CCHS holds ‘opportunity to win’ in 2024
JAKE
NICHOLS sports editor
NEWPORT — In the Cocke County football locker room, there is a black door the team walks through to reach the field before kickoff.
On the wall next to that door, there are several decorative items: pictures of current and former players, black and red striping, and a giant poster with a phrase for each player to read:
“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but today is here to claim. Tomorrow is there to dream of the possibilities.”
The mindset is a perfect fit for the 2024 Cocke Count y football team, which is coming off a 1-9 record in 2023 with an 0-5 clip in Region 1-5A.
As they head into this season, the Fighting Cocks are not focused on the past.
Rather, they are looking toward this season with a renewed optimism with head coach Scotty Dykes at the forefront.
Entering his sixth season at his alma mater, Dykes’ tenure has not gone as well as he would have liked thus far.
In his first five seasons, the team has gone 1-9 three times, a stark contrast to the success Dykes experienced as a CCHS player in the 1980s.
The 2021 season specifically marked the freshman year of all current seniors, several of whom endured a trial-by-fire introduction to high school football.
“Super tight,” said Dykes of his senior class. “This group is definitely one of my favorites. I got a chance to know most of them in seventh grade when I first got here, and this is the group that everyone said would change the program, and they have.
“A lot of those guys played as freshmen. They could have quit because we got hammered every game. But they stuck it out.”
Indeed they did, plowing through that season and a 3-7 campaign in 2022 that saw a season-ending win over Sevier County. That year featured a promising chance at success for Cocke County, with weapons such as Baylor Baxter and Brazen Stewart poised to lead the program.
“Felt like we had a chance to win some games,” lamented Dykes. “And last year, I felt like we were in a lot of games with a mixture of good juniors and young freshmen.”
But a couple of close losses marked a difference in the past two seasons, and now, Dykes has a crop of experienced athletes to lead the way in 2024.
On that note, he is holding tight to his goal of hosting a home playoff game, which would require a strong finish in region play.
But to do that, CCHS will first need the mental makeup that Dykes has spoken about this off-season.
“I think there is a fear factor there of putting themselves out there and not succeeding,” he said. “But if they turn it loose, I think we can make the playoffs and even host a home playoff game. I think this group is that good.”
The Fighting Cocke are led by seniors such as Raeshon Palmer, who has earned looks from ETSU, Tusculum, Carson-Newman and other schools by out-leaping defensive backs across the area during off-season 7-on-7 matchups and preseason scrimmages.
Fellow seniors such as Oren Hazelwood, Taylos Thomas, Eli Roberts and Tucker Hembree will factor into an experienced wide receiver group, with Hazelwood and Talon Leas supplementing junior Daniel Price at running back.
“The ceiling for that group is unlimited,” Dykes said. “Tons of experience,
guys that can flat-out run. They can take a five-yard route and can turn it into a 60-yard touchdown.”
Price did that in the backfield and on kickoff return last year, and he will look to inflict similar damage as a junior after racking up 1,200 all-purpose yards in 2023.
“His footwork and cutting ability have improved a lot,” said Dykes, “and he looks like a complete back. Catching, blocking, doing everything you want him to do.”
The Fighting Cocks will look to utilize that speed and shiftiness even more this season, starting with their Aug. 23 opener against Cherokee in Newport.
At quarterback, the Fighting Cocks will once again look to Spencer Moore Jr., who played a majority of the snaps as a freshman last year.
“I think he’s got a much better grasp of the offense as a whole,” said Dykes of Moore. “Still a little work to do in his progressions and who he’s reading, but that will come with more film study.
“But he has gotten a lot more technical in his
footwork, he’s making throws that are really clean, and he has really embraced the leadership role. He’s got a real shot to have a special season.”
Other quarterback options include senior Ethan Fine, junior Colton Sane, sophomore Talon Leas and
freshman Zach Williams.
Still, Dykes could have also started the year tinkering with packages for versatile senior Donovan Ramsey — if not for a preseason injury that will keep him out until October, Dykes said.
“We joke all the time about him being the guy that makes us right, because we can put him at quarterback, running back, receiver, and all the stuff on defense he plays,” said Dykes this summer. “So it’s tough when you miss a guy like that.”
On defense, CCHS is looking to replace the production of players like Cris and Landon Flockhart on the line, as well as the tackling and leadership of departed linebackers Carson Devotie and Carson Hopson.
They are looking to Colton Sane, Timothy Field, Bo Proffitt, Cameron Ingle, Andy Jones and Kaleb Sisk to fill those roles, along with guys like Jerome Cofield and Talon Leas.
will take the field at cornerback, and Oren Hazelwood, Tajuan Dockery and Eli Roberts will be used at safety. But to reach Dykes’ aspirations for this season, Cocke County will also need to rely on its offensive and defensive lines — as well as a bit of luck to counteract questions in depth. “ To me, I think it hinges on how good we are up front and our depth factor,” Dykes said plainly. “We’ve got good depth at certain positions, but we have to have a little luck and stay healthy. But how we handle the trenches will be a big key.”
On the defensive front, Fine will use his long arms to push back tackles from his defensive end spot. At the other end, Cocke County will see Kingston Davidson slide down from linebacker — his position as a sophomore — to work opposite Fine.
On the interior, Cocke County will see impacts from Jackson Williams, Jackson Clark, Aron Abrams, Jace Carter and Carrick Nyman, as well as a couple of keys who are still working back from injuries. Offensively, Jackson Williams returns as an offensive tackle, with Aidan Kendall rotating in to provide depth along the line. Carter will anchor the unit as Cocke County’s senior center, while Trent Leas will provide another option, along with Skylar Cash, Abrams and several others vying for time as the clock ticks toward Week One.
