WHITE HOUSE The White House High girls soccer program flirted with a trip to the state tournament on Saturday evening.

However, for the third consecutive season, the Lady Devils suffered a heartbreaking outcome in the end, dropping a 4-3 sectional match to visiting Page in a contest decided by a penalty-kick shootout.

“It’s (disappointing), because we are so much of a team,” White House sophomore forward Madisson Davis said. “We feel we deserve it more. It’s just (disappointing).”

White House High sophomore forward Madisson Davis runs on to a ball played up the sideline as Page junior Sydney Strock pursues. Davis scored all three White House goals in the first half of Saturday evening’s sectional loss.

The Lady Devils reached the state for the only time in the program’s history with a 5-1 victory at Page in a 2012 sectional but then suffered a 1-0 loss to visiting Fairview in a 2013 sectional match and a 3-2 setback at Spring Hill in a sectional that went into overtime last season.

“It can be a game of inches and the bounce of the ball,” White House head coach Mike Felzien. “We had some great opportunities where we didn’t get the bounce of the ball. That happens. You just hate to be on the receiving end.”

The Lady Patriots advanced the state tournament for the third time in the history of the program, reaching the state quarterfinals in 2009 and the state semifinals in 2010.

Page (15-6-2) faced a 3-1 deficit for more than 24 minutes in the second half.

“You can’t count us out,” Lady Patriot head coach Nate Clapp said. “We can score a lot of goals quickly. I told the girls to get one goal, and the momentum will change quickly. We got the first goal, and momentum got the second goal.”

White House High senior midfielder Kayla Patt dribbles along the sideline as Page senior Marisa Mancini pursues.

White House freshman goalkeeper Alivia Vogel smothered a breakaway opportunity by junior Emma Sanders in the 62nd minute.

However, approximately two minutes later, Page freshman Kendal Webb gained control of a Lady Devil goal kick and fired a shot from approximately 22 yards out into the upper portion of the net.

Lady Patriot freshman goalkeeper Morgan Kalbfell made a one-handed save of a breakaway by senior forward Brittney Breedlove in the 71st minute

Six minutes later, Page freshman Hayden Collins was tripped at the top of the box, resulting in a free kick.

Sanders’ free kick bounced off of the crossbar, and the rebound was a battle among a cluster of players in front of the net. Lady Patriot senior Marisa Mancini got a shot off amidst the flurry that found the net with 2:53 remaining, forcing overtime.

“They didn’t quit,” Felzien said of Page. “At this level, you are not expecting a team to quit. They’re well-coached, and they have some talented members. They started closing that gap.”

White House High freshman defender Haley Moran clears a ball upfield during first-half action in front of Page senior Marisa Mancini.

The two teams played scoreless over the 30 minutes of overtime periods, allowing penalty kicks to decide the outcome.

Both coaches admitted to not working on penalty kicks too frequently in practice.

“To be honest, it’s not much,” Clapp said. “We’ve done some. We practice it once a week once we get in the postseason.”

Felzien added, “We go over them. We determine our top 10. After we’ve determined our top 10, we probably do two times of (practicing) five penalty kicks.”

Page shot first in the shootout, and Webb, junior Caitlyn Sutton, Sanders and sophomore Megan Henry all converted on the team’s first four penalty kicks.

Kalbfell – who began the season as the team’s third-team goalkeeper and was making just her sixth start on Saturday – stopped the first two Lady Devil penalty kicks before White House freshman midfielder Shelby Deering placed her shot into the right side of the net.

White House High freshman midfielder Shelby Deering plays a ball in front of Page freshman Ema Goodwin.

However, Henry’s penalty kick ended the match, giving her squad a 4-1 edge in the shootout with the Lady Devils having just two penalty kicks remaining.

“The way she came back was amazing to me,” Clapp said of Kalbfell. “She was a little out of position on the second and third goal.

“She adjusted well. I was so proud of her for taking coaching (at halftime).”

Henry scored just 24 seconds into the match, one-touching a cross from Sutton into the goal.

“I thought it was a lucky shot,” Davis said. “We are more of a team than they are. We wanted it more. We came out and scored (in response).”

Davis had a hat trick in the first half, taking advantage of two through-balls played by freshman midfielder Leanna Nesbitt and another by sophomore midfielder Madeline Hargrove.

“To respond in that way and end the half with a 3-1 lead, you feel good and are proud with how they responded (to the early goal),” Felzien said.

Davis added, “We work on through-balls. Sometimes, we switch and go to the outside, but it was just good through-balls.”

Davis’ final goal came with six seconds remaining in the half.

“It was big,” Davis said. “We had a lot of confidence. We had too much I guess. They came back.”

Clapp said. “Our defense made some dumb mistakes that allowed that space. We reminded them. I took one of my attacking players (Webb) who plays there (on defense) as well and put her there. It was shape, the way we were dropping … and that girl (Davis) is fast. She’s good.”

White House High freshman midfielder Mazie Burrow maneuvers along the sideline during second-half action.

Davis received added attention in the second half.

“They double-teamed me, made sure they stopped me and (Breedlove) and not let those through-balls go through,” Davis said.

Felzien added, “They did put a little more pressure on Davis in the second half. Other than that, I don’t think they changed much on their attack. Both teams had opportunities. They made an adjustment (defensively), and we expected that and tried to counter that. We just failed to execute.”

It was the first loss for White House since suffering a 6-1 setback to visiting Harpeth Hall on Sept. 8, ending a stretch of 13 matches without a setback.

The Lady Devil program fell to 1-6 in sectional matches.

“You are proud of the team and how they have come through,” Felzien said. “I told the girls, ‘remember this feeling. We’ll be back, and we don’t want to experience this again.’”

White House High sophomore forward Madisson Davis plays a throw-in in front of Page freshman Hayden Collins.

White House concluded its season with a 15-4-3 record, a District 9 A-AA North Division championship in the regular season, a 9 A-AA Tournament championship and a Region 5 A-AA Tournament title.

The Lady Devils lose three seniors – forward Brittney Breedlove, midfielder Kayla Patt and defender Sidney West.

“We’re definitely proud of how much they’ve accomplished,” Felzien – whose squad started six freshmen, four sophomores and one senior on Saturday – said. “You hate to leave at this point of the season with such a young group. It’s something to look forward to in the next few years.”

Reach Craig Harris at 615-575-7138 or on Twitter @HarrisGNESports. 

Class A-AA sectional results

Greeneville 5, Grace Christian 1

Christian Academy of Knoxville 6, Chuckey-Doak 0

Notre Dame 4, Grace Baptist 0

Chattanooga Christian 3, Boyd-Buchanan 0

Page 4, White House 3 (penalty-kick shootout)

Christ Presbyterian Academy 2, White House Heritage 1

Lexington 5, Madison Academic 0

Jackson Christian 6, Chester County 1

MTSU athletics department officials had this replica of a 1965 NCAA Division II golf championship ring made to replace one owned by Trey Lewis, the son of the late Dan Lewis who was a member of the team. It had been stolen.

Vanderbilt and Belmont will play in the first college baseball game at First Tennessee Park in 2016.

Former Hillsboro and UT Martin quarterback Donny Sherman, who went on to coach at Vanderbilt, died earlier this week.

Vanderbilt and Belmont will play in the first college baseball game at First Tennessee Park in 2016.

Vanderbilt and Belmont will play in the first college baseball game at First Tennessee Park in 2016.

The Sounds won’t play in the first baseball game at First Tennessee Park in 2016.

Vanderbilt and Belmont will become the first college teams to play at the park, which opened last spring, when they square off March 29, 2016.

The Sounds’ season opener will be at the park nine days later.

“Down the road there are some things we want to factor into the use of this facility outside of the Sounds,” said Doug Scopel, Sounds vice president for operations. “We want to have collegiate games like this and maybe some high school games as we move forward. This is a good first stepping stone for us to have two locally recognized programs here to be able to use this great facility as a natural site.”

An official announcement and more details will come about the first of the year.

“Having the opportunity to play at First Tennessee Park is tremendously advantageous to the kids of both schools and the Nashville community,” said Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin, who led the Commodores to the national championship in 2014 and runner-up in 2015. “We are very fortunate to have quality professional, college and amateur baseball in our community. Events like these stimulate interest and growth on all levels.”

Vanderbilt and Belmont both have a history with the Sounds. Each team has played against the Sounds in exhibition games in the past, and Belmont used Greer Stadium, the Sounds’ old facility, for its home games for a number of years.

“We’re very excited to be involved in this opportunity,” Belmont coach Dave Jarvis said. “There’s such a baseball tradition and some connection between the Nashville Sounds, Vanderbilt and Belmont. For us to get to play the very first college game at First Tennessee Park is truly an honor.”

There will be added interest in the game since the Bruins upset the Commodores twice in 2015 — winning 3-2 at Hawkins Field and 4-1 at home.

The only non-Sounds events that have taken place since the park opened April 17 have been the City of Hope Celebrity Softball Game, which is part of the CMA Music Festival, a couple of Reviving Baseball in Inner City youth games and the Nashville Brew Festival.

Scopel said similar non-Sounds events will take place in the future along with concerts.

“Those are some of the other things we want to use this facility for in addition to the Sounds,” Scopel said. “That’s important, not only to us as the operator, but also to the city. The thought process when this was all approved was to find other events to have.”

Grizzlies one of best franchises, Titans one of worst

The Memphis Grizzlies are the second-best pro sports franchise, according to ESPN’s annual professional franchise rankings released this past week.

The NBA’s San Antonio Spurs were first, and the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs were last among the 122 franchises.

The Grizzlies moved up two spots after being fourth last year.

The Predators were No. 27, up from No. 40 last year.

“The Predators had two Top-10 (category) finishes: affordability (10th) and stadium experience (10th) — a credit to the way they have effectively sold the game and built a die-hard hockey fan base in a nontraditional market,” according to ESPN.

The Titans were near the bottom at No. 117 after dropping 13 spots from 2014.

“… the Titans fell 38 spots in bang for the buck (category) after their third straight losing season.”

MTSU replaces national championship ring

Local amateur golfer Trey Lewis had lost all hope of ever again seeing his late father Dan’s 1965 NCAA Division II national championship ring, which he earned while playing for the Middle Tennessee State golf team.

Dan died in 2012, and the ring was stolen the following year.

MTSU athletic department officials had this replica of a 1965 NCAA Division II golf championship ring made to replace one owned by Trey Lewis, the son of the late Dan Lewis who was a member of the team. which was stolen.

Trey mentioned the ring was missing to his friend Brennan Webb, who became the golf coach at MTSU in August.

Without telling Trey, Webb and some of Dan’s longtime friends including Billy Walker were able to find the exact specifications for the ring in MTSU’s files and had Jostens make a replica.

“All I can say is God is great,” Trey said. “I’ve got the ring; would I like to have the original — or course. But in years to come nobody will know that this is not the original one. My grandchildren probably won’t ever figure it out. It was cool what they did for me.”

Vols headed for the Music City Bowl?

Tennessee opened the season against Bowling Green at Nissan Stadium, and if ESPN’s Brett McMurphy is right, the Vols will end the season there.

On Wednesday, McMurphy updated his bowl predictions with UT facing Wisconsin in the Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl at Nissan Stadium on Dec. 30.

Fellow ESPN college football writer Mark Schlabach predicted Mississippi State will play Minnesota in the game.

Former Dixie Flyers captain Hinchberger dies

Lloyd Hinchberger, who served as captain and later coach of the Nashville Dixie Flyers hockey team, died Oct. 3. He was 84.

Hinchberger was best known for igniting a bench-clearing brawl during his playing days in 1965 against the Knoxville Knights, which resulted in the game being called off in the first period.

After he and the Knights’ Les Calder collided on the boards, both came up swinging.

All the players on the ice quickly got involved in the melee, and Hinchberger then challenged Knoxville player/coach Don Labelle, who was on the bench. Labelle swung his stick at Hinchberger, and the players on both benches then jumped in.

The game, which was only five minutes old, was called off at that point.

Cumberland Hall of Fame inductions are Friday

Softball great Ashley Putman Serbin and the 1966 men’s basketball team will be inducted into the Cumberland Sports Hall of Fame at a dinner Friday at Baird Chapel on campus.

Serbin, a pitcher from Arrington, earned All-Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference honors during her junior and senior seasons (1996, 1997). She went on to coach at Wilson Central for seven seasons.

