It was a wonderful season for the Tigers.  Unfortunately though, the season ended for Big Blue last Friday night when South Pittsburg traveled north to Gordonsville and knocked off the Tigers last Friday night, 32-14.

Two onside kick recoveries by South Pittsburg to begin the second half, and costly Tiger penalties throughout, proved to be too much for the Tigers to overcome, as the potent Pirate offense seemingly wore down Gordonsville’s defense.

Payton Watson had a season low 46 passing yards as he and favorite target, Vincent Escobedo, could never seem to get in rhythm throughout the night.  Watson did have an excellent game on the ground, rushing the ball 16 times for 128 yards.

The Tigers took the early lead when Tyler Coleman crossed the endzone with just over four minutes remaining in the first quarter.  This was after a masterful eleven play, 59 yard drive that saw Coleman cash in from two yards out.

South Pittsburg would counter quickly though as Demetric Johnson would take the ball in from 14 yards out for a touchdown, just before the quarter expired.  Pirate quarterback, Jake Stone would find Johnson in the endzone for the two point conversion and the South Pittsburg would take the lead, 8-7.

South Pittsburg would strike again with 4:05 left in the half after Stone found John Wells from fifteen yards out for a touchdown.  The PAT would fall short and the Pirates had a 14-7 lead.

The Tigers would answer quickly though as Payton Watson would break free on first down, rumbling 69 yards downfield for a Tiger touchdown.  The point after attempt was good and Gordonsville took a tie score, and seemingly all the momentum, into half time. 

That momentum would quickly evaporate.

South Pittsburg would recover two onside kicks to begin the second half, add three touchdowns throughout the half, and hold Gordonsville scoreless for the remainder of the game, to seal the victory for the Pirates 32-14.

With the loss, the Tigers end the season with a 10-3 record and begin the process of preparing for the upcoming season.

The Pirates lost the championship game to Wayne County this afternoon, 27-14.

Payton Watson had three touchdowns and threw for two more in Gprdonsville's win over Nashville Christian.

Some wondered if the bye week Gordonsville earned in the first round of the TSSAA playoffs this year would actually come back to hurt the team.  The Tigers addressed those concerns early and often last Friday night in the team’s impressive win over the Nashville Christian Eagles, 55-13.

The Tigers dominated in every phase of the game, defensively allowing only 152 total yards, causing a fumble and three interceptions.  Offensively, the Tigers had 417 total yards in the game and had touchdowns from six different players. 

In reality, outside of two fumbles late in scrub time, the only people on the field that seemed to slow Gordonsville down much were the men in pinstripes, by delivering some questionable calls throughout the contest.

Gordonsville had a huge night on the ground, gaining 321 yards in the contest.  Besides Watson, three other Tigers had rushing

Kaleb Bush catches a touchdown against Nashville Christian.

touchdowns in the contest.  Tyler Coleman was the leading rusher in the game, running for 84 yards and a score.  Sophomore, Kaelin Cason had 67 yards and a score and freshman, Billy Newton, added 47 yards a touchdown. 

Gordonsville took control of the game early, going on a five-play, 66 yard scoring drive, culminating in 6 yard Tyler Coleman scamper for a touchdown to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.

It didn’t take long for the Tigers to strike again as Jacob Looper intercepted NC quarterback, Ryan Young’s pass deep at the Gordonsville 11 yard line.  After a big 54 yard run by Tyler Coleman put the Tigers at the NC 26 yard line, Watson found Kaleb Bush for a 26 yard touchdown strike to put the Tigers up by thirteen.  The PAT failed and with just 2:56 gone in the game, Gordonsville led 13-0.

Both teams would swap possessions but then the Tigers’ defense decided to contribute to the scoreboard as Payton Watson intercepted Ryan Young’s pass, and raced 26 yards to the end zone for a defensive touchdown.  Gordonsville went for two and succeeded, and with 2:14 left in the first quarter the Tigers led 21-0.

