a half years and Snead for a year and a half. Both brought experience with them to the department.
First death related to e-cig use reported in Tennessee
The Tennessee Department of Health has reported one death in a patient with serious respiratory disease associated with use of electronic cigarettes or other vaping devices. This is the first such death reported in Tennessee.
Gov. Bill Lee has yet to respond to medical professionals calling for a statewide emergency ban on flavored vaping products, popular among young people.
Dr. Elise Denneny, president of the Tennessee Medical Association, says her colleagues have sent a letter urging the governor to join at least five other states that have already restricted or banned the sale or marketing of flavored vaping products.
“The younger consumers, including adolescents, seem to be drawn to the flavored products,” she points out. “The medical community is advocating for just a temporary ban, just so we have time to try to figure out some of the data.”
So far, there are reports of 49 cases of serious lung injury among Tennesseans who have used electronic cigarettes or other vaping devices, according to the state Department of Health.
But Lee cites a “lack of data” as his reason for not approving a ban.
Denneny points out public health officials remain in the dark about what’s causing the lung injury, but notes it isn’t linked to any specific brand or flavor.
“Vaping lung injury is very different than smoking lung injury,” she points out. “We really don’t know, we don’t have enough data to know, but we do know that we’re seeing lung injury caused by vaping.”
This week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named the mysterious illness EVALI, which stands for E-cigarette Vaping Product use Associated Lung Injury.
Denneny says that’s an important step.
“So now, we have a name, and hopefully not far behind that there will be an ICD code, so that we can track the data – because right now, there’s not even a code,” she states. “That makes it very difficult to track the data.”
Denneny also advises that because EVALI can mimic flu symptoms, it’s critical that people share their vaping history with their health care provider as flu season approaches.
Manchester soccer park closed for sewer repair
You may have noticed large equipment in the Manchester Sports Park soccer fields over the past week.
The Manchester Water and Sewer Department is conducting rehab and repairs to the sewer lines that run in the soccer park and along the Little Duck River Greenway in that area. The soccer park is now closed for use for the next week due to these repairs.