Season 8 of high school football coverage on DTC Sports begins Friday night, August 19, with the return of Football Game Night. The DTC Sports crew will be live on location at Turney Ford Field in Gordonsville, as the Gordonsville Tigers host their long-time area rival, the Watertown Purple Tigers.
Gordonsville graduated only six seniors from a very young squad in 2015, which ended the season with a 3-7 record, and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. The Tigers, with roughly 20 seniors on board, seek to bounce back in 2016, and will look to get the new season off to a good start in front of the home crowd. Watertown, meanwhile, returns a strong, experienced core from a team that finished 8-3 in 2015. Senior QB Seth Price is back to lead the Purple Tiger offense, and has an experienced offensive line to work behind, and several veteran skill players which should make for a dangerous offense this season. Last year, Watertown topped Gordonsville, 28-12, at Robinson Stadium in Watertown. Gordonsville, however, is 31-8 vs. Watertown in football, dating back to the 1976 season, and had won five straight in the series prior to Watertown’s victory in 2015.
Join the team of Tom Duggin, Chris Vance, and J.R. Smith as they provide live play-by-play coverage of the area’s top high school football games each week, during the 2016 season. All games air LIVE on DTC channel 3 (channel 303 in HD), as well as via web stream at www.dtc3.tv.
Here are the remaining games to be televised on Football Game Night, with a brief synopsis of each game:
Week 2 – August 26 – Gordonsville at Smith Co.
One of the state’s best high school football rivalries, the Owls and Tigers have played a total of 82 times in football, dating back to 1930, including every season since 1960.Smith County has the upper hand in this inter-county rivalry, having won 62 of the 82 meetings. Gordonsville has won 18 games against their rival, while two games ended in ties. The Owls have won 16 of the last 17 meetings, including a 17-0 shutout at Turney Ford Field last season. Gordonsville’s last win in Carthage came back in the 1998 season (34-32).
Week 3 – September 2 – Grundy Co. at Cannon Co.
The Lions and Yellow Jackets became Region rivals for the first time in the 2015 season, but each young program struggled in their respective first seasons in Region 4-3A. In fact, Grundy County’s lone win of the campaign was a 37-14 victory over the Lions in Week 3 in Coalmont. Cannon County, meanwhile, suffered through their third winless season in the past five years. Both programs appear on the upswing entering 2016, as Casey Tate begins his second year with a more experienced Yellow Jacket squad, while Lion alum T.J. Daniel begins his fourth year on the job in Woodbury.
Week 4 – September 9 – Red Boiling Springs at Cannon Co.
A long-time struggling high school program, Red Boiling Springs appeared on the uptick in recent seasons under head coach Kyle Shoulders. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, Coach Shoulders left to become an assistant at Murfreesboro Oakland during the offseason, curbing some of the enthusiasm for the upcoming 2016 season. Red Boiling eked out a 21-14 win over the Lions in 2015, following a 14-13 squeaker over Cannon County in Woodbury in 2014. Overall, however, Cannon County leads the series, 9-3, with the last Lion win coming in 2013 (28-25).
Week 5 – September 16 – DeKalb Co. at Smith Co.
The Tigers could be in play for their first-ever Region/District title in high school football in 2016, led by pre-season All-State QB Steven Jennings and a veteran offensive line. DeKalb’s journey to the championship, however, must go through Carthage, and the Owls look to build on a 6-5 playoff season in 2015. The Tigers have won three of the last four meetings in this long-standing series, which dates all the way back to 1927, but the Owls are 23-10 against the Tigers since school consolidation in DeKalb County in 1963.
Week 6 – September 23 – Eagleville at Watertown
2016 will mark the fourth season in a row the Purple Tigers and Eagles have met on the football field, with Eagleville having won two of the three previous meetings. Much like last year, the 2016 meeting between Watertown and Eagleville will likely have playoff implications in ultra competitive Region 4-2A. Both teams earned playoff berths in 2015, with Watertown finishing second in the region behind regular season champ, Forrest, while Eagleville placed fourth.
Week 7 – September 30 – Sequatchie Co. at DeKalb Co.
The Indians stunned many in 2015, when they finished third in their inaugural season in Region 4-3A, but the task could be much tougher in 2016. Sequatchie County must replace 18 key seniors, including QB Houston Mainord, top tailback Branden Rudd and top receivers Daniel Marshall and Colby Reed. The Tigers won a 35-25 decision in Dunlap last season, and won’t take a re-tooling Sequatchie squad for granted in their quest for the Region 4-3A championship.
Week 8 – October 7 – Gordonsville at Monterey
In what could be a pivotal game in the playoff race in jam-packed Region 5-1A, the Tigers will play their very first game in the brand new Monterey High School stadium. Coach Scott Hughes’ Wildcats garnered the fourth and final playoff berth in the Region in 2015, while Gordonsville missed the post-season for the first time since 2008. Since 2001, Gordonsville has won 12 of 15 meetings vs. Monterey, but the Wildcats have scored wins the last two seasons of this long-standing series.
Week 9 – October 14 – Upperman at Smith Co.
Two teams that should very well be battling for playoff positioning in Region 4-3A when Week 9 rolls around. Upperman has been one of the premier teams in the Upper Cumberland in recent years, including a 9-3 record and second round playoff appearance in 2015. Both the Bees and the Owls will have a number of key seniors to replace from their respective 2015 squads, but by Week 9, their youth from the beginning of the season should have each team primed for a playoff run. Smith Co. is 21-4 all-time against Upperman (Baxter), but the Bees have won two of the last three meetings.
Week 10 – October 21 – Upperman at DeKalb Co.
Defending Region champ Upperman will have tough, back-to-back tests in their quest to repeat as 4-3A champions, as a trip to Smithville follows their visit to Carthage. The Bees have been a thorn in the side of the Tigers in DeKalb’s quest to claim their first-ever Region/District championship in football, and a Week 10 win over Upperman might very well be necessary for the Tigers’ chances in 2016. Upperman has won two of the last three meetings in the series, but DeKalb has a 21-15-2 edge all-time, dating back to 1963.
Week 11 – October 28 – DeKalb Co. at Cannon Co.
In what could be the deciding game in DeKalb County’s quest for the Region Championship, Cannon County might very well be looking to play the role of spoiler for their long-time arch-rival. The Tigers and Lions have met every year since 2001, and 32 times overall. DeKalb County is 26-5-1 all-time against Cannon County in football and have won the last eight in the series. The Lions last tamed the Tigers in 2007, winning 26-23 in Smithville. DeKalb County’s 26 wins against Cannon County are the Tigers’ most all-time against any other program.
(**Schedule is subject to change)
Be sure to catch Football Game Night each week on DTC3 and DTC3 HD (ch. 303), or online at www.dtc3.tv. Call (615) 529-2955 today to get DTC TV in your home in time for high school football season!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-HjI2fgHT4
