Smyrna quarterback John Turner throws a pass as coach Matt Williams watches.

Smyrna freshman Nick Watkins makes a move on an opponent during the 7-on-7 tournament at MTSU.

Smyrna coach Matt Williams talks to his team during Saturday’s 7-on-7 tournament at MTSU.

Smyrna’s Austin Brown makes a move on Oakland’s Lazarius Patterson during Saturday’s 7-on-7 tournament at MTSU.

MURFREESBORO – High school football teams have been relegated to playing one-hand touch the past two weeks while practicing and playing 7-on-7 in shorts and helmets.

On Monday things begin to get a little more physical as teams spend the next five days practicing in helmets and shoulder pads to get acclimated to the heat.

“You can do a little more, that’s for sure,” Smyrna coach Matt Williams said. “We’ll do a little more one-on-one stuff and some inside drills.

“Obviously, it’s going to have to be thud. It can’t be going to the ground. We’ll make sure we preach to the kids about staying off the ground.”

The TSSAA mandates that every high school football player have a minimum of three days of practice in shoulder pads before the beginning of full practice in pads on July 27.

New Wing-T? No problem for Patriots

While the measure is for safety, this allows for more work to be done than what teams have been doing the past two weeks. Skill players and linemen, who have stayed separate the past two weeks, will begin to work together more as more offense and defense is installed.

But doing things safely will be the key.

“We can have a few more collisions,” Oakland coach Kevin Creasy said. “It’s a little bit safer. Most of the pros, that’s how they practice full time.

“So we’re going to try to learn how to practice like a pro. There are going to be times this season when we are going to practice in helmets and shells.”

Oakland has had its share of injuries the past two weeks, including an ankle sprain to standout two-way player JaCoby Stevens.

Q&A: Rohling leads county athletic trainers

Creasy said this week will be a learning experience for his team.

“We aren’t going to have a lot of contact, but we are going to have to learn how to practice in shells,” he said. “We are going to have to take care of each other. We have to be smart.

“I think more than anything it’s about getting more mentally tough when you are practicing and it’s 99 degrees outside.”

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

Murfreesboro places four in 6A preseason poll

Rutherford Co. Football Jamboree

Stewarts Creek will host the fourth annual Rutherford County Football Jamboree on Aug. 14.

Here is the schedule:

6 p.m.: Stewarts Creek vs. Blackman

7 p.m.: Riverdale vs. Smyrna

8 p.m.: Summit vs. Siegel

9 p.m.: La Vergne vs. Oakland

Oakland’s JaCoby Stevens (7) was named to the ESPN 300 for being one of the top college football recruits for the Class of 2017.

La Vergne’s Maleik Gray was named to the ESPN 300 for being one of the top college football recruits for the Class of 2017.

MURFREESBORO – Three Rutherford County rising juniors are included among the top college prospects in the country in a list of ESPN’s top 300 players for the Class of 2017.

La Vergne’s Princeton Fant and Maleik Gray along with Oakland’s JaCoby Stevens were among 11 Tennessee football players on the national list.

It marks the second time this month that a national Website has recognized Gray and Stevens among the top juniors in the country.

Gray and Stevens were listed in the top Rivals 100 among college football prospects for 2017.

Stevens, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete, is ranked No. 24 by ESPN and No. 72 by Rivals. His college offers include Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

JaCoby Stevens

“It’s a blessing saying that some people believe that I am in the top 100 in the country,” Stevens said. “It’s what I’ve been working for.

“I’m never going to be complacent, though. I’m always going to be looking at who is listed above me. The ranking is good, but it doesn’t affect my work ethic.”

Stevens, who was named to The Daily News Journal’s All-Area first team, recorded 50 tackles, three interceptions and recovered a pair of fumbles a year ago. He also caught 19 passes for 279 yards.

Gray, a 6-2, 195-pound athlete, is ranked No. 25 by Rivals and No. 48 ESPN. Gray had 43 carries for 152 yards with two touchdowns on offense in limited time at running back in 2014.

Maleik Gray

He had 61 tackles on defense at linebacker. His college offers include Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Mississippi State, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC and Vanderbilt.

Gray went to Southern California in June, which opened his eyes at the possibility of playing on the West Coast.