The 1966 men’s basketball squad was coached by Van Washer and included team members Ronnie House, Roy Williams, Jim Kerley, Tommy Kirkpatrick, Jim Farley, Tommy Woodward, Tony Woodward, Pete Headrick, Wayne Starks, Mickey Meguiar, Tom Pile, Mark Riggins, Dave Skinner, Dave Smith and Kenny Brooks.

It was the school’s first team to earn a berth in the National Junior College Athletic Association Tournament.

The players from that team will practice with the current team Friday.

The 1966 cheerleaders also will be honored, including Lynda Miller, Liz Jenkins McCormack, Sherry Krantz Perdue, Terry Jenkins Del Bello and Linda Brown Odenbaugh.

McGavock grad moves up in Richard Childress Racing

Gil Martin, a McGavock graduate, was promoted to competition director for the NASCAR Xfinity Series for Richard Childress Racing this past week.

Martin, 55, has been with RCR since 2000, previously serving as crew chief for the No. 3 Sprint Cup Series team and as director of research and development.

Hillsboro great and ex-Vandy coach dies

Hillsboro quarterback great Donny Sherman, who went on to play at UT Martin and then coached at Vanderbilt, died Monday. He was 58 and had suffered from metastatic melanoma skin cancer.

Sherman was the son of Dr. Bill Sherman, who served as pastor at Woodmont Baptist Church for 30 years and is currently the pastor at First Baptist Church in Fairview.

Donny Sherman was not only one of the top football players in the Nashville Interscholastic League in 1974, but he also excelled in track.

He played at UT Martin under coach George MacIntyre and when MacIntyre became the coach at Vanderbilt, Sherman served on his staff (1979-80, 1982-85).

Sherman was active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for many years. The family requests that gifts be made in his honor to the Greater Nashville FCA, 44 Metroplex Dr., Nashville, TN 37221.

Midstate boxer hopes to remain undefeated

Undefeated super middleweight boxer Caleb “Sweet-Hands” Plant (10-0, 8 knockouts) from Ashland City will be back in the ring Saturday against an opponent to be announced at NRG Arena in Houston.

The card will be headlined by Jermell “Iron Man” Charlo vs. Joachim Alcine and telecast on NBC SN beginning at 7 p.m.

Volleyball clinic coming to Franklin Beach House

Franklin Beach House, which has the only indoor sand volleyball courts in the Midstate, will offer a free women’s beach tennis clinic Thursday. The facility is located at 1850 General George Patton Dr.

YMCA tennis pro Heidi Allsmiller will conduct the clinic from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. For more information, call 615-679-9766 or visit FranklinBeachHouse.com.

Vandy moves up in national golf poll

The Vanderbilt men’s golf team is ranked No. 15 and Lipscomb received one vote in the Bushnell Golfweek Division I Coaches Poll.

The Commodores moved up from No. 17.

Auburn and Illinois tied for No. 1.

If you have an item for Midstate Chatter, contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 and on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.

SPORTS ON NASHVILLE TV

The top five local ratings for sporting events for Oct. 12-18.

1. NFL: Titans-Dolphins, 22.1 rating

2. NFL: Chargers-Packers, 16.9 rating

3. NFL: Patriots-Colts, 16.1 rating

4. College football: Alabama-Texas A&M, 10.8 rating

5. NFL: Falcons-Saints, 10.5 rating

Each rating point is equal to 9,902 Nashville homes. Ratings for the SEC Network are not available.

Source: Mark Binda, WTVF-5 program & research director

THOMPSON’S STATION The Class AAA sectional soccer round has signaled the end of the season for the Hendersonville High girls soccer team in each of the last four years.

The Hendersonville High girls soccer team celebrates after junior Sydney Cason (25) scored the game-tying goal in the second half of Saturday evening’s Class AAA sectional match at Independence. Cason scored two goals in the Lady Commandos’ 3-1 victory, sending the team to the Class AAA State Tournament.

On Saturday evening, the Lady Commandos broke through in the second half, punching their ticket to the Class AAA State Tournament with a 3-1 victory at Independence.

Not even a halftime deficit kept Hendersonville (15-4-3) down as junior Sydney Cason scored twice and senior Maddie Kimler also tallied to propel the Lady Commandos into the state tournament for the first time since 2006.

“Honestly, there’s something about going (to the state tournament) my senior year … it’s like ending with a bang,” Kimler said. “I’m not saying I wouldn’t have wanted to go the other three years, but it just makes it that much sweeter.”

Kimler’s goal was the go-ahead score as she found space at the top of the penalty area after collecting a cross from sophomore Brooke Long. Kimler turned and fired a shot that found the top, left corner of the net after sailing past Independence senior goalkeeper Sam Colley with 16:16 remaining.

Hendersonville High junior Arden Butler battles with Independence junior Julie Garst for possession during first-half action.

Cason evened the match with 30 minutes remaining, connecting on a free kick from just outside the left, front corner of the penalty area. Her low shot curled inside the right post, past a diving Colley.

“The goalkeeper was very tall, and the wall was covering the whole left side of the goal,” Cason said. “I just tried to play it low to the right side and hope that she wouldn’t be able to stretch that far. And if she could, I knew I’d have teammates crashing in.”

Cason added her second goal with 11:26 left, after sophomore Haley Stevens drew a foul in the box.

“I tried not to psych myself out, especially knowing the stakes,” Cason said of the penalty kick. “I wanted us to get up another goal, but I just tried not to think about it and just went up and hit it.”

Cason had just moved in from Michigan during the season and has made an immediate impact in the midfield. She has verbally committed to Western Michigan University to play soccer.

“I just came in a month or two ago,” Cason said. “They’ve all been so welcomingm and they’re so hard-working. It’s great to come on to a team that all has the same goal in mind. In Michigan, my team never made it this far. This is a special group.”

Hendersonville High sophomore Brooke Long clears the ball downfield and away from Independence junior Sarah Mathis during first-half action.

The second-half surge allowed the Lady Commandos to oust a Williamson County opponent, after teams from District 11-AAA had eliminated Hendersonville in each of the last four years.

“It’s awesome for the program,” Hendersonville head coach Russ Plummer said. “You can’t say enough about these girls and what they do. To be down 1-0 at half and not give up and be so coachable … they just keep fighting and fighting. It’s unbelievable.”

Hendersonville had won nine consecutive matches before suffering a 2-1 loss to Clarksville on Wednesday in the Region 5-AAA Tournament championship match.

“They bounced back from losing to Clarksville,” Plummer said. “They were excited to play, very attentive the next two days in training, and they wanted to get here.”

Junior goalkeeper Makensie Cotter made eight saves and had a busy evening, also collecting a yellow card after a collision in the first half. She was forced to leave the match for the infraction, with sophomore Mandy Schmidle taking over for approximately 40 seconds until the next substitutions were allowed.

Julie Garst gave the Lady Eagles (13-2-1) a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute, an advantage that stood up for the remainder of the first half.

Hendersonville High sophomore Morgan Wettengel dribbles upfield amidst pressure from Independence senior Lauren Shomo during first-half action.

The Lady Commandos will learn of their quarterfinal opponent on Sunday when the brackets are released.

Plummer said that it’s a good feeling to get over the hump, for past teams as well.

“They’re not just doing it for themselves,” Plummer said. “They’re doing it for the program, and those teams that couldn’t get here … all those people that write, call and come back to visit. It’s just a program unlike any other that you don’t see every day.”

The Class AAA State Tournament is slated to begin on Wednesday afternoon at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex in Murfreesboro.

Hendersonville High senior Layne Massey chips the ball past Independence sophomore Madison Frantz during first-half action.

“I’ve probably never felt this happy in my entire life,” Cotter said. “I’m just so happy that we did it.”

Reach Chris Brooks at 615-575-7118 or on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

Class AAA sectional results

Maryville 1, Science Hill 0

Hardin Valley 2, Tennessee 0

Lincoln County 1, Walker Valley 0

Cookeville 2, Oakland 1

Clarksville 2, Brentwood 1

Hendersonville 3, Independence 1

Collierville 1, Arlington 0

Houston 6, Bartlett 0

A look at the top high school football teams in Middle Tennessee, as ranked by The Tennessean:

Independence students cheer on the Eagles during their Week 2 win over Centennial.

Franklin Road Academy takes the field prior to its win over Lipscomb.

10. FRA (9-0) — The Panthers, averaging over 40 points in their first nine games, are just one win away from notching their first undefeated regular season since 1982. Last week: No. 10. This week: Friday at BGA (6-2).

Hendersonville running back Terrell Carter (20)

9. Hendersonville (8-1) — The Commandos are coming off their fourth consecutive victory and second shutout of the season — a 45-0 rout of Region 6-5A foe Glencliff. Last week: No. 9. This week: Hunters Lane (1-8)

CPA’s Price Perdue

8. CPA (8-1) — The Region 5-3A champion Lions, coming off a 48-13 victory over winless Goodpasture, have only allowed an average of 12.5 points in their last four wins. Last week: No. 8. This week: Friday at Whites Creek (3-5).

Ravenwood’s Chris Rowland (23)

7. Ravenwood (8-1) — The Region 3-6A champion Raptors reeled off their fifth straight win on Friday, whipping Wilson Central 28-6 behind Carter Nelson’s 155-yard rushing effort. Last week: No. 7. This week at Antioch (0-9).

Centennial running back Mondu Sawyers (8)

6. Centennial (8-1) — Senior Mondu Sawyers ran for a season-high 194 yards and a pair of scores in the Cougars’ 40-8 win over Region 7-5A foe Rossview. Last week: No. 6. This week: Henry County (8-1).

Blackman running back Taeler Dowdy.

5. Blackman (7-2) — Senior Taeler Dowdy returned the opening kickoff 76 yards for a score in the Blaze’s 42-20 win over Coffee County, and the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder finished with 132 yards rushing and four first-half touchdowns. Last week: No. 5. This week: at Warren County (1-8).

Independence students cheer on the Eagles during their Week 2 win over Centennial.

4. Independence (9-0) — The unbeaten Eagles rolled to yet another lopsided victory on Friday — a 42-7 triumph over Franklin County behind quarterback Andrew Bunch’s 298-yard, three-touchdown passing performance. Last week: No. 4. This week: at La Vergne (6-3).

MBA football coach Marty Euverard talks with senior quarterback Glenn Coleman.

3. MBA (8-1) — Quarterback Glenn Coleman threw for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns for the Big Red, while running back Ty Chandler racked up 188 yards and three rushing scores in an impressive 35-21 win at Baylor. Last week: No. 3. This week: Friday vs. Ensworth (4-5).

Oakland running back Lazarius Patterson (4).

2. Oakland (8-1) — Junior running back LaZarius Patterson tallied his second straight 200-yard rushing performance in Friday’s 21-6 triumph over Region 2-6A foe Cookeville. Last week: No. 2. This week: Friday at Smyrna (7-2).

Brentwood Academy’s Evan Beddoe hauls in an interception against Father Ryan.

1. Brentwood Academy (8-1) — Following Friday’s 53-6 win over University Christian (Fla.), the top-ranked Eagles have now outscored their past four opponents by a combined tally of 195-34. Last week: No. 1. This week: Friday vs. McCallie (5-4).

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports. 

