CENTRAL Bobcats (2-0/0-0)

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CATHOLIC Irish (1-1/0-0)

September 4, 2015

Blaine Stadium/Hollin Field

7:30 p.m.

 

SETTING THE SCENE – Catholic plays its first home game of the 2015 campaign… tonight’s game is the first Region 2-4A contest of the season…Catholic is ranked second in this week’s Associated Press Class 4A poll…Irish have posted two consecutive 10-win seasons…Irish have won 112 of their last 148 games…Rodgers leads Catholic in both rushing and receiving…Rodgers averages 8.2 yards per-carry and 25.6 yards per-catch…Fortune tops the Irish in tackles with 21…Scott has a team-leading six tackles for-loss so far this season…Rowan has five stops behind the line…

 

THE RECORDS – Catholic is 1-1 in 2015. The Irish lost to CPA, 38-10, last week at Vanderbilt. Catholic won its season-opener at Morristown East, 49-24. Central is 2-0 this season. The Bobcats won at home last week over Campbell County, 28-0. Central won its season-opener, also at home, over South-Doyle, 38-3. Central is 2-0 for the first time since 2006.

 

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 31-17, and his record at Catholic is 21-7. Matthews played collegiately at Tennessee and Memphis.

 

RACK ‘EM UP – Catholic has won 95 of its last 122 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 second in this week’s Associated Press Class 4A poll. Fulton is ranked first with 180 overall points and 16 first-place votes. The remainder of the Top 10 includes: 2. Catholic (134); 3. Greeneville (130/1); 4. Crockett County (123/2); 5. Ridgeway (105); 6. Memphis East (85); 7. Marshall County (80); 8. Pearl-Cohn (56); 9. Hardin County (33); 10. Jackson North Side (26).

 

SERIES VS. CENTRAL – Catholic leads the series with Central, 2-0. Here’s a look:

2011: Catholic 21, @Central 14

2012: @Catholic 35, Central 0

 

 

TEAM STATS – Catholic averages 482.5 yards per-game in total offense, including 184.5 yards on the ground and 298.0 yards through the air. Defensively, Catholic allows 376.5 yards per-game, including 224.0 yards on the ground and 152.5 yards through the air. Catholic averages 29.5 points per-game. Opponents average 31.0 points per-game.

 

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS – Here are Catholic’s leaders in various individual categories:

Rushing: Amari Rodgers – 18 att., 148 yds., 2 TD

Passing: Cooper Edenfield – 11-20-4, 361 yds., 2 TD

Receiving: Amari Rodgers – 8 rec., 205 yds., 1 TD

Jeffery Wood – 8 rec, 128 yds, 1 TD

Scoring: Amari Rodgers – 18 pts.

Tackles: Augie Fortune – 21     Tackles for loss: Tony Scott – 6

Sacks: Beau Hollin – 2.5

Interceptions: Jack Sompayrac – 1

 

PLAYERS OF NOTE

 

2 – Cooper Edenfield (QB, 6-3, 195, Sr.): 11-17-2, 361 yds, 2 TD (70, 83) vs. Morristown East…

 

3 – Amari Rodgers (WR/RB, 5-10, 190, Jr.): 3 rec, 90 yds, 1 TD (58); 11 att, 41 yds vs. CPA…7 att, 107 yds,  2 TD (61,19); 5 rec, 115 yds vs. Morristown East…

 

4 – Jeffery Wood (RB, 5-9, 160, Jr.): 16 att, 99 yds, 4 rec, 40 yds vs. CPA…4 rec, 88 yds, 1 TD (70) vs. Morristown East…

 

10 – Jack Sompayrac (QB/DB, 5-11, 155, So.): 7-10-0, 138 yds, 1 TD (58) vs. CPA…23-yd TD run, 6 tackles, 1 INT vs. Morristown East…

 

21 – Tony Scott (LB, 6-2, 195, Jr.): 7 tackles, 3 TFL vs. CPA…8 tackles, 3 TFL vs. Morristown East…

 

22 – Joe Fluker (LB, 5-9, 175, So.): 6 tackles, 1 TFL vs. CPA…14 tackles, 1 sack vs. Morristown East…

 

33 – Augie Fortune (LB, 6-0, 200, Sr.): 9 tackles, 2 TFL, vs CPA…12 tackles, vs. Morristown East…

 

48 – Morgan Ernst (DB, 5-11, 175, So.): 11 tackles, 1 TFL vs. CPA…8 tackles, 3 PBU vs. Morristown East…

 

57 – Austin Rowan (DL, 6-0, 245, Sr.): 6 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 blocked kick vs. CPA…12.5 tackles, 4 TFL, 1.5 sacks vs. Morristown East…

 

 

 

 

 

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

DISTRICT    OVERALL

Central                        0-0                   2-0

Catholic                      0-0                   1-1

Carter                          0-0                   1-1

Fulton                          0-0                   1-1

Anderson County       0-0                   1-1

Union County             0-0                   0-2

 

