In the most comprehensive change in the classification of high school athletics in the last 20 years, the TSSAA released its new regions for the 2017-20 school years on Friday. The new alignments will feature a revised 6 class system for public schools in football.
There will also be a 3 class system for baseball/softball & basketball. There is a new classification for volleyball which will feature 3 classes equally divided by participating schools. Soccer will feature 3 classes as well, equally divided by participating schools. Wrestling will be classified based on the basketball classifications with Class AA and Class A combined. All other sports at Coffee County(tennis, golf, track and cross country) will be divided into 2 classes split evenly be participation and enrollment.
For all sports, Coffee County will remain in the largest classification. The Red Raider football team will play in Region 3-6A with Cookeville, Warren County, Riverdale, Blackman, Oakland and Siegel. There is no change in the district alignment for baseball, softball, and basketball as Coffee County will remain in District 8AAA with Tullahoma, Franklin County, Columbia, Shelbyville, Lincoln County and Lawrence County. In volleyball, soccer, Coffee County will be in District 8AAA with Columbia, Franklin County, Lincoln County and Shelbyville. In wrestling(duals), Coffee County will be in District 9 with Franklin County, Lawrence County, Shelbyville, Tullahoma, Warren County and White County. There are slight changes to the district/region alignments in tennis and golf as the old district 8AAA will also see new members Giles County and Marshall County enter.
Schools have until Wednesday at noon to appeal which region they are in. Those appeals will be heard Thursday at the TSSAA’s Board of Control meeting. You can see a state-wide breakdown of all of the new TSSAA region/district classification plan, you can visit the TSSAA website at: http://tssaa.org/2017-2021-district-region-alignments/
Category: Sports
TSSAA Unveils New Classification Plan
Forsberg, Rinne Help Propel Preds Over Ducks
Pekka Rinne
Filip Forsberg scored his first of the season, and Pekka Rinne stopped 27 shots as the Nashville Predators concluded their four-game home stand by trouncing the Anaheim Ducks, 5-0.
The victory gives the Preds three wins in a row and bumps their overall record to 6-5-3 for 15 points. They’ve collected at least a point in six consecutive games (4-0-2) and their confidence only continues to grow.
Winger James Neal also tallied twice in the win, and Nashville’s top players are elevating their game as the club gets on a roll.
“Even when we weren’t scoring, we knew we had players that were capable of scoring goals,” Head Coach Peter Laviolette said. “[James] Neal has had lots of opportunities since the start of the year, and it’s nice to see that they finally [are going] in. Goal-scorers continue to shoot the puck as much as possible because they’re good at what they do.”
As the month of November has gone along, Pekka Rinne has seemingly gotten better and better – his 4-0-2 record supports it. So perhaps it was only fitting he finished off the four-game home stand with a 27-save shutout, the 41st of his career and first of the season.
Arguably Nashville’s best player to date, Rinne has consistently given his team a chance to win, and as of late, that’s exactly what they’ve done.
“He’s been so strong,” Laviolette said of Rinne. “It’s not like because he didn’t get a shutout last game he wasn’t good. He was brilliant last game. But tonight, he puts the exclamation point on it with a shutout. He’s seeing it really well right now, he’s in position and I think our guys are feeding off of that in front of him.”
“My main goal is to be consistent and be able to maintain a level where I felt like I’m playing my best game every night,” Rinne said. “This home stretch has been really good for me and my teammates and hopefully we can keep it going.”
The chances that Filip Forsberg would go much longer without finding the back of the net weren’t great. But still, when he beat John Gibson for his first of the season and his team’s fourth of the night, he returned to the bench, let out a long breath, and then flashed a familiar smile. After going the first 13 games without doing what he does best, the drought was over.
“Every guy on this team knows what type of player we have to be to be successful and we didn’t do that in the start,” Forsberg said. “I think that was basically the thing, to start working hard and playing our way of hockey. We’ve been playing better hockey, and it’s been coming to us all. ”
“He was determined, and he was bringing the puck to the net,” Laviolette said. “It was just a matter of time. Again, goal-scorers that bring it to the net usually wind up scoring goals at some point.”