“I loved it,” Gray said. “Just being out there in California and experiencing the West Coast was amazing. Growing up as a Southern boy, I had never seen anything like that. It’s like it’s its own country.

“That was a big eye-opener. When I first got the offer from USC I was like, ‘I don’t want to go there. It’s too far from home.’ Now that I’ve taken the visit, it’s changed my mind completely. The school, its academics. I could see myself going to a place like that.

“But I’m still young. I still have time.”

Fant, a 6-1, 180-pound wide receiver, is listed at No. 235 on the ESPN list. He will likely miss the entire regular season as he continues to recover from a torn ACL in his right knee sustained during the spring. He may be back by the postseason. Fant had nine carries for 141 yards and had 14 catches for 326 yards in 2014.

Princeton Fant

“It’s been tough being out there with my boys because I’m a big part of the team,” said Fant, who is ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation. “I’m trying to get back, but trying to not go too fast so I re-injure it.”

Fant’s college offers include Louisville, MTSU, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vanderbilt.

“I didn’t get to go to as many camps as I wanted to,” Fant said. “Hopefully, I can get back up in my recruiting next year.”

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

ESPN 300 Class of 2017

Eleven rising juniors from Tennessee have made the ESPN 300 list for the Class of 2017. The list are the Website’s top 300 college football prospects in the country.

Ranked

Name

High School

Position

No. 5

Trey Smith

USJ

OT

No. 24

JaCoby Stevens

Oakland

ATH

No. 48

Maleik Gray

La Vergne

ATH

No. 83

Tee Higgins

Oak Ridge

WR

No. 93

Ty Chandler

MBA

RB

No. 129

Isaiah Stokes

Lausanne Collegiate

OT

No. 175

Amari Rodgers

Knoxville Catholic

RB

No. 183

Cordarrian Richardson

Trezevant

RB

No. 235

Princeton Fant

La Vergne

WR

No. 294

Jacob Phillips

East Nashville

ILB

No. 299

Ben Hutch

Hillsboro

DT

High school football classic building momentum
JaCoby Stevens not distracted by college offers

Chris Myers

LA VERGNE – Chris Myers has grown up in a family of college athletes.

His older brother, Robert “Snacks” Myers, played at Tennessee State and was drafted in May in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. Older sister Stephanie Myers played at MTSU and later TSU.

And now Chris Myers, a La Vergne High rising senior, will follow in their footsteps.

The youngest of the three committed to MTSU football Tuesday, becoming the sixth commitment for the Class of 2016. Chris Myers is a 6-foot-6, 235-pound defensive end and tight end for La Vergne.

He will likely play defensive end at MTSU.

“I like to hit people,” Chris Myers said. “I like the defensive staff (at MTSU). They showed me a lot of love.”

Chris Myers also had offers from Samford and TSU. Kentucky, Tennessee and Vanderbilt had also shown interest in him.

Commitments are non-binding for the athlete and the school. The La Vergne athlete cannot sign until Feb. 3.

He caught two passes for 36 yards in 2014. He had 13 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Chris Myers is the first Rutherford County football player to commit to a FBS program for the Class of 2016. Stewarts Creek’s Cynterius Lyons has committed to Austin Peay.

“You have to go to their house and give their mother credit,” La Vergne coach Standon Stevens said. “She has prepared them not only from a physical standpoint, but an academic standpoint.

“His grades are good. He has a 3.6 or a 3.7 GPA. So my hats are off to his mother for the job she has done with them.”

Chris Myers said he liked getting to know recruiting coordinator Steve Ellis and defensive line coach Tommy West.

By committing early, he can now focus on his senior season. La Vergne begins practice in full pads on Monday.

“I think it’s one of those things that it takes pressure off of him and allows him to enjoy his senior year,” Stevens said. “He can follow in the footsteps of his brother and maybe one day have the opportunity to play professional football.

“MTSU gives him that opportunity and platform. They play a good schedule and have a good program. Who knows, if things work out there is a chance one day he could be right where his brother is right now.”

And Chris Myers believes he may one day get to the professional level like his older brother.

“If he can do it, I can do it too,” he said.

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

Harriman’s Trey Peters commits to MTSU football
Independence’s Stribling commits to MTSU
MTSU wraps up weekend with three verbal commitments

MTSU

La Vergne’s Chris Myers commits to MTSU football
Analyst: MTSU duo primed for the NFL

Harriman offensive lineman Trey Peters committed to MTSU for the 2016 recruiting class Wednesday night.