AP prep football rankings

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 October 26, total points based on 10 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 10th-place vote:

CLASS 6A
School Record Pts Prv
1. Maryville (15) 9-0 150 1
2. Oakland 8-1 133 2
3. Whitehaven 8-1 122 3
4. Ravenwood 8-1 103 4
5. Blackman 7-2 86 6
6. White Station 6-3 72 7
7. Cordova 8-1 54 8
8. Smyrna 7-2 35 5
9. Science Hills 7-2 35 5
10. Bearden 6-3 12 9
10. Bradley Central 6-3 12 9
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

The Tennessean Midstate Top 10

CLASS 5A
School Record Pts Prv
1. Independence (15) 9-0 150 1
2. Hendersonville 8-1 131 5
3. Oak Ridge 8-1 97 7
4. Farragut 8-1 77 8
5. Henry Co. 8-1 77 8
6. Sevier Co. 8-2 68 10
7. Morristown West 7-2 60 2
8. Ooltewah 7-2 53 3
9. Knoxville West 7-2 40 4
10. Centennial 8-1 19 NR
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

Friday night (high)lights

CLASS 4A
School Record Pts Prv
1. Fulton (15) 8-1 150 1
2. Greeneville 8-1 129 2
3. Memphis East 8-1 121 3
4. Marshall Co. 8-1 93 4
5. Stone Memorial 9-0 86 5
6. Hardin Co. 8-1 70 6
7. Knoxville Central 8-1 62 7
8. Jackson North Side 8-1 47 8
9. Ridgeway 6-3 36 9
10. Lipscomb 7-2 15 10
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

Top prep performers from Week 10

CLASS 3A
School Record Pts Prv
1. Alcoa (15) 8-1 150 1
2. CAK 9-0 129 2
3. CPA 8-1 119 3
4. Liberty Magnet 9-0 107 4
5. Elizabethton 8-1 90 5
6. East Ridge 9-0 77 6
7. Notre Dame 6-3 54 7
8. Kingston 7-2 35 9
9. Upperman 7-2 34 10
10. Pigeon Forge 7-2 9 NR
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

Girls soccer: CPA, Page, Hendersonville advance to state

CLASS 2A
School Record Pts Prv
1. Boyd-Buchanan 9-0 148 1
2. Marion Co. 8-1 129 2
3. Adamsville 8-1 118 3
4. Hampton (2) 9-0 110 4
5. Forrest 8-1 90 5
6. Waverly 8-1 72 6
7. Sullivan North 8-1 53 7
8. Trezevant 5-3 50 8
9. Rockwood 7-2 20 9
10. Austin-East 7-2 19 10
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

Most schools wait for TSSAA on referee background checks

CLASS 1A
School Record Pts Prv
1. Union City (15) 10-0 150 1
2. Wayne Co. 9-0 120 5
3. Nashville Christian 9-1 118 3
4. Dresden 8-1 113 4
5. Huntingdon 8-1 82 2
6. Columbia Acad. 8-1 71 6
7. Peabody 7-2 59 7
8. Greenback 7-2 45 8
9. Jo Byrns 8-1 34 9
10. Coalfield 7-2 16 10
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

Braxton (Blackwell) Key commits to Alabama

DIVISION II
School Record Pts Prv
1. Brentwood Acad. (13) 8-1 147 1
2. MBA (1) 8-1 131 3
3. MUS 7-2 111 4
4. Baylor 7-2 102 2
5. FRA 9-0 84 5
6. Christian Brothers 7-2 76 6
7. St. George’s 8-1 57 7
8. McCallie 5-4 43 8
9. Northpoint Christian (1) 10-0 39 9
10. Ensworth 4-5 19 10
Others receiving 12 or more points: None.

All Associated Press members in Tennessee are eligible to participate in the high school football poll. Those who voted for this week’s poll are: The Daily Post-Athenian, Athens; Chattanooga Free Press, Chattanooga; Cookeville Herald-Citizen, Cookeville; State Gazette, Dyersburg; The Jackson Sun, Jackson; Johnson City Press, Johnson City; The Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville; Marshall County Tribune (Lewisburg); The Tomahawk (Mountain City); The Commercial Appeal, Memphis; The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro; The Tennessean (Nashville); The Paris Post-Intelligencer; Union City Daily Messenger, Union City; WCMT, Martin.

CPA, including Sarah Sievertsen, right, is one of the favorites in Class A-AA.

The TSSAA State Soccer Tournament begins Wednesday in Murfreesboro at Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.

Division I teams will play quarterfinal and semifinal matchups on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Division II will play semifinal contests on Friday. All finals are scheduled for Saturday.

Here are some things to watch at this year’s state tourney.

Fun to watch: The most intriguing bracket may be Class A-AA, led by Page and Christ Presbyterian Academy.

Page (15-6-2) is matched up with Jackson Christian (19-5) at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, and CPA (16-2-1) will square off with Chattanooga Christian at 7 p.m.

Region 6A-AA champion CPA is 15-0-1 in its last 16 games since dropping its first two matches of the year, and enters Wednesday’s action coming off a 2-1 win over White House Heritage in sectional play that required a game-winning goal from senior Olivia Ball in the 67th minute.

Meanwhile, Page took down White House 4-3 in sectional play, needing penalty kicks to keep its season alive.

Girls soccer: CPA, Page, Hendersonville advance to state

Long streak snapped: It has been more than 20 years since a girls soccer team from Williamson County has failed to reach the girls soccer state tournament. That streak continued this week, with BGA earning a trip to the DII-A semifinals.

In fact, since the TSSAA was divided into Division I and Division II in 1997, there hasn’t been a single Class AAA tournament that didn’t involve either Franklin (12 appearances), Brentwood (7) or Ravenwood (5).

That streak ended this season.

Region 6-AAA champion Independence (12-1-1) was beaten by Hendersonville in Saturday’s sectional match, while District 11-AAA champion Brentwood (11-2-5) suffered a 2-1 sectional loss to defending Class AAA champion Clarksville.

Clarksville (21-4), led by reigning Tennessean Girls Player of the Year Salera Jordan, will look to capture its second straight Class AAA championship. The District 10-AAA and Region 5-AAA champion Lady Wildcats will square off with Hardin Valley (16-3-2) at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Hendersonville (15-4-3), making its first state tournament appearance since 2006, will face unbeaten Houston (19-0) on Wednesday at 4:30.

District 6-AAA champion Cookeville (17-3-2) will take on Collierville at 6:30 p.m., while District 8-AAA and Region 4-AAA champion Lincoln County (15-4-1) will face Maryville (16-5-2) at 7 p.m.

Semifinalists: Ensworth and Battle Ground Academy will be the only two teams representing Division II at this year’s state tournament.

BGA comes in with an 11-8-3 record, but the Wildcats won their last five games to earn a DII-A opening-round game with St. George’s at 4 p.m. Friday.

Ensworth (15-1-1) will have to take down one of its rivals if it wants to make it to the state championship match in DII-AA. The Lady Tigers are matched up with rival Baylor at 6:30 p.m. Friday. They’ll look to continue their hot play — it’s been more than a month since they lost.

Michael Murphy contributed to this article. Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN.

TSSAA State Soccer Tournament Schedule

At Richard Siegel Soccer Complex, Murfreesboro)

Class AAA

Wednesday

4 p.m. – Hardin Valley (16-3-2) vs. Clarksville (21-4)

4:30 – Houston (19-0) vs. Hendersonville (15-4-3)

6:30 – Collierville (14-4-1) vs. Cookeville (17-3-2)

7:00 – Lincoln County (15-4-1) vs. Maryville (16-5-2)

Thursday

4 p.m. – Hardin Valley/Clarksville winner vs. Collierville/Cookeville winner

6:30 – Houston/Hendersonville winner vs. Lincoln County/Maryville winner

Saturday

1:30 p.m. – Championship

Class A-AA

Wednesday

4 p.m. – Notre Dame (11-7-3) vs. Greeneville (22-2)

4:30 – CAK (18-4) vs. Lexington (15-4-2)

6:30 – Page (15-6-2) vs. Jackson Christian (19-5)

7:00 – Chattanooga Christian (15-5-3) vs. CPA (15-2-1)

Thursday

4 p.m. – Notre Dame/Greeneville winner vs. Page/Jackson Christian winner

6:30 – CAK/Lexington winner vs. Chattanooga Christian/CPA winner

Saturday

11 a.m. – Championship

Division II-AA

Friday

6 p.m. – GPS (10-3-2) vs. Briarcrest (16-2-1)

6:30 – Baylor (11-4-3) vs. Ensworth (15-1-1)

Saturday

6:30 p.m. – Championship

Division II-A

Friday

4 p.m. – BGA (11-8-3) vs. St. George’s (9-7-4)

4 p.m. – USJ (17-4) vs. ECS (15-3)

Saturday

4 p.m. – Championship

Logan Trimmer is a bit of a jack of all trades.

He wears several different hats on Friday evenings, though he rarely gets to take his helmet off.

“I don’t even think about it,” Trimmer said of his numerous responsibilities.

The White House High football team is the beneficiary of the versatile senior’s talents.

“When he’s on the field, he’s laid back,” Blue Devil classmate Luke Hopkins said. “We’re really good friends. We’ve been playing six years together. We like to joke around a lot.”

The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder is a returning starter at tight end, defensive end and punter, but arguably, his greatest benefit has been as the team’s placekicker.

“He makes us a lot better on defense when teams have to start on the 20 (yard line),” Blue Devil head coach Jeff Porter said. “The best thing about him is that – as a kicker – you have to have a short memory. He has that.

“He has the characteristics the other kickers here have had. He wants to kick. They want to kick field goals, and he has the mentality that he’s going to make it.”

Trimmer added, “I know it’s getting points. I love kicking field goals.”

White House High senior placekicker Logan Trimmer attempts a field goal out of the hold of classmate Luke Hopkins at the conclusion of a recent practice.

Trimmer was a first team All-County selection as a tight end last season and earned the District 9-AA Most Versatile Award.

He has a team-leading 19 receptions for 318 yards and two touchdowns this season, in addition to 41 tackles (seven of which have resulted in a loss of yardage), five quarterback hurries and three pass break-ups on defense.

He filled in for injured senior placekicker Dillon Anderson for much of last season before Anderson reassumed the starting role once he was healthy. Trimmer made all five of his field-goal attempts and all 11 point-after touchdowns (PATs).

Trimmer isn’t perfect this season, but his productivity has continued. He has made 10 of 17 field-goal attempts – including a school-record 52 yarder in the team’s 41-3 loss to Pearl-Cohn – and 14 of 15 PATs. The school record for most made field goals in one season is 12.

“Our freshman year, he kicked one from 47,” Hopkins said. “He has a huge leg. I’ve been his holder since my freshman year. He trusts me, and I trust him.

“A lot of teams have to go for it on fourth-and-long (situations). To get points on (field goals) is big. I have a lot of confidence in him. I think the coaches have as much confidence as I have in him.”

White House High senior placekicker Logan Trimmer attempts a field goal against Portland earlier this season.

Porter added, “He’s a legitimate weapon from 55 and in. Clint Ruth had a very powerful leg when he played here (graduating in 2000), and he signed with (the University of) Kentucky. They are similar in their kickoffs and distance on field goals.”

Trimmer believes that he could improve on the 52-yarder.

“We don’t go any farther than 55 in warm-ups,” Trimmer said. “I think I can go from 60.”

Area assistance

That’s an increase distance from last year, which can be somewhat attributed to Trimmer’s work with former Hendersonville High and University of Tennessee standout James Wilhoit over the summer.

“I went to his Saturday Night Lights Camp … he’s helped me immensely,” Trimmer said. “I was a soccer kicker who played football. He’s showed me a lot.”

Wilhoit feels that the soccer foundation is beneficial.

“Having a soccer background is huge for a kicker,” Wilhoit said. “I think the key to Logan’s success is the ability to strike a ball from soccer but also the over-functional strength from lifting as a tight end. It’s core strength, mass in his legs and explosiveness from speed training. He trains harder physically than the average kicker, but he has exceptional ball-striking as well. He has the best of both worlds.”

The two worked together in June and July.

“There’s so much detail that people don’t realize,” Trimmer said. “You have to work on that. There’s a lot of training and drills to make yourself better.”

Trimmer’s progress was rapid.

“He made remarkable strides, probably one of the fastest transformations I have seen,” Wilhoit said. “It helps because he is so athletic and coachable.

“After working with him for two days at my small group camp in June, I was able to refine his kicking motion. His swing needed to be more efficient, and he was missing 15-20 percent of (his potential) power. After polishing him up, you could see the talent. He went from occasionally hitting 45-47-yard field goals to hitting from 52-55 yards consistently.”

White House High senior placekicker Logan Trimmer has made 10 field goals this season.

Trimmer has made 5 of 7 field goals from 40 yards and beyond, with the two misses resulting from blocked kicks.

“All my kicks, they didn’t have height,” Trimmer said. “I just drilled them. I’m coming through vertically (now). It’s distance too. He’s helped me so much.”

Many irons in the fire

However, Wilhoit believes that Trimmer’s future at the next level could be in a different role. He’s currently averaging 33.8 yards per punt, after averaging 36.1 yards per punt last season. Of his 27 punts, seven have resulted in field position inside the opponent’s own 20 yard line.

“What’s most impressive is that I think his potential as a college player could be as a punter,” Wilhoit said. “I saw him hit a 60-yard, 5.0-second-hang-time punt. He has Division I (college) potential.”

Trimmer – who attended camps over the summer at Kentucky, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the University of Illinois, the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt University – doesn’t have a preference.

