Tigers Return to Field After Bye Week, Host Clay Co. in Region Opener
Lady Owls’ Soccer Team Triumphs in Watertown
(Smith County Insider Press) – Thursday, September 3, the Lady Owls soccer team travelled to Watertown High School for their 6th game of the season. With goals scored by Julia Pardue, Abby Smith, Abbi Gregory, Katie Wright and Maijala Harrelson in the first half, the girls were up 8-0. This allowed time for the Owls to relax and slow the pace down, and in doing so it displayed their passing and possession skills.
During the second half Coach Dunbar took the opportunity to let the young freshman and sophomore players take the field. They show promise and that this team has a very bright future ahead of them. The Lady Owls had one more goal by Delany Eldrid making the final score 9-0. When asked about the game, Coach Dunbar was quoted in saying, “Watertown’s soccer program is in its second year so this game let us play a lot of our underclassmen. This type of game will help them prepare for the future.”
Lady Owls’ Soccer Team Dominated the Blue Devils
(Smith County Insider Press) South Carthage, Tenn. – The Smith County High School Lady Owls’ Soccer Team dominated their home field once again Tuesday evening, September 1, 2015, in a first time matchup against Lebanon High School. The Blue Devils came in hard and strong against the Owls demanding to be heard. They pushed against the outside backs Delani Harrelson, Samantha Lewis and Katie Fox as they tried time and time again to reach the goal but were denied by goalkeeper Tori Lankford. The Lady Owls’ first goal was scored when forward Abby Smith took a pass off from Katie Wright and then rocket-launched the ball into the back of the net from 35 yards out within the 23rd minute. Not even two minutes later, the Lady Owls were awarded a corner kick. The ball was played over the six where the Blue Devils goalkeeper tipped the ball just enough for it to drop in the net bringing the score to 2-0.
The Owls were able to seal their final goal when a penalty kick was awarded to them by a hand ball in the box which brought them to 3-0. Lebanon would still not be denied their goal when they finally scored with 12 minutes left in the half. After players took the field during the second half, the Owls defense buckled down refusing to let another goal slide by and ending with a victory, bringing their record to 5-0-0. Coach Bubba Dunbar was quoted, “I feel Lebanon was a very physical team but our Lady Owls kept their composure and played 80 minutes tonight. Games like this will help us down the stretch!”
SCMS vs. GJHS LIVE Video Coverage
(Smith County Insider Press) Gordonsville, Tenn. – Smith County Insider will be streaming the Smith County Middle School vs. Gordonsville Junior High School football game LIVE on Tuesday, September 1, 2015, at 6:15 p.m. The Livestream coverage can be viewed by clicking the link below.
Lady Owls Rock Stone Memorial
Smith County Lady Owls soccer coach Bubba Dunbar wanted to see how his team stacked up against AAA power house Stone Memorial Panthers. Both teams took the pitch with a perfect record in last Thursdays match up. Center backs Lena Broyles and Madison Spivey did an outstanding job of shutting down the powerful attack of Stone Memorial leading scorer Lynch.
Both teams struggled throughout the first half to find a goal. But in the 55th min of the second half Katie Wright played a passed into the eighteen to Abby Smith who then ripped a shot inside the back post to give the owls 1-0 lead. However, the Stone Memorial Panthers would not give up an, in the 67th min they scored to tie the game at 1-1. But the lady owls would defend their home field by pushing the pace of the game. Midfielders Abbi Gregory and Savannah Wright held the panther forwards at bay as lady owls took charge again when forward Julia Pardue streaked down the right side and played a pass inside the eighteen to forward Abby Smith who in 77th min scored the winning goal. This helps the lady owls stay perfect on the season with a record of 4-0-0.
Owls host Sequatchie County in Region 4-3A opener on Football Game Night
The Smith County Owls have played the Sequatchie County Indians a total of six times on the football field, but the two programs have never met in the regular season. That will change this Friday night, when the Owls host the Indians in the Region 4-3A opener for both teams, the first season the two teams have shared a District or Region together. DTC Sports will be on hand for the battle of 2-0 teams, as Football Game Night will air on DTC3 and www.dtc3.tv at 6:45 p.m. this Friday night. Kickoff of the game is at 7:00 p.m. Join Tom Duggin, Darvin Gill and the coach, Chris Vance, for all the coverage LIVE from Carthage.
