Sports and Outdoors

The Forrest Lady Rockets finished in third place in the Division I, Small Class, District 11 Golf Tournament on Tuesday at the Buford Ellington Golf Course inside Henry Horton State Park in Chapel Hill. Maggie Browning led the way for the Lady Rockets with 102, Carissa Curtis was one shot behind at 103, and Christa Warren shot 150. The top two scores are used to determine the girls’ team score.

The Associated Press' Top 10 teams in each of Tennessee's six Division I non-financial aid classifications and in the combined Division II financial aid classification as selected by Tennessee AP-member sportswriters and broadcasters. With first-place votes in parentheses, records through September 14, total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote:...

The Cornersville Bulldogs traveled to Leipers Fork to take on the Division II, Class A, East Region foe Grace Christian Academy-Franklin Lions on Friday night. The Bulldogs built a first half lead and then withstood a furious GCA rally to turn back the Lions 32-22 in an exciting high school football game. “We started out well in the first half, we had some blunders on special teams as far as extra points go but the defense stopped Grace’s offense and we ran the ball like wanted to do,” Cornersville coach Gerard Randolph said. The Bulldogs were led by a bruising ground game that tallied 384 rushing yards, utilizing the full complement of running backs.

A mark of every great team in modern sports history is how well the squad plays after a tough loss. Marshall County (2-1) may not be in the great category just yet, but the Tigers followed up a disheartening loss on statewide TV to Tullahoma (5-0) with resounding success, beating the 5-A Shelbyville Golden Eagles (2-2) 50-35.

Your life can change in a split second and when it does many more lives can be affected and forever be intertwined and that’s what happened Friday night at the Murrey E. Holton Memorial Field in Chapel Hill early in the third quarter as the Rockets took on Moore County in the annual Homecoming football game...

Everything was good. It was a perfect day for homecoming at Chapel Hill on Friday, the much-anticipated parade went on as scheduled a little light but without a hitch as the Class of ‘95’ got its firetruck ride, the beautiful homecoming Queen Hannah Villazon received her crown, the heroes and victims of 9/11 and the community first responders were honored before the game, and the Forrest Rockets entertained historical rival Moore County in a non-region contest at the Murrey E. Holton Memorial Field. Everyone’s lives would be different later that night.

The Forrest Rockets bounced back from an unpleasant loss at Portland last week with a tough 19-7 win over archrival Eagleville Friday night at the Murrey E. Holton Memorial Field in Chapel Hill in the Region 5-AA opener for both teams. “It’s always a huge win to beat Eagleville,” Forrest coach Eli Stephenson said. “It was our first region game and now we are 1-0 in the region and we are one step closer to our goal.”

The Moore County Raiders travelled to Cornersville on Friday night to renew the rivalry with the number-two ranked Cornersville Bulldogs as both teams kicked off their Region 5-A schedules. The Bulldogs, who won on a last a second field goal last year game at Lynchburg, fell behind in the first half and could not catch up and the Raiders dealt the boys from Cornersville their first loss of the season, 33-23...

The question Marshall County (1-1, 0-1) fans are asking themselves after Friday night is whether Tullahoma (3-0, 1-0) is really that good or the Tigers have that much more work to put in before a hopeful second or third round playoff rematch in the battle of the big cats. A packed crowd at Preston Hopkins Field and the cameras from the Mid State-wide televised My TV 30 Game of the week saw the Tigers down just 7-0 with three minutes remaining in the opening half before the Wildcats stepped on the gas and outscored the home team 35-7 the rest of the way for a 42-7 Tullahoma win.

Duck River Raceway Park Results Sam Pugh Labor Day Feature Saturday, September 6 SUPER LATE MODEL- $3000 T-Win 1. Core Posey 2. David Brannon 3. Jadon Frame 4. Heath Hindman 5. Brad Skinner 6. Riley Hickman 7. Josh Putnam 8. Christian Hanger 9. Dustin Harris...

The Associated Press' Top 10 teams in each of Tennessee's six Division I non-financial aid classifications and in the combined Division II financial aid classification as selected by Tennessee AP-member sportswriters and broadcasters. With first-place votes in parentheses, records through September 7, total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote:...

Region contests highlight Week 3 of the football schedule. There will be 134 games played this week with 113 of the games featuring region matchups. Schools are continuing to follow the COVID-19 guidelines and mandates and TSSAA believes that every adult and every participant must do their part and follow the guidelines set forth by the association and conduct themselves safely and thoughtfully so that the schools can provide as many opportunities as possible for the student-athletes this fall.

The Eagleville Eagles (0-1), smarting from a come from behind loss to the Huntland Hornets in Week 1, invaded the friendly confines of Frog Bottom to take on the Cornersville Bulldogs (1-0) in a non-region rivalry contest. The Bulldogs lost 27-15 at Eagleville last year and were 1-4 overall versus the Eagles coming in to the contest, dating back to 2003.

