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On one end of Thomas Jefferson’s football field Friday night, a sign in white letters said: Just Believe!
The Gryphons certainly do have some faith in the first two weeks of high school football. This past week, they rolled to a 48-7 victory over Andrews, which easily could have been a shutout.
Granted Andrews is a 1A school as well, the Wildcats went 8-5 last year, but in perspective are not a world beater. Thomas Jefferson lost by 39 to the same club a year ago, but things change. Andrews is a younger team with less than 30 kids this season, while TJ has 35 kids and the most experienced group they have had in the program.
I am sure there is going to be criticism, TJ didn’t play anybody or that the wins maybe hyped too much.
Bottom line, Thomas Jefferson beat who was on the schedule this past Friday and the did it the Friday beforehand too. Not every win is going to go to perfection, close or even pretty, but Coach Jerry Cash and his kids are doing the right things to win. It’s the first time TJCA starts 2-0 in a season and the first time that they have won back-to-back games in school history.
“We have simplified our defensive scheme and I was impressed with our defense again tonight,” Jerry Cash said. “I wasn’t completely happy with our offensive line the week before, but tonight we had better performance and there is still work to do in every area.”
This past week, the Gryphons had nearly 600 yards offense and despite the seven interceptions, I was more impressed with Will McGraw and Coty Flynn on defense. Both were a force that aided the cause of 12 plays in negative Andrews yardage.
The first week, it was all heart and guts. The second week, Thomas Jefferson was the better team, but they travel to Asheville School this Friday for the unknown chapter that awaits in week three.
As the for the rest of Rutherford County, they are now a shocking 0-6 in two weeks of play.
East Rutherford was tied at 7-all at the half, but McDowell scored 21 unanswered in the second half to pull away in a 28-7 Cavalier loss.
For the Cavs, it’s just a surprising start in what seemed to be a promising year. McDowell has four turnovers in the first half and East Rutherford (0-2) scored just once off of it. The East defense didn’t help either allowing almost 400 yards offense, most of it rushing again.
It’s not going to get any easier as they host an upbeat North Gaston club this Friday, who just ended a losing steak of nearly three years last week.
Over at Chase (0-2), not all is lost after falling 28-14 this past weekend to Franklin. The Trojans hung around as they trailed 21-14 at the half. This was just a hard fought loss and they seemed to be a little more in sync this past week. They will welcome Bessemer City this Friday into Allen Stadium.
It was not pretty as the Hilltoppers never got going in the first half and R-S Central (0-2) was upended 58-28 at East Henderson. The Eagles just couldn’t be stopped as it snowballed from the opening whistle.
For Central, they finally get a home game as a solid Polk County (2-0) comes to town.
After allowing 28 first quarter point, Chesnee (2-0) fired back in a shootout, which they won 56-48 over Chapman. Quan Lyles was the story, rushing for four touchdowns as teammate Darrius Proctor gained nearly on 200 yards on the ground and through the air. They will host Woodruff this Friday.
I am happy to report that the Bristol Motor Speedway is back in business. I am not saying it’s perfect, but there were glimpses of the old BMS last Saturday. Even Tony Stewart cleaned Matt Kenseth’s grill with his helmet after a wreck between the two for the lead. Who doesn’t love a little helmet tossing?
Bristol also tightened the points standings. Now six drivers are vying for the final two Chase spots with two events left.
Kasey Kahne has to feel better than most in 11th with two wins, but he still hasn’t cemented a spot yet.
Mathematically, Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Marcos Ambrose are all within 51 markers of each other and one win away from spicing up that battle even more as Atlanta is Saturday night.
