NEWPORT, TN (WLAF) – “A little rain, a little mud and a lightning delay, they had a lot thrown at them,” said Campbell County Football Coach Justin Price.  His 10th edition of Cougar Football opened the new season with an impressive 29 to 3 win at Cocke County.  Both teams were seeing live action for the first time in a most unique off season and pre-season that had no spring game, no sevens-on-sevens, no scrimmages with other teams and no film exchange.  WATCH the game on demand and look for Coach Price’s post game interview at the 4:27:00 mark.

The Cougar defense held Cocke County to 72 yards of total offense and forced three turnovers; two C.J. Allen interceptions and a Skyler Clawson fumble recovery.  One Allen pick was returned for a touchdown while Clawson’s big play led to a Thomas Johnson field goal.

Allen opened the scoring on a wheel route when Hunter White found him from 13-yards out.  Johnson’s extra point made it 7-0 with 4:30 to play in the first quarter.  That first scoring drive ate up four minutes and fifty seconds.

Cocke County made it a 7-3 game early in the second quarter.  That was the closest the Fighting Cocks would get the rest of the way.

With just over four minutes to go in the first-half, White found Mason Shanks in the end zone from five-yards away to push the lead out to 13 to 3.  Johnson had a rare PAT miss on a scoring drive that was kept alive by an Allen catch and run on a fourth and four inside the red zone.

Campbell led 13-3 at halftime after a rainy second quarter.  The 2019 game at Dossett Stadium with Cocke County was a late nighter because of multiple lightning delays.  Fortunately, there was only one lightning delay in the 2020 season opener for both teams.  It came with 10:36 to play in the third quarter.

At the 9:56 mark of the 3rd quarter, after play resumed at 9:35 pm, Johnson knocked home a 25-yard field goal to lift the Cougars to a 16-3 lead.  That was set up by Clawson’s fumble recovery at the Fighting Cocks’ six-yard line.

Before the 3rd quarter ended, Allen had a tip and a touchdown.  Number 22 tipped a Cocke County pass, secured the ball and took it to the end zone with 2:08 left.  That moved the score to 22 to 3 following a missed PAT.

Sophomore Devon Jones made sure Campbell scored in each quarter on Friday night when he caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from White with 5:53 remaining in the final quarter.  Johnson had the final point of the night to give the Cougars a 29-3 win.

Coach Price passed out praise for his defense from Josh Moore at nose guard to inside linebackers Desmond Gilbert and Will Lester, his front seven and the secondary.  He described the D’s play as physical with big plays and a big presence from Blake Taylor.  “Taylor forces ball carriers to run away from his side of the line,” said Price.

The play of the front line and receivers also drew praise from Price.  After a game opening possession that ended in a three and out, the offense settled down and carried out Price’s game plan.  He was impressed with the poise of his junior quarterback in White and the hard play of Allen.

The Cougars open their home schedule on Friday when Carter comes to town.  Carter lost in overtime at Evensville as Rhea County won 20-14.  Campbell County defeated Carter 24-21 at Strawberry Plains last season on the last play of the game when Thomas Johnson kicked the game winning field goal.

LIVE COVERAGE OF CCHS FOOTBALL

For the 46th season, WLAF is providing live coverage of Campbell County High School Football over the WLAF-Doyle’s Tire Sports Network beginning at 7 pm.  On radio, tune-in to either AM 1450 or FM 100.9.  For the live telecast, connect to www.1450wlaf.com, WLAF-TV 12, Roku TV, Amazon Firestick, Facebook or YouTube.  Les Martin returns for his 10th season behind the mic, and along with Brent Allen, brings you the live play-by-play.  (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/24/2020-6AM)

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