MURFREESBORO – MTSU picked up its second commitment in 24 hours and seventh of the class of 2016 late Wednesday night.

Offensive lineman Trey Peters of Harriman High School in East Tennessee confirmed to The Daily News Journal that he committed to the Blue Raiders.

“They were the first ones to offer, which meant a lot to me,” Peters said. “They’ve been really consistent about showing me how much they wanted me to come there. It felt like a big family.”

Peters’ decision came just hours after La Vergne High defensive end Chris Myers pledged his loyalties to MTSU earlier in the day.

The duo became the fourth and fifth commitments for the Blue Raiders over the past five days.

Commitments are non-binding for the school and the player. Players can’t sign with MTSU until national signing day Feb. 3.

“I’m rock solid,” Peters said about his commitment. “It’s the place I want to spend the next four or five years of my life playing football and getting to know a bunch of new people who will be friends for life.”

Peters is a 6-foot-7, 301-pound tackle. He chose MTSU over eight other offers, including Western Kentucky, Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Memphis, among others.

He said he also had interest from Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

“He’s a big kid that is very physical,” Harriman coach Travis Tapp said. “He’s just real physical up front. Some of the clips of him getting on linebackers out in space, he can move. When he locks onto you, your not getting rid of him.

“We preach physicality and I think (MTSU) saw that.”

Peters, 16, is rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals and a three-star prospect, according to 247Sports’ composite rankings, which are a compilation of all the major college football recruiting websites’ rankings.

“I like to work on my footwork and my finesse, but I’m a power type of guy,” Peters said of his play on the field. “I love power football. I love to run block. I think I’ll be able to really MTSU keep up with its tradition of running the football.”

Peters is the first offensive lineman to commit to MTSU for the class of 2016 and was recruited by offensive line coach Geep Wade and safeties coach David Bibee.

He joins Myers, quarterback Kyle Banks, cornerback Justin Brown, defensive back Kylan Stribling, linebacker Dale Craig and tight end Nick Bryant as members of Raiders’ 2016 class of commitments.

“He’s very important to us,” Tapp said. “We’re a run-oriented team. We had a kid last year with more than 1,600 yards, and Treyton was a big part of that. We’re running behind him a lot. When you get a kid like him who can pull and move as well as he does, it’s going to have a lot to do with a guy like (Peters).”

Contact Will Borthick at wborthick@dnj.com or 615-278-5167. Follow him on Twitter @willborthick.

2016 MTSU Commitments

Name

Position

Height

Weight

Kyle Banks

QB

6-2

185

Justin Brown

CB

6-1

188

Kylan Stribling

DB

5-11

180

William Craig

LB

6-0

225

Nick Bryant

TE

6-3

240

Chris Myers

DE

6-6

235

Trey Peters

OL

6-7

301

Smyrna quarterback John Turner spent time recently at the Manning Passing Academy

50 questions for 50 days before high school kickoff

SMYRNA – Two north Rutherford high school quarterbacks spent time earlier this month in Louisiana honing their skills at the Manning Passing Academy.

Smyrna High’s John Turner and Stewarts Creek’s Chris Dye participated in the same group at the camp, working with various college quarterbacks including Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton.

“It was amazing,” said Turner, who was the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback a year ago as a sophomore. “It was a great event. I just wish I had gotten a chance to meet (Peyton) Manning. I never got to speak to him.

“We got to meet a bunch of college quarterbacks.”

Keeton was the two quarterbacks’ group leader. Other quarterbacks that worked with them included Baylor quarterback Seth Russell, Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel and Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner.

“He taught me something about throwing shorter routes,” Dye said. “He told me to make sure my front leg wasn’t extended so much, so I could throw the ball on a rope, keeping it at the same level without it dying on me.”

Both quarterbacks are projected starters in 2015. Turner, a rising junior, threw for 1,333 yards a year ago on 116 of 206 passing with 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Dye, a rising senior, was 45 of 78 passing for 426 yards with a touchdown and interception as a backup to Mason Hall last season.

Turner said he also learned several mental aspects of the game that can help him this season.