“I’d love to play tight end in college, but I thought it would be easier to just kick and punt,” Trimmer – who has received interest from the UT-Chattanooga and Centre (Ky.) College – said. “Guys in college are massive. I’m not in the weight room (to get bigger), because I’m playing other sports.

“There isn’t any preference, but punting is a lot harder. If I get to the next level, I’m happy (in any role).”

However, his versatility isn’t just limited to the football field.

Trimmer also plays for the school’s boys basketball and soccer programs, and he’s been a part of the White House Soccer Club ‘98 select squad.

“Year-round sports … I’ve loved it,” Trimmer said. “It’s just part of the routine.

“I don’t have a favorite. I love soccer and basketball just as much. I just haven’t looked to be recruited in college.”

Porter added, “He really cares. He really cares about this football program. He really cares about this school. He plays football, soccer and basketball. Whatever he plays, he gives it his all. What else can you ask for?”

Rest for the weary

It doesn’t leave time for a lot of hobbies on Trimmer’s rare days off.

“I’ll definitely sleep,” Trimmer said. “I’ll hang out with teammates and with my girlfriend. I need to give her some time.

“I don’t know if I like being busy. A day off is great, but if I do have a day off, I feel like I need to be doing something.”

Logan Trimmer

Trimmer is hoping that a win at Maplewood on Friday evening is in the works. That will be required if the Blue Devils hope to extend their streak of consecutive playoff appearances to 24 years. White House will have a tough road if the program hopes to reach the state quarterfinals for the sixth consecutive season.

“We’re getting to that point to where all White House teams get to and make that run,” Trimmer said. “We feel like we’re finally getting things rolling again. We’re finally coming together.

“If we can get in the playoffs, who knows what can happen. It’s been a long season, but it feels like things are coming together. We have to beat Maplewood.”

Porter is hopeful for the same, but regardless of how many games that Trimmer has left in his prep football career, the Blue Devils’ 29th-year head coach believes that he’ll be missed as much for his character as for his performance.

“He’s up there with the best of them,” Porter said. “I never remember him being in trouble. He makes great grades. He comes from a solid family. He’s team-oriented. He’s a tight end, a good blocker. As a defensive end, he’s a good pass rusher. He’s a guy who can punt. I’d say at least 80 percent of his kickoffs are in the end zone.

“But he’s going to be greatly missed because of how great of a person he is.”

Reach Craig Harris at 615-575-7138 or on Twitter @HarrisGNESports.

Former White House placekickers in college

Placekicker WHHS Graduation Year School

Josh Barton 1999 Ventura (Calif.) College

Clint Ruth 2000 University of Kentucky

Ryan Gardner 2002 Centre (Ky.) College

Matthew Gossett 2009 Carson-Newman College

Chase Dunlap 2013 Austin Peay State University

Bernard Childress expects an easier Friday night than the past six years for him and his staff when they meet in Hermitage to begin putting together the high school football playoff brackets at the conclusion of the Week 11 games.

A change back to the more traditional playoff system from the complicated Z-plan, where classifications were split from three in the regular season to six in the postseason, has helped eliminate confusion.

“It will not be anything like the nightmares we’ve had the last few years,” said Childress, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association executive director. “Our goal, and it always depends on getting the scores in, is to be prepared to have every bracket posted by midnight Friday.

“You can imagine how different that is from past years when you worked all night and were still trying to get it down by 10 a.m. Saturday morning. This makes a big difference.”

In Classes 1A to 5A, the top four teams in each region qualify for the playoffs this year.

Teams in successive regions will be grouped together in the bracket. The top four in Region 1 will be cross-bracketed with teams in Region 2. Region 3 and 4 will be paired up and so forth through Region 8.

In Class 6A, all 32 teams automatically qualify.

Under the Z-plan, the top two teams in each district made the playoffs. The rest of the bracket was filled by teams with the best records. That forced a series of tiebreakers that kept TSSAA staff members up late figuring them out. Then, teams had to be placed geographically into quadrants.

Teams in Middle Tennessee often were left wondering if they would go in the East portion of the bracket or West because they were near the dividing line. And playoff brackets weren’t announced until late Saturday morning. Plus, there were multiple errors over the past six years.

Prior to the Z-plan, coaches knew late Friday after the final game which team they were playing in the postseason, or if they had made the playoffs. That allowed teams to begin trading game films and begin preparation for the first round of the playoffs, which is next Friday. Teams were left waiting for an official announcement the past six years.

But don’t expect everything to always be flawless despite a simpler system. Childress said there were errors under the former five-class system, but were easier to fix.

“The difference is if we made a mistake, we weren’t having two teams traveling halfway across the state to play,” Childress said. “They were all regional games. You could change that easier, and it wasn’t a big deal.”

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandan Wright (34) shoots over Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao (17) in Wednesday’s opener.

MEMPHIS — As Brentwood Academy prepares for senior night against rival McCallie on Friday, one of its own celebrated a homecoming just two nights before.

Former Eagles’ basketball standout Brandan Wright began the 2015-16 NBA season at home with the Memphis Grizzlies Wednesday against Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, and he had plenty of support from family, former teammates and coaches.

Memphis suffered a 106-76 setback to James and the defending NBA runnersup, but that didn’t dampen the spirit of Wright’s return to his home state.

“I’m excited to be back in my home state of Tennessee,” Wright said in a speech to the crowd before the game. He logged 17 minutes off the bench, scoring eight points and pulling down two rebounds.

Wright has fond memories of Tennessee and his time at Brentwood Academy. He was a four-time state tournament MVP while leading the Eagles to four consecutive Division II-AA titles from 2003-06 and picking up three Mr. Basketball awards.

Wright’s wife (Tucker) and daughter (Olivia) were among those in attendance to support him Wednesday, along with his brother, Brian, who is a year younger than Brandan and was a part of three of those state championship-winning teams, and his grandmother, Jewell.

Two of his friends from Brentwood Academy (Josh Slater, Connor Prady) were also at the game, as well as current Eagles’ basketball coach Hubie Smith and rival coach John Harrington from Briarcrest, whose team Wright knocked out of three state tournaments.

Brandan Wright’s brother, Brian, and grandmother, Jewell, made the trip to see the former Brentwood Academy star make his Memphis Grizzlies debut in Memphis Wednesday.

Brentwood roots

Born and raised in Nashville, Wright’s accomplishments and time at Brentwood Academy have played a big part in where he is today.

“I know how he feels about his state championships and having played here and grown up in the state,” Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley said. “He’s excited to play in front of the home fans.”

Having those hometown fans, especially his support system from Brentwood Academy, largely factored into his decision to pass up other offers and sign a three-year, $18 million deal with the Grizzlies during the offseason.

“One of the reasons that he signed here is he loves the state and he loves it here (in Memphis),” Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger said.

Looking up to see people he knows in the stands is a welcome sight for the former North Carolina player and No. 8 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft (Charlotte). He hasn’t had a home game in Tennessee since his time at Brentwood Academy.

“It’s always good to have familiar faces around,” said Wright, who has averaged 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds during his NBA career. “It makes you feel like you’re at home and the support is always the best. You play better, you feel better. No one likes to be on an island by yourself.”

For Wright, a three-year stop in Memphis would be a nice change of pace. This is his sixth team in his eighth season as a pro. He has played for Golden State, Dallas, New Jersey, Boston and Phoenix (logging time with Dallas, Boston and Phoenix in the 2014-15 season).

Members of the Grizzlies think Wright is finally where he belongs.

“There is we he needs to be at; back home,” two-time NBA All-Star and Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph said. “Now the family can come see him.”

Still hanging around

While Wright graduated from Brentwood Academy in 2006, he still spends a lot of time at his alma mater.

“I’m there almost every day in the offseason training, and I do all my work there,” said Wright, whose best season as a pro came in 2013-14 with Dallas (9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds).

Wright trains with middle school coach Spencer Richardson and sees Smith a lot, but those aren’t the only BA ties he’s kept in touch with.

Current Brentwood Academy coach Hubie Smith, right, and Briarcrest coach John Harrington watched Brandan Wright make his debut with the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

“I know a lot of the students, a lot of the staff,” Wright said. “I’ve kept those relationships since high school, and it’s good to have those people on your side.”

More of the people he has stayed in touch with tried to come Wednesday, but a 7 p.m. game in Memphis doesn’t exactly scream, “school night.”

“I actually called our headmaster and assistant headmaster to see if they wanted to come, but they had meetings and couldn’t make it,” Smith said. “Kurt Masters, our headmaster, said, ‘Please give Brandan a hug for  me.’ That’s kind of the way they look at him. He’s so well-liked and has always carried himself in the highest standards.”

Perfect role model

One of the reasons Wright has such strong support from the BA community is the example he sets for current students and athletes, and he still supports his former squad, despite a hectic NBA schedule.

“He’s just such an outstanding young man, and he’s a great role model for our BA kids when he’s around,” Smith said. “He comes to some of our games, he watches us practice and he talks to our kids a lot. I think he’s just a great person to have because he’s playing at the highest level and he still loves BA.

“They look up to him unbelievably.”

Brentwood Academy’s support comes full circle. While Wright still gives and gets support from his alma mater, it’s all due to the initial support he received in his time at BA.

“I think it says a lot about the people who are over there and the experience we had as students,” Brian Wright said. “It’s just a great place to be and a great experience.”

And his ties to BA are likely far from over.

“My understanding is that he wants to come back there and coach one day,” Smith grinned. “Maybe he’s going to take my job.”

Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN.

Maplewood football players are served meals by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Maplewood High School on Oct. 16.

For most high school football teams, a pregame meal is as routine as the coin toss before kickoff.

Whether it’s for team-building, solving transportation issues or the need to properly fuel up before a physical 48-minute football game, feeding the team is part of the Friday night ritual.

But for some Midstate student-athletes, a hearty meal before the game can be anything but routine.

At Maplewood, healthy eating is one of the struggles of daily life for many players.

“I’m not speaking for every kid, but some kids might eat McDonald’s four days out of the week,” Maplewood coach Arcentae Broome said. “I guarantee that for some of my kids, that meal that we have on Friday, that’s the best meal they’ve eaten all week.”

Several local churches — some working through the Fellowship of Christian Athletes — have pitched in to feed players at most Metro Nashville high schools.

The weekly meal — often fettuccine Alfredo, hot dogs, tacos or pizza — has been provided for the Maplewood football team since Broome’s arrival at the school six years ago. But the 1993 Stratford High School graduate and 12-year head-coaching veteran would be the first to admit  the Panthers’ pregame feast wouldn’t be possible without some assistance.

Maplewood head football coach Arcentae Broome jokes with some of his players after school as meals were served by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Maplewood High School on Oct. 16.

Born Again Church in North Nashville has hosted the Panthers for pregame meals since 2010.

“They prepare the meals, they serve us, they do everything,” Broome said. “All we do is show up. I just tell the guys to be grateful for this. This wouldn’t happen if we didn’t have people who really cared.”

Maplewood senior lineman J’Son Greer added, “It helps us come together as one like a family that we’re ready on Friday nights. It’s a team-building thing. We’ve had lasagna, we’ve had ribs, we’ve had steak and potatoes. Delicious.”

Our Savior Lutheran Church provides pregame meals for Overton High School before its home games, while Judson Baptist hosts the team’s meals prior to away games.

“It builds team unity and bonding,” Bobcats coach Steve Williams said. “It gives our kids a chance to stay together on Friday afternoons, and we know that they’re going to get a good meal filled with carbohydrates, which they need in order to perform on Friday nights.”

McGavock coach Jay Gore added, “The church across the street, Donelson Fellowship Church, feeds us a meal every Thursday after our walkthrough, and then (Generation Changers Church) feeds us our pregame meal on Friday. They want to make an impact in the community and our kids get a good meal and a good lesson.

“We feel like it’s a win-win situation.”

Elder Reggie Holder of Born Again Church and a Maplewood high School alumni gives an inspirational talk to Maplewood football players l on Friday Oct. 16, 2015, in Nashville in Tenn.

A helping hand

Like several of the other churches involved, Born Again’s partnership with Maplewood began through its affiliation with the FCA.

“What (the FCA) really does is serve as like a go-between — a liaison between the church and schools,” Broome said.

Reginald Holder is a 1978 Maplewood graduate and an elder at Born Again Church, where he heads the church’s Made In His Image ministry, a men’s fellowship focused on “building men as leaders and role models, both spiritually and naturally in the home, workplace and church.”

He also heads the FCA and church’s effort at Maplewood, essentially serving as the team’s chaplain.