Smith County and Sequatchie County first met on the gridiron in the first round of the 1985 Class AA State Playoffs, a game won by the Owls, 18-0. The two would get together, two years later in 1987, again in the first round of the Class AA State Playoffs, and again, the Owls walked away with the victory, 21-7. In fact, all six meeting occurred in the opening round of the playoffs. In 1989, the Indians ended the Owls’ perfect 10-0 season with a 13-0 playoff shutout.
It would be eight more seasons before the two squads met again. In the 1997 Class AA first round, the Indians evened the all-time series record with a 20-14 victory over the Owls. Another eight years passed before the programs clashed again. The 2005 edition of the Smith County Owls terminated Sequatchie’s season with a 40-8 blowout in Carthage in the opening round of the playoffs. Three years later, in 2008, the Indians suffered the same fate in Carthage again, as Smith County rolled to the second round of the postseason with a 45-0 blowout.
Smith County leads the all-time series, 4-2.
Both teams have opened the 2015 campaign with identical 2-0 records. Smith County QB Carson Hackett has thrown for 272 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and ran for an additional 77 yards and three scores, leading the Owls to wins at Macon County (20-14) and at Gordonsville (17-0). Smith County has a 2-0 start to their season for the first time since 2012. Meanwhile, Sequatchie County dual-threat QB Houston Mainord has passed for three touchdowns and ran for two more, leading the Indians to wins at South Pittsburg (12-7) at over Whitwell (42-14) at home. Multi-purpose threat Colby Reed ran for a 61-yard touchdown and caught a 35-yard TD pass in last Friday’s win over Whitwell. Both Sequatchie County and Smith County are off to good starts after each program finished 3-7 in 2014.
DTC Sports will begin coverage of high school football on Friday night with Armchair Quarterbacks, airing at 6:00 p.m. (AQ also airs Thursday night at 6:00 p.m.), with LIVE coverage of Football Game Night following from Owl Stadium at 6:45 p.m. Watch local high school football exclusively on DTC3, DTC3 HD (channel 303) and live via web stream at www.dtc3.tv.
Owls’ Defense Dominates; Tigers’ Offense Halted!
Smith County: 17
Gordonsville: 0
(Smith County Insider Press) Gordonsville, Tenn. – A renewal of an intense intra-county rivalry proved to be a show of stiff and physical defensive display by both Smith County and Gordonsville High School’s football teams in their 2015 rendition. While Gordonsville’s defensive unit allowed less than 240 yards of offense, the Owls’ defensive counterparts were impressive in limiting the Tigers to just over 100 yards in offensive output. Despite the hard-hitting physical play by both defenses, one would think there would be a considerable amount of turnovers. That was not the case as only one turnover occurred in the form of a late second half interception by Smith County’s senior defensive back Bailey Kemp off Gordonsville’s QB Damian Davis’ pass attempt with 0:28 left on the clock. In just over 20 seconds, the Owls marched 55 yards with two long pass plays by Carson Hackett to Shermar King and Kemp to setup a field goal attempt with just a few seconds remaining on the clock. Sophomore place-kicker Bryant Goolsby nailed the 32 yarder as time expired in the half. Smith County took a 10-0 lead at halftime.
Led by senior running back Dusten Holder and sophomore QB Hackett, Smith County got on the board with their first touchdown mid-way thru the first quarter. With six rushes by Holder and two by Hackett along with three pass completions by Hackett, Smith County scored their initial touchdown via a 9 yard reception by Kemp. The scoring drive covered 53 yards, consisted of 11 plays, and took 5:42 off the clock. Goolsby kicked the ensuing extra point. Smith County: 7, Gordonsville: 0 with 5:42 left in the first quarter.
Gordonsville was stymied by the Owls’ defense throughout the first half as their first three possessions consisted of a 3 and out. Junior punter Koby Watts kept Gordonsville out of danger with three punts that averaged 38+ yards. A bright spot for Gordonsville came with their fourth and final possession of the first half. They took over on their own 17 yard line, and put together a nine play drive that resulted in two first downs and positive runs by Jesse Meadows and Braxton Givens. The drive ended with a huge sack on Davis and followed with the ill-fated Owl interception.