Finally, in special teams, CCHS will look to Moore for the punting duties, while Vincent Steinbacher will be the team’s placekicker.
Aside from position-specific tasks, though, Dykes and his staff will look to unlock the Fighting Cocks’ aforementioned “fear factor” — an aspect that has hampered CCHS in the past. If that can be done, Dykes is eager to see what can unfold in the 2024 season — especially for a senior class that he watched from a young age.
“I think that’s what makes me excited about this year,” he said. “This senior class really has an opportunity to win something special.”
Cam Forte and Raeshon Palmer
PHOtO By JaKe nICHOLs
Cocke County football coach scotty d ykes is hoping for a positive step from his team this season, as he cited their experience and athleticism as reasons for excitement.
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Cocke County’s d aniel Price (22) looks for running space against Cosby at the Cherokee Football Jamboree. Price is coming off a stellar sophomore season and will look to make more noise as a junior this year.
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Cocke County quarterback spencer Moore (5) drops back to pass the ball against the Cosby eagles in the 2024 Cherokee Football Jamboree on Friday august 16, 2024. Moore has grown in his leadership and his mechanics this offseason, as he prepares to lead the CCHs offense for another year.
PHOtO By JaKe nICHOLs
Cocke County’s Cameron Forte (4) celebrates with teammate tajuan docker y after making a tackle against Cosby in the 2024 Cherokee Football Jamboree.
CCMS looking to ‘step up’ in 2024 season
JAKE NICHOLS sports editor
NEWPORT — In late July, Pedro Gudger sat on the front seat of a John Deere Gator on Mike Proffitt Practice Field.
As he spoke over the thrumming engine, Gudger looked toward the sunlight that reflected off his face.
“As soon as I go to sleep,” he said, “it’s football season. When one seaso n ends, it’s time to start another one.”
That has been Gudger’s lifestyle for years no w, signing kids up for his Cocke County middle school football team every summer. He has gotten as many as 172 signed up in previous years, though last seaso n took a dip to 78 before 58 signed up leading into this season — his f ourth as head coach. The Fighting Cocks are looking to right the ship this year after just one win last season, as
Gudger’s team featured an abundance of linemen
with not enough skill players.
“Should we have won more games than we did last year? Yes,” he acknowledged. “But there should be no excuse this year, because I’ve got more skill guys this season.”
Two focal points in their backfield are Brody Holloway and DeMarcus Stewart, with Holloway shifting from quarterback after last season.
The move has paid off so far, with Holloway making plenty of pla ys through the first few games, including a 71-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Cocke County’s season-opening win over Candy.
Stewart has made similar noise for CCMS, whic h will also be using players such as Skylar and Kyler Kyker, Dayton Powers, Eli Sisk and Braelyn Talley at skill positions.
“I have a lot of skill guys that will really step up to the plate and make things happen,” said Gudger.
Talley is the Cocke County quarterback this season, filling a role that Gudger is excited to see after he decided to move Holloway to a hybrid spot.
“Braelyn can see really well and is tough to bring down,” said Gudger. “And Brody was a good quarterback, but he’s a shorter guy. But I can put him
anywhere, and he’ll go 100 miles per hour.” Holloway has looked to do so in an offense that Gudger and assistant coach Chad Swanger loo ked to expand — and would have if not for an unforeseen roster issue.
“We started early this year, and I thought I would have a lot more athletes come out,” he said plainly. “We waited until baseball was over to go into other stuff, but out of those 30 kids, I got only 12.
“So my offense will be pretty simple. Going back to little league stuff with basic blocking and running.“ Along its line, CCMS has relied on players like Colton Oury, Charlie Blackman, Corbin Pate and Elijah Mason.
“And if they get mean, they’re going to dominate on defense,” Gudger said.
CCMS has done that so far, beating Cosby before handling Carter 32-18 and losing to White Pine by a touchdown in its second week of action.
Up next, CCMS will face Pigeon Forge on Thursday, Aug. 22. And considering his team’s hard-fought matchup against White Pine and the overall makeup of his team, G udger feels confident headed into the rest of this season.
“I have a feeling they’re really going to
up this year,” he said.
By JaKe nICHOLs Cocke County middle school football coach Pedro gudger instructs his team from the sideline during an august 2024 matchup against Cosby. the Fighting Cocks won that game but are 2-1 on the year following a loss last week. still gudger feels good about his team given the skill players at his disposal this fall.
PHOtO By JaKe nICHOLs
Cocke County’s dayton Powers (33) is greeted by a teammate after scoring a touchdown against Cosby. Powers is one of several players that CCMs will count on this fall, as Pedro gudger leads the Fighting Cocks in his fourth season as head coach.
PHOtO By JaKe nICHOLs
deM arcus stewart (24) runs the ball in an august 2024 matchup against Cosby. stewart has been one of several standouts for the Fighting Cocks so far this season.
PHOtO By JaKe nICHOLs
Cocke County quarterback Braelyn talley surveys the defense before issuing a snap count during CCMs win over Cosby in august talley moved to quarterback this season, as CCMs head coach Pedro gudger slid previous QB Brody Holloway into more of a hybrid role on offense.
Cosby ‘excited and optimistic’ this season
JAKE NICHOLS sports editor
COSBY — Enter-
ing his second year as the Cosby football head coach, Levi Cooper has tried to build a program based on transparency.
“We don’t try to sugarcoat things or paint a pretty picture,” he said plainly. “We’re tr ying to be accountable at every level.”
For Cooper, that accountability starts with looking back at the 2022 season.
That year marked the last season under Kevin Hall, with Cooper preparing to transition from offensive coordinator to head coach while Cosby made its push to host a home playoff game.
“And I think with that being one of the primary goals, when we lost to Unaka and it couldn’t happen anymore, there was a letdown,” Cooper said. “In all honesty, man, I was kind of pushy about it. That was our primary focus, and when that got taken away, it hurt our football team.”