Gordonsville would again force an Eagle punt and Watson would find Vincent Escobedo for a 51 yard touchdown strike as time expired in the first quarter to expand Gordonsville’s lead to 28-0.

Kaelin Cason had 67 yards and a touchdown against Nashville Christian.

Two plays into Nashville Christian’s next possession, Payton Watson would get his second interception of the game.  Fifty seconds later, Watson would get his second touchdown on a 29 yard scamper to give Gordonsville a 35-0 lead at the 10:50 mark of the second quarter.

The Blue and White would force another NC punt but their ensuing drive would stall after the officials failed to hear Coach Ron Marshall’s plea for a timeout.  Marshall would be flagged on the following play in perhaps the most controversial turn of events in the game.

Gordonsville didn’t stay down for long though, as Watson would score again on a 24 yard keeper to send the Tigers into half-time with a gigantic, 42-0 lead.

With the mercy rule in effect, the clock ran continuously when the second half began, however, the Tiger themselves weren’t feeling very merciful.

After forcing an NC punt, the Tigers only needed three plays and a 60 yard touchdown sprint by Kaelin Cason to increase their lead to 49-0 with 6:49 left in the third.

Vincent Escobedo catches a touchdown against Nashville Christian.

Coach Marshall would begin filtering in underclassmen throughout the rest of the contest, allowing NC to string together their most impressive drive of the game.  The Eagles would eat up the rest of the third period but the Tigers would make an stout goal line stand to keep the Eagles from scoring, but after a Tiger offensive miscue on the Gordonsville two-yard line, NC was able to breach the scoreboard first the first time on a Phillip Booker two yard touchdown dive to narrow Gordonsville’s lead to 49-7.

Nashville Christian would score again after another Tiger fumble on a 42 yard run by Booker but the PAT would fail and with 5:25 left,the Tigers led 49-13.

The younger Tigers would get their own score on the ensuing drive when freshman Billy Newton rumbled 45 yards for the final score of the game.  The PAT failed and Gordonsville got their first playoff win of 2011, 55-13.

With the win, the Tigers will travel to Rutherford County this Friday to take on number one seeded Eagleville, after the Eagleville Eagles defeated Columbia Academy 21-7.

Gordonsville will begin its playoff run tomorrow night when the number six seeded, Nashville Christian Eagles pay a visit to Gordonsville. 

The Eagles enter the game fresh off a 28-24 victory over number three seeded Moore County last Friday night.  The team finished a disappointing 5-6 in the regular season, but lost close games to district rivals, Houston County, Jo Byrns and McEwen.

The Tigers enter the playoffs fresh off a bye week.  Gordonsville’s last game was fourteen days ago when the Tigers defeated lowly Pickett County, 62-14.

Game time for tomorrow night’s game is 7pm.

Billy Newton

Tyler Coleman

Here are a few assorted pictures from Gordonsville’s win over Pickett County, 62-14 last Friday night. 

 

 

Keaton Cason

Gordonsville, which finished the season with an 8-2 record, is the number 2 seed in quadrant 2 of the Class A playoffs.  If the Tigers win in next week’s game, the team would most likely face number one seeded Eagleville, who enters the playoffs with a perfect 10-0 record and are many people’s pick to challenge for the state title.

Nic Payne after scoring a touchdown in last Friday night's game vs. Pickett County.Vincent Escobedo

When your team loses to a district rival in football, one of two things usually happen the next week.  Either the team will fold and spiral downhill, or they will refocus and play with resolve.  Gordonsville last Friday night chose the latter. 

Patrick Lancaster and Tyler Coen were part of a sufficating defense in the Tigers' game vs. Monterey.

Coming off a tough district loss to Trousdale County the prior week, Monterey proved to be just what the doctor ordered for the Tigers.  The Wildcats proved to be no match for Payton Watson and the high powered Blue and White offense as Gordonsville easily defeated Monterey 55-7.