What appeared to be a turning point in the game came on Gordonsville’s opening drive of the second half. After starting on their own 37 yard line, the offensive line starting clicking as they methodically marched down to Smith County’s 8 yard line. But on fourth and one the Owl defense stopped the drive aided by miscommunication in the Tiger backfield. Fullback Sheldon Harris collided with Davis on the handoff exchange thus ending the drive all for naught. The drive consisted of 15 consecutive running plays, covered 54 yards and chewed up seven and a half minutes with nothing to show. Braxton Givens contributed 36 yards on seven carries while Sheldon Harris and Jay Vaden had nine yards each on three and four carries respectively during that drive. Even though the Tigers did not put any points on the board, it seemed momentum may swing in the Big Blue’s favor because they held Smith County to a three and out and took over at mid-field after an owl punt.
Another promising drive of 10 plays and twenty yards stalled on the Smith County’s 30 yard line. Smith County put a “lid on the coffin” as they put together their final scoring drive of the game. The Owls went seventy yards in nine plays while taking 4:11 off the clock. Six rushes by Holder; a big acrobatic catch by King; followed by Hackett’s 12 yard TD run proved to be the “nail in the coffin.”
Freshman running back Braxton Givens led the way offensively for Gordonsville with 17 carries for 70 yards while Damian Davis went 1 for 6 through the air with 1 interception. Bailey Roney caught that lone pass for 14 yards. Former Gordonsville running back Dusten Holder led Smith County in rushing with 93 yards on 24 carries. Carson Hackett was 7 for 11 passing with one TD to Bailey Kemp and had one TD rushing. Kemp had a total of 3 catches for 33 yards, King 2 catches for 57 yards, and Jon Neal Vance caught one pass for 6 yards.
Gordonsville will have an OPEN date on September 4 and will return to action as they host Clay County on September 11 at Turney Ford Field.
Owls Sweep in a Shutout
Smith County: 17
Gordonsville: 0
(Smith County Insider Press) Gordonsville, Tenn. – Friday night’s rivalry between the Smith County Owls and the Gordonsville Tigers took center stage in front of a standing room only crowd in Gordonsville. The game got underway with a Tiger kickoff to the visiting Owls. Unable to get a first down, the Owls went 4 and out and were forced to punt. The Tigers were not able to put together much on their initial drive either. It also ended with a 4 and out.
The Owls 2nd drive fed the Tiger defense a steady diet of hard running from a familiar Dusten Holder along with key pass completions from Hackett to Jon Neal Vance and Bailey Kemp. The black and gold put their first points on the board with a touchdown pass from Hackett to Kemp, with 2:33 remaining. Following an extra point from Bryant Goolsby, the Owls went on top, 7-0. The Tigers 2nd offensive outing again ended with a 4 and out as a solid Owl defense was able to contain the Tiger running game. The Owls offense took the field once again at the tail end of the first quarter, but ended with a punt after just 3 plays despite starting with good field position.
The third drive from the Tigers was again stifled by a stingy Owl defense resulting in a 4 and out by Gordonsville. Smith County took over with 8:35 remaining in the half, netting 2 first downs after solid running again for Holder. Following a costly penalty and a Hackett sack, the Owls were forced to punt the ball to Gordonsville. The Tigers final drive of the half showed promise comprised of solid running from Vaden and Givens. Gordonsville got their first of their 2 first half first downs on the drive, and were able to convert on 4th down. However the drive ended with an interception by Bailey Kemp. The Owls closed out the half with a field goal putting them up 10-0 at the break. Holder ran the ball 14 times for 58 yards to lead the Smith County running attack.
Following the Smith County kickoff from Ethan Elliot, the Tigers went to work and moved the ball down the field with more solid running from Vaden and Givens. The Tigers were able to convert another 4th down and were able to get 4 first downs on the drive. As Gordonsville was threatening to score, the Owls defense tightened the reigns, forcing a turnover on downs at the Owl 7 yard line, preventing the Tigers from getting on the scoreboard. Operating deep from their own territory, the Owls offense stalled and was forced to punt the ball after only 3 plays.