The Forrest Rockets travelled to Portland Thursday night for a Week 2 non-region matchup versus the 4A Panthers and led 14-0 before giving up 20 unanswered points in a 20-14 loss. Like most games around the state, the contest was moved back a day because of the incoming stormy weather associated with Hurricane Laura, but Forrest coach Eli Stephenson did not believe the change of plans had any impact on the outcome.

Following a summer full of questions on whether or not a season would actually happen and a cancellation at Columbia Academy on the original opening night slot, Marshall County (1-0) finally took the field on Thursday night in Fayetteville against 5A Lincoln County (1-1). The Falcons, who beat Tiger rival Giles County (0-2) 20-13 the previous week, jumped out to a 6-0 advantage over Marshall County following an hour lighting delay before the blue and white reeled off 24 unanswered points to take the season opening win 24-6.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The first-place Oakland Athletics pulled off another trade with an AL West rival Monday, hoping to hang on for a division title this time after finishing second to Houston each of the last two years. Oakland also was looking for depth in case more than one individual tests positive for the coronavirus. The A's are quarantined in their Houston hotel waiting to determine how much spread there might be among the traveling party after one person tested positive Saturday...

Duck River Raceway Park Feature Results Saturday, August 29 2020 Season Points Championship LIMITED LATE MODELS 1. Matt Odeneal 2. Jordan Judge 3. Randy Gifford 4. Daniel Miller 5. Rory Lohr II 6. Greg Love 7. Tyler Whaley 8. Marvin Cagle CRUSA 604 CRATE LATE MODELS...

The Associated Press' Top 10 teams in each of Tennessee's six Division I non-financial aid classifications and in the combined Division II financial aid classification as selected by Tennessee AP-member sportswriters and broadcasters. With first-place votes in parentheses, records through August 31, total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote:...

The Cornersville Bulldogs took a ride up the road to Unionville to face off with the Community Vikings in a non-region season opening contest for both teams. The Bulldogs, buoyed by a hard-hitting defense and three second half touchdowns by running back Alex Hillard battered the Vikings 36-6 to start the season with a win. The COVID-9 pandemic has affected and changed all of our daily lives and as the season opening date drew near, many feared that the game would not be played. Extraordinary measures by school administrators, coaching staffs and of course the young players, prevailed and game proceeded because of the due diligence. Cornersville had 17 players under quarantine at game time, including four starters.

In a much-anticipated season opener because of trepidation over the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forrest Rockets entertained East Robertson Friday on a rainy night at the Murrey E. Holton Memorial Field in Chapel Hill and came away with a hard fought 10-0 win over the Indians. “It’s always special playing under the lights on Friday night,” Forrest coach Eli Stephenson said. “The players have worked hard in the offseason, and it was good to see their hard work pay off.”

President-Matthew Cashion Vice President-Chuck Grooms Secretary Blaze-Grooms Auxiliary-Daniel Talley VP Girls-Open Girls player agent-Greg Wells Vice President Boys-Dackon Pullen Boys player agent- Gunner Fuller Treasure-Mike Randles Field Maintenance-Dale Gordon...

Duck River Raceway Park Feature Results Saturday, August 22 Limited Late Model 1. Brad Skinner 2. Matt Odeneal 3. Jordan Judge 4. Randy Gifford 5. Rory Lohr II 6. Blake Robertson 7. Josh Nowlin 8. Rod Stacey CRUSA 604 Crate Late Models 1. Brad Skinner...

The Associated Press' Top 10 teams in each of Tennessee's six Division I non-financial aid classifications and in the combined Division II financial aid classification as selected by Tennessee AP-member sportswriters and broadcasters. With first-place votes in parentheses, records through August 24, total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote:...

Uncertainty turns to reality Like all other high school football teams nationwide, there has been much uncertainty that there would even be a football season because of the COVID-19 pandemic until word came down from the governor that the 2020 campaign was given the green light...

Rockets storm through season, get robbed in playoffs The Forrest Rockets are coming off tying the mark of 10-0 (1980) for the most successful regular season in school history as they marched undefeated through the 2019 schedule, capping off the unblemished campaign by winning the Region 5-AA title with a big 16-13 win over Lewis County in the regular season finale at the Murrey E. Holton Memorial Field in Chapel Hill...

Randolph elevates Bulldogs to elite status Cornersville’s head coach Gerard Randolph is entering his sixth season in Frog Bottom and after his first two years of setting the program foundation, the Bulldogs are now one of the top teams in Class A and a squad nobody wants to play. “It takes a lot of hard work and dedication from everyone in the program,” Randolph said. “Building a championship program has to be the mentality of everybody involved, not only that you have to have guys that can play the game at a high level, and also it takes some luck.”

At their meeting on Monday, August 17, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association Board voted on the number of classes in each sport in Division I and Division II for the next two-year cycle. Decision effective with upcoming two-year classification cycle...

Duck River Raceway Park Saturday, August 15 Feature Results SUPER LATE MODEL 1. David Brannon 2. Corey Posey 3. Christian Hanger 4. Jerry Ashley 5. Joe Denby 6. Justin Taylor 7. Travis Smith 8. Trey Miller 9. Richard Smith 10. Kenny Gobble 11. Jack Riggs...