Monterrey simply could not generate any form of offense for most of the night as Gordonsville’s defense swarmed to the ball and shut down the Wildcats’ passing and rushing attack. 

The Tiger offense shined all night long, as six different Tigers found the end zone.  Sophomore, Kaelin Cason had a coming out party, rushing for two scores in the game individually.

Vincent Escobedo caught two touchdown passes in the Tigers' game vs. Monterey.

After forcing a punt on Monterey’s first possession, Tiger quarterback Payton Watson quickly found the end zone on a 37 yard strike to Vincent Escobedo, giving the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.

Monterey would turn the ball over on downs deep in Gordonsville territory and the Tigers put together a brilliant eight play, 75 yard scoring drive culminating in a Tyler Coleman 15 yard scoring scamper to expand Gordonsville’s lead to 14 with 1:26 left in the first quarter.

Gordonsville would again force a Wildcat punt and six plays later, Payton Watson would reach the end zone on a 22 yard keeper to give Gordonsville a three touchdown lead, 21-0.

Both teams would swap possessions then the Wildcats would get their only score of the contest when Ben Strahlman would get loose in the secondary on a pass from quarterback, Levi Raines, and rumble 77yards downfield for a touchdown.  The extra point was good and with 3:20 left in the half, Monterey had trimmed Gordonsville’s lead to 14, 21-7.

The Tigers would quickly get the touchdown back when Watson would hook up again with Escobedo in the end zone, near the end of the half, giving the Tigers a 28-7 going into the break.

Sophomore, Kaelin Cason scored two touchdowns and had and interception in the Tigers' game vs. Monterey last Friday night.

While the second half proved to be Gordonsville, all the time, the third period proved to be sophomore, Kalin Cason’s.

Cason would find the end zone early in the third quarter on a 10 yard touchdown run from scrimmage to increase the Tigers’ lead to four touchdowns.  Gordonsville would then force a Monterey fumble and Nic Payne would dive into the end zone to give the Tigers a commanding 42-7 lead midway through the third stanza.

Cason would then intercept a Monterey pass, returning it to midfield.  The next

Tyler Coleman pushes away Monterey's Nicky Henry in last Friday's game at Gordonsville

play, Cason would take the handoff from Watson and finish the job, rolling 50 yards all the way to the end zone, giving Gordonsville the 49-7 lead.

The Tigers subbed their players in the final period and Freshman Taylor Hunt got his first touchdown of the season to give the Tigers the victory, on what would prove to be the final score of the game, 55-7.

With the win, the Tigers even their overall record at 2-2 on the season, and 2-1 in the district.  Gordonsville will host Jackson County this Friday night for the Tigers’ Homecoming.

In Trousdale County you can always count on two things; a winning football team and fans who demand it.  Friday night was no exception to these rules when regional foe Gordonsville paid a visit to Hartsville and found themselves leaving on the losing side of a 20-34 score.

The game was a true tale of two halves, as both teams played strong defensively in the first half before the Yellow Jackets, behind a strong running attack was able to pull away in the second.

The game started out promisingly enough for the Tigers as they were able to force a three-and-out on Trousdale’s first series of the game.  Gordonsville then looked impressive on its first drive as the Tigers running game attacked the Trousdale defense effectively before Tiger’s quarterback, Payton Watson found junior, Kaleb Bush for a 35 yard passing touchdown to strike first blood in the contest 7-0 with 6:47 left in the first quarter.

Vincent Escobedo dances around the Trousdale Defense.

Trousdale looked to answer on the ensuing drive as they marched methodically down the field behind the one-two rushing attack of seniors, Steven Turner and Jordan Harper.  The Yellow Jackets drove deep into Gordonsville territory before Jordan Harper fumbled and Tigers’ all everything Payton Watson pounced on it at the Gordonsville 2 yard line.