When the Predators returned last week from a five-game road trip, they were not only happy to return to Tennessee, but they knew they had a chance to collect eight points at home. Finishing the home stand with seven out of eight isn’t too shabby.
With the win, the Preds have climbed their way back into the thick of the NHL schedule as they continue to erase what was a poor start and turn it into their first win streak of the season.
“I think you learn a little about yourself when you go through a tough stretch of games,” forward James Neal said. “I think we have a lot of new guys and a lot of different roles that guys are going into. So, we thought if we just did the right things and kept working it will come, and I like the way we’ve played at home the last five or six games.”
Notes:
James Neal has scored a goal in four consecutive games for the first time since the 2013-14 season. It matches the second-longest streak of his career.
Neal has registered eight points (5g-3a) in his last seven games and earned two multi-point games during that stretch.
Viktor Arvidsson matched a career high with two assists tonight.
Colton Sissons’ shorthanded goal was the first of his NHL career.
The Preds head out on the road next week for a three-game swing, beginning on Tuesday night in Toronto to face Auston Matthews – the No. 1 overall selection in the 2016 NHL Draft – and the Maple Leafs. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast following Coffee County basketball.
Titans Turn in Dominating Performance in Win Over Packers
The Titans wanted to make a statement on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.
Mission accomplished.
The Titans came out swinging on Sunday, and they never stopped.
The end result was a dominating 47-25 win over the Packers. The point total was the highest in a game since the 2009 season. The Titans have now scored 35-plus points in three straight regular season games for the first time in franchise history.
“We were going to leave it all on the field,’’ tight end Delanie Walker said. “We said we needed to make a statement, and this was a game to make a statement in and I think we did that. We felt like we controlled the game.”
Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota connected on 19-of-26 passes for 295 yards and four touchdowns, with a passer rating of 149.8. He now has 17 touchdown vs. only three interceptions in the last six games.
In the past six games, Mariota has 17 touchdowns vs. only three interceptions. Mariota has at least two touchdown passes in six consecutive games, and he’s already surpassed his rookie total for touchdown passes on the season with 21. Mariota became the first Titans quarterback since Steve McNair in 2003 to thrown for 20 touchdowns in a season. McNair threw for 24 touchdowns that season.
“It is a huge stepping stone,’’ Mariota said of the win. “It is getting us in the right direction. There’s still a lot of season left, a lot of things we have to go and accomplish. But hopefully we can use this as momentum for the rest of the year.”
Running back DeMarco Murray ran for 123 yards on 17 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown run the team’s first offensive play.
The Titans improved to 5-5 with the win, and in the process matched their win total for the previous two seasons combined.
“There was a lot of energy on the sideline,’’ Titans coach Mike Mularkey said. “They wanted it bad and you could see it on the sideline. The body language and just the offense pulling for the defense, being up there when they were coming off the field, it’s great. These guys pull for each other more than you know, and it was fun to watch that today.”
Murray busted through a hole on the left side of the line and raced untouched on his 75-yard touchdown run.
On the team’s next series, the Titans scored again, this time with some trickery, when Murray threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Walker, which made it 14-0. Murray became the first non-QB with a 75-plus yard touchdown run and a touchdown pass in a single game since Hall of Famer John Henry.
The Titans jumped out to a 21-0 lead when Mariota connected with tight end Anthony Fasano for a nine-yard touchdown pass.
The quick start sent Nissan Stadium into a frenzy, as fans chanted “Go Titans Go!” time and again early. It continued.
The Packers got on the scoreboard in the second quarter when quarterback Aaron Rodgers connected with receiver Jordy Nelson for a one-yard touchdown pass, making it 21-7.
But the Titans had a quick answer. A 35-yard pass from Mariota to Murray moved the ball across midfield, and then Mariota connected with receiver Rishard Matthews for a 32-yard touchdown catch to make it 28-7. The touchdown was the sixth for Matthews in the last six games.
The Packers got a 29-yard field goal from kicker Mason Crosby to make it 28-10 with 3:55 left before halftime.
But the Titans kept on swinging, and they were in a good chance to do so late in the first half when LeSeaun Sims recovered a fumbled punt by the Packers. Three plays later, Mariota connected with receiver Kendall Wright for a six-yard touchdown to give the Titans a 35-10 lead at the half.