“They said to just be yourself,” Turner said. “They said to play within your game. Don’t try and do anything fancy, just keep your composure.”

Dye has traveled around the country this summer, fine tuning his skills while trying to catch the eye of college football coaches. He’s attended 15 college camps and is headed to Tennessee-Chattanooga with Stewarts Creek receiver Cynterius Lyons Saturday.

“I’m going to them really to try to get noticed by the coaches,” said Dye, who has received college interest from several schools, but has not yet received any offers. “I want to play college football. But I always pick something little up from a coach or a player or someone that is there at the camp like me.”

Dye has gone to the Manning Academy since his eighth-grade year except last year when he didn’t register in time for it.

“I’ve been a big fan of Manning since I was a kid,” he said.

Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

Stewarts Creek’s Chris Dye recently attended the Manning Passing Academy.

Oakland and coach Kevin Creasy filled its regular-season schedule this week, scheduling Haywood High School for Oct. 9.

MURFREESBORO – Oakland football coach Kevin Creasy found a 10th game and won’t have to travel to another state.

Oakland will play host to Haywood Oct. 9 in Week 8 to fill its regular season.

The new game comes three weeks after the Patriots discovered a vacancy on their schedule when a misunderstanding with Pulaski Academy (Arkansas) led to the Little Rock school to drop the Patriots and schedule a new team. Oakland had been scheduled to play in Little Rock, Arkansas, Sept. 11.

The game change, though, will force Oakland to play during fall break for the fifth consecutive year.

“Our guys are used to playing on fall break,” Oakland coach Kevin Creasy said. “I’m not sure if they had anything planned any way.

“We were going to practice three of those five days that week. Now you throw in a walk-through on Thursday and a game on Friday.”

Oakland opens the season Aug. 22 at MTSU against Hoover, Alabama in the inaugural Middle Tennessee Football Classic presented by Venture Express. The Patriots then play last year’s Class 5A state runner-up Hillsboro and rival Siegel before the Patriots’ off week.

“This gives us a break after a rough start,” Creasy said. “We may need that.”

Oakland finished 12-2 in Class 6A in 2014, falling to Maryville in the state semifinals. Haywood, a Class 4A program, finished 4-6 last season.

Haywood and coach Steve Hookfin will play at Oakland this season.

“The contract isn’t signed yet as far as I know, but coach Creasy and I have a gentlemen’s agreement until it’s signed, and it will be signed,” said Haywood coach Steve Hookfin. “This is a good game for us.

“I’ve never shied away from having a tough schedule, and putting a 6A power like Oakland on our schedule late in the season will be a good test for us and — if we’re fortunate enough to be in that position — be a good playoff tune-up for us.”

Creasy said he doesn’t know much about Haywood. However, he knows they will be well coached by Hookfin, who used to be at Liberty. And he knows the Tomcats will be athletic.

“I know they have one of the top defensive ends in Tennessee, if not the nation (in Emmit Gooden),” Creasy said. “They are always athletic, and their new coach did a phenomenal job at Liberty in Jackson. He’s always done a good job and never shied away from anybody.

“Haywood has always been known for having talent. Back in the day they were really talented school.”

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

Contributing: Brandon Shields, Gannett Tennessee

Oakland, Pulaski Academy disagree on canceled game

La Vergne and coach Stanton Stevens will compete in Class 5A this season.

Siegel’s Greedy Howse is Rutherford County’s leading returning rusher from 2014.

MURFREESBORO – It’s that time of year. The slate is clean. All teams have their sights set on a gold ball. High school football practice in full pads begins Monday across the state.

Here is what you need to know as players take the field.

5 STORYLINES FOR THE PRESEASON

Can Riverdale build depth on the offensive and defensive line?

It’s the biggest question on Riverdale’s roster. The Warriors are full at the skilled positions. However, there is plenty of room to build depth in the trenches. Riverdale has a good base with returning linemen Sam Glasgow, Seth Black and Nick Boykin. After that, though, things begin to get interesting.

How will a drop to 5A help La Vergne, Stewarts Creek?

La Vergne and Stewarts Creek will have a change of scenery the next two seasons, dropping from 6A to 5A. La Vergne is coming off a year where the Wolverines advanced to the second round of the playoffs and should be a contender to win Region 5-5A.

