CCHS Unable To Convert Breaks

October 28, 2008 · Filed Under Football, Misc. Sports Reports · Comment 

By SETH BUTLER
Newport Plain Talk Sports Writer

ROGERSVILLE-An inability to take advantage of field position and short-yardage situations cost the Cocke County Fighting Cocks on Friday night.
Despite receiving the ball in good field position all night long and having four fourth-and-one situations, the Fighting Cocks’ (0-9, 0-6) offense could not produce points as Cherokee (5-4, 3-3) rolled to a 40-8 decision at a soggy Cherokee High School.
Cherokee’s win evened the series at 13 victories apiece between the two teams and keeps them in contention to gain the Five Rivers Conference fourth and final playoff berth. If the Chiefs defeat Volunteer next week, they will cement their playoff berth.
Both offenses performed sloppily during the deluge, combining for 13 fumbles during the game. However, the Chiefs were the bastion of execution, rolling up 416 yards of total offense and 20 first downs in only 42 offensive snaps.
But, Cocke County’s lack of success on converting fourth-downs was the biggest issue all night for the Fighting Cocks. Most of the fourth-and-short situations, which the physical Cherokee defense stopped, came after the Fighting Cocks had sustained a drive into Chiefs’ territory.
“Anytime we could put anything offensively together, we sputtered out,” first-year Cocke County coach Casey Kelley said. “We weren’t able to convert our third and fourth down conversions effectively tonight.
“That had a lot to do with field conditions and a very aggressive Cherokee defense,” Kelley said. “There were a couple of play call selections based on the defense I would’ve taken back.”
However, the one thing Kelley wishes he could take back for his team was a 99-yard touchdown run by Cherokee’s Coleman Elliott.
Elliott made the touchdown run with 10:00 remaining in the second quarter that broke the spirit and momentum of the Fighting Cocks and increased Cherokee’s lead to 13-0. The run came after a Casey Ragan interception by Brock Stroud in the end zone, stopping a 10-play, 37-yard drive that could’ve tied, or given Cocke County their first lead of the 2008 season.
On the play, Elliott bounced it to the outside, and once one block was made, the running back was able to cut the ball up field and race past Cocke County defenders, cruising the final 40 yards into the end zone.
“Disappointment is that they took the ball downfield 99 yards using a seam they have,” Kelley said. “They got a good iso look that we stuffed, and they bounced it out and take it on down the sideline.
“We’re not fortunate enough to have the speed right now to be able to catch him, but that’s where the off season program comes in after the season trying to get these guys in the weight room and start working on our speed for next season,” Kelley said.
Cherokee continued to exhibit their dominance on the Fighting Cocks, scoring four the last five touchdowns of the game, and pushing their scoring margin to 109-16 the past three outings between the two schools.
Despite the lopsided score, the Fighting Cocks did total 217 yards of total offense, amounting to the third respectable offensive total - after gaining less than 100 yards in four of the first six games of the season.
Kelley credits much of the offensive development to the maturation of quarterback Casey Ragan and other youngsters.
“We’ve asked Casey (Ragan) to step in and be a leader on offense,” Kelley said. “There’s exciting things that is going to happen to Cocke County High School football based on what we see from our younger players.
“A lot of those guys are playing right now and getting a lot of experience,” Kelley said. “Our future is looking bright, but we’re not in the future, we’re in the present right now.”
The next touchdown came after Cocke County elected to punt on fourth-and-less than a yard, however an exchange issue on the snap led to a fumble and two plays later, a Josh Steward touchdown run from two yards out to give his team a 20-0 lead at halftime.
Sophomore Logan Suggs, who joined the team one week prior to the season after not playing since little league football and has made an impact in the skill positions, returned the ensuing kick off into Cherokee territory, but Josh Henry was stopped for a two-yard loss on fourth and less than a yard to thwart the scoring opportunity.
Cherokee tacked on three second half scores, beginning with a 42-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Hamilton to Matt Hale. The pass, one of only two on the night by the Chiefs, came on a situation where the 6-foot-2 receiver was isolated against 5-foot-5 cornerback Damian Dykes.
The height mismatch was an easy decision for Hamilton, whose easy pitch and catch, made his team’s lead 27-0 halfway through the third quarter.
Cocke County marched the ball deep into Cherokee territory on the ensuing drive, behind a 41-yard William Carmichael run, but failed to score after getting to the one-yard line. It was the second consecutive week that the Fighting Cocks failed to score in a goal line situation, after getting the ball to the one-yard line.
Cherokee answered with an eight-play, 94-yard drive, as Steward converted a 35-yard touchdown run with 11:34 to play.
After several swapped fumbles, Carmichael put Cocke County’s seventh touchdown of the season on the board with a 73-yard touchdown run with 3:19 remaining in the game. The Chiefs, however answered with a 75-yard kick return by Landon House to make the final score 40-8.
Five Rivers Action: Greeneville stunned the Five Rivers Conference with a 34-14 victory over Morristown East, giving the Devils the outright regular season conference championship.
In other conference games, Daniel Boone defeated David Crockett 14-7 on Thursday and Morristown West beat Volunteer 29-6.
With one week remaining in the season, Greeneville (6-0) and Morristown East (5-1) have firmly locked down their position on the top two spots in the conference, and Morristown West (4-2) has effectively clinched third place. Cherokee (3-3) holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over Daniel Boone (3-3) in fourth place, while Volunteer (2-4), David Crockett (1-5) and Cocke County (0-6) bring up the final three spots in the conference.
Up Next: Cocke County closes their season next week, when they host the Morristown West Trojans at Hedrick Field on Thursday night. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. (WLIK 1270-AM) with senior night activities slated to begin before the game.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags: ,