The 35 points tied for the second-most first-half points in franchise history.
The Packers added another score just before halftime as Rodgers connected with James Starks for a 13-yard score to make it 35-16 at the half.
The Packers then cut the lead to 35-22 midway through the second half on a 20-yard touchdown run by Rodgers.
And back came the Titans. Mariota connected with receiver Tajae Sharpe for a 33-yard touchdown pass to give the Titans a 41-22 lead with 6:27 left in the third quarter. Another field goal from Crosby late in the third quarter made it 41-25 Titans.
The Titans took away any suspense with a pair of field goal from kicker Ryan Succop, from 51 and 23 yards out.
The Titans travel to Indianapolis next Sunday to face the Colts. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast beginning at noon.
Savannah Quick Signs to Play College Golf at MTSU
Savannah Quick signs her national letter of intent with MTSU at a ceremony at CHS accompanied by her family. Pictured are: Front Row (left to right) Ashley Gilliam, sister; Marshall Gilliam, father; Savannah Quick; Jennifer Gilliam, mother; Back Row (left to right) – Carol Gilliam, grandmother; Shirley Haley, grandmother; Jackie Haley, grandfather; Mike Ray, CHS Golf coach
Becoming the 15th golf signee in the last 9 years, Coffee County senior golfer Savannah Quick inked a national letter of intent with Middle Tennessee State University on Thursday in a ceremony at CHS. Quick becomes the second ever Division 1 signee for Coffee County golf and the first since Hollee Sadler signed with Tennessee Tech in the class of 2015.
Coach Mike Ray was effusive in his praise for Quick pointing out the fact that Savannah is the only golfer in Coffee County history to compete in the state tournament all 4 years of her high school career. “MTSU is getting a great player, a great athlete and a great person” said Ray. He went on to add “Coffee County golf has become a successful program thanks to Savannah”
Quick narrowed her final decision to Lincoln Memorial and MTSU. The opportunity to play so close to home and with players she knows was the deciding factor for Quick. “I loved the campus and the courses they play on, plus it is very close to home.” “I also loved the coaches and my future teammates” added Quick. The MTSU Blue Raider golf team is coached by Chris Adams and competes in Conference USA.
Coffee Middle and South Franklin Battle it out on Thursday Night
Keri Munn of CCMS basketball
The Coffee County Middle School Raiders and Lady Raiders hosted their first home basketball games of the season with South Franklin on Thursday night. The Lady Raiders led from wire to wire in a 42 to 19 win in the girls’ game. The Red Raiders dropped a 52 to 41 decision.
In the girls’ game, Coffee County raced out to a 13 to 0 lead after one quarter. Bella Vinson led the Lady Raiders with 20 points in the game, including 11 in the 4th quarter. Keri Munn added 10 points including 4 in the 1st quarter and 4 in the 3rd quarter while Vinson was on the bench with a turned ankle. Kylie Phillips added a pair of 3 pointers.
Jaxon Vaughn of CCMS prepares to shot a free throw as Marshall Haney(background) looks on
In a physical and hotly contested boys’ game, the South Trojans pulled away in the 4th quarter to claw and fight their way to the win. The Raiders opened the game with an early 6 to 2 lead before the swarming South defense forced countless turnovers. Jaxon Vaughn led the Raiders in scoring with 11 points. Hayden Hullett chipped in 7 points and Marshall Haney and Trevor Horne each finished with 6 points.
Coffee County is on the road Monday night when they travel to Tullahoma to take on East Middle. The girls’ game will get underway at 6 PM.
Download the broadcast at: http://www.thunder1320.com/downloads/
Westwood Splits Road Doubleheader at MTCS
Haidyn Campbell of Westwood basketball
The Westwood Rockets and Lady Rockets split a pair of games with Middle Tennessee Christian on Thursday night in Murfreesboro. The Lady Rockets overcame a slow first half to capture a 33 to 29 win. The Rockets saw a 4th quarter lead slip away in a 39 to 30 defeat.