Stewarts Creek is entering Year 3 of the program and has made strides. A drop down in classification should put the Red Hawks in a spot to be much more competitive and possibly earn their first playoff berth.

Who wins Oakland’s quarterback battle?

It’s been the most interesting position to date with Cody Miller and Brendan Matthews alternating snaps in all four 7-on-7 tournaments the Patriots participated in this summer.

Neither has been a starting quarterback. Miller was a backup at Oakland. Matthews was a backup at Independence last year.

Who replaces Blackman’s secondary?

The biggest graduation loss for the Blaze defense occurred in the secondary, with all four defensive backs graduating.

Amauri Burks, Taeler Dowdy, Jeremiah Wade and Cory Rankins will be in the rotation at cornerback. Dowdy gives the Blaze a big corner at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. Darius Simple, Blake Taylor and Ibrahim Qadir will fill the void left at safety.

Can Siegel rebound after a 3-7 season?

Siegel’s 2014 schedule was brutal, playing non-district foes Beech, Ooltewah, McCallie and Science Hill. The schedule is more manageable in 2015. And quarterback Jordan Middleton and running back Greedy Howse return as starters.

5 NEWCOMERS TO TRACK IN 2015

•Brandon Bea, Riverdale, Sr.: The transfer from Vancouver, Wash., is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound quarterback taking over the starting role from Cortland Owens.

•Ethan Cobb, Eagleville, Fr.: He may be a freshman, but at 6-1, 180 pounds, Cobb will replace A.J. Garza as the Eagles’ signal caller to allow Garza to go to running back.

•Dre Litaker, Oakland, So.: The Patriots’ 6-3, 285-pounder will have a presence on the line as either a tight end or tackle.

•Joseph Sewell, Blackman, Jr.: Sewell, a 6-3, 265-pounder, got a small taste a year ago at tight end. He could be the best receiving tight end in the county this season.

•Blake Watkins, Smyrna, Fr.: The former Rock Springs standout will see playing time at running back and possibly in the secondary.

FEELING THE HEAT

High school football coaches and athletic trainers will monitor the heat index at practices and scrimmages the next few weeks. Here is the TSSAA’s heat index policy:

105 degrees or higher: Stop all outdoor activity. Re-check after 30 minutes.

100-104: Provide ample water. Water should be unlimited to athletes. Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes lasting 10 minutes. Iced towels should be available. Alter uniforms by removing layers if possible. Remove helmets, equipment when in non-contact drills. Postpone practice if possible. Re-check after 30 minutes.

95-99: Provide ample water. Water should be unlimited to athletes. Mandatory water breaks every 30 minutes lasting 10 minutes. Iced towels should be available. Postpone practice if possible. Re-check after 30 minutes.

Story continues below photo

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Today: First day teams can practice in full pads.

Thursday: Oakland is at Ravenwood, the 2014 6A state runner-up, for a work session on the first day teams can practice with or scrimmage with other teams. But both teams must have three days of practice in full pads.

Friday: First big day for scrimmages. Siegel hosts 2014 Division II-AA state champion MBA at 9 a.m. in the biggest scrimmage of the day.

Aug. 5: Once district rivals, La Vergne plays at Blackman in a scrimmage.

Aug. 14: Stewarts Creek is holding the fourth annual Rutherford County Football Jamboree at 6 p.m.

Aug. 20: Siegel plays at Ravenwood to kick off the high school season for Rutherford County teams.

Aug. 21: Smyrna plays at La Vergne on television on first Friday night of the high school season.

Aug. 22: The inaugural Middle Tennessee Kickoff Classic presented by Venture Express will be held at MTSU. Blackman plays Clay-Chalkville (Ala.) at 4 p.m. and Oakland plays Hoover (Ala.) at 7 p.m.

KEY NUMBERS

0: Wins in six games against Maryville since 2009.

1: Starter (Matthew Leifheit) returning on offense for Blackman off last year’s 11-2 team.

3: New head coaches in Rutherford County. They are David Watson at Blackman, Shawn Bell at Lancaster Christian Academy and Kevin Creasy at Oakland.

4: Regions that will include Rutherford County teams. They include 6-6A, 5-5A, 4-2A and 5-1A.

7: Years since Oakland was the most recent Rutherford County team to win a state championship.