Slow Start Blows CCHS Away (10-10-2008)

October 12, 2008 · Filed Under Football, Misc. Sports Reports · Comment 

By SETH BUTLER
Newport Plain Talk Sports Writer

MORRISTOWN-The Cocke County Fighting Cocks have started slow in every game of the 2008 season.
Having been outscored 102-0 in the first quarter this season, Cocke County gave up three more scores to an opponent before most fans were fully settled in their seats on Friday night at Burke-Toney Stadium.
That slow start resulted in the same outcome as the Fighting Cocks have suffered from through the previous six games of the season: a lopsided loss.
Morristown East (6-1, 4-0) scored three first quarter touchdowns, including one on their second play from scrimmage, on their way to a 42-0 homecoming romp over the visiting Fighting Cocks (0-7, 0-4). The loss is the 15th consecutive for Cocke County, which ties the school’s longest losing streak, which occurred the last three games of the 1973 season through the first game of the Dale Chrisman era in 1975
Despite their second highest offensive production totals of the year, with 180 yards of total offense, the Fighting Cocks were shut out for the third consecutive game.
The scoreless streak has now reached 12 consecutive quarters and comprises 17 of the last 18, dating back to the second half at Walker Valley in the third week of the season. Cocke County last scored 19 points in the fourth quarter against reserves from Greeneville in a 41-19 loss to the Devils.
Cocke County’s offensive attack was balanced, with 110 of their yards coming from the air, but was not enough to overcome an athletic Morristown East squad. Junior quarterback Casey Ragan, who has replaced injured Lee Adams under center, accounted for all the passing yards in his third career start under center. Ragan was 4-of-9 passing for the 110 yard total and no interceptions.
“We got better tonight, even though we were defeated, we got better,” Cocke County coach Casey Kelley said. “Offensive production wise we stepped our game up.”
New receivers Jared McGaha and Logan Suggs each had a catch and combined for 58 yards in the game.
“Our kids are getting more comfortable,” Kelley said. “We’re having some younger guys fill their role in our offensive and defensive units.
“But we have a long way to go,” Kelley said. “We’re not there yet.”
Despite the second highest offensive totals in the season for the Fighting Cocks, the first-year head coach still wasn’t pleased at its execution in short-yardage situations.
Cocke County failed to convert seven third and fourth downs with less than three yards to gain. One failed attempt was a fourth-and-two at their own 42 late in the first quarter, setting up the Hurricane’s third touchdown of the night.
“One of the disappointing things, is we have to be able to convert on short yardage,” Kelley said. “We did not do that tonight.
“In a couple key situations to keep an offensive drive going, we have to punch the ball forward when we need it,” Kelley said.
The Hurricanes tallied 322 of their 392 total yards on the ground as they ran past, over and through defenders from Cocke County. Morristown East used a toss sweep to stretch the field against a Fighting Cocks defense, already stretched to the limits with a lack of depth and athleticism.
“Morristown East’s speed is something every coach dreams of having,” Kelley said. “We knew we couldn’t stop them, it was just a matter of being able to contain them.
“We never accomplished the feat of stopping their speed sweep, hats off to coach (Dwayne) Hatcher and the athletes he has out there playing football,” Kelley said.
Tee Howell was the biggest athlete on the field for the Hurricanes on Friday night. Howell, who has played some quarterback this season, lined up at running back and was unstoppable for the Fighting Cocks defense.
Howell ran for 107 yards on eight carries and accounted for two touchdowns during the game. He also was 1-of-2 passing for 27 yards and a touchdown.
Howell’s three scores were responsible for the Hurricanes getting out to a 28-0 halftime lead. The East High junior had touchdown runs of 20 and 25 and his 27-yard touchdown pass to Justin Sandifer came on his team’s second play from scrimmage.
Two of Howell’s touchdowns were set up by Cocke County miscues in the early going.
After a three-and-out on the opening series, fueled by a botched pass between Ragan and tight end Matthew Hurley, Devon Yankee’s punt traveled only 19 yards giving the ‘Canes outstanding field position.
The second Howell touchdown was set up by Cocke County’s inability to convert a fourth-and-two at their own 42-yard line late in the opening period.
In between Howell’s first and second scores of the night, East High took advantage of another short field after a William Carmichael fumble gave the ‘Canes the ball at the Cocke County 44-yard line. Morristown East scored eight plays later on a Daniel Lowe 11-yard run.
The Hurricanes also struck with two second half touchdowns, a 41-yard reception by Sandifer from Tyler Turner and a 23-yard run by Tavin Blanton.
Five Rivers Conference Action: During conference play on Friday night, Morristown West used a big overtime, comeback victory over Daniel Boone to solidify their playoff positioning.
The Trojans defeated Daniel Boone 24-17 in overtime after appearing to clinch the victory twice in regulation. A roughing the kicker call against the Blazers, negated a missed field goal for West, allowing the Trojans to tie the game with no time remaining.
In other games, Greeneville beat Cherokee 41-14 and Volunteer beat David Crockett 21-0.
Friday’s results leaves the standings with Morristown East (4-0) and Greeneville (4-0) tied for first, Morristown West (3-1) in third and Daniel Boone (2-2) and Volunteer (2-2) tied for fourth. Boone holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Falcons with their win back in Week Four.
Outside the playoff race are sixth place Cherokee (1-3) and a seventh place tie between David Crockett (0-4) and Cocke County (0-4).
Next week’s games include: David Crockett at Cocke County, Morristown East at Volunteer, Greeneville at Morristown West and Cherokee at Daniel Boone.
Greeneville at West will be a battle for a first-round home game berth in the post-season if the Trojans could pull of the upset and a Cherokee win over Daniel Boone would place the Chiefs on the inside of the 2008 playoff chase.
On Deck: Cocke County returns to action next week by hosting the David Crockett Pioneers for Homecoming.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (WLIK 1270-AM). Homecoming activities are slated to begin prior to kickoff, around 7:15 p.m.

