Catholic Vs. Morristown East Game Notes Presented By “The General” Jeff Patton

CATHOLIC Irish (0-0)

at

MORRISTOWN EAST Hurricanes (0-0)

Citizen Tribune Kickoff Classic

August 22, 2015

Burke-Toney Stadium

4:30 p.m.

SETTING THE SCENE – Catholic opens its regular season…today’s game is first of a doubleheader in the seventh-annual Citizen Tribune Kickoff Classic…Fulton and Morristown West will play in the nightcap…Catholic is ranked third in the Associated Press Class 4A preseason poll…Catholic reached the second round of the TSSAA Class 4A playoffs last season…Irish have posted two consecutive 10-win seasons…Irish have won 111 of their last 146 games…Rodgers is Catholic’s returning leader in rushing…Fortune is Catholic’s leading returning tackler…

THE RECORDS – Catholic was 10-2 in 2014. The Irish reached the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs in 2014. Morristown East was 6-5 overall last year. The Hurricanes were defeated in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs.

ON THE SIDELINE – Steve Matthews is in his third year at the helm of the Irish. He also serves as Catholic’s offensive coordinator. Matthews came to Catholic from Seigel High School in Murfreesboro, where he served as offensive coordinator from 2010-2012. He was head coach at Moore County in 2008 and 2009 and posted a 10-10 record. He also served as QB/WR coach at Tullahoma, his high school alma mater, from 2004-2007. His overall record is 30-16, and his record at Catholic is 20-6. Matthews played collegiately at Tennessee and Memphis.

ON THE STAFF – Serving as assistant coaches for the Irish are: Les Greer (Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers), Justin Anderson (Offensive Line), Sam Brown (Running Backs), Drew Franklin (Wide Receivers), Marcus McDonald (Defensive Line), Daniel Hood (Outside Linebackers), and Kris White (Defensive Backs).

RACK ‘EM UP – Catholic has won 94 of its last 120 regular-season games.

REGION FOES – Catholic participates in Region 2-4A. Region foes for the Irish include Anderson County, Carter, Central, Fulton, and Union County.

ASSOCIATED PRESS CLASS 4A POLL – Catholic is ranked third in the Associated Press Class 4A preseason poll. Fulton is ranked first with 140 overall points and 14 first-place votes. The remainder of the Top 10 includes: 2. Greeneville (97); 3. Catholic (92); 4. Pearl-Cohn (77); 5. Memphis East (65); 6. Ridgeway (60); 7. Crockett County (48/1); t8. Marshall County (30); t8. Jackson Northside (30); 10. East Hamilton (28).

THE LAST GO ‘ROUND – Catholic’s 2015 roster includes 11 seniors. Included are Cooper Edenfield (QB/DB), Jake Kyle (WR/DB), Jack Staley (WR/DB), Augie Fortune (RB/LB), James Orler (RB/LB), Jones Albritton (WR/LB), Payne McNutt (OL/DL), Will Mullally (OL/DL), Austin Rowan (OL/DL), Logan Punch (OL/DL), and Jake Poczobut (P/K).

TEAM STATS – Catholic averaged 401.6 yards per-game in total offense last year, including 191.9 yards on the ground and 209.7 yards through the air. Defensively, Catholic allowed 277.4 yards per-game, including 161.8 yards on the ground and 115.7 yards through the air. Catholic averaged 37.3 points per-game. Opponents averaged 14.6 points per-game.

RETURNING STAT LEADERS – Here’s a look at Catholic’s returning statistical leaders in various categories –

Rushing: Amari Rodgers (93 att., 725 yds., 9 TD)

Passing: Cooper Edenfield (4-11-0, 44 yds., 1 TD)

Receiving: Chase Kuerschen (56 rec., 884 yds., 28TD)

Interceptions: Chase Kuerschen (4)

Scoring: Amari Rodgers (96 points/16 TD)

Tackles: Augie Fortune (135)

REGION 2-4A STANDINGS – Here’s a look at the 2015 Region 2-4A standings:

DISTRICT    OVERALL

Catholic                      0-0                   0-0

Anderson County       0-0                   0-0

Carter                          0-0                   0-0

Central                        0-0                   0-0

Fulton                          0-0                   0-0

Union County             0-0                   0-0

Friday’s games

Anderson County @ Greeneville

South-Doyle @ Central

Carter @ Halls

Grainger @ Union County

Saturday’s games

Catholic @ Morristown East

Fulton @ Morristown West

ON THE RADIO – Tonight’s game is being broadcast on WNML, The Sports Animal (99.1 FM). John Wilkerson handles play-by-play, while former Catholic quarterback Rob Demastus adds commentary.

UP NEXT – Catholic plays CPA next Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. (EDT), at Vanderbilt Stadium.