Cavaliers Improve, Despite Loss at Mt. Juliet

By Ryan Eberle

Last Friday the Cavaliers had much to be excited about, except for the final outcome of the game.  The Cavaliers came into the game as a huge underdog, predicted by some people to lost by as many as 40 points to 6A No.7 ranked Mt. Juliet.  Mt. Juliet (6-1) had only one loss coming into the game, which came against Beech who had previously beaten the Cavaliers 56-0.
However, despite everyone’s expectations, Cookeville was the team that came out firing on all cylinders.  The Cavalier defense forced a quick 3 and out, and on the very first offensive play for the Cavaliers Ryan Eberle hooked up with Chase Mabey for a 60-yard completion all the way to the Mt. Juliet Golden Bears 8 yard line.  Unfortunately after a penalty and some miscues on offense, the Cavaliers missed a field goal and an opportunity to score first.  Then, it was the Golden Bears who went on a role, scoring twice and taking a 14-0 lead heading into the 2nd quarter.
Even though most people had written Cookeville off by this point, Cookeville had learned from the Beech game.  With a couple scores of their own and a last second field goal by Tyler Wright at the half, the Cavaliers had come within 8 points of Mt. Juliet and would receive the ball first in the 2nd half. 
The Cavaliers made the most of their first drive of the 2nd half, with an 8-minute, 15-play drive which resulted in an Alex Sklavenitis touchdown.  Then after a successful fake field goal pass to Blake Thurman, the Cavaliers were tied 24-24 and had silenced the Mt. Juliet homecoming crowd. 
Unfortunately the Cavaliers caught some tough breaks in the 4th quarter, and after a very controversial helmet-to-helmet penalty the Golden Bears had a 2-touchdown lead.  The Cavaliers though were not ready to quit just yet.  After driving down to the Golden Bears 2 yard line, the Cavaliers had 4 downs to score and draw within 1 score of Mt. Juliet.  Unfortunately, for the first time all night, the Cavaliers couldn’t come up with a big play when needed and turned the ball over on downs with a minute to go in the game.  Then the Golden Bears just needing to knee the ball and run out the clock, decided they would try to boost their rankings in the state and ran the ball in for another touchdown, effectively running up the score and showing just how un-classy they were. 
The Cavaliers will now face another tough test this week at home against previously ranked 6A No.8 ranked Riverdale.  It will be the senior night for the Cavaliers and their last regular season home game.  Riverdale has been the one game that has eluded the Cavaliers for years, but this year could be the year as Riverdale already has 3 losses and the Cavaliers will have home-field advantage on their side.

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Homecoming 2012

By Rebecca Kane and Kayla Hardin

Homecoming: An instance of returning home. When you think of homecoming, the first thing that comes to mind is probably "the big game" or hair and dressing up. Homecoming originated in the 1870s during the annual Harvard-Yale games. The schools invited many alumni to return 'home' for the big game. They didn't have "dress up week" or anything like that; they had activities like: rallies, parades, speeches and dances. Over the decades, homecoming has adopted more activities, culminating in our modern-day homecoming.

This year's homecoming theme is "Cavalier Olympics". The homecoming parade will be on Thursday, September 13th. Our opponent this year will be Warren County, who we will be playing on Friday, September 14th. Activities will include: Monday- doubles corn hole, Tuesday- egg balancing race, Wednesday- three legged race, Thursday- basketball shot from farthest distance, and last but not least, Friday- Pep Rally!
Our dress up days this year consist of: Monday- Superhero / Countries of the world, Tuesday- Hipster, Wednesday- Wacky Tacky / Twin Day, Thursday- Jersey Day, and Friday show your SPIRIT! - American Day.
Homecoming Representatives include Freshmen: Girls- Grace Cole and Andrea Ramrez, Boys- Nicolas Cruz and Taylor Hall, Sophomores: Girls- Sarah Sheets and Courtney Peirce, Boys- Jacob Hunt and Garrett Hawkins Junior: Girls- Emmie Acuff and Brandy McHenry, Boys- Seth Anderson and Gray Forrester and Seniors: Girls- Bailey Rose, Mariah Vinson, and Varsha Srinivasan; Boys: John Gleason, Coleman Hawkins, and Josh Craig.