32: Teams in the new Class 6A. And all are automatically in the playoffs.

815: Receiving yards for Riverdale’s Marquise Cantrell, who is the county’s returning receiving leader.

980: Rushing yards for Siegel’s Greedy Howse, who is the county’s returning rushing leader.

1,382: Passing yards for Siegel’s Jordan Middleton, who is the county’s returning passing leader.

NEW PRACTICE REGULATIONS

• Practice time must not exceed three hours for a single practice.

• If there are multiple practices in a day, only one should have full contact.

• Total practice time in pads a day should not exceed five hours, with practices separated by at least three hours of rest in a cool area.

• No athlete should have multiple practices in pads on consecutive days. Helmets can be worn at any time. A practice would be considered in pads if shoulder pads and/or football pants with or without pads are worn.

NEW PRACTICE LIMITATIONS IN-SEASON

• Full contact allowed in no more than three practices a week.

• Full contact in practice no more than 30 minutes per day per group.

• Full contact not permitted on three consecutive days.

• No player can participate in more than eight quarters in one week, on the offensive or defensive side. Special teams participation does not count toward those limitations.

(Full contact is contact which meets the parameters of live action or “thud.” Live action is contact at game speed where players execute full tackles at a competitive pace, taking players to the ground. Thud is defined as competitive tempo with no predetermined winner of a drill with the players not tackling to the ground.)

SIGNIFICANT NFHS RULE CHANGES

Dead-ball penalty enforcement modified: The distance penalties for unsportsmanlike, non-player or dead-ball personal fouls committed by teams can offset. Equal numbers of 15-yard penalties by both teams will cancel and remaining penalties may be enforced.

The rule will matter most when close to the goal line where officials now won’t count off half the distance to the goal line on one side and a full 15 yards the opposite direction.

Free-kick formations revised: Teams must have at least four players on each side of the kicker when the ball is kicked.

Prior to the rule, teams were forced to have at least four players on each side prior to the kick. This could allow more players moving around on kickoffs.

Riverdale’s Michael Bennett runs the ball during the school’s first day of pracitce with pads on Monday July 28, 2015.

High school football players put on the helmets, and full pads for the first time Monday to welcome the first official day of practice. In Rutherford County, Riverdale was one of the first to begin practice, getting started before 7 a.m.

Here is a first-person account from DNJ prep writer Tom Kreager on the first day of football practice throughout Rutherford County.

6 a.m.: The alarm goes off and the first practice is less than an hour from starting. The good thing? I’m not participating and hit the snooze for a few more minutes of sleep.

6:13 a.m.: OK. It’s time to get up, take a quick shower and head out the door. First practice of the day will start at Riverdale.

6:51 a.m.: A heavy dew is visible on the Riverdale football practice field. Teammates Kantrell Green, Austin Bryant and Brandon Bea walk through the parking lot together as they prepare to start practice. Bryant is a returning starter at running back. Bea is a transfer from Vancouver, Wash., and will be the team’s starting quarterback.

6:52 a.m.: Linebackers coach Bobby Wells is already at the far end of the practice field working with players on footwork skills. Wells, who has been the team’s defensive coordinator since 2009, has given that responsibility to Will Kriesky.

7:11 a.m.: Kriesky isn’t happy with the effort after a drill. “Do not walk off this field. Jog off this field. Do not walk on this field.”

7:16 a.m.: Riverdale assistant Nate Paris is working on open field tackle drills. “Drop your hips, not your eyes,” said Paris as a safety tip to players. “Protect your head.”

7:56 a.m.: “Make some good habits today,” Stewarts Creek assistant David Barger shouts to receivers as they catch passes from an assistant. Stewarts Creek is coming off a 2-8 season, but has dropped down from 6A to 5A.

8:03 a.m.: Stewarts Creek assistant Jason Scharsch pulls a player aside and goes over proper stance and how he should be running to the play. “It’s those little things,” Scharsch said.

8:05 a.m.: “Well lookey there,” Scharsch said to a player after he knocked an opponent to the ground with a big hit.

8:34 a.m.: Coach David Martin has the team working on inside drill, using a couple lineman, quarterback and running back on defense and the same number on defense. They have four downs to get to the first-down marker.

