John Olive had one major concern heading into Friday night’s high school football contest between his Tullahoma Wildcats and the Cookeville Cavaliers. He expressed that concern and proved prophetic during his pregame interview with Fantasy Sports Network analyst Binns Jordan.

“I notice that big number eleven (Ross Davidson) is suited up for them tonight,” said Olive on the field 15 minutes prior to kickoff. “He is supposed to be injured but obviously they are going to play him and see if he can go. I’m afraid they are going to line up and try to run it down our throats, and if they do I just hope our young men can respond.”

To be blunt, the Wildcats didn’t respond very well as Davidson carried the ball 19 times for 170 yards and two touchdowns in a 14-7 Cookeville win. After the game Olive, as he often does when the Wildcats don’t play well, was quick to put the responsibility on himself.

“I didn’t do a very good job of getting this team ready to play,” said the coach. “And I did a terrible job of calling plays. We just couldn’t get into any kind of rhythm offensively. Give Cookeville credit though because they won the line of scrimmage. We have a lot of work to do on the practice field this week.”

Tullahoma (1-1,  0-0) opens District 8-AAA competition with a trip to defending TSSAA Class 5A state champion Columbia this Thursday night, the Wildcats’ third consecutive year with a Thursday night TV game. Last year the Wildcats beat the Lions 21-20 in overtime on a Thursday night at Wilkins Stadium. Cookeville (1-1, 0-0) opens District 6-AAA play with a trip to Sparta to face White County.

Columbia has started strong, defeating its first two opponents by a combined score of 93-26. Both games were on the road, which means the Lions will likely unveil their championship trophy in their home opener. They are ranked number one in the state in Class 5A in every poll. Emotions will be sky high. The Wildcats better be ready from the opening kickoff because you can bet the Lions will be.

Two things stand out as reasons Tullahoma was unable to escape with a win over the determined Cavaliers, despite an obvious advantage in speed. The first was at least six dropped passes, which consistently stopped offensive drives and seemed to spread to almost every receiver the Wildcats trotted out onto the field. The second negative issue was penalties, especially personal fouls. Tullahoma had nine penalties, including four personal fouls that kept Cookeville in good field position for much of the game.

The teams swapped turnovers, although Cookeville was the only team able to capitalize on one for a score. That happened in the third quarter with Tullahoma leading 7-6. The muffed punt by the Wildcats set the Cavs up at the THS 25, and on the next play Davidson ran right through the defense for a touchdown. A successful two-point conversion accounted for the final score.

The first quarter featured Cookeville partially blocking a Wildcat punt, and Tullahoma’s Austin Creasman picking off a Cookeville senior quarterback John David Edgington pass. Neither team could capitalize on those mistakes however, and the Cavaliers started a drive at their 34 with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter.

Four different players ran the ball in a six-play drive, helped tremendously by a Tullahoma personal foul. Davidson scored his first touchdown on a 10-yard run on the second play of the second quarter. The PAT was missed, giving the home team a 6-0 lead, followed by both teams missing field goal opportunities before the half ended with the Cavs on top.

Despite a terrible first half that ended with the Wildcats having rushed for a net of 0 yards, Tullahoma began the second half like a team responding to a coaches’ challenge. The Wildcats marched 80 yards in eight plays, with Tullahoma senior signal caller Jared Davis accounting for all but one yard in the drive and scoring on a 29-yard sprint to the end zone with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Joseph Burke’s PAT gave the cardinal and black its only lead at 7-6.

After an exchange of punts, Marcus White intercepted Edgington at the Tullahoma 45. The ‘Cats drove to the Cookeville five, but Davis’ fourth down pass fell  incomplete and the scoring opportunity was wasted. The muffed punt sequence followed, but the visitors never quit. The ‘Cats forced a punt and took over on offense at their 26-yard line with three minutes left.

Davis connected with senior Shaquille Harris twice, once for 11 yards and once for 26. The second set the Wildcats up with a first down at the Cookeville 20 with less than a minute remaining. At that point Cookeville senior defensive back Darrian Harlan stepped up and made the play to seal the win, intercepting Davis at the ten. One victory formation play later the Cavaliers were celebrating on their home field with their first win of the season.

Davis was 13-30 for 181 yards through the air, and carried the ball 14 times for net 39 yards. Berry was the leading rusher with 58 yards on only eight carries and scored the lone touchdown. Austin Creasman had three catches for 46 yards, Price had 46 yards receiving on three catches, and Shaquille Harris caught three passes for 43 yards.

Cookeville had 46 rushing plays for 239 yards, while the Wildcats only ran the ball 24 times for 96 yards. Total offense was about even, but the Cavaliers controlled the tempo with their rushing attack.

Tullahoma suffered multiple injuries to significant contributors during the contest, with medical evaluations to come next week. Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Columbia is a tough place to win, but the challenge will expand for the Wildcats if one or more starters can’t take the field.