Thursday, August 13 Forrest at Moore County Bear Trace at Tims Ford Winchester Boys Forrest (180): Carter Jones 43, Noah Brown 45, Bryson Smith 45, Sebastian Thompson 45, Isiah Moretti 49, Hayden Milligan 49, Trey Williamson 50, Justin Gillespie 54...

On Thursday, August 6, the Forrest Middle School girls volleyball team hosted Cascade in the school’s first ever match. “Our JV and varsity both played so hard,” FMS coach Shanna Swift said. “We have a lot of potential to build this program and I am very proud of how well the girls executed what they have learned in practice.”...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — National championships for the fastest-growing youth and high school fishing circuits in the country will be held on Tennessee fisheries, B.A.S.S. announced today. The Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors will return to Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley at Paris, Tenn., for the sixth time, while the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior Championship for second- through eighth-grade anglers will be held on the Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake at Huntingdon, Tenn.

The Southern Tennessee Elite (STE) basketball travel squad took to the hardwood last week at Franklin County High School in the 22nd Annual Run and Gun Shootout and came away with the championship hardware. STE went undefeated in the 11th and 12th grade tournament division, beating the Murfreesboro Warriors in the title game...

Champions Run Golf Course, Rockvale Tuesday, August 11 Boys Forrest (175): Sebastian Thompson 39, Noah Brown 43, Carter Jones 44, Bryson Smith 49, Hayden Milligan 50, Justin Gillespie 51, Trey Williamson 55, Isaiah Moretti 58. Eagleville (178): CJ Bega 41, Will Bales 45, Adam Parker 45, Eli Driver 47, Cole Blackwell 47, Josh Jeffcoat 52...

After a big win in the Gary Wells Cup last week, the Forrest Rockets have remained red-hot as they swept a pair of home matches on back-to-back days over Moore County and Hickman County to remain undefeated on the season at 8-0. “Coming off a solid performance in the Gary Wells Cup, I was worried we might come out a bit flat, especially on a Monday-Tuesday match series, but our guys and girls alike came out swinging and had some great scores to show because of it,” Forrest coach Andy Burkett said.

It was a double runaway in the ninth edition of the Gary Wells Cup matches at the Ewell Butler Golf Course on the grounds of the Lewisburg Recreation Center on Wednesday as the Forrest boys won by 64 strokes over the Marshall County Tigers for back-to-back wins while the Cornersville Lady Bulldogs easily outdistanced the Lady Rockets by 31 shots to win its second Cup title. “I’m very proud of my girls,” Cornersville coach Peyton Newton said. “They put the time in, they practice all the time, they are great kids, they are smart, and even when they are playing bad they put some fun in it, so it is just fun to watch them.”

Duck River Raceway Park Saturday, August 1 Feature Results Limited Late Model 1. Matt Odeneal 2. Jadon Frame 3. Randy Gifford 4. Jimmy Nowlin 5. Jordan Judge 6. Scott Cook 7. Rory Lohr II 8. Rod Stacey 602 Crate Late Model 1. Freddie Smith 2. Dustin Halbrooks...

Both leaders held firm in Tuesday’s second round of the Gary Wells Cup matches at the Ewell Butler Golf Course on the grounds of the Lewisburg Recreation Center as the Forrest Rockets picked up three strokes on the second place Marshall County Tigers, increasing their lead to 44 strokes heading in to Wednesday’s final round at the Rec Center. “I watched several of our boys groups yesterday and I'll admit, I think their mental game was a little off.” Forrest coach Andy Burkett said. “On a variety of occasions I watched several of our boys nearly drive the green, and then wind up with bogey or worse.”

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the ninth edition of the Gary Wells Cup kicked off the 2020-2021 prep sports season Monday at the Buford Ellington Golf Course inside Henry Horton State Park. “It was honestly just awesome to get some sense of normalcy out there for our kids and coaches, and to get the opportunity to see kids competing again in high school sports was just a really great sight to see,” Forrest coach Andy Burkett said. “In our current world filled with so many questions and doubts, it was awesome to see some semblance of positivity for our community and our schools.” Golf and Cross County may be the two safest sports for the competitors and the opening golf match between the three Marshall County high schools went off without a hitch.

2007 Marshall County High School graduate, two-time BCS National champion with the University of Alabama, and three-time Super Bowl champion Dont’a Hightower has opted out of the 2020 season for the New England Patriots due to COVID-19 concerns.

In a press conference on Tuesday, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that he will soon sign Executive Order No. 55, which will include TSSAA member schools in an exception to contact sports restrictions. “We appreciate being able to work with Gov. Lee and his staff on this,” said Bernard Childress, Executive Director of the TSSAA. “I am pleased that we were able to develop some very specific guidelines for every sport that will allow our kids to get out on their fields and fully participate in football and girls’ soccer this fall.”

Tennessee now has a roadmap for both high school football and girls’ soccer in the fall. Convening its Board of Control Wednesday in Murfreesboro, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) approved measures to outline the potential for a nearly complete football and girls’ soccer season.