“A character coach is what the FCA calls it,” Holder said.

About 12 to 15 Born Again parishioners regularly help provide the dinners.

“I’d say there’s probably eight ladies, and there are probably four men that will set up tables in our large fellowship hall, which is where we feed them,” Holder said. “It’s a full congregation effort.”

Maplewood football players pray after hearing an inspirational talk by Elder Reggie Holder of Born Again Church. the church served meals to Maplewood football players at Maplewood High School on Friday Oct. 16, 2015, in Nashville in Tenn.

More than a meal

In addition to the food that is provided, each pregame meal is accompanied by a speech from one of the church leaders — Holder or another elder or deacon — as well as a lesson from a guest speaker.

“We don’t just go there, eat and leave,” Broome said. “They’ll serve us the food, and they also have a guest speaker come talk to us, sometimes it’s somebody who played in the (National Football) League. You don’t always get a story that gets you fired up, but they get some base knowledge, something they can grow on.”

Broome said attending the pregame meal is mandatory for his players, but added that if a player wishes not to attend prayer or chapel, they may be excused.

“We’ve talked to kids about goal-setting, what motivates them and other things like that, so it isn’t always a spiritual biblical message,” Holder said.

Holder is not only providing a valuable service to the community, the work he does at Maplewood has also allowed him to stay connected to his community and former school.

“That’s what is fulfilling for me,” Holder said. “The kids start off kind of shy, but I’ve been able to get close with some of them, find out their stories and struggles they might be having at home or at school. Because we have been consistent, it has really helped allow them to open up and be able to talk to us.”

“They really have helped change kids’ lives as far as bringing them closer to God, which is huge,” Broome added.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.

WHO HELPS

School                   Church

Antioch                   Mt. Zion Baptist Church

East Nashville         Belmont Church

Glencliff                  Long Hollow Baptist Church (Madison Campus)

Hillsboro                  St. Paul Community Church

Hillwood                  Belmont Church

Hunters Lane           Long Hollow Baptist Church (Madison Campus)

Maplewood              Born Again Church

McGavock              Donelson Fellowship Church, Generation Changers Church

Overton                  Judson Baptist, Our Savior Lutheran Church

Pearl-Cohn             Westwood Baptist Church

Stratford                 Family Affair Ministries

Whites Creek          Mt. Zion Baptist Church

MURFREESBORO Although a postponement extended the wait by a day, the Hendersonville High girls soccer team’s stay at the state tournament was short-lived.

Hendersonville High senior Maddie Kimler battles Houston junior Katrina Ostrom for possession during second-half action.

Houston scored two early goals, and the Lady Commandos were unable to close the gap, suffering a 5-0 loss in the Class AAA State Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday evening at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex.

Hendersonville (15-5-3) fell behind just 2:16 into the match as Jillian Hildreth’s unassisted goal gave the Lady Mustangs (20-0) an early lead.

“We were ready for them,” Lady Commando senior Maddie Kimler said. “But (Houston) came out ready, and they were stepping to every 50-50 ball. I guess that caught us off guard.”

Hildreth did more damage just 4:08 later, finding space in the penalty area and beating Hendersonville junior goalkeeper Mackensie Cotter with a shot into the top, right corner.

“It’s very difficult to simulate what Houston does in training,” Hendersonville head coach Russ Plummer said. “We tried to go right at them, but trying to simulate their speed, their strength and their size, you just can’t do it.”

The Lady Commandos, who were making their first state tournament appearance since 2006, had a couple of chances to cut the lead in half before halftime.

Hendersonville High senior Layne Massey plays a ball downfield during first-half action.

Hendersonville drew a foul in the box, but junior Sydney Cason was unable to convert the ensuing penalty kick. She shot low to the left side, but Houston goalkeeper Kaylee Hammer went with it and made a diving save.

“That one’s on me,” Plummer said. “I probably should have sent somebody else to hit it, because (Houston head coach David Wolff) scouted it well. He knew where (Cason) wanted to hit it.”

Lady Commando senior Barrett Baugh’s shot from the right side hit the crossbar in the final minute of the first half.

Paola Ellis, Jenna Kemp and Meg Anderson produced second-half goals for the Lady Mustangs.

Cotter made five saves on the 10 shots on goal, while Hammer stopped all four Hendersonville shots on goal.

“I thought we limited (Houston’s) opportunities,” Plummer said. “They were threatening, but I didn’t think they had much that was dangerous after those two goals (in the first half).”

Hendersonville High sophomore Jessi Ashworth (3) pursues a loose ball along with Houston senior forward Gabby Little during first-half action in Thursday afternoon’s Class AAA state quarterfinal match.

Houston has outscored opponents 107-3 this season, including an earlier meeting with the Lady Commandos in the Rivals Tournament in Memphis. Houston defeated Hendersonville by a 5-0 margin on Sept. 13.

“Of course, there were nerves (coming in), because it was Houston,” Kimler said. “Their record says a lot about them. We played them before, so we knew what to expect. We were nervous, but we were ready to play.”

The match was postponed one day due to poor field conditions following persistent rain earlier in the week.

Plummer said that the disappointment of not advancing will likely stick around for a while, but returning to the state tournament is a step forward for the program.

“Other people can disagree with me, but the greatest feeling in the world as a coach is to win the state championship,” Plummer said. “The second-greatest feeling is to be in the state tournament. There’s not much difference in losing now, or tomorrow, or Saturday. It’s still a hollow, empty feeling.”

Hendersonville High junior Claire Almaraz clears the ball from her own end during first-half action.

Hendersonville will lose six seniors to graduation – Kimler, Baugh, Jessica Newton, Layne Massey, Ali Farell and Elizabeth Burns.

“(They are) just great leaders,” Plummer said. “They used the example they learned from years past of what to do and how to do it. They took us to where we wanted to go.”

Kimler added, “It’s been awesome. This has been, by far, my favorite out of the four years, just because of how close our team was, and of course getting here. We didn’t get the result we wanted, but the fact that we made it here for the first time in nine years is huge.”

It was the 18th shutout for Houston, which advanced to face Maryville in Friday’s semifinals. Maryville captured a 2-0 victory over Lincoln County in its quarterfinal match on Thursday evening.

Hendersonville High sophomore Morgan Wettengel gains possession during first-half action.

“This will hurt for a while, and it should because they’re competitive,” Plummer said. “At the same time, they’re going to look back and realize that they did some great things this year.”

Reach Chris Brooks at 615-575-7118 or on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

MURFREESBORO — Gybson Roth’s goal midway through the second half was all defending Class AAA champ Clarksville needed as the Lady Wildcats dropped Hardin Valley 1-0 in a state quarterfinal game Thursday afternoon at Siegel Soccer Complex.

“We chose to go uphill in the first half and it wore us out,” Clarksville coach Jeff Jordan said. “Our midfield was tired and nearly worn out at the beginning of the second half. I’ve learned my lesson on this field in other games many times before. You have to play to this field’s slight uphill lean. I wanted to go into the hill while the team was fresh and go down it in the second half.”

It was a game dominated by defense and midfield play. Hardin Valley (16-4-2) frustrated Clarksville as the Lady Wildcats had only three possessions in its attacking third the first 40 minutes.

But Salera Jordan found a brief opening 40 yards from the net with freshman Madison Allen, senior Lexie Hayes and Roth on the wings. Salera booted the ball to Roth, who spun and drilled a shot high side, over the head of Hardin Valley keeper Bridget Sartorelli for the 1-0 lead with 24:11 left.

Clarksville’s Madison Allen (9) and Tennessee Barkalow (7) double up on a Hardin Valley player during the first half of their Class AAA state quarterfinal game Thursday in Murfreesboro. Clarksville advanced to Friday’s semifinal with a 1-0 victory.

“It was mostly defense for us,” Jeff Jordan said. “We wanted to make it a defensive game if we could. We played a little ragged, which is not my style, but we’ll take it. Right now, it’s about the result and we won so I’ll take it.”

The Lady Wildcats (22-4) will face Collierville at 7 p.m. Friday in the semifinals.

Page advances to semis: Page used three goals in eight minutes to beat Jackson Christian 3-0 in the Class A/AA quarterfinals.

“I don’t know what was wrong in the first half,” Page coach Nate Clapp said. “It might have been nerves, but I told them to do what we have practiced. If we could do the simple things, we could take control.”

Page (16-6-2) advances to play Greeneville (23-2) in the semifinals on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Greeneville beat Notre Dame 6-0.

After an evenly played first half, the Lady Patriots came out with more intensity in the second half.

In the 47th minute, Page took the 1-0 lead. Caitlyn Sutton took a free kick from 30 yards out that was saved, but not covered and Megan Henry put in the rebound.

The Lady Patriots scored two more goals quickly as Kendal Webb scored on an assist from Halli Collins in the 54th minute, and Henry scored her second goal one minute later on a defensive giveaway.

“We knew space was available, but we weren’t working with our teammates,” Klapp said. “We changed that in the second half.”

CPA loses in OT:  Christ Presbyterian Academy lost 1-0  to Chattanooga Christian in the Class A/AA quarterfinals.

The District 12 A-AA and Region 6 A-AA champion Lady Lions (16-3-1) battled the Lady Chargers to 0-0 in regulation and extra time, but ultimately lost in penalty kicks by a 3-2 margin.

CPA junior midfielder Emma Grace Barton (29) fires a shot on goal during the first half of Thursday’s Class A/AA quarterfinal match against Chattanooga Christian.

“I knew this was going to be a solid team with solid tactics and solid technique,” CPA coach Tom Gerlach. “Coach Cal (Sneller) does a great job, and I came in thinking if we lose, we’re losing to a quality team.”

CPA was without one of its top players in Kara Wagner, who had per appendix removed on Wednesday. The Lady Lions finished with nine shots on goal — four of which came from senior forward Emma Grace Barton — but CCS’  starting goalkeeper Marissa Lewis turned away each one.

Molley Thorne and Madeline Littlejohn both connected on their penalty kicks for the Lady Lions, but Chattanooga Christian freshman goalkeeper Kate Dirkse, who was inserted in goal for penalty kicks, turned away attempts from Carli Cone, Olivia Ball and Joy Morgan Myers.

Goalkeeper Catie Collins Smith finished with five saves for the Lady Lions.

Chattanooga Christian will square off with Christian Academy of Knoxville in Friday’s 6:30 p.m. semifinal.

Hendersonville blanked: Hendersonville had no answers for Houston’s high-powered attack, as the Lady Mustangs scored twice in the first six minutes in handing the Lady Commandos a 5-0 loss in a Class AAA quarterfinal.

Jillian Hildreth scored both of Houston’s early goals as the Lady Mustangs led 2-0 at the half.

Hendersonville sophomore Brooke Long (21) battles for possession with Houston sophomore Bailey Rose during first-half action at the Class AAA State Soccer Tournament Thursday. Houston won 5-0.

“It’s very difficult to simulate what Houston does in training,” Hendersonville coach Russ Plummer said. “We tried to go right at them, but trying to simulate their speed, their strength and their size, you just can’t do it.”

Hendersonville had a chance to cut the lead in half late in the first half, but Houston goalkeeper Kaylee Hammer stopped Sydney Cason’s penalty kick with a diving save to her right.

It was Hendersonville’s first state tournament appearance since 2006.

Lady Falcons ousted: Lincoln County saw its first trip to the state tournament end after just one game as Maryville, also making its first appearance, outplayed the Lady Falcons and cruised to a 2-0 win in Class AAA.

“Man, they outplayed us all night,” Lincoln County coach Roger LePlante said. “They beat us to the ball, they worked harder than we did and they just seemed a little bit fresher out there.”

Where Lincoln County (15-5-1) looked slow, Maryville (17-5-2) was fast with fresh legs from its freshmen.

Freshman Emma Rice gave the Lady Rebels a 1-0 lead in the 25th minute to secure a first-half lead, then fellow freshman Grace Oliver found the back of the net in the 50th to put things out of reach.

Cookeville senior midfielder Andrea Ramirez (middle) clears the ball upfield during Thursday’s Class AAA quarterfinal match against Collierville.

Cookeville falls: Cookeville was searching for its first state soccer tournament win, but it ran into a Collierville team making its 10th appearance and fell 1-0 in overtime in Class AAA.

Cookeville (17-4-2) managed just three shots on goal, but its defense was able to stifle any Collierville (15-4-1) attack for most of the game.