The ensuing drive from Gordonsville to end the 3rd quarter yielded 2 first downs, but again ended with a turnover on downs thanks to a stingy black and gold defense. Smith County marched down the field on their first possession of the final quarter with more solid running from Holder, and 2 key pass completions from Hackett to Holder and King respectively. After getting 3 first downs during the drive, the Owls earned their 2nd score of the game with a touchdown run from Hackett. Following the point after by Goolsby, the score was Owls 17, Tigers 0 with over 5 minutes remaining in the game.
Gordonsville, desperate to put some points on the scoreboard, started what turned out to be their final drive with 5:34 left on the clock. The Tigers were able to net a first down, thanks to a pass interference call, but were unable to capitalize. Their drive came to an end after a huge sack of Damien Davis by Matthew Rutherford.
Following the punt, the Owls were able to maintain possession and run the clock to all zeros.
The win puts the Owls at 2-0 overall and 0-0 in district play.
Countdown to the County Clash
(Smith County Insider Press) Gordonsville, Tenn. – At 7 p.m. Friday night, August 28, the Smith County Owls will clash with the Gordonsville Tigers for the 82nd time. This year’s rivalry game will be held at Turney Ford field in Gordonsville.
On Thursday, August 27, both teams celebrated for the upcoming game. The Smith County Owls hosted a tailgate party, and the Gordonsville Tigers hosted a bonfire.
Smith County – Gordonsville rivalry takes center stage on Football Game Night
(Smith County Insider Press) Gordonsville, Tenn. – One of Middle Tennessee’s best football rivalries takes center stage this week on Football Game Night, as Smith County and Gordonsville will clash on the gridiron for the 82nd time. Football Game Night airs on DTC3 and www.dtc3.tv at 6:45 p.m. each Friday night. Kickoff of the game is at 7:00 p.m. Join Tom Duggin, Darvin Gill and the coach, Chris Vance, for all the coverage LIVE from Gordonsville.
The Smith County – Gordonsville rivalry began in 1930, when the Owls toppled their inter-county rival, 38-26. The schools met every subsequent season through 1957, but did not play each other in 1958 and 1959. However, the rivalry resumed in 1960, and the two teams have met every football season since.
Smith County owns a 61-18-2 lead in the overall series, and won last year’s meeting in Carthage, 38-6, the most lopsided result in the series since 2008. The Owls have won 15 of the past 16 meetings, the exception being Gordonsville’s 14-7 win in 2013 at Turney Ford Field, which ended a 14-year Smith County stranglehold in the series. The Owls won 15 straight in the series from 1947-63, and was unbeaten in the series from 1947-75, the exception being a 0-0 tie in the 1964 game. Gordonsville’s longest winning streak in the series was four games, from 1979-82. The Tigers won seven of eight meetings over the Owls from 1979-86. There have been 38 shutouts in the 81-game history of the rivalry.
The Owls and Tigers each began their seasons in opposite directions in Week 1. Carson Hackett passed for 162 yards, ran for 33 more and accounted for all three Smith County touchdowns in a 20-14 come-from-behind win at Macon County. The Owls trailed 14-0 at halftime, but put up two touchdowns in the third quarter, followed by the game-winning score in the final frame. Meanwhile, Gordonsville saw Watertown QB Seth Price light up their secondary to the tune of 249 yards and four touchdowns – all to senior WR Skylor Scales – as the Purple Tigers pummeled Gordonsville in their opener, 28-12. Freshman Braxton Givens ran for 78 yards, while QB Damian Davis threw for 70 yards and a touchdown in the loss.
DTC Sports will begin coverage of high school football on Friday night with Armchair Quarterbacks, airing at 6:00 p.m. (AQ also airs Thursday night at 6:00 p.m.), with LIVE coverage of Football Game Night following from Turney Ford Field at 6:45 p.m. Watch local high school football exclusively on DTC3, DTC3 HD (channel 303) and live via web stream at www.dtc3.tv.
