by Scott Shasteen on Friday, September 14, 2007  
   The Coffee Co. Red Raiders took advantage of six Tullahoma turnovers and punished the Wildcat defense for 260 yards rushing in a 42-21 win in front of a packed Carden-Jarrell Stadium in Manchester.
   The victory allows Coffee Co. (1-0, 3-1) to keep the coveted Coffee Pot trophy at its high school for the next 12 months. The contest was the 82nd edition of the storied rivalry, with the Red Raiders breaking a three-game losing streak and winning for the 29th time since the rivalries beginning in 1924.
   With the loss Tullahoma (1-0, 2-2) now has two weeks to correct its mistakes before hosting undefeated Warren Co. for homecoming on Sept. 28 at Wilkins Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 7pm.
   The portion of the 5,000+ fans still filing into the stadium midway through the first quarter missed a highlight reel that saw each team score twice in less than eight minutes. From that point, with 4:21 remaining in the first quarter, until halftime they saw the Red Raiders control the clock and take a 28-14 halftime lead.
   The game opened with the Red Raiders fumbling the kickoff but quickly falling on it at the Tullahoma 47. The drive stalled at the Tullahoma 21 with the Wildcat defense forcing a stop on fourth-and-eight.
   A frustrating night of turnovers began on the Wildcats first possession, with quarterback Chris Bishop mishandling the snap at the Tullahoma 10 and Coffee Co. recovering. Fullback Justin Kanjanabout scored two plays later and the lead was 7-0 in favor of the home team with 7:26 left in the first quarter.
   Tullahoma answered the bell though. Senior tailback Bobby Dowdell, who gained 108 yards on only eight carries, burst through the seem for a 53-yard gain. Ryan Bean, who had only four carries on the night for 28 yards, followed that up with a 21-yard run to the Red Raiders one, where Bishop finished the drive by scoring with 6:26 left in the quarter. Craig Roper’s PAT tied the score at seven each.
   Coffee Co. committed its only turnover on its next possession. Blake Tinsley, who had 55 yards on 17 carries on the night, fumbled at the Tullahoma 47 and Wildcat junior safety Tryston Horton made the recovery.
   Dowdell quickly gave the Wildcats their only lead of the night as he outraced the Red Raider defense 53 yards for the touchdown. Roper’s conversion gave Tullahoma a 14-7 lead with 4:35 left in the first quarter. The lead would last a total of 14 seconds.
   After a touchback on the kickoff, Red Raiders QB Brent Hobbs, who completed six of six passes for 125 yards and two scores on the night, hooked up with speedy Michael Goins on an 80-yard touchdown strike. It was the only catch of the night for Goins, who also added 89 yards on 12 carries. With the score tied at 14, the Wildcats were once again faced with the responsibility of answering back.
   And answer back they did as Bishop, who completed 10 of 23 passes for 133 yards, hit first Bean for 32 yards and then Dowdell for 18 yards. However, on first down at the Red Raiders 18 Bishop fumbled the football and the home team recovered at its 20 yard line with a minute remaining in the first quarter.
   The home team then began an impressive drive that covered 80 yards in 18 plays and consumed 7:12 off the clock, finally scoring on a five-yard run by Tinsley to take the lead at 21-14 with 4:48 left in the half.
   Tullahoma gave the ball right back on the kickoff as junior Derek Lawson fumbled it at the Coffee Co. 26. The Red Raiders wasted little time, with Kanjanabout finishing the drive with a three-yard burst and a 28-14 lead with 1:12 remaining in the half.
   The Wildcats got the ball first in the third quarter, but were forced into a quick three-and-out. After a 35-yard Bean punt, the Red Raiders showed that this would be their year as Goins dashed 56 yards on first down and scored with 10:03 left in the third to give the home team a 35-14 lead.
   To Tullahoma’s credit, the Wildcats didn’t give up. They promptly marched 57 yards in 14 plays, using 4:40 off the clock and scoring on a seven-yard toss from Bishop to tight end Cody Quick. Roper’s kick pulled the Cats within 14 points with plenty of football left to be played.
   After the Cats defense forced another Red Raiders punt, Tullahoma took over in good field position at the Coffee Co. 46 and began moving towards the end zone. On the first play of the fourth quarter, on second-and-six at the 18 yard line, Bishop was picked off by Goins to end the scoring threat.
   The Wildcat defense once again made a stand, twice forcing the Red Raiders to punt. However, on the first punt the Cats were called for roughing the kicker, giving the home team a first down. On the second punt Horton mishandled the kick and Coffee Co. recovered, setting up a Hobbs to Justin Owens pass that ended the scoring with 6:17 remaining in the contest.