The Lady Dragons finally broke through on their 15th shot of the game in the first overtime when freshman Elizabeth Slavinsky found the back of the net.

Gannett Tennessee’s Michael Murphy, Sam Brown, George Robinson, Chris Brooks and Michael Odom contributed to this report.

Beech

More than a month ago, one Region 6-5A game set the stage for what Friday evening’s showdown between Beech and visiting Hillsboro will now be, one of the two games to decide the region title.

When the Burros suffered a 21-14 loss at Cane Ridge, it opened the door for the Buccaneers to earn a home playoff game if they can emerge from Friday evening’s contest at Shackle Island Stadium victorious.

With a win, Beech (7-2 overall, 5-1 in Region 6-5A) would finish at least second in the region and would have an outside chance at winning it outright, though Hunters Lane would have to defeat Hendersonville in order for that to happen.

Regardless, the Buccaneers have the opportunity to earn another home game with a win over the Burros, who have plenty to play for themselves. Hillsboro (6-3, 5-1), last year’s Class 5A runner-up, will win the region with a victory. If Beech wins, the Burros will have to go on the road for a first-round game, and if Cane Ridge defeats Gallatin, Hillsboro would finish fourth and visit Independence (ranked first in the Associated Press Class 5A Statewide Prep Football Poll) in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs next week.

Beech will finish third in the region with a loss and would travel to face one of four potential opponents – La Vergne, Stewarts Creek, Lincoln County or Shelbyville. All four teams can finish second in Region 5-5A through a variety of different scenarios.

Beech claimed its fifth consecutive victory last Friday, cruising to a 49-8 victory at Hunters Lane. Senior Rodrick Napper rushed for four touchdowns and 195 yards on just eight carries, and the Buccaneers rushed for 379 yards as a team.

Hillsboro scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to come away with a 28-13 victory at Gallatin last Friday.

The Burros did it with short passes and play-action passes as quarterback Daylon Murphy completed 8 of 12 passes for 122 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown to Jeremy Hill with 9:51 remaining.

Hillsboro allowed Gallatin junior tailback Jordan Mason to rush for 128 yards on 26 carries, though 70 of those came on a second-quarter carry in which Mason did not score.

Beech and Hillsboro have never played each other in the regular season until this week. The Burros have won three of the five previous meetings, including a 31-26 victory at Beech in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs in 2013.

Beech claimed a 35-6 win over Hillsboro in the second round of the 2012 playoffs, en route to winning the Class 5A state championship.

Beech’s only other victory over Hillsboro came in the 1983 Boyce Smith Bowl, a 23-12 victory.

Westmoreland (5-4 overall, 5-1 in Region 4-2A) at Watertown (7-2, 5-1)

Kickoff at 7 p.m. at Robinson Stadium

Last game: The Eagles rolled to a 49-14 victory over visiting Cascade. The Purple Tigers erupted for a 63-36 victory at Community.

Last meeting between the two programs: Watertown captured an 18-6 victory over visiting Westmoreland during the 2002 season.

The two teams are battling to finish in second place in Region 4-2A, with the winner earning a home playoff game against Tyner. The losing team will travel to Jasper for a contest against Marion County.

The Eagles have hosted a first-round playoff game in each of the last three seasons, winning all three of those contests.

The Tigers last made the playoffs in 2012, suffering a 24-21 loss to visiting Cascade in their postseason opener.

Junior quarterback Seth Price directs the Watertown offense. Price has completed 113 of 188 passes for 1,908 yards, resulting in 24 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Senior Luke Turner has 1,086 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

Senior Skylor Scales has caught a team-best 43 passes for 773 yards and seven touchdowns, but junior Vonte Bates (22-329-4), senior Zack Grisham (20-245-3) and junior Brady Swann (18-386-4) have also been regular targets for Price.

The Tigers are averaging more than 38 points per game while giving up more than 26 points per game.

Turner and Swann lead the Watertown defense with 105 and 102 tackles, respectively.

“They have a real fine team,” Westmoreland head coach Steve Harris said. “Offensively, they run the spread. They have a back (Turner) who is 6-foot-2, 230 pounds who runs really hard. The quarterback is athletic and can run, and they have four or five receivers who can make things happen.”

Westmoreland’s offense produced season-highs in points (49) and total yardage (524) last Friday, led by senior fullback Dylan Todd (145 rushing yards and three touchdowns) and senior quarterback Bayle Kirk (passing touchdowns of 79 and 51 yards).

The Eagles have won five of their last six games, outscoring opponents by a combined margin of 193-47 in those five victories.

“We expect a lot of spread and a lot of passing,” Kirk said. “They’re going to use their speed. They have a couple of good athletes.

“We trust our coaches to put a good game plan together and to get us ready for them.”

Harris added, “We felt like we took a couple of steps backward against White House Heritage (in a 37-0, road loss on Oct. 9). They have a really good football team, but we didn’t compete the way we wanted. To our kids’ credit, we’ve had good practices the last couple of weeks. The mental focus has been good. We just have to continue to improve every day in practice.”

White House (4-5 overall, 1-3 in Region 5-4A) at Maplewood (2-7, 1-3)

Kickoff at 7 p.m. at Black Cat Stadium

Last week: The Blue Devils suffered a 31-14 loss to visiting Page. The Panthers dropped a 34-33 decision to visiting Marshall County in triple overtime.

Last meeting between the two programs: White House captured a 23-22 victory over visiting Maplewood in the first round of Class 4A playoffs in 2012.

The Blue Devils faced Maplewood in the playoffs in both 2011 and 2012. However, the loser of Friday’s rematch will not be in the Class 4A playoffs this season, while the winner will advance to the postseason.

White House has made 23 consecutive playoffs appearances and has advanced to the quarterfinal round in each of the last five seasons.

However, the injury-plagued Blue Devils have struggled the last two weeks against Pearl-Cohn and Page, two teams with a combined record of 12-6. White House has been limited to a total of 263 total yards over the last two weeks while allowing 856 total yards.

The Blue Devils won back-to-back games prior to the last two weeks.

The Panthers have just two wins, but their 28-14 victory at Portland two weeks ago gave them an opportunity to reach the playoffs.

Maplewood played region-leading Pearl-Cohn to a 28-14 contest three weeks ago, followed by the win over Portland and then a 34-33, triple-overtime loss to fourth-ranked Marshall County last Friday (a game decided by a failed two-point conversion run on the final play).

Panther junior tailback Jeremy McDowell – who returned from an extended injury in the win over Portland – rushed for 108 yards on 31 carries last Friday.

Freshman quarterback Bobo Hodges – a former Knox Doss Middle and Hunter Middle School standout – completed 8 of 16 passes for 128 yards and one touchdown, a 5-yarder to junior wide receiver Bo Hodges. Bo Hodges – who played for two seasons at Station Camp High – caught six passes for 108 yards.

Bobo Hodges also ran for two touchdowns.

Maplewood stayed in the game despite allowing 467 yards of total offense, including 304 passing yards.

The winner of Friday’s contest will play at either Lipscomb Academy or at Kenwood in next Friday’s opening round of the playoffs.

Macon County (5-4 overall, 1-3 at Region 5-4A) at Portland (3-6, 1-3)

Kickoff at 7 p.m. at Edgar Johnson Stadium

Last week: The Tigers captured a 42-20 victory at Meade County (Ky.). The Panthers suffered a 21-20 loss to visiting Friendship Christian.

Last meeting between the two programs: Portland claimed a 38-6 victory at Macon County during the 2004 season.

The winner earns a spot in the playoffs. The loser’s season ends.

Macon County is led by its offense, which is averaging 28 points per game. The Tigers are allowing more than 22 points per game.

Quarterback Seth Carlisle is the key figure in the Macon County attack. The sophomore standout has rushed for 1,294 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 8.8 yards per carry. Carlisle has also passed for 809 yards and seven touchdowns, though he has been intercepted nine times.

Senior Evan Perrigo has been Carlisle’s biggest threat, catching 16 passes for 346 yards and four touchdowns.

Tiger senior tailback Matt Austin has 735 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

Macon County bounced back from back-to-back losses with last Friday’s win.

Of the Tigers’ five victories, three have come against two-win teams (Jackson County, Maplewood and Meade County).

The Panthers have lost three consecutive games and five of their last six.

Junior tailback Emmanuel Johnson returned to action last Friday, after missing the previous two games due to a concussion. Johnson rushed for a team-high 50 yards on 11 carries.

Portland’s last playoff appearance came in 2012.

This is the third consecutive home game for the Panthers.

Macon County is 3-1 on the road this season.

The winner of Friday’s contest will play at either Lipscomb Academy or at Kenwood in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs next Friday.

Hunters Lane (1-8 overall, 1-5 in Region 6-5A) at Hendersonville (8-1, 5-1)

Kickoff at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium

Last week: Hunters Lane suffered a 49-8 loss to visiting Beech. Hendersonville cruised to a 45-0 victory at Glencliff.

Last meeting between the two teams: Hendersonville rolled to a 51-0 victory over the visiting Warriors last season.

The Commandos close the regular season at home against a familiar opponent.

Hendersonville will be keeping tabs on the Beech-Hillsboro contest as the Commandos have the opportunity to win the Region 6-5A title with a victory and a Hillsboro loss.

The Commandos already have clinched a playoff berth and will host a game next week with a victory. If the Warriors win, Hendersonville would finish second with a Hillsboro victory and third if Beech prevails.

Hendersonville’s potential playoff opponents next week are La Vergne, Stewarts Creek, Lincoln County and Shelbyville, depending on the outcome of Friday’s games.

Senior Mike Harris began last Friday’s game with a big play, scoring on a 57-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage. The Commandos built a 38-0, halftime lead as Hendersonville’s defense limited Glencliff to 84 yards of total offense.

The Commandos’ special teams factored into the victory as well as junior Terrell Carter scored on a 46-yard punt return.

The teams have faced each other 13 times since 2001, with Hendersonville having won the last five meetings. Hunters Lane’s last victory over the Commandos came in 2007, a 21-7 win.

Gallatin (4-5 overall, 2-4 in Region 6-5A) at Cane Ridge (6-3, 4-2)

Kickoff at 7 p.m.

Last week: The Green Wave suffered a 28-13 loss to visiting Hillsboro. The Ravens rolled to a 54-7 victory at Cane Ridge.

Last meeting between the two programs: Never played.

Last week sealed the postseason fate for both teams as Gallatin’s loss ended its playoff hopes.

Conversely, Cane Ridge erupted for a lopsided victory at Station Camp to clinch its fourth consecutive playoff berth.

In fact, the Ravens could place third in the region with a win over the Green Wave and a Beech victory over Hillsboro, which would drop the Burros to fourth in Region 6-5A.

The Green Wave are attempting to end a four-game losing skid after starting the season with a 4-1 record.

Gallatin is missing out on the playoffs for the first time since 2012, which was the last time that the Green Wave didn’t have a .500 record.

Cane Ridge junior quarterback D.J. Thorpe completed 10 of 15 passes last Friday, resulting in 159 yards and two touchdowns.

Raven junior E’mari Barton rushed for a team-high 97 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.

Since a 31-28 loss to Beech on Sept. 18, Cane Ridge has won four consecutive games, by a combined margin of 168-33.

Gallatin was limited to 177 total yards last Friday and committed three turnovers, including two interceptions. The Green Wave completed just 7 of 19 pass attempts and averaged just 3.6 yards per carry.

Station Camp (3-6 overall, 2-4 in Region 6-5A) at Glencliff (2-7, 0-6)

Kickoff at 7 p.m. at B.H. Thompson Stadium

Last week: Station Camp suffered a 54-7 loss to visiting Cane Ridge. Glencliff suffered a 45-0 loss to visiting Hendersonville.

Last meeting between the two teams: Never played.

This game’s simply about ending the season on a high note as both teams are out of playoff contention.

The Bison were unable to stay alive last week in a loss to Cane Ridge, committing five turnovers and falling behind by a 32-0 margin at halftime.

Junior Sirtavious Perry scored the lone Bison touchdown, and sophomore Kaemon Dunlap accounted for 226 total yards (119 in kickoff returns and 107 rushing) in the loss.

Station Camp has lost its last three games – all in Region 6-5A play – after defeating Hunters Lane and Gallatin in back-to-back weeks.

However, the Bison have an opportunity to send the senior class out with a victory as Glencliff has lost its last five games and failed to score a touchdown in the previous four contests.