Now, Cooper has learned to take things on a day-byday basis as he builds his own program.
But that transparency and awareness have remained — not only for Cooper, but for each of the 53 players in Cosby’s locker room.
Those traits have paid dividends this off-season, as the Eagles look to bounce back from a 1-9 season in 2023.
“If you watch our kids work, they understand how young we were and, to be honest, how physically outmatched we were at a lot of positions,” said Cooper. “In high school, the older and more mature you are, it creates an advantage.“
The Eagles hope to utilize more of that this season, and not just with their youth.
Senior Chase Joyce has slimmed down from 205 lbs. to 185, moving to linebacker after earning Tennessee Prep Redzone AllState honors at defensive end last season. And defensive end Noah Caballero has added 20 pounds of muscle to his frame, as he and Joyce are both part of a defense that has seen transformations and additions alike.
The first notable addition is at defensive end, where 6-foot-6, 280-pound transfer Brett Korn brings plenty of beef from Texas. Korn will play alongside senior nose tackle Braden Boyd, with Caballero at the opposite end spot.
Since Cosby is running a 3-5 scheme — essentially a 3-3 stack look with two safety/linebacker hybrids — that also gives the option to bring Joyce back to the defensive line to assist in run-stopping.
“The way we’re playing, we can be anywhere from a three-front to four- or five,” Cooper said. “Any way we can be successful.”
The defense has been a pairing between co-defensive coordinators Dearco Nolan and Hall, who rejoined the staff this off-season after a year away from the program.
“Coach Nolan is one of the best in the business on coaching the front seven and dialing up blitz packages, and Coach Hall does a great job marrying the back end to make sure we’re sound defensively,” said Cooper. “Coach Nolan still calls the defense, and they’re working really well together. We’ve built on some of the stuff we did defensively last year. More multiple than we were, and it’s tough going against them in practice.”
Alongside Joyce at linebacker are Oliver Zeunik and newcomer Mason Williams, while defensive back will feature a litany of different options.
Trevor LaRue and freshman Gage McCarty will
be at cornerback, and Briar Henderson, Eli Miller and basketball standout Haiden McMahon will compete for time in the back end as well, depending on the coverage Cosby needs.
For those hybrid positions, Cosby will look to David Baker and Devonte Wigfall, whose combined physicality and athleticism make them solid options to stop the run or defend the pass.
“A really athletic defensive back on the field,” summarized Cooper, “that’s also physical enough to be in the box.”
Essentially, they are the same as the STAR position that is run by Tennessee defensive coordinator T im Banks.
Placekicking and field goal duties will include a mix of Matthew Webb, Caleb Gomez and Caden Griffin since the jobs are still open, while Shropshire will resume punting as he did last year.
On the offensive front, the Eagles will look to sophomore quarterback Matthew McMahan, who enters his first full season of high school football after health issues sidelined him for the entirety of his freshman season.
McMahan last played for the Eagles’ middle school program in 2022, and Cooper has been pleased with his growth thus far.
“He had a really good scrimmage at Midway,” said Cooper. “He has really grown in his understanding of the protections. As a young quarterback, he feels like a lot is happening at once, which it is.
“But he has to be able to understand where the pressure is from, and where we have to adjust since blitzes mean man coverage.
“He’s really starting to understand that and grasp the concepts and when he can check it down to a back, or when to just get the ball out of his hand.”
In his first season under center, McMahan will look to a bevy of wide receiver options — including LaRue, Manning, River Shropshire and Devonte Wigfall, who will be back at wideout after playing quarterback out of necessity last season.
The Eagles will also look to McCarty and McMahon, who tallied over 100 receiving yards in Cosby’s scrimmage against Midway. At running back, Baker will carry the load, with Joyce serving as another option in Cosby’s backfield given his size difference from last season.
Finally, along the offensive line, the Eagles will look to Korn at left tackle, Tucker Whaley at left guard, Zach Messer at center, Colton Jenkins at right guard and Aidan McGaha at right tackle, with another option in Aidan Butler, who brings size of his own at 6-foot-5, 280 pounds.
Three of those linemen are part of the sophomore class that has excited Cooper so much this off-season.
And now that he has seen the effects of that class, a talented freshman group and plenty of experienced upperclassmen, Cooper is thrilled to get this season started.
“Having my finger on the pulse of my team, I think these kids are chomping at the bit to erase the bad taste in their mouths after we got finished last year,” he said. “I’m super excited and optimistic about where
is going to go.
this thing
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Cosby head coach Levi Cooper instructs his team on august 19, 2023, during its first win of a new era. the eagles struggled to a 1-9 finish, but Cooper is feeling optimistic about the experienced and transformed group he has coming back.
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the Cosby eagles prepare to take the field prior to their 2023
matchup against unaka. the eagles return plenty of talent this year, including senior linebacker
Chase Joyce (8).
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Cosby’s d evonte Wigfall (6) celebrates after scoring the first touchdown of Cosby’s 2023 season. Wigfall played quarterback for Cosby last year, but he will move back to wide receiver this season while also filling out the eagles’ back end on defense.
Cosby MS building strong culture under Williams
JAKE NICHOLS Sports Editor
COSBY — Brody Williams is in the early portion of his third year coaching the Cosby middle school football team.
So far, there are have been a few moments that have stuck out more than others — not just wins, but individual snippets of joy that drive him daily.
A kid scoring first touchdown and the overwhelming feeling he experiences after doing so.
A pancake block and “flex” celebration, as a player executes his coach’s instruction to perfection. Even the matter of receiving a jersey, with a child being astonished that he gets to wear such a special garment to school.