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags: , ,

Boone rolls past Cocke County

October 5, 2008 · Filed Under Football, Misc. Sports Reports · Comment 

NEWPORT-When the Daniel Boone Trailblazers exit the Five Rivers Conference at the conclusion of the season, the Cocke County Fighting Cocks will be one of the first teams to wish them goodbye.
The Trailblazers (4-2, 2-1) rolled past Cocke County (0-6, 0-3) 35-0 for their fourth consecutive victory over the Fighting Cocks since joining the conference in 2005 on Friday night at Hedrick Field.
The loss puts a strain on any fleeting hopes for a playoff run for Cocke County and positions Daniel Boone into a third place tie with Morristown West.
Daniel Boone’s win was the third such blow out decision over Cocke County in the four meetings since the series resumed in 2005. This season is the last for the ‘Blazers in the Five Rivers Conference with statewide reclassification occurring next month.
Cocke County again suffered offensive woes during the game, being held to 55 yards of offense. That output marks the fourth time this season Cocke County has been held to less than 100 yards a game.
First-year Fighting Cocks’ coach Casey Kelley said that Cocke County’s offense was struck by injuries, which have besieged the team during the 2008 season.
“We’ve had trouble of getting healthy personnel on the field,” Kelley said. “We’re on our sixth different offensive set and having to move people in order to find an offensive system that we think is going to execute.
Two converted players, Chris James from wide out and Lee Adams from quarterback were moved into the backfield during the week. The results did not improve with the moves, as neither player gained any positive yards during the game.
Meanwhile, the Blazers used their traditional ground game to pound Cocke County during the game. The Trailblazers out gained the Fighting Cocks by 193 yards, using a punishing ground game to gain 184 yards on 41 carries. Conversely, Cocke County’s ground game only averaged 1.1 yard per carry in the game.
“Coach (Jeremy) Jenkins has been there four or five years and it’s obvious that the kids have bought into his system,” Kelley said. “They really executed well tonight.”
Execution was a strong point in the game, as turnovers created an early hole the Fighting Cocks could not climb out of. A pair of early miscues led to the first two scores for Daniel Boone, which put the Fighting Cocks in a deep hole early in the game.
The Blazers struck first at the 10-minute mark with a 55-yard interception return by Hayden Chandley. Chandley’s interception struck one play after the Fighting Cocks opening drive was extended by a roughing the punter penalty.
Cocke County junior quarterback Casey Ragan’s pass was poorly thrown from the right hash to the left sideline of the field and Chandley jumped the route in front of receiver William Carmichael and ran untouched into the end zone.
“That was about the only major flaw of the first quarter,” Kelley said. “It was a bad one and a big one.
“We wish Casey would’ve picked the second receiver, not the first, but he has to do what he feels right when he lets go of the football,” Kelley said.
The turnover ruined the goal of the team being able to reach the midway mark of the opening quarter with no points scored against them or any turnovers committed by the offense.
“That interception was the only flaw we had in the first quarter,” Kelley said.