The Colts have not scored double-figure points since Aug. 28, when they suffered a 40-20 loss at Stratford.

Pope John Paul II (2-7) at South Warren, Ky. (9-0)

Kickoff at 7 p.m.

Last week: The Knights suffered a 63-28 loss at McCallie. South Warren claimed a 38-6 victory over visiting Warren Central (Ky.).

Last meeting between the two teams: Never played.

The Knights travel to Bowling Green, Ky., in hopes of breaking a three-game losing streak before the Division II-Class AA playoffs begin next week.

The Knights finished region play with last week’s loss at McCallie, falling behind quickly and trailing 35-7 at halftime.

Junior Jalon Cambridge scored on a 29-yard touchdown run and caught a team-high six passes for 83 yards in the loss.

Junior Kayron Namvong led the Spartans with 90 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries as South Warren remained undefeated with last week’s victory. Classmate C.J. Hayes caught two touchdown passes.

Namvong has rushed for a team-best 660 yards and seven touchdowns, and junior quarterback Ryder Litten has completed 47 of 93 pass attempts for 669 yards, resulting in eight touchdowns and six interceptions.

South Warren has allowed only one opponent to score 10 points or more in a game this season while scoring at least 21 points in every game. The Spartans have outscored their opponents by a combined margin of 330-41.

Senior linebacker Devante Colton (52 total tackles, one fumble recovery), senior linebacker Austin McElwain (44 tackles, two fumble returns for a touchdown) and senior defensive lineman Jacob Wilde (41 tackles, four fumble recoveries) lead the South Warren defense.

The Spartan defense has scored six touchdowns this season.

PJP II will be on the road for their postseason opener as well, either at Baylor or McCallie (depending on which team finishes in fourth place in the East/Middle Region).

Portland High sophomore Chandler Sanders finished 37th in Thursday’s Thursday’s Region 5-AAA cross country meet.

Gallatin High sophomore Cole Stivers finished 36th in Thursday’s Thursday’s Region 5-AAA cross country meet.

Portland junior Sabrina Schuessler finished 34th in Thursday’s Thursday’s Region 5-AAA cross country meet.

Hendersonville High junior Steven Holman finished 23rd in Thursday’s Thursday’s Region 5-AAA cross country meet.

Hendersonville junior Julianna Royer finished 36th in Thursday’s Thursday’s Region 5-AAA cross country meet.

Gallatin sophomore Courtney Bryan finished 32nd in Thursday’s Thursday’s Region 5-AAA cross country meet.

HENDERSONVILLE With only 10 guaranteed spots for individuals along with three teams advancing to the state cross country meet, Thursday’s Region 5-AAA meet had a lot riding on it.

Beech High junior India Cooper (2002) runs with the pack just after the start of the Region 5-AAA cross country meet. Cooper finished sixth, helping the Lady Bucs qualify for the state meet. Station Camp seniors Mikki Davis (2346) and Maddie Gammon (2350) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, as the Lady Bison won the meet.

Station Camp High had the best formula for the pressure … win.

That’s exactly what both the Bison and Lady Bison did, winning the meet to send their teams to next Saturday’s Class AAA State Meet at Percy Warner Park’s Steeplechase Course.

The Bison edged Wilson Central by two points to win the boys’ meet, with Henry County finishing third.

Station Camp senior Nathan Watson placed third, leading five Bison finishers among the top 25.

“You’ve just got to know the competition,” Watson said. “I knew this was going to be a tough race going into it, and I just kind of prepared my body the last couple of days. Not taking it too hard, because I had to kick it at the end to have a good race. I think I prepared very well for it and took it conservative.”

Watson said he thought that Wilson Central would win, but he got a boost from seeing how quickly the rest of the Bison hit the finish line.

Station Camp High senior Nathan Watson approaches the finish line during Thursday’s Region 5-AAA cross country meet. Watson finished third, helping the Bison win the meet.

“We were very worried, because Henry County, Beech and us were very close,” Watson said. “Any team could have taken second or third. It was very nerve-wracking, but I saw all my teammates come through.”

Henry County swept the top two spots, with senior Javan Winders (16:07.29) besting sophomore Titus Winders by 8.73 seconds.

The Lady Bison had three finishers among the top five as freshman Faith Brown placed third, followed by seniors Mikki Davis and Madeline Gammon. All seven of Station Camp’s runners were among the top 30.

“You just run your hardest, and hope you can do it,” Brown said. “I tried my best. The two girls in front of me (Mt. Juliet freshman Hailey Parker and Rossview junior Anna Grose), I knew at the last race they were in front of me a little bit, and I was going to try and stay close to them and kick it in at the end.”

Station Camp’s teams qualified for the state meet for the 14th consecutive season, having advanced every year the school has been in existence. Station Camp competed in Class A-AA prior to 2009.

Station Camp High freshman Faith Brown finished third in Thursday’s Region 5-AAA cross country meet.

The Lady Bison finished in 16th place at last year’s state meet, while the Bison were 18th.

Parker won Thursday’s race in 20:22.79, finishing 3.64 seconds ahead of Grose. Brown finished in 21:02.90.

Station Camp edged Rossview by seven points, with Beech finishing third to qualify as a team.

Junior India Cooper placed sixth to pace the Lady Bucs, who had all six runners finish among the top 28.

“Personally, I’ve never done that,” Cooper said. “It was really awesome to see what I could push my body to, and I feel like I could do even better. It’s just weird that I’m going to be (at state), so that’s cool. I felt like I ran my best race.”

The Lady Bucs have qualified for the state meet as a team in each of the last four years, coming in 15th last year.

Beech senior Nash Young placed fourth in the boys race to qualify for the state meet as well.

Beech High senior Nash Young finished fourth in the Region 5-AAA cross country meet, qualifying for the state meet.

“It was great,” Young said. “I’m glad to qualify as an individual. I wish my team could have gotten in as well. At first, it started out a little slow, and I didn’t feel as good. But I got a second wind by the second mile, and I started cruising. At the end, it was a grind to the finish.”

Along with the top 10 individual finishers, all runners from the top three teams advance to the state meet.

Reach Chris Brooks at 615-575-7118 or on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.

Region 5-AAA Cross Country Meet

Boys

Station Camp 60, Wilson Central 62, Henry County 77, Lebanon 97, Beech 101, Rossview 139, Mt. Juliet 166, Hendersonville 209, Clarksville 238, Gallatin 271, Northwest 357, Kenwood 373, West Creek 374, Northeast 390

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Girls

Station Camp 45, Rossview 52, Beech 81, Lebanon 90, Mt. Juliet 95, Wilson Central 190, Northeast 192, Hendersonville 217, Gallatin 261, Clarksville 269, Northwest 277

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — A Montgomery County judge has granted a temporary restraining order that allows the children of Michael and Stacey Fair to return to Clarksville High and Richview Middle schools.

Circuit Court Judge William Goodman granted that restraining order Tuesday. Fair family attorney Mark Olson sent a copy of the restraining order to the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association.

“Obviously we’re thrilled and relieved about it,” Stacey Fair told The Leaf-Chronicle Wednesday morning. “I think our kids are more excited because they were ready to go back to school. It’s been a while.”

The Fair family filed a lawsuit against CMCSS last week after the school system determined that Michael Fair Jr. and his siblings were attending school out of zone. The school system’s investigation resulted in the TSSAA ruling that Michael Jr., a member of CHS’ football team, was ineligible for athletics. That forced a forfeiture of five of Clarksville’s five football victories and eliminated the Wildcats from the Class 5A postseason.

Michael Jr. and his sister Kierstynn returned to Clarksville High while Matthew Fair is back at Richview after all three missed more than two weeks of school.

“The last time they were in school was the Friday before fall break,” Stacey Fair said. “I had to fill out some paper work (Wednesday morning) but they’re back.”

The school system responded early Wednesday afternoon through its attorney Katherine Olita.

“This order is not a decision on the merits of the case and was issued without notice to the School System,” Olita said. “All parties agree that it is in the best interests of the students to be in school. The School System will present facts addressing the allegations of the Petition at the hearing of this matter.”

In an emailed statement to The Leaf-Chronicle Wednesday, CMCSS stated “the students’ parents received letters advising them to enroll their students at their zoned schools and those schools were prepared to accept the students’ enrollment immediately. However, the students were never enrolled in the different attendance zone and the students have not attended school since Oct. 9.”

Olson said he hopes to hear soon from the TSSAA regarding a possible reinstatement of Michael Fair Jr.’s eligibility status. Under current TSSAA rules, the Clarksville High junior is not allowed to play athletics for a 12-month period that would last at more than a month into his senior year.

“Right now we’re just pleased that the kids are back in school,” Olson said. “They are back in their district, although that could change down the road.”

However, TSSAA executive director Bernard Childress told The Leaf-Chronicle Wednesday afternoon that the restraining order has no bearing on its ineligibility ruling.

“That doesn’t affect us,” Childress said. “What we ruled on, in terms of the player’s eligibility, was based on the information provided to us by the Clarksville High administration when they self-reported it. So for us to overturn the player’s ineligibilty status, Clarksville High would have to report to us that this was a mistake. We would need to hear from the school’s administration.”

Although the restraining order has been granted, there has yet to be a resolution as to the lawsuit. A hearing has been set Nov. 10 in circuit court in Robertson County that will revisit the restraining order.

Reach Prep writer George Robinson at 931-245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.

The start of the TSSAA girls state soccer tournament has been postponed until Thursday.

After several days of inclement weather in the Murfreesboro area, the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association announced it has postponed the start of the 2015 state soccer tournament until Thursday.

Both the Class AAA and Class A-AA tournaments were scheduled to begin Wednesday afternoon at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex. Those quarterfinal matches will instead be played Thursday at their originally scheduled time.

“Our staff just met with the grounds crew at the Richard Siegel Soccer Complex to survey the conditions of the fields following several days of heavy rain in the area,” TSSAA assistant executive director Matthew Gillespie said via email. “For the safety of the athletes and the preservation of the fields for further use during the tournament, we have decided to postpone the start of the tournament by one day.”

TSSAA State Soccer Tournament primer

Semifinal matches for all classifications, including Division II-A and Division II-AA, will be played Friday, although Gillespie added, “the assigned playing fields within the complex are subject to change based on which fields are in the best condition at your game time,”

The state championship matches are still slated for Saturday, though match times are subject to change.

Reach Michael Murphy at 615-259-8262 and on Twitter @Murph_TNsports.

UPDATED: TSSAA State Soccer Tournament Schedule 

Class A/AA

Thursday: Notre Dame (11-7-3) vs. Greeneville (22-2-0), 4 pm.; Page (15-6-2) vs. Jackson Christian (19-5-0), 6:30 p.m.; Christian Academy of Knoxville (18-4) vs. Lexington (15-4-2), 4:30 p.m.; Chattanooga Christian (15-5-3) vs. Christ Presbyterian Academy (16-2-1), 7 p.m.

Friday: Notre Dame-Greeneville winner vs. Page-Jackson Chr. winner, 4:30 p.m.; CAK-Lexington winner vs. CCS-CPA winner, 4:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 11 a.m.

Class AAA

Thursday: Hardin Valley (16-3-2) vs. Clarksville (21-4-0), 4 p.m.; Collierville (14-4-1) vs. Cookeville (17-3-2), 6:30 p.m.; Houston (19-0-0) vs. Hendersonville (15-4-3), 4:30 p.m.; Lincoln Co. (15-4-1) vs. Maryville (16-5-2), 7 p.m.

Friday: Hardin Valley-Clarksville winner vs. Collierville-Cookeville winner, 7 p.m.; Houston-Hendersonville winner vs. Lincoln Co.-Maryville winner, 7 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 1:30 p.m.

Division II-A

Friday: Battle Ground Academy (11-8-3) vs. St. George’s (9-7-4), 4 p.m.; University School of Jackson (17-3-0) vs. Evangelical Christian School (15-3-0), 4 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 4 p.m.

Division II-AA

Friday: Baylor (11-4-3) vs. Ensworth (15-1-1), 6;30 p.m.; Girls Preparatory School (10-3-2) vs. Briarcrest Christian (16-2-1), 6:30 p.m.

Saturday: Championship, 6:30 p.m.

Logan Trimmer

NASHVILLE The White House and Maplewood prep football teams battled for a playoff berth on Friday night in a win-or-go-home game at Black Cat Stadium.

It was the Panthers that came away with a 14-6 victory, leaving White House out of the playoffs for the first time since 1991.