“It’s that stuff,” Williams said, “that really brings the enjoyment out of it. Winning is fun, and it’s something you want to do. But it’s really cool to see kids get excited, because this is a lot more than football.
“You’re a guidance counselor, a friend, a teacher, a leader. And it’s really rewarding to see a kid who’s worked his tail off succeed.”
But as heartwarming as that sounds (and is), the Eagles do like to win too.
And they have done so at an impressive pace since Williams took over as head coach.
Last season saw a fivegame win streak to end the year, and this season, Cosby bounced back with two wins after a season-opening loss to Cocke County.
“We want to have a strong mentality,” said Williams. “We want to go through our assignments Monday through Wednesday and keep that mindset of going all four quarters, no excuses, and we want to meet that standard. We didn’t meet that in our first game but we have in our last two.”
Indeed Cosby did reeling off a 28-0 win over Bulls Gap on Thursday, Aug. 15.
Brantley Spann threw one touchdown and ran another, Colton Pinnell caught one, Cade Norris ran one in, and Hank Williams came up with a pick-six.
The start was not quite what Williams would have liked, but Cosby quickly adjusted.
“It’s been really good,” Williams said. “But we’ve got to figure out how to start a game off. We’re starting slow, not getting under our feet until the second quarter. I’d like to see us start better in the first quarter, but we can build on this.”
As for Spann, he has grown into his role as a second-year starter — and Williams is excited to see where he ends up.
“He’s still growing, and
that’s the good news,” Williams said. “He’s nowhere close to where we expect and need him to be.
“But to see what he’s become, how he handles himself — it’s a cool thing. He’s getting a better understanding of the game, and that probably makes Levi Cooper excited too.“
At running back, the Eagles would have primarily relied on Bo Cutshaw, but he has been out with an injury, and Williams is still not sure on his status going forward.
“But Cade Norris has done a tremendous job in
filling that role,” he said, “and Chris Higgs has as well. We’ve been rotating them, and they both have starting potential. It just depends on reps through the week.”
At wide receiver, Cosby has plenty of options: Pinnell, Williams, Cam Brannon, Kaiden Farley and Rylee Gilliam.
Along the offensive line, the Eagles feature six guys with a rotation: Noah Saul at center, guards Denver Goin and Joshua Ford, Caden Olson at tackle, Aiden Golden at tackle and Ryan Croft providing depth.
That same group plays on the defensive line, with Ben Zeunik, Norris, Williams and Brannon at linebacker. Brannon also aids the Eagles’ secondary, along with Farley and Spann at corner, Pinnell at free safety and Brannon at strong safety, as needed.
Overall, Williams said this group has bought into the culture Cosby has built, one that started more than two years ago with a cooler of water dumped on his head after his first win as head coach.
“That first year, our guys did a really good job of buying in,” he said. “Year 2, they maintained our culture and got younger guys into it. Now those younger kids are older and have helped others adjust.”
But he was quick to point out that the change has not just come from him, but from the community as a whole.
“It isn’t just me — it’s how everyone else has made me feel,” Williams said. “It’s the community. The school supports me, and the kids’ parents too. I’ve been really blessed with people who are bought in and doing their part. And it’s especially the kids, because I can only do so much.
“I could try to get another group of kids to do what we’re been able to do, and I don’t know that they would respond the same way these guys have.”
In that way, the Eagles have helped revive a program that laid dormant for some time — one that is now part of Cosby’s overall resurgence, which Williams hopes to see at the high
school level too.
“Kevin (Hall) and Coach Cooper are both guys I’ve been around for my whole life,” he said. “I try to keep up with Coop’s energy, and in order to find success, we have to establish this game at a younger age. I’m doing my best to cover that for what we need to do to have a great program.
“There’s so many people that live for watching these kids, and I love giving this community something to be excited about. I know Cooper will do his part. I hope we can take care of our half.”
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS
Cosby middle school football coach Brody Williams instructs his team following their matchup against Cocke County on Aug. 6, 2024. Williams’ team lost that game but bounced back in the next two, as he has pointed to their strong culture as a reason for success throughout his tenure.
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS
Cosby middle school quarterback Brantley Span looks for an opening in the defense during a matchup at Cocke County. Spann is a second-year starter for the Eagles, as Williams has emphasized his growth and development before reaching the high school level.
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS
Members of the Cosby middle school football team huddle before running a play during the 2024 season. The team has seen an improvement under Brody Williams, putting together a ve-game win streak to end his second year at the helm.
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS Cosby middle school defensive back Cam Brannon (1) goes up to intercept a pass against Cocke County. Brannon has factored in heavily to the Eagles’ receiver rotation, and he also works plenty in the secondary, as seen here.
Parrottsville confident entering Ward’s second season
s ports e ditor
PARROTTSVILLE
— When Brent Ward restarted the Parrottsville Elementary School football program, he had a specific goal in mind.
“I wanted a team of kids who weren’t playing,” Ward said at a recent pr actice. “Not a team full of superstars, though it’s easy to coach them. I wanted kids who wanted to learn the game and wanted a chance to play, not just standing on the
sideline.”
Last year, he had a mixed bag, as the Parrotts stumbled to an 0-8 record in their first year as a program since before the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I had some that were eager to learn,” said Ward, “and some that wanted to be on the team but didn’t really want to play football.”
But this year, things look vastly different for Ward’s second season at the helm.
There is a new morale, a new focus, as the Parrotts attempt to right the ship
in their first year as a part of the North East Tennessee conference, comprised of several schools suc h as Rogersville City, Providence Academy and Surgoinsville.
The Parrotts join the Cosby Eagles as the two Cocke County teams that will take part, and Ward is hopeful that the lure of playoffs and a conference championship game will serve as an incentive for improvement.
“There are some good ball clubs in there,” he said. “There’s a light at
the end of that tunnel if we can just get there. I would love to make the playoffs, ans we want to go .500. I think we’re capable of it.”