Last week’s results

CPA 38, Catholic 10

Central 28, Campbell County 0

Anderson County 53, Heritage 29

Jefferson County 34, Carter 12

Claiborne 54, Union County 0

Maryville 49, Fulton 18

 

Friday’s games

Central @ Catholic

Union County @ Carter

Anderson County @ Fulton

 

WEEK TWO – Catholic suffered its first loss of the season as it dropped a 38-10 decision to CPA. The contest was played at Vanderbilt University. A 58-yard pass from Jack Sompayrac to Amari Rodgers provided the only offensive scoring for the Irish. Catholic also gained two points when a CPA snap sailed out of the end zone for a safety. Catholic actually outgained CPA in total yardage, 390-382, but could not overcome four turnovers. Jeffery Wood led the Irish rushing attack with 99 yards on 16 carries. Wood also had four receptions for 40 yards. Sompayrac was 7-of-10 passing for 138 yards and a touchdown. Rodgers had 90 yards and a touchdown on three grabs. Jake Kyle also had three receptions for 60 yards. Morgan Ernst led the Irish defense with 11 tackles. Augie Fortune added nine stops, including two in the backfield. Tony Scott had seven tackles, including three for-loss.

 

WEEK ONE – Catholic opened its 2015 season with a 49-24 win at Morristown East. After spotting East an early 7-0 lead, the Irish tied the game when Cooper Edenfield connected with Jeffery Wood on a 70-yard scoring toss. The Irish took the lead for good when Edenfield passed 83 yards to DJ Mitchell in the second quarter. Edenfield added a one-yard scoring run late in the first half. An East field goal as the half ended left the score 21-10 at the break. Amari Rodgers dashed 61 yards to paydirt early in the third quarter and, on East’s ensuing possession, Mitchell scooped a fumble and raced 40 yards into the end zone to make the tally 35-10. A pair of East scores trimmed the margin to 35-24 before Rodgers scooted 19 yards untouched to give the Irish a 42-24 (cont’d) advantage. A 23-yard run from Jack Sompayrac ended the days’ scoring. Edenfield was 11-of-17 passing for 361 yards and two touchdowns on the day. Rodgers carried seven times for 107 yards and had five receptions for 115 yards. He also had a 34-yard kickoff return, giving him 256 all-purpose yards for the game. Wood had four receptions for 88 yards, while Mitchell had two grabs for 158 yards. The Irish had 575 yards in total offense on the day. Joe Fluker led the Irish defense with 14 tackles, including a sack. Austin Rowan had 12.5 tackles, including four for-loss, and 1.5 sacks. Augie Fortune also had a dozen stops for the Irish. Mitchell and Nick Lovely had fumble recoveries, while Sompayrac grabbed an interception.

 

 

MAKE IT QUICK – Catholic’s offense has had four scoring drives lasting less than one minute this season. One of the scoring drives was of the one-play variety.

 

 

TURNOVER MARGIN – Catholic is minus-4 in turnover margin this season. The Irish have thrown five interceptions and lost two fumbles. Opponents have thrown one interception and lost two fumbles.

 

 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Catholic has had one player nominated as PrepXtra Player of the Week this season. Here’s a look

PLAYER                   OPPONENT              STATS

Amari Rodgers            Morristown East         7 att, 107 yds, 2TD; 5 rec, 115 yds

 

 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Catholic has had one player nominated as WVLT/Varsity All Access Player of the Week. Here’s a look:

PLAYER                   OPPONENT              STATS

Amari Rodgers            Morristown East         7 att, 107 yds, 2TD; 5 rec, 115 yds

 

 

100-YARD RUSHERS – Catholic has had one 100-yard rushing effort in 2015. Here’s a look:

PLAYER                   OPPONENT              ATT-YDS-TD

Amari Rodgers            Morristown East         7-107-2

 

 

CENTURY MARK – Catholic has had two 100-yard receiving performances this season. Here’s a look:

Player                         Opponent                   Rec-Yds-TD

DJ Mitchell                 Morristown East         2-158-1

Amari Rodgers            Morristown East         5-115-0

 

 

250-YARDS PASSING – Cooper Edenfield has one 250-yard passing game this season. Here’s a look:

OPPONENT              STATISTICS

Morristown East         11-17-2, 361 yds., 2 TD

 

DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLES – Catholic has had four double-digit tackle efforts this season. Here’s a look:

Player                         Opponent                   Tackles

Joe Fluker                    Morristown East         14

Austin Rowan             Morristown East         12.5

Augie Fortune             Morristown East         12

Morgan Ernst              CPA                            11

 

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).

 

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).

 

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 host to Notre Dame in the annual “Irish Bowl” next Friday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m., at Blaine Stadium/Hollin Field.