There are two things you can set in stone about a Thomas Osteen coached Marshall County squad no matter who the players or assistant coaches are that comprise the most recent roster.

First, the Tigers will never feature an easy non-conference schedule.

Whether it's the highest classification in the state (Brentwood, Cane Ridge, John Overton) or the best that metro Nashville has to offer at time (Pearl-Cohn, Stratford, East High), when the playoffs roll around the Tigers will be battled tested and ready to go against the best 4A has to offer.

Secondly, by the time mid-season rolls around, the Tigers will have meshed into a formidable opponent with all three units performing at a high level that can compete with any team in the state.

Never was that on display more so than on Friday night in Lewisburg when the Tigers pounced on an undefeated and fourth-ranked Springfield (5-1) squad that many have picked as a 4A title favorite.

The Tigers scored twice on passes to Devonte Davis, twice more in the third to take a 28-0 lead in the fourth period before the Yellowjackets scored a late touchdown for 28-7 win.

"The game plan was to focus on Marshall County football and not get caught up in all the talk or let the homecoming day make us relaxed," Davis, who led the team with 105 receiving yards, said. And I think we did great at that."

Since the primetime loss against third-ranked Tullahoma during Week 3, the Tigers (4-1) have reeled off three wins in a row by a scoring margin of 116-56.

"Tullahoma was a tough game for every player," junior quarterback Bryson Hammons said. "Tullahoma pointed out every place where we've needed to get better as players and as a team.”

“We've really taken advantage of trying to work on our weakest points and it's definitely showed the past three games."

If there was a breakout star on offense against the Yellowjackets, Davis would take that honor.

The junior wide receiver, who came into the game leading the Tigers in both total tackles and interceptions, led the home team with a career-high four receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns.

Davis came into the contest with just three receptions on the season.

"When on offense I expect to see the ball," Davis explained. "Even if I don’t, you just have to stay ready."

"I think this was just like any other game," Davis added. "The line did what they were supposed to and Bryson hit me with some good balls throughout the game to get the job done."

Hammons, who finished with 185 yards and a touchdown throw to go along with two rushing touchdowns, now has a triple threat both at the running back and wide receiver positions.

Demari Braden, Lamarion Pierce, and Connor Hilton have combined for 454 yards on the ground on 107 attempts and Davis, A'Ky Howard and Hart total 608 receiving yards on just 35 receptions.

"It makes my job a whole lot easier," Hammons said about having multiple offensive weapons. "All the credit goes to the offensive line for making holes for the running backs and getting to who they need to be on."

"It's nice knowing I have multiple receivers that I don't think twice about throwing the ball to," Hammons, who has passed for nine scores on the season, continued. "They are all playmakers as everyone has seen."

The Yellowjackets, who came into the contest undefeated and riding an eight-game regular season winning streak, have made it to the 4A state championship game in two out of the past three years including last season when the Tigers walloped Springfield 42-12 in Robertson County.

Springfield lost to Elizabethtown 30-6 in the championship game last season, lost in the 4A semifinal to Haywood County 49-14 in 2018, and lost in the 4A state championship game to Greeneville 59-14 in 2017.

Just like last season, the Tigers had the Yellowjackets number from the opening whistle.

Davis made the Yellowjackets pay for focusing its attention on stopping Howard, the Tigers leading receiver, torching Springfield for two long first half scores and a long catch to put the Tigers back in scoring position.

"The first time Bryson stepped out the pocket and I happened to find grass and he threw a perfect ball," Davis explained about his first score. "The second one the play got busted so Bryson threw a 50/50 ball and I went up with one hand and got it."

"The third one I ran a post and just used my speed to out run the corner and put a move or two on the safety before being knocked out of bounds," Davis added.

The Tigers went into the break leading14-0, but the damage could have been much more severe with a Howard touchdown and long catch both called back for penalties.

"We knew we had to be smarter on offense and stop getting so many flags on big plays," Hammons pointed out. "I told the guys in the locker room that we've controlled the game for two quarters and we haven't even played our best football."

"Let's go play our best and control the rest of the game and we came out and did just that."

The Yellowjackets made a crucial mistake to open the second half.

Trying to catch the Tigers off guard, Springfield tried an onside kick that came well short of the required 10 yards.

Marshall County wasted little time taking advantage of the great field position.

After another long Howard catch was called back on a penalty, Hammons connected with Davis for a 46 yard gain to set up first-and-goal.

Braden got the red zone nod, rushing for six yards and then four more yards for the score, pushing the lead to 21-0 with 9:30 left in the third quarter.

The Tiger defense held Springfield to a three-and-out possession and Pierce followed up with a 47-yard punt return to put the home team back in great field position.

Four plays later, on fourth-and-inches, Hammons executed a quarterback sneak for the final Tiger touchdown of the night.

Springfield running back Lamarious Daniels scored a late touchdown to make the final score 28-7 in the Tigers’ favor.

Marshall County jumps back into region play against Lawrence County, who is coming off a loss to 2A Forrest.

"Lawrence County is a physical team and they tend to always play hard," Davis explained. "If we want to win Friday we have to continue to start with the same energy and finish with the same energy."

"Except maybe one game we have played all four quarters of football and if we continue, big things could be coming around December."

Springfield 0 0 0 7-0

MCHS 7 7 14 0-28

Marshall County Offense

Total Yards (316): Rushing 131, Passing 185.

Rushing: Demari Braden 16-78-TD, Lamarion Pierce 6-35, Devonte Davis 1-22, Bryson Hammons 5-6-2TD, Connor Hilton 3-(-4), Antomme Cawthorn 2-(-6).

Passing: Bryson Hammons 13-19-185-TD-0INT.

Receiving: Devonte Davis 4-105-TD, A’Ky Howard 6-42, Hunter Rolof 2-26, Lamarion Pierce 1-12.

Kicking

Kickoffs: Jon Estes 5-289-3TB.

PAT: Jon Estes 4-4.

Punts: Joseph Gold 4-164.

Returns

Kickoffs: Antomme Cawthorn 1-15.

Punts: Lamarion Pierce 3-57.

Defense

Tackles: Christian Stacey 13 (5TFL, INT), Devonte Davis 9 (TFL), Connor Hilton 7, Kaden Whitson 5, Kortez Ingram 5, Lamarion Pierce 4, Logan McKnight 4, Chandler Davis 4, Jonathon Bair 4, Joseph Gold 3, Isaac Brinkley 3, Grayson Miller 3, Antomme Cawthorn 2, Omari Armstrong 2, Trey Warner 1, Thomas Beech 1, Nathan Pineda 1, Kamron Dunnavant 1.