Marshall County Tribune: High School Sports: Back in the thick of it (10/12/12)

Rocket senior running back Richie Smith (41) rushed for 100 bruising yards versus MTCS last week and the fullback turned halfback would love to roll over the Hornets this week to improve the Rockets' playoff positioning.
(Photo by chapelhillbill.com)

All three county football teams came up with huge homecoming wins Friday night to get back in the thick of the playoff chase.

The up and down Forrest Rockets sit at 4-3 after Friday night's 34-6 victory over MTCS, making it the third time this season the boys from Chapel Hill have bounced backed with a win after a loss.

More importantly, Forrest is 2-1 in District 9A, currently good enough for a tie for second with Eagleville (3-4, 2-1) and Cascade (5-2, 2-1).

Marshall County defensive back Chris Walker (9) races downfield while returning an interception 70 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter as the Tigers pummeled Summit. Walker and the Tigers make the trip to Hohenwald this week in an important game that MCHS must win to keep pace in the playoff chase.
(Photo by Louis G. Scheuchenzuber)

All three trail the undefeated and third-ranked Moore County Raiders (8-0, 4-0), who have defeated both Cascade and Eagleville and play the Rockets the final week of the season.

Forrest travels to Huntland (1-6, 0-3) this week to take on a struggling Hornets' squad whose only win came via a forfeit to the now defunct Riverside Christian Academy team

The Rockets have won three straight versus Huntland since the Hornets rejoined District 9A in 2009 and a win should be in store against the Franklin County squad that has been outscored 124-28 in league games so far this season.

Tribune photo by Louis G. Scheuchenzuber The Cornersville Bulldogs busted a three-game losing streak last week and hope to make it two wins in a row this Friday night versus Columbia Academy on senior night.

[Order this photo]

Look for the Rockets to win back-to-back games for the first time this year with a 44-14 swatting over the Hornets.

The Cornersville Bulldogs took down the defending state champion Wayne County Wildcats in "Frog Bottom" last week in a 21-18 thriller, marking the first win over Wayne County by the Dawgs since 1999.

With the huge homecoming triumph, Cornersville improved to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in Region 6A, one game back of second place Loretto and Collinwood.

Head coach Ray Stocstill's gritty Bulldogs needed the win bad after suffering three consecutive losses and this week, Cornersville takes on a surprisingly bad Columbia Academy (3-4, 0-4) squad that has been outscored by a cumulative 61 points in their four region setbacks.

Columbia Academy holds an 11-9 edge over Cornersville since 1993, but look for the Bulldogs to win this week by a close 27-24 score on senior night before embarking on their season-ending two game road trip to Collinwood and Richland to end the season.

Friday night's 45-12 thrashing by the Tigers over Summit made it a sweet homecoming for head coach Aaron Pitts' squad and the Lewisburg boys shoved themselves back in position for a late season playoff run.

A trip to Hohenwald is on the docket this week for MCHS (3-4, 2-3) as they take on the Panthers (4-3, 2-3) in a game that could go a long way to a state tournament, wildcard berth for the Tigers.

It will be nearly improbable for the Tigers to leapfrog to the automatic qualifying one or two spot in District 12AA with two undefeated teams at the top in Giles County (7-0, 5-0) and Page (5-2, 5-0).

Marshall County will have to shore up its defense this week as the Tigers have given up the most points (160) out of the top six teams in the district during league play.

MCHS will get a big 30-20 win over Lewis County Friday and a big week is in store for the Tigers, who will turn around and play under the lights at Preston Hopkins Field in a televised My TV 30 Thursday Night Lights game next week versus Page.