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Sparta vs. Cookeville

By Stone Fagan

The Sparta against Cookeville rivalry has always been one of intense spirit, and usually domination by the latter. With new coach, Scott Cook leading the team this year, sights are high and intentions focused on success. The matchup was especially close this year, with Sparta sporting some impressive prospects, including quarterback Jake Young, along with Tommy Odom, Kayne Tollison, and River Boruff. However, Cookeville had Ryan Eberle leading the team as QB, making some key plays in passing yardage. “We always pride ourself in never giving up, and when it came down to crunch time we fought hard persevered, and were able to show Sparta who is still the best team around.”
Other players who made monumental contributions to the victory were Alex Sklavenitis, Chase Mabey, Cameron Germenis, Desmond Pincheon, and Jeff Riedel. The game was close, and Cookeville only pulled ahead in the last few minutes, beating the worthy opponent of Sparta.
Prior to the game was the first annual Cav Walk, a big hit, attracting many from the school, as well as representing many groups of the community. “It was pretty awesome. I got candy,” says Cookeville High Student Nathan Hammontree. Some clubs present were the Cookeville High swim team, Avery Trace football team, and most importantly, the Charger booth. Overall the night was a success, attracting much of the town, and achieving Cookeville’s 17th consecutive win against the Warriors

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CHS's New Football Coach- Scott Cook

By Ryan Eberle

At the end of the school year last year, long time head coach Jerry Joslin left Cookeville football for a job as the head coach at the private school Pope John Paul ll. Therefore, the search for a new head coach began with much anticipation as to who would be the new face of Cookeville football. The selection committee, poised and ready to provide the best candidate for the program, met multiple times with various candidates but ultimately decided on appointing previously assistant coach, Scott Cook, for the job.

Coach Cook

As the summer began, Coach Cook used his experience as head coach of wrestling to help prepare him for the new duties associated with being the football head coach. “As an assistant coach all you have to focus on is football,” stated Coach Cook, “ but as a head coach it becomes a business where you have to manage the budget, equipment, schedules, and over 120 football players.” However, despite all these new roles, Coach Cook was certain in his decision, “I wanted to be head coach because of the involvement in a growing program, because I felt that I could continue to improve and care for the program.”

Many of the senior players on the team have testified to the change that Coach Cook brought to summer workouts. They feel more energized and firmly believe he has helped to take them to the next level through weight lifting, running drills, teamwork challenges, and secret combat drills. Coach Cook’s belief in hard work to accomplish goals was evident in his statement, “Any good coach looks at it as a challenge. There’s a difference between a guy who wears a whistle and calls himself a coach, and a guy who helps his team overcome the challenges they face.” Coach Cook also made it very clear that none of this could be accomplished without his support network of parents and coaches who help make everything possible.

However, there is more the Coach Cook’s agenda than just winning, “Obviously I want to win ball games, but ultimately I want to know that this program helped to contribute to everyone going on ready to face the challenges in life.” Especially to multi-sport athletes like myself, it is very helpful knowing that Coach Cook is there for me with whatever I need even if it has nothing to do with football. He really means it when he says he wants the best for us, it’s not just a nice gesture, it’s an honest statement.

The football team this year will have much experience from returning senior starters. On offense they will be lead by lineman Ethan Crum, Luke Dunham and Cody Lindsey, and skill players Alex Sklavenitis, Austin Ahrens and Ryan Eberle. On defense they will be lead by defensive lineman and linebackers Derrick Hammons, Zach Hammons, Nick Wilson and Seth Deloach, and defensive backs Coleman Hawkins and Tyler Slagle. Their first home game will be against long time rival Sparta, on August 31. Be sure to come out and cheer our football team to victory!

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