Despite not meeting that goal, Kelley said the Fighting Cocks were still in the game at the specific juncture that he had in mind.
“Overall, I looked at the scoreboard and it wasn’t bad,” Kelley said. “We were in the game.
“It wasn’t as bad as it has been and it’s going to continue to get better,” Kelley said. “I view it that way, I see it that way and I’m going to continue to coach it that way.”
Cocke County has been outscored 41-0 in the first quarter in its previous two outings.
Another Cocke County turnover led to points to start the second quarter. A William Carmichael fumble at midfield translated to a 7-play, 50-yard drive by the Blazers. Quarterback Kevin Connell hit Thomas Karczymarczyk on a 19-yard pass with 10:30 to play in the half.
A short field gave the Blazers their third score of the night, taking a five-play, 31-yard drive together near the end of the first half. Jeremy Hood scored on an eight-yard run with 3:40 to play before halftime.
Daniel Boone struck with a crucial touchdown on their opening drive of the second half, which grew their lead to 28 points with 9:13 remaining in the third quarter. Hood scored his second touchdown of the night from two yards out.
The Trailblazers scored their final touchdown with two minutes remaining. John Barker scored on a 2-yard run on an 11-play, 40-yard drive.
Cocke County returns to action next Friday at Morristown East, who defeated Morristown West 21-14 to vault into a first place tie with Greeneville in the conference race. Kickoff from Burke Toney Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. (Radio: WLIK 1270-AM).
Five Rivers Action: In other Five Rivers Conference games, Greeneville maintained a share of first place with a 34-14 win over Volunteer and Cherokee beat David Crockett 32-18.
Morristown West and Daniel Boone are in a third place tie with a 2-1 record, with Cherokee and Volunteer tied for fifth at 1-2, and David Crockett and Cocke County tied for seventh at 0-3.
By SETH BUTLER
Newport Plain Talk

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags: ,

Offensive explosion tops Fighting Cocks

September 21, 2008 · Filed Under Football · Comment 

By SETH BUTLER NPT Sports Writer NEWPORT-Another game. More early miscues. Another installment in the Greeneville series. Another first quarter offensive explosion by the Greene Devils. It was that same song and verse for the Cocke County Fighting Cocks in the 2008 season and the series with Greeneville as the Devils raced out to a 34-0 halftime lead, en route to a 41-19 victory.

Cocke County scored their 19 points late in the fourth quarter against Greeneville’s reserves. A powerful offense for the Devils (2-2, 2-0) and the usual early mistakes that have become a tradition this year for the Fighting Cocks (0-4, 0-2) allowed Greeneville to strike early and often in the game’s first half. Greeneville’s offense detonated in the first quarter, tallying 205 yards and 20 points, putting the game out of reach early for the Fighting Cocks. Cocke County again made numerous miscues and mustered only 37 yards of offense.

“They did a phenomenal job of coming out and executing,” first-year Cocke County coach Casey Kelley said. “We did a poor job of coming out and executing. Again early turnovers and fumbles hurt us again. “There’s not much more than you can explain than that other than to have an opportunity to put something together and turn the ball back over to them,” Kelley said.