Gordonsville was able to move the ball back out to the 15 yard line before time expired in the first quarter and then would advance the ball to the 25, but two false starts by the Tigers’ offensive line ultimately forced the White and Blue to punt, giving the Yellow Jackets a short field to work with as they took over at their own 36 yard line with two minutes gone in the second quarter.

The Yellow Jackets would again showcase their running attack as TC would march 64 yards down the field on an eight play, three minute drive behind Turner and Harper before Turner dove into the end-zone from one yard out to give the Yellow Jackets their first score of the game.  The PAT was no good, however, and with 7:38 left in the first half, Gordonsville clung to a 7-6 lead.

Trousdale would force a Gordonsville punt before moving the ball down to the Gordonsville 43 yard line again behind big runs by Jordan Harper and freshman Kenyan Harper.  TC quarterback, Hunter Murphee then found junior Garrett Crafton on a 43 yard touchdown strike to take the lead.  The Yellow Jackets opted to go for two and Jordan Harper dove into the end-zone giving Trousdale County their first lead of the game 7-14 with just over two minutes remaining in the half.

The Tigers looked like they would answer before time expired in the first half but Payton Watson was sacked deep in Trousdale territory effectively ending the half with the Tigers trailing by a touchdown.

Gordonsville received the ball first in the second half, but Trousdale would force a turnover after sacking Payton Watson at midfield.  The Tiger defense again bowed its back, stopping TC short after the Yellow Jackets gambled on fourth down.

It would then only take one play for Payton Watson to reach pay-dirt as he carried the ball on a keeper 56 yards to the house for a Tigers’ touchdown.  Gage Harrelson’s kick was good and with 6:05 left in the third, Gordonsville had tied the game at 14 apiece.

Whatever high spirits Gordonsville had wouldn’t last long, however.

After a good TC return, the Yellow Jackets again marched down the field and quickly answered the Gordonsville score.  This time senior, Devon Turczyn’s number was called and he carried the ball into the end-zone from nine yards out, to re-give the Yellow Jackets the lead.  This time the point-after was good and with 4:09 left in the third the home team led 14-21.

Tyler Coleman found himself running through the stiff Yellow Jackets' defense all night long in the Tigers' game versus Trousdale County, Friday night.

Gordonsville appeared frustrated as Vincent Escobedo was flagged for an un-sportsmen like conduct penalty, ultimately forcing Gordonsville to punt the ball back to the Yellow Jackets.

TC would take advantage of the gift as they would begin to wear down the Tigers’ defense by marching 59 yards down the field on a ten play drive that ate up four and a half minutes off the clock, taking the game into the 4^th quarter. 

With 9:50 left in the game, Devon Turczyn would again find the end-zone to extend the TC lead to 13.  The PAT was good and suddenly Gordonsville found themselves down by two touchdowns, 14-28.

Tasting blood, Trousdale decided to onside kick and the Yellow Jackets were able to recover the ball.  Two plays later, Steven Turner rumbled 51 yards for a touchdown to give the Yellow Jackets a comfortable 20 point lead.  The point after failed, and with 9:07 to go, Trousdale led 14-34.

TC’s defense would stiffen and the only answer the Tigers could give would come with just under a minute left in the game when Payton Watson would sneak across the goal line for a final Gordonsville Touchdown.   The PAT would fail and that would prove to be the final points of the game, giving the Tigers a tough, 20-34 defeat.

With the loss, the Tigers fall to 1-2 on the season and will face region foe, Monterey next Friday night at home.

Tyler Coleman, Payton Watson and Vincent Escobedo helped anchor a strong Tiger defensive effort Friday night.

Still reeling from a double overtime loss to in county rival, Smith County last week, the Gordonsville Tigers faithful must have wondered how much time their team would need to put such a heartbreaking loss behind them.  On a muggy evening in Lebanon Friday night, they got their answer as the steamed up Tigers willed their way to victory over a very good Friendship Christian team, 26-20. 