What makes Ward feel good about his hopes for this season?
For starters, the Parrotts have reflected an improvement in morale in the pr actices and few games they have played thus far.
The roster is made up of 22 kids in total, and Ward said that less than half of them (approximately 10) have played before.
• Cardiology
• Diagnostic Imaging (X-rays, CT Scans, MRI Scans, 3D Mammography, Ultrasound)
• Emergency Care
• Gastroenterology
• General Surgery
• Inpatient Rehabilitation Services (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy)
• Neurology
• Non-Skilled Nursing Home
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopedic Services
• Pulmonology
• Respiratory Care
• Rural Health Clinic
• Surgical Services
“The attitudes are already better on the field,” he said. “Nothing against the kids I had last year, but all these kids are eager to learn.”
As far as position-specific excitement, Ward noted his veteran line, made up of three eighth-graders, two seventh-graders and a sixth gr ader.
One of those seventh-graders is his daughter, Kailynn.
S he is in her fourth year playing football, and this is the second time ever that she has suited up for her father.
“Everything I’ve been teaching other kids, she’s absorbed,” said Ward. “She’s mentally tough.
“We took her to our scrimmage, and she put as much pressure on them as the rest of my players did. I’ve taught her more of the hand placement, and these other boys, they just overpower.”
Parrottsville will look to utilize that throughout a difficult schedule.
After falling to White Pine in the first game of the year, the Parrotts faced Rogersville Middle on Aug. 15.
Their schedule continues with an in-conference visit to Cosby on Aug. 22, a home conference e game against Bulls Gap on Aug. 29 and a visit to Providence Academy for another conference matchup in Johnson Cit y on Sept. 5.
The conference slate rolls on with a home matchup against Surgoinsville on Sept. 12, then the Parrotts will host Rogersville City — one of the better teams in their conference, per Ward and Cosby coach Brody Williams — on Sept. 19 before traveling on Sept. 26 to face North Greene.
The playoffs will begin Tuesday, Oct. 1, so the opponent for that week is not known.
But the Parrotts will
wrap up their regular-season slate the following week, facing Hancock County at home on Oct. 3.
To reach Ward’s goal of at least five wins on a 10-game schedule, the Parrotts will start with Ward’s favorite part of football: defense.
Ward said he focuses plenty on that aspect of the game, offering a brief summation for his philosophy.
“I firmly believe in defense,” he said. “If we can kick a field goal or just a touchdown and hold them to zero, I’m happy.
“I take pride in that, and it’s probably why I don’t get as fancy with my offense as some coaches do. I want 11 kids that are willing to fly to the football.”
Ward will have that with his experienced line, including Austin Williams and Ben Lewis.
The y will feature a somewhat inexperienced secondary, so Ward will also count on a group of linebackers led by John Dillon Ramsey. Ramsey, who helped lead the Smoky Mountain Little League AllS tars this spring, will also be taking his talents from the pitcher’s mound to the quarterback position on offense.
He brings a strong arm and an excitement for the job, despite this being just his second season ever playing football.
But Ward also noted that Ramsey’s leadership has stood out, something he carried from the basketball court after contributing in the Parrotts’ r un to an elementary title this past winter.
“He’s level-headed, and he doesn’t really get excited,” said Ward. “He
feeds off emotion, but he doesn’t let it interfere with the way he plays.”
“I’m pretty excited,” added Ramsey. “This is only the second year I’ve ever played football, so I’m glad to get out and try.”
The Parrotts are featuring names such as Sean Cureton and TJ Ray at running back, as well as Jayden Stinnett, who is a “hard-nosed runner and will hit the hole at 100 miles an hour,” Ward said.
Parrottsville will also look to utilize Hudson Hall, who is in his first year playing but has already impacted P-ville’s running attack in a positive way. Their receiving corps and a new backfield will follow a line that is stacked with experience, as mentioned for the def ensive side.
“It’s going to be all over the board offensively,” said Ward in summation. “I’ll spread the field and bunch it up.
“I’ve got a little better talent this year, so we don’t have to stay in the box as much.”
The same applies for his philosophy as a coach — not yelling, but mentoring in an instructive manner.
“I’m old-school but I’m not hard-nosed,” he said.
“If I need to get to a kid, I’m going to pull him to the side and talk to him.
“The only time I’m screaming or hollering is when I’m excited. I’m not going to belittle you to try and make you better.”
That has helped lend to the improvement in culture, as Ward is confident in what he br ings across the board this season.
“Numbers are up this year,” Ward said, “and a lot of natural talent. So
going to get better.”
JAKE NICHOLS
it’s
PHOtO By JaKe nICHOLs
Parrottsville football coach Brent Ward is optimistic about his team this year, having restarted the program before the beginning of last season.
PHOtO By JaKe nICHOLs a look at the P-ville logo, which is painted near the Parrotts home sideline at Parrottsville elementary.
PHOtO By JaKe nICHOLs
the Parrottsville Parrotts are looking to turn things around this season after stumbling to an 0-8 record in Brent Ward’s first season as head coach.
Woods ties Cosby soccer record in win
JAKE NICHOLS
Sports Editor
Addy Woods tied a Cosby girls soccer record on Monday night, scoring five goals in the Lady Eagles’ win over Cherokee in Rogersville.
Her output tied that of former Cosby striker Brooke Schreder (now Brooke Shelton), who graduated from CHS in 2015 before playing soccer at Tusculum.
With her goals Monday, Woods has now scored eight goals in Cosby’s first three games of the 2024 season.
But to put more context to her feats thus far, she has
scored those goals in only the first and third games, as Cosby did not score in its loss to Campbell County.