After being held scoreless in the 1st quarter, the Lady Rockets summoned up a huge 3rd quarter rally to earn a season split with the Lady Cougars. Trailing by 6 at the half, Westwood rallied for 14 points in the 3rd quarter led by Haidyn Campbell who netted 8 in the period. The Lady Rockets scored 8 points from the free throw line in the 4th quarter to capture the victory. Campbell led Westwood in scoring with 14 points for the game while Clarissa Barrera added 5.
Wyatt Nugent of Westwood basketball
The Rockets were held without a field goal in the last quarter as the Cougar defense sparked the rally and win for MTCS. Westwood built a 5 point lead after 1 quarter and carried that cushion into the 4th quarter before succumbing to the full court pressure. Wyatt Nugent led Westwood in scoring with 8 points. Trenton Thompson finished with 6 points for the Rockets.
Westwood is on the road to Unionville on Monday night to take on Community. The girls’ game will tip off at 6 PM. Coach Angela Houck of the Lady Rockets and Coach Will Pannell of the Rockets will be guests on Saturday’s Coffee Coaches Show. The Coffee Coaches Show is broadcast live from Al White Ford Lincoln each Saturday morning at 10 AM.
Jarnkrok’s Two Goals Lead Predators over Blues 3-1
The Predators defeated the Blues 3-1 in a Central Division matchup Thursday at Bridgestone Arena, the first time they’ve won consecutive games this season. Nashville has earned points in five games in a row (3-0-2).
A familiar face started in goal for the Blues — former Predators goaltender Carter Hutton. The 30-year-old, who played in 75 games for Nashville from 2013-16 and signed with St. Louis during the offseason, kept his former teammates off the scoreboard until the final 90 seconds of the second period, when Predators forward Calle Jarnkrok ripped a shot past Hutton’s glove to tie the score 1-1, his first of two goals Thursday. Jarnkrok nearly had a hat trick, missing wide on an empty net in the last two minutes.
At the start of the season, the Predators’ power play was their biggest asset, but it has gone cold this month. In five November games, Nashville is 0-for-17 after not scoring on five opportunities Thursday. Trailing 1-0 in the second period, the Predators had a two-man advantage for 1 minute, 17 seconds, but were too passive and failed to test Hutton.
Forward James Neal scored his fourth goal of the season, the third consecutive game in which he has scored. Neal is among the NHL’s leaders in shots on goal but had only one goal on 40 shots in his first 10 games.
After missing three games because of an upper-body injury, Predators captain Mike Fisher returned to the lineup. He centered a line with forwards Filip Forsberg and Pontus Aberg, assisting on Jarnkrok’s second goal roughly five minutes into the third period.
Nashville concludes its four-game homestand Saturday against Anaheim with a 7 PM faceoff. The Ducks handed the Predators their most lopsided loss of the season two weeks ago, defeating them 6-1 at Honda Center on Oct. 26. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast beginning with the pregame show at 6:30.
Pete Weber’s Postgame Report
Motlow State softball program opens Legacy Walk fundraiser to help support facility improvements
The Motlow State Community College softball program has begun raising funds to build a ‘Legacy Walk’ at the Moore County campus facility in support of a three-stage planned upgrade that will significantly change the appearance of Lady Bucks Field, according to Scott Shasteen, athletic director at Motlow.
The project will include replacing the backstop from dugout to dugout, adding a ‘green monster’ type design to the left field fence area, and replacing the scoreboard.
To help raise funds to pay for the projects, the Motlow softball program has created a brick ‘Legacy Walk’, which will start near the new backstop and work its way toward the facility parking lot. Brick purchasers can honor softball alumni, former teams, businesses, industry, etc.
“We want to honor softball alumni and former coaches, as well as supporters of our program with this legacy walk,” said Janice Morey, head softball coach at Motlow. “As a member of the alumni family, I cannot wait to see this project completed. When I walk along this legacy walk, I anticipate being able to visually see what a great tradition I am part of here at Motlow State.
“In advance, I want to thank all of our alumni, former players and coaches, instructors, staff members and business leaders who have supported our program in the past,” added Morey. “With the purchase of a brick or bricks in this new legacy walk, those supporters can add their message and show their support in a way that will last for decades.”