“I thought we played hard tonight,” Blue Devil head coach Jeff Porter said. “We gave ourselves a chance at the end, and the kids played their hearts out all night.”

White House (4-6 overall, 1-4 in Region 5-4A) was able to jump out to an early 3-0 lead thanks to a 38-yard field goal by senior Logan Trimmer. The Blue Devils started the drive on the Panther 24 yard line after a Brian Mullins interception and subsequent penalty on the return.

However, their lead would be short-lived as the Panthers took the lead with 4:36 remaining in the half, driving 39 yards on five plays.

“Giving those guys a short field is huge,” Porter said. “They’re a team that you just don’t want to give momentum to, and that’s what we did.”

Maplewood (3-7, 2-3) took advantage of a short field to take a 14-3 lead as they recovered a fumble by senior quarterback Steven Rankin on the Blue Devil 27 yard line on the first possession of the second half.

“They are a different football team when they have a short field,” Porter said. “You have to give them credit for taking advantage of it both times tonight.”

Despite being down late in the game, the Blue Devils pumped new life into their comeback attempt after a punt block by senior Ricky Townsend gave them the ball on the Panther 19 yard line. However, the Blue Devils would have to settle for another Trimmer field goal, this time from 40 yards out to make it a one-possession game at 14-6.

White House had one last drive with 3:11 remaining in the game and were able to move to the Panther 21 yard line before a fourth-and-9 pass fell incomplete with 13 seconds remaining.

“I hate this for our kids, and it’s a tough pill to swallow,” Porter said. “I hate it for our fans and coaching staff as well, but most importantly, I hate it for the kids. Nineteen of them don’t get to come back next year, and this isn’t the way we hoped it would turn out.”

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WH – Logan Trimmer 38 kick. M – Bo Hodges 12 pass from Bobo Hodges. Olajujunn Mannion kick. M – Jeremy McDowell 3 run. Mannion kick. WH – Trimmer 40 kick.

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RUSHING

White House – Ronald Honeycutt 7-26, Preston Long 10-16, Austin Grissom 1-5, Denis Schaffer 1-5, Ricky Townsend 1-2, Steven Rankin 8-(-7)

Maplewood – Jeremy McDowell 24-108, Bobo Hodges 7-39, Deshawn Johnson 2-10, Terrill Lenox 3-7

PASSING

White House – Rankin 11-29-116-3, Luke Hopkins 0-1-0-0

Maplewood – Bobo Hodges 6-15-65-1

RECEIVING

White House – Hopkins 6-56, Townsend 1-25, Grissom 1-20, Schaffer 1-13, Noah Burden 1-7, Logan Trimmer 1-(-5)

Maplewood – Bo Hodges 3-57, McDowell 2-9, Corey Adams 1-(-1)

Ben Brooks

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — The Pope John Paul II High School football team hoped to build some momentum entering the postseason, but penalties and miscues doomed the Knights, as they suffered a 36-14 loss to South Warren (Ky.) at Spartan Field.

“It’s frustrating,” Pope John Paul II head coach Justin Geisinger said. “That’s a good football team we played, and they’re undefeated for a reason. We knew that had a lot of team speed, and it was something we would have to deal with. They have a lot of good athletes on both sides of the ball, especially in the secondary.”

South Warren (10-0) began the game by reeling off 22 unanswered points. The Spartans scored first on a 5-yard run from Kayron Namvong.

Several drives later, quarterback Ryder Litten connected with Zach Haynes for a 28-yard touchdown pass. Late in the second quarter, Litten ripped off a 31-yard run.

The Knights (2-8) found an answer on the ensuing drive as senior running back Quar’Derius Hunter scored on a 7-yard run, cutting the Spartans’ lead to 22-7 at halftime.

Litten threw two touchdown passes on consecutive Spartan drives in the third quarter, first connecting with Namvong on a 35-yard screen and later on a 46-yard strike to wide receiver C.J. Hayes.

“Up front, we really struggled to move the ball early in the game, and when you get in a position where you have to throw the ball nine out of 10 times in the second half to get back in the football game, it’s tough against a really talented defense,” Geisinger said. “We needed to stay in that game and jump on them early, but unfortunately, we didn’t do that.”

Trailing 36-7 late in the third period, the Knights’ offense completely turned to the passing game. Junior quarterback Ben Brooks, who finished with 201 passing yards, found classmate Pace Dempsey on a 67-yard touchdown pass.

Gesinger expects his squad to regroup and shift its focus to preparing for their opening-round playoff game, which will be at McCallie on Friday.

“We’ll go back and look at it,” Geisinger said. “It’s playoff time now, and everyone plays where we’re at. We’ll watch this tape and try to learn from it and get ready to try to play at our best next week.”

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SW – Kayron Namvong 5 yard run. Alex Cohron kick. SW – Zach Haynes 28 yard pass from Ryder Litten. Bryan Cummings run. SW – Litten 31 yard run. Cohron kick. PJP – Quar’Derius Hunter 7 yard run. Jackson Morris kick. SW – Namvong 35 yard pass from Litten. Cohron kick. SW – C.J. Hayes 46 yard pass from Litten. Cohron kick.

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RUSHING

Pope John Paul – Quar’Derius Hunter 6-17, Jalon Cambridge 2-15, Jamaal Thompson 1-0, Ben Brooks 12-(-11)

South Warren – Kayron Namvong 19-121, Ryder Litten 13-98, Bryan Cummings 2-18, Andrew Houchens 3-12, Franklin Williams 1-10, DeVante Colton 1-(-2)

PASSING

Pope John Paul – Ben Brooks 16-35-0-201

South Warren – Ryder Litten 8-17-1-112

RECEIVING

Pope John Paul – Pace Dempsey 5-106, C.J. Laws 5-59, Jalon Cambridge 3-24, Jamaal Thompson 1-7, Andrew Cassman 2-5

South Warren –  Kayron Namvong 1-35, C.J. Hayes 2-57, Zach Haynes 2-33, Bryan Cummings 1-15, Chase Japp 1-5 DeVante Colton 1-2

Hendersonville High senior defensive end Jacob Birdsong (80) and junior linebacker Reggie Harris tackle a Hunters Lane ballcarrier.

Hendersonville’s Terell Carter hauls in a pass against two Hunters Lane defenders Friday night.

Hendersonville’s Anthony Hughes scored a touchdown in Friday’s win over Hunters Lane.

HENDERSONVILLE It was a dominating performance for the Hendersonville High School football team on Friday evening as the Commandos rolled to a 45-8 victory over visiting Hunters Lane Warriors.

The Commandos jumped out to an early lead on senior night.

“Well, the kids played real hard tonight, and we did what we needed to do early,” Hendersonville head coach Bruce Hatfield said. “It was a good outing, and we are glad to finish the regular season.”

The Commandos started fast as sophomore Anthony Hughes blocked a Hunters Lane punt, setting up his offense in scoring territory. On the next play, sophomore quarterback Brett Coker found junior Terrell Carter for a 13-yard touchdown pass.

The Commandos struck quickly on their next offensive series Carter found the end zone again, this time on the ground.

Then, a 22-yard field goal by junior Jacob Harris gave Hendersonville a 17-0 lead.

The Hendersonville defense got in on the scoring when senior Jack Towe intercepted a Jamarius Smith pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown, creating a 24-point margin.

The Commando defense smothered the Warriors, allowing just 29 total yards and intercepting Smith three times.

“It was good to see our guys come out and handle senior night and execute,” Hatfield said. “I’m proud of our coaches and players.”

Although Christian Vickers intercepted Coker’s second-quarter pass, the Commandos responded with another big play as Hughes broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run.

Junior Frankie Small ran in an 11-yard touchdown after the Hendersonville defense forced a mishap on a Warrior punt.

Then, after the defense got another stop, Coker rebounded from his earlier interception, finding Carter for a second 13-yard touchdown pass that created a 45-0 lead at halftime.

The Commando lead invoked the mercy rule throughout the second half, allowing the clock to run continuously.

Hunters Lane’s defense again came up with a big play when Kevin Walker recovered a Hendersonville fumble and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to get the Warriors on the scoreboard. Then, Smith ran into the end zone on the two-point conversion attempt.

However, that would be the last of the big plays for the Warriors.

“It’s a one-week season now, so we need to take our preparation into next week,” Hatfield said. “Whoever we get next week will be a good football team, so we will need to be ready.”

Coupled with Hillsboro’s victory at Beech on Friday night, Hendersonville finished in second place in 6-5A and will host Shelbyville in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs on Friday evening.

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H – Terrell Carter 13 pass from Brett Coker. Jacob Harris kick. H – Carter 3 run. Harris kick. H – Harris 22 Field Goal. H – Jack Towe 36 yard interception return. Harris kick. H – Anthony Hughes 36 run. Harris kick. H – Frankie Small 11 run. Harris kick.   H – Carter 13 pass from Coker. Thomas Roberts kick. HL – Kevin Walker 50 fumble return. Jamarius Smith run.

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RUSHING

Hunters Lane – Malachi Jones 10-47, Don Williams 8-9, Dominique Holland 1-(-4), John Jackson 3-(-5), Jamarius Smith 6-(-18).

Hendersonville – Terrell Carter 6-55, Mike Carter 4-42, Anthony Hughes 1-36, Eric Tilson 3-33, Dyilin Hoosier 5-30, Jack Towe 1-12, Frankie Small 1-11, Griffin McAuley 2-10, Clay Richard 3-8, Tyler Dang 1-3, Drew Ferguson 1-2, John Oehlschlaeger 1-2, Xavier Fitts 1-(-3).

PASSING

Hunters Lane – Jamarius Smith 0-8-3 0.

Hendersonville – Brett Coker 2-5-0 26, Clay Richard 1-1-0 22, John Oehlschlaeger 0-1-0 0.

RECEIVING

Hunters Lane –

Hendersonville – Terrell Carter 2-26, Caleb Waters 1-22.

For 364 days, Houston’s girls soccer team has kept Clarksville High in its thoughts.

Avenging the Lady Wildcats’ 2014 Class AAA state soccer tournament title win (3-1) over the Lady Mustangs was the biggest thing on their mind.

Saturday afternoon at Richard Siegel Park, Houston made sure those thoughts were put to good use as its suffocating defense stifled Clarksville en route to a 3-0 victory and Class AAA state title.

Houston’s Anna Della Rosa looks to keep the ball away from Clarksville High’s Haley Welker during the first half of their Class 3A state soccer tournament championship game Saturday in Murfreesboro.

“We would have played anybody in this championship and there were some deserving teams, some great ones. But we really only wanted Clarksville High.” Houston coach David Wolf said. “That’s all we’ve thought about all year. Our goal was to get back here and play them.”

It’s the seventh state title for Houston and the first since 2013. The Mustangs finish the season a perfect 22-0 while Clarksville ended as state runner-up with a 23-5 mark.

Houston dominated long stretches of the game. It outshot Clarksville 16-1 and had 16 corner kicks, eight in the first half. Defensively, the Mustangs were impressive, killing every attacking run Clarksville had.

Clarksville’s scoring trio of Gybson Roth, Salera Jordan and Lexie Hayes looked for room to maneuver but found a Houston defender’s leg instead. Roth had Clarksville’s best opportunity to score in the first half after a perfect pass from Jordan. Houston’s goalie Kaylie Hammer came out to meet Jordan leaving an empty net for Roth. Roth fired her foot forward and slipped as she made contact. The ball hit the near post with a thud.

“Houston is a great team but their road to this game was a bit easier,” Clarksville coach Jeff Jordan said. “They have great players and they were fresh. We weren’t. Had we had the legs maybe it’s a different story.”

Houston’s Paola Ellis (11) heads the ball away from Clarksville High’s Staci Navarro during the first half of their Class 3A state soccer tournament championship game Saturday in Murfreesboro.

Houston responded late in the first half with freshman Jenna Kemp, who found the far back post wide open as Clarksville goalie Melia Correa had the near post covered. Kemp’s shot slid wide to Correa’s right and into the left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead with less than nine minutes left in the half.

Paola Ellis gave Houston a 2-0 lead with 35:08 left in the second half, drilling a shot into the far right upper corner of the net.

Jillian Hildreth added an insurance goal with 28:25 left in the game and a 3-0 advantage.

“I felt if we could get it to 2-0, we could win it,” Wolf said. “I figured Clarksville wasn’t going to score three times. We’ve given up four goals all year so I knew our defense could hold a 2-0 lead.”