So in the games Cosby has scored, Woods is averaging four goals per contest, and she has averaged 2.6 goals per night if you include all three games. She notched a hat trick in the first outing of the season, pacing the Lady Eagles in a 5-2 victory over Fulton.
Furthermore, in tying Schreder’s record on Monday, Woods put herself in the company of a striker who once delivered a ball that broke her own goalie’s hand, per former Cosby coach Michelle Lane.
CCHS, Cosby preparing for Week 1 matchups
JAKE NICHOLS
Sports Editor
At long last, it’s here.
This Friday night, high school football returns to Cocke County.
The Fighting Cocks will host Cherokee at 7:30 ET to kickstart Year 6 under Scotty Dykes, while the Cosby Eagles will kick off against Cumberland Gap at 7 p.m. on Friday to begin the second season under Levi Cooper.
CCHS held off Cherokee 27-20 in last season’s opener for their lone win of the 2023 campaign, while Cosby defeated Cumberland Gap 28-14 in its sole win of Cooper’s first season at the helm.
For the Fighting Cocks, this week’s matchup against the Chiefs starts at the line of scrimmage as they look to beat the Chiefs in
their opener for the third consecutive season.
“Just a little more physicality up front,” said Dykes of what he wants to see in the trenches. “There were some questions on assignments (in the jamboree) that caused them to move a little slow, so we want to be fast and physical.”
The Chiefs are led by head coach Josh Hensley, whose brother, Tyler Hensley, serves as the defensive coordinator.
As far as what Cherokee’s offense brings to the table, Dykes pointed to their physicality and the quickstrike ability from returning quarterback Landon Jeffers.
“They’re going to be physical and run and do some RPOs, so we have go be disciplined in the secondary,” Dykes said. “If the quarterback sees something he likes, he’s going to
pull it and throw it.”
Speaking of quarterbacks, Cocke County sophomore Spencer Moore Jr. will have to make quick decisions on Friday, as Dykes noted the variety that Cherokee presents on the back end.
“A lot of movement” Dykes said. “Rolling coverages, guys blitzing from different gaps. Gotta get a good pre-snap read and make the read post-snap as well.”
Still, amidst the chaos on the field, Dykes is thrilled to begin another season leading his alma mater — though he knows firstgame jitters will not be far away for his players.
“First home game is always exciting,” he said. “Just need to minimize those first game mistakes,
See MATCHUPS, B13
JAKE NICHOLS Sports Editor
In years’ past, Mike Proffitt would host cookouts on his 80-acre plot of land in Cocke County. One visitor to these cookouts was Wilma Dykeman Stokely, whose work transcends the Cocke County community she lived in and loved.
She attended Coach Proffitt’s cookouts as part of an older group of women dubbed, “the Golden Girls.”
During these visits, she and Coach Proffitt would often discuss history, of which she was an expert.
An American writer of fiction and nonfiction, Dykeman chronicled the people and land of her
beloved Appalachia.
In the process, she became known to some as “the mother of Appalachian Studies.”
She became well-known as a writer and lecturer, teaching at The University of Tennessee and Berea College.
As a writer, Dykeman contributed to outlets such as The Knoxville News-Sentinel (where she worked as a columnist from 1962 to 2000), as well as New York Times Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, and our very own newspaper, The Newport Plain Talk.
Before marrying and becoming a Stokely, she grew up in the Beaverdam community of Buncombe County, North Carolina,
First win of Ginny Ball era highlights Monday VB slate
Editor
On Monday, volleyball programs at multiple levels across Cocke County snapped back into action for another night on the court.
For the Lady Red, Cocke County beat Heritage Home School 3-2 for the first win of the Ginny Ball era.
CCHS and Cosby faced off Tuesday, so those results will be available online.
Cosby lost to North Greene in three straight sets — 25-9, 25-8 and 25-16 — to begin the fourth year under Taylor Halcomb.
The Cosby Lady Eagles hosted Edgemont and Bridgeport to begin another week across elementary in-county action. Bridgeport beat
Edgemont 2-0, Edgemont defeated Cosby 2-0 and Cosby took down Bridgeport 2-1, per Heather Williams.
In other elementary action, Parrottsville beat Smoky Mountain 2-0, 25-17 and 25-12. Centerview defeated the Lady Bears 2-0 as well, 25-16 and 25-14. Finally, Centerview beat Parrottsville 25-12 in both sets for a 2-0 victory.
For Newport Grammar School, the Warriors hung closely in its first set but could not clinch the win, falling to Ridgeview in a 2-0 loss.
NGS looked to bounce back Tuesday against Rush Strong, as those results will be available later following confirmation from Newport Grammar AD Rhonda Williams.
now part of Asheville.
Born in 1920, she was the only child of Bonnie Cole Dykeman and Willard Dykeman, who was 60 upon his daughter’s birth.
He died 14 years later when Dykeman was merely a teenager. Later in life, Dykeman would credit both of her parents for giving her a love of reading and her father for giving her a love of nature and a curiosity about the world around her.
She attended Biltmore Junior College — now The University of North Carolina at Asheville — and graduated in 1938. After that she attended Northwestern University, where she was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa and graduated with
a major in speech in 1940. In August of that same year, Dykeman was introduced to her future husband, James R. Stokely of Newport. Stokely was the son of the president of Stokely Brothers Canning Company, and the couple married just two months after they met.
The person who introduced them? Mabel Wolfe, the sister of famed writer Thomas Wolfe.
They had two sons, Dykeman Stokely and James R. “Rory” Stokely III. The couple maintained homes in Asheville and Newport, and Dykeman continued to divide her time between both homes after Stokely died in 1977.
PHOTO VIA MIKE PROFFITT
In this photo, Mike Pro tt talks with Wilma Dykeman Stokely, a noted historian and author who lived in Cocke County but was known across the country for her contributions to academia and literature.