A website has been set up to show examples of brick purchasing options and to accept credit card purchases for the Motlow softball legacy walk: www.brickmarkers.com/donors/mscc.html
To learn more about the planned improvements to the softball facility and about additional ways you can support Motlow State athletics, visit MotlowSports.com or contact Morey at jmorey@mscc.edu or 931-393-1617 or Shasteen at sshasteen@mscc.edu or 931-393-1605.
Tullahoma’s Wellington is first Motlow State Soccer Signee
Former Tullahoma standout Anastasia Wellington became the first women’s soccer player in Motlow State Community College history when she signed a National Letter of Intent with the school on Nov. 1. Joining Anastasia at the ceremony were, seated from left, her great-grandmother Louise Wellington, Anastasia, and her grandmother Regina Gray. Standing from left, Pat Lazarus, head coach of the Camp Forest Soccer Club, Jessica Souviney, mother, and Andy Lyon, Motlow head coach.
Former Tullahoma High School soccer star Anastasia Wellington made history when she became the first student-athlete to sign a National Letter of Intent with the new Motlow State Community College women’s soccer program.
The signing period for all National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) sports except football opened on Nov. 1, and Wellington and Lady Bucks Head Coach Andy Lyon wasted no time in making the Tullahoma native the first face of Motlow soccer.
“We are extremely proud to have Anastasia become the first student-athlete to sign a soccer National Letter of Intent with Motlow State,” said Lyon. “She will represent the program well on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”
Wellington had an outstanding career in her four years at Tullahoma, earning first team all-District 8-AAA honors after both her junior and senior seasons. She was named second team all-district after her sophomore season, and in her first campaign was named freshman of the year.
Outside of her high school career, Anastasia as a two-time state champion on the club level, playing for head coach Pat Lazarus and the Camp Forest Soccer Club.
“Anastasia is a potent attacking threat,” added Lyon. “She is indicative of the level of talent we are striving to bring to the Motlow soccer program as it begins. She was an outstanding player at Tullahoma and we are confident she will continue to excel here at Motlow. This is just the beginning for this new program, and Anastasia represents the type of high quality person and talent that will fill the Lady Bucks roster.”
The Lady Bucks will continue to recruit and sign players throughout the year, leading up to the official beginning of practice on Aug. 1, 2017. Motlow is expected to fill approximately 20 roster spots when the junior college soccer season opens during the final week of August.
Visit the official website of Motlow Athletics at MotlowSports.com for rosters, schedules, stats and more. Interact with Motlow athletics on social media at MotlowSports.
Veterans Day ceremony, tailgate party lead into basketball home opener Friday at Motlow State
A Veterans Day recognition celebration and a tailgate party with free food and fun will lead into the basketball home opener for the Motlow State Bucks and Lady Bucks this Friday in front of Nisbett Center on Motlow’s Moore County campus. Activities are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. and the public, alumni, students, faculty and staff are all invited.
The Moore County High School band will open the festivities with America the Beautiful, followed by the Tullahoma High School Junior ROTC Color Guard’s presentation of colors. The MCHS band will then perform our national anthem as the Tullahoma Fire Department raises the American flag.
Speakers will include Dr. Tony Kinkel, Motlow president and JuliAnna Dykes, Motlow Student Government Association president. The guest speaker will be Master Sgt. Terry Pyle, USAF. The Moore County band will add patriotic music as the activities transition from the Veterans Day ceremony to the tailgate party fun.
Visitors can enjoy free food and drinks from Wendy’s, Krystal and Papa John’s as long as supplies last. Motlow’s new cheer squad will perform to open the tailgate party at approximately 3 p.m., which includes a Veterans Day cake, obstacle course, volleyball and corn hole games, face painting, children’s games and more.
The fun continues into the evening with the Bucks and Lady Bucks hosting Tennessee Community College Athletic Association rival Columbia State in the basketball home opener. The men’s game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., with the women to follow. There is no admission charge for Motlow athletic events.
For further information regarding Friday’s events, contact Kirsten Moss, Motlow’s dean of students, at kmoss@mscc.edu or 931-393-1691.