The Devils scored their first touchdown of the night before most fans had settled into their seats. A 61-yard pass from Jordan Greenway to Trevon Hall allowed Greeneville to claim an early 7-0 lead, the second straight year the Devils had scored on the first play of the game. The play was a screen play and the three Cocke County defenders in the area were soundly blocked allowing Hall to scamper into the end zone untouched. Hall scored the next Greeneville touchdown some five minutes later, racing 38-yards on the ground to cap off a six-play, 76-yard drive.

The drive came after a swap of turnovers, including a Barry Huffhines interception and return that moved the ball deep into Greeneville territory. However, Cocke County’s offense two yards and a fumble by quarterback Casey Ragan on fourth down to end the drive.

Cocke County could not stop that Greeneville drive after forcing the Devils into third-and-long. A third-and-12 was converted with a fade pass from Greenway to Ryan Fillers to continue the drive. A blocked punt led to Greeneville’s third and final score of the first quarter. Cocke County elected to use the Emory and Henry formation, and for the second straight week the result was negative.

The Devils scored two plays later on a 28-yard pass from Greenway to TJ Rollins, as Rollins blew past the Cocke County’s Chris James and was wide open on the post-route. A William Carmichael interception led to a short drive by Greeneville with 9:52 remaining in the second quarter. Hall scored his third touchdown of the game with a three-yard run to give the Devils a 27-0 lead. Hall finished 120 yards and two scores on 12 carries.

Another CCHS fumble led to another quick strike for the Devils. BJ Spradlin capped off a three-play, 44-yard drive with a four-yard run for a 34-0 lead. When the smoke from the offensive explosion had cleared, the Devils had out gained Cocke County 271-71 with a balanced offensive attack.

Greeneville had 144 yards on the ground and 132 through the air and if not for a pair of crucial turnovers could have made the damage significantly worse. Cocke County was unable to take advantage of a Greeneville muffed punt to start the second half on the scoreboard, but did pin the Devils inside their own five-yard line. That was little deterrent to Greeneville as they marched 97 yards with ease in only seven plays.

Greenway capped off the drive with his third touchdown pass, a 12-yard strike to Fillers with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter. Greenway’s night included three touchdowns on 8-of-14 passing for 216 yards and an interception.

Holding a 41-0 lead and a 339-113 advantage in total offense after three quarters, the Devils handed the game to their reserves for the fourth quarter. Cocke County, however, remained with their starters, and the result was a 19-point, 159-yard fourth quarter.

Ragan hit James for the first score on a 30-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-12 with 9:52 remaining in the game, before Carmichael took over.

On Cocke County’s next offensive snap, Carmichael scampered 74-yards with several broken tackles for a touchdown at the 6:39 mark to close the gap to 41-13. Carmichael then scored from two yards out with 1:31 to play to cap off a six-play, 70-yard drive.

Cocke County did not elect to use their reserves until Greeneville went to the victory formation. Carmichael’s performance was the first 100-yard performance this season by a Cocke County running back, totaling 119 yards on 15 carries.

The sophomore also saw time at quarterback throwing for 24 yards on 2-of-4 passing.

The shifting of personnel was a new look for Cocke County, which had resulted from an injury to starting quarterback Lee Adams.

Kelley said his team is still learning the offense and that everything is a building process week-by-week as they continue to implement new looks and personnel packages.

“Everything we are doing is new,” Kelley said. “Everything these kids have done since May is new. “We are still not there, fully implementing everything that we’re wanting in,” Kelley said. “As a coach you have to caution on the side of not overloading in practice. There’s a whole realm of things yet that we have to implement and put in, but we have to get to Step A before we get to Step B. We’re not to Step B right yet.”

The first-year coach also said that they have to focus on small successes in order to lead up to the big successes. “Tonight, we want to come out and win the football game, but we are winning the small battles on the practice field and winning the small battles every play on the field trying to get better,” Kelley said. “We’re trying to build a program and a team right here, small things if we continue to work on them are going to work up to big results. “That has to be our focus and we have to continue to work on that focus,” Kelley said.

Cocke County’s focus now centers on Jefferson County, the final non-conference opponent on the schedule. The Fighting Cocks face the Patriots next Friday in Dandridge. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (WLIK 1270-AM).

Newport Tennessee News

Share/Save/Bookmark

Tags: ,