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS
Cosby’s Addy Woods (7) waits for a pass during a matchup against Cocke County. On Monday night at Cherokee, Woods tied a regular-season record for the Cosby girls soccer program, scoring ve goals in the Lady Eagles’ win over Cherokee. The only previous Lady Eagle to score ve goals in a regular-season contest was Brooke Schreder, now Brooke Shelton.
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS
The Cosby Lady Eagles are 2-1 thus far in Maddy Dawson’s rst full season as head coach, having defeated Cherokee and Fulton by a combined score of 12-2. Eight of those goals have come o the foot of Addy Woods, who is leading Cosby’s o ensive output so far this season.
JAKE NICHOLS Sports
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS
Check out how area volleyball teams fared in our recap below, with one highlight being the Cocke County Lady Red’s rst win of the Ginny Ball era.
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS
The Cocke County volleyball team celebrates after scoring a point during one its jamboree matchups at Morristown East High School.
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS
This week, high school football returns to Cocke County. Scotty Dykes will lead the Fighting Cocks into battle with 4A Cherokee on Friday night at 7:30, while Cosby will kick o against Cumberland Gap in an away matchup at 7 p.m. Friday night.
‘Vol Calls’ makes season debut Aug. 21 from Calhoun’s on the River
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. —
“Vol Calls,” the official statewide radio show for the Tennessee Volunteers, kicks off its 2024-25 season on Wednesday, Aug. 21, on location from the legendary Calhoun’s On the River location in downtown Knoxville. The one-hour show airs at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT across the state of Tennessee on Vol Network affiliates.
Bob Kesling, the voice of the Tennessee Volunteers and UT’s director of broadcasting, serves as the show’s host and is joined by Vol Network veteran Brent Hubbs to answer questions and provide the
latest news and information on Tennessee Athletics. The Vol Network’s Andy Brock lines up questions on-site
from fans in attendance. The show will be held outside each week during the fall on the restaurant’s massive,
Matchups
especially on special teams, because you don’t want that. We’ll drill up on that this week and hopefully it goes in our favor.”
For Cosby, the Eagles are preparing to open Levi Cooper’s second season against a Cumberland Gap program that CHS has faced twice in the last seven years. Last season’s win was certainly the most recent, but before that, CGHS defeated Cosby each season from 2016 to 2018.
The Eagles’ first step to success this week involves looking back at last week’s jamboree against the Fighting Cocks.
“Offensively, we’ve got to clean up some things on the perimeter,” said Cooper. “We busted some routes and did some things in our passing game that’s not what our trying to do in our option routes.
“At quarterback, we had a read we let get away, which resulted in the interception. So just cleaning that up, some of our footwork on our pulls. Defensively, just getting where we’re supposed to be.”
The Eagles are starting a new quarterback
She wrote a total of 18 books throughout her life, collaborating on several with her husband.
She published her first book, “The French Broad,” in 1955 as part of the Holt Rinehart “Rivers of America” series. One of those collaborations turned into “Neither Black Nor White,” a 1957 novel about race relations in the South.
The book won the Sidney Hillman Award and sparked the 20 columns they wrote for the Times’ magazine.
Dykeman was also chosen for the prestigious honor of authoring “Tennessee, A History,” published in 1975, as part of The States and the Nation series in celebration of our nation’s bicentennial. The series, which includes 51 books, one for each state and the District of Columbia, was administered by the American Association for State and Local
in sophomore Matthew McMahan, who will take his first official snaps since his eighth-grade year after a health issue sidelined him last season.
“I’m excited and he is too,” said Cooper. “It’s been and will continue to be constant growth, and he’s getting better understanding everything in what we’re trying to do, both in the RPO game and straight drop backs.”
Offensively, Cosby will need to be prepared for the same front it faced at Claiborne, as Cumberland Gap hired Claiborne County defensive coordinator Nick Nash to replace former coach Brett McPherson as head coach in January.
“We’re going to get pressure,” said Cooper. “Probably a lot of man coverage, so we have to be really sound in pass protection and smart with the ball. When we need to throw hot, when to have adjustments and everything.”
That could mean several options for Devonte Wigfall, who moved back out wide this season after playing quarterback last year.
On defense, Wigfall and David Baker serve in Cosby’s hybrid defensive back/ linebacker roles, and with
what Cooper has seen, they will be quite busy Friday night.
“Last season they packed everything in tight, and they ran the ball at us,” Cooper said. “They’re the complete opposite this year. Spread formation and a really athletic quarterback, so it will be a completely different team that we’re seeing.
“The big thing is that we know there will be wrinkles they have that we haven’t seen. So we’re preparing for base stuff, but also know we have to be ready for all kinds of things out of their formations.”
More than anything, though, Cooper has the same mentality as Dykes and the rest of the community this week.
In short: he’s ready for Friday night, as football season will officially arrive for both high school programs in Cocke County.
“Super excited that game week is finally here, so we’re looking forward to the next couple of days and getting ready,” he said. “I know they’re all ready to play one that counts, and it’s shown in their performances the past couple of Fridays. They’re chomping at the bit, ready to go.”
covered outdoor deck. Overlooking the Tennessee River, “The Deck” at Calhoun’s provides a unique outdoor dining
and show experience with big-screen televisions, ceiling fans and a roof that fully protects fans from the elements.
Head coach Josh Heupel will make his on-site show debut on Wednesday, Aug. 28 prior to UT’s season opener versus Chattanooga on Aug. 31. Assistant coaches and other special guests will be part of the weekly lineup.
A recorded interview with Heupel airs this week.