The win didn’t come easily for the Tigers, as much of the first half, the boys in white found themselves trailing on the scoreboard.  But, behind a strong defensive effort and a stellar performance both offensively and defensively by junior quarterback and defensive back, Payton Watson, the Tigers tasted  victory for the first time this season, evening their record at 1-1.

The large crowd in attendance didn’t have to wait long for the fireworks to begin as FC freshman, Steven Hollis took the opening kickoff 75 yards for a Commander touchdown, forcing the Tigers to find themselves in a 7-0 deficit with only 0:15 gone in the contest.

After Gordonsville threw a interception deep in FC territory, the Tiger defense would force a punt, setting up a three play 1:35 Gordonsville drive resulting in a 35 yard touchdown pass from Watson to senior wideout Vincent Escobedo, to knot the score at 7-7 with 5:35 left in the first quarter.

Kaelin Cason evades FC's Aaron Johnson during the Tigers' victory Friday night.

Both teams would trade punts for the rest of the frame, but after a Gordonsville fumble a little over a minute into the second quarter, FC handed the ball to freshman tailback Andrew Wood, who connected with Dalton Patterson for a 54 yard scoring pass.  The extra-point attempt was no good and with 10:37 left in the first half, the Commanders held a 13-7 lead.

Friendship looked to have a golden opportunity, as the Commanders would return a Tiger interception all the way to the Gordonsville 15 yard line.  Four plays later, and after losing 8 yards, the FC team gave the ball back to the Tigers, thanks to a fierce defensive effort displayed by the White and Blue.

Sensing blood in the water, Gordonsville would march down the field on an eight play, 3:02 drive resulting in an 18 yard touchdown run by senior Keaton Cason.  The point after was good and Gordonsville would take a slim 14-13 lead into the intermission.

The Gordonsville defense would begin to gain control of the game in the second half, effectively utilizing a “bend but don’t break” defensive scheme that would stop the FC offense inside the 10 yard-line after an impressive 4:53, 62 yard FC drive in the third quarter.   The Tigers would then put together an impressive drive of their own, spanning 80 yards and resulting in a 27 yard touchdown pass from Watson to Escobedo.  The point after was no good and with 1:58 left in the third quarter, Gordonsville held a seven point lead 20-13.

Gordonsville looked like they might put the game away in the final period, as the White and Blue again marched 80 yards down the field in a 14 play, 6:32 drive culminating in a 2 yard touchdown run by Watson, to give the visitors a seemingly comfortable 26-13 lead with 5:19 left in the contest.

Friendship had other plans; however, as the Commanders put together an 80 yard scoring drive of their own, resulting in a 15 yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brennan Swindoll to senior Drew Hutchison.  This time the point after was true and FC pulled within a touchdown at 26-20.

To Gordonsville horror, FC recovered an onside kick and looked to set themselves up for an improbable victory with only 50 yards between themselves and a tying score.  However, another heroic effort by the Tiger defense ended the drive after Payton Watson intercepted an FC pass to effectively end the game.

After the contest, Gordonsville improves to 1-1 and Friendship Christian falls to 1-2 on the season.  Gordonsville will travel to Hartsville this Friday night to face perennial district powerhouse Trousdale County.

Week 0     Aug. 19     OPEN DATE

Week 1     Aug. 26     vs. Smith Co. (DTC-TV)

Week 2     Sept. 2       at Friendship Christian*

Week 3     Sept. 9       at Trousdale Co.*

Week 4     Sept. 16     vs. Monterey*

Week 5     Sept. 23     vs. Jackson Co.*

Week 6     Sept. 30     at Red Boiling Springs*

Week 7     Oct. 7         at Westmoreland

Week 8     Oct. 14       at Watertown* (DTC-TV)

Week 9     Oct. 21       vs. Clay Co.* (DTC-TV)

Week 10   Oct. 28       vs. Pickett Co.*

* – DENOTES DISTRICT GAME

(DTC-TV) – Game to be web-streamed live and televised on a tape delay basis by DTC-TV.