Calhoun’s On the River returns as the home of “Vol Calls” for the 13th straight season. Famous for its award-winning ribs, BBQ and other delicious Southern dishes, Calhoun’s is one of Tennessee’s most popular
restaurant destinations. The restaurant will give away special prizes each week during football season through its Instagram channel — @calhounstn — including “Best Seats in the House” for the show, game tickets, hospitality passes and a collection of special signature sauces. “Vol Calls” is the exclusive statewide radio show for Tennessee Athletics featuring the head coaches of the Big Orange. The show can be heard on 50-plus radio stations across the state of Tennessee on the Vol Radio Network and all over the world through UTsports.com, the Tennessee Athletics App and SiriusXM.
SEC reveals 2024-25 men’s basketball schedule
UTSports.com
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday afternoon the league schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 men’s basketball season.
The Volunteers, coming off arguably the best season in program history, will play 18 conference games between Jan. 4 and March 8, with both the opener and the finale on their home court at Food City Center. Fewer than 150 season tickets remain and can be purchased HERE.
“The SEC is the nation’s premier basketball conference. It is a deep league the features talented and experienced players, as well as high-level coaches,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “All 18 games will provide a challenge, which we fully embrace. We look forward to hearing our fans cheer us on at Food City Center as we host some of the very best teams in the country throughout conference play.”
Tennessee, the reigning outright SEC regular season champion, begins league play Jan. 4 at home against Arkansas. The team then heads to Gainesville, Fla., to play its first road contest of the calendar year Jan. 7/8 at Florida.
The Volunteers next visit Austin, Texas, where they play Jan. 11 for their first SEC matchup with new conference member Texas. The two sides met in the NCAA Tournament last year, with Tennessee notching a 62-58 victory to reach a second straight Sweet 16.
Barnes, now in his 10th year on Rocky Top, and the Volunteers then return home for a Jan. 14/15 contest against Georgia before traveling down I-40 to face Vanderbilt in a Jan. 18 affair in Nashville, Tenn. Tennessee next welcomes Mississippi State to Knoxville for a Jan. 21 game, then
makes the trip to Auburn, Ala., where it plays Jan. 25 at Auburn. The Volunteers close the month with a home contest Jan. 28 versus Kentucky. In the second of three straight SEC home games—its lone stretch with even two in a row—Tennessee has a Feb. 1 outing against Florida. It closes the homestand Jan. 4/5 versus Missouri.
The Volunteers face the SEC’s other new member, Oklahoma, Feb. 8 in Norman, Okla. They follow that with a Feb. 11/12 visit to Lexington, Ky., for a second clash with Kentucky in under two weeks.
Up next for Barnes’ team is a Feb. 15 meeting with Vanderbilt at Food City Center, followed by a midweek bye. Tennessee then has its third and final back-to-back road swing, first playing Feb. 22 against Texas A&M in Bryan-College Station, Texas, and then Feb. 24/25 versus LSU in Baton Rouge, La.
To begin the final month of the regular season, the Volunteers play March 1 against Alabama. Their SEC road finale is slated for March 4/5 at Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss. Tennessee concludes the 2024-25 regular season March 8 versus South Carolina at Food City Center. The program will recognize its six-man senior class prior to tipoff.
The Volunteers return two of their top five scorers, senior guards Jordan Gainey and Zakai Zeigler, from a 2023-24 team that went 27-9 (14-4 SEC) and earned the second Elite Eight berth in program history.
Tennessee also brings back senior guard Jahmai Mashack, who appeared in all 36 contests last year, along with sophomores Cameron Carr (guard), J.P. Estrella (forward) and Cade Phillips (forward). The team also brings in five newcomers, including a quartet of experienced transfers and one top-75 freshman.
committee to rename the Tennessee Oilers football team.
Ultimately, she suggested the name that was ultimately chosen — the Tennessee Titans.
In honor of Dykeman, who strongly advocated for linkage between economic development and environmental protection along French Broad in Asheville and North Carolina, they enacted the Wilma Dykeman RiverWay Plan — a 17-mile greenway and park system that intends to revitalize sustainable economic growth along the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers.
In 1985, she received the North Carolina Award for Literature, and in 1994, Dykeman received the Pride of Tennessee Award from Governor Ned Ray McWherter. She also received the Thomas Wolfe Memorial Trophy and, in 1956, received a Guggenheim Fellowship.
After Dykeman’s death in 2006, Tennessee named a lecture series after her that still continues to this day.
Within the UT library system, there is also a collection of the works she produced with her husband, as well as the correspondence that went along with, after and before her life.
There is also a Wilma Dykeman Legacy Foundation, as well as a Writer-in-Residence program at UNC Asheville. More than her works and notoriety, though, Mike Proffitt will always remember her for her affable personality and wealth of knowledge.
Also, during that time, she became a familiar name to this author’s own grandmother, who read plenty of Dykeman’s material while in college at the same time she lectured there.
“She was a kind and gentle person,” he said. “Very knowledgeable on history and really likable.”
PHOTO VIA CHAPTER 16
Wilma Dykeman, pictured here with some of her books at a signing, smiles for a photo. Dykeman, later Dykeman Stokely, became famous for works that addressed environmentalism, racism and several other subjects across the South.
History via a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. She was fittingly chosen
as the first female trustee of Berea College, as well as the first female Tennessee State Historian, as
hand-picked by Governor Lamar Alexander.
As part of her work in Nashville, she served on the
Stokely From B12
From B12
PHOTO BY JAKE NICHOLS
Cosby’s David Baker (32) tries to evade Cocke County’s Kingston Davidson (18) during the Cher-
okee Football Jamboree. Both players will be essential for their teams this week, as Week 1 of high school football kicks o across Tennessee.
The Southeastern Conference announced Tuesday afternoon the league schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 men’s basketball season. The Volunteers, coming o arguably the best season in program history, will play 18 conference games between Jan. 4 and March 8, with both the opener and the nale on their home court at Food City Center.