9:07 a.m.: Next to Highway 99 in Eagleville, behind the school’s baseball diamond, the Eagles are about 30 minutes into practice. Defensive coordinator Kent Pippenger works with his linebackers and safeties during a defensive pass skeleton drill as coach Steve Carson watches on behind the offense.

9:11 a.m.: Pippenger pulls a player over to get his feet set. “You all have to get to there,” Pippenger said, pointing to a spot on the field.

9:16 a.m.: Assistant coach Tom Fiveash, who once was an assistant at MTSU, works by himself with the offensive and defensive lines. Fiveash has been coaching football for about 40 of the past 50 years. He sits in a golf cart for a break as his line gets a water break and asks how good MTSU will be this fall.

9:49 a.m.: It’s the last 10 minutes of the first of two Blackman High practices. “We don’t know how to huddle,” Blackman coach David Watson yells as loud music is played beside them. Watson later said the practice was a good one, but it tailed off as the heat got to his team.

9:51 a.m.: “Finish the play,” Watson yells. “I want it done the right way.”

10:02 a.m.: Players begin to walk off the practice field at Blackman. They will go to the fieldhouse to cool off. There they will get a sandwich, drink and some fruit before the team returns to the field in shorts, shirts and helmets for a second practice later in the afternoon.

10:29 a.m.: MTCS’ skill players are working on pass skeleton work as second-year coach Fred Shambaugh observes from near midfield. “Get a pick,” assistant Brooks Smith barks at the defense. A defender promptly complies. Smith then runs back to the end zone with the player to celebrate the last play before special teams.

10:32 a.m.: Former MTSU football player Cam Robinson works with the offensive and defensive line along with assistant Owen Barker. Robinson led MTSU in tackles in 2009 when the Blue Raiders went to the New Orleans Bowl. He is new to the Cougars’ staff this year.

10:34 a.m.: The Cougars’ linemen break for water. “We’re all we got. We’re all we need,” the Cougars’ linemen say as they break the huddle. Numbers overall are up for MTCS this year. The Cougars have around 46 players this season after playing with 30 the year prior.

10:58 a.m.: Workers are putting up metal beams at the new Oakland softball indoor hitting facility as the Patriots’ football team wraps up practice with running. The varsity has already taken a break and are relaxing in the school’s annex and indoor facility. Some players are just relaxing before the next practice in shorts and T-shirts begins. Others are running around the darkened facility.

11:08 a.m.: Oakland’s players begin to stretch out for the next practice. Defensive tackle Ty Nix jumps around with teammates as they finishing warming up for the next practice.

11:18 a.m.: Former Oakland all-state linebacker Kevin Prather stands on the sideline as Oakland begins special teams work. He’ll be leaving next week for UT-Martin.

(Note: Come back later to read how the evening practices went at La Vergne, Siegel and Smyrna.).

Tom Kreager, DNJ high school sports reporter, talks with some of the athletic trainers at Stewarts Creek with his iPhone and GoPro in hand, as Kreager arrives at Stewarts Creek for the school’s first day of practice in full pads Monday, July 27, 2015.

MURFREESBORO – Daily News Journal sports writer Tom Kreager has been keeping the people of Rutherford County up-to-date on sports for the past 14 years.

“I believe high school sports still has a level of purity that is lost in college and professional ranks,” Kreager said while he toured the county Monday for football’s first practice in pads.

Kreager has patrolled the press boxes at the high schools in Rutherford and Cannon counties for The Daily News Journal for the past six years.

From his perch above the action on the field, he has collected the latest sports news that he then broadcasts to his dedicated followers through video, online, print and social media.

He said his readers might be surprised to know he really doesn’t have a favorite school.

“Honest,” Kreager said.

Busy first day in pads for football teams

Weekly

Every Wednesday The Daily News Journal will feature a photo essay focusing on a job in Rutherford County. If you’d like to be featured, call 615-893-5860 or email news@dnj.com.

MURFREESBORO – The first day in full pads has come and gone. Scrimmages will begin later this week, and a couple of weeks later will come jamborees.

Here is a look at 13 can’t miss home games in your backyard during the regular season.

Smyrna’s Ikenna Okeke pulls in a catch over La Vergne’s Benjamin O’Shea. The two schools open the season on Aug. 21 at La Vergne.

Week 1

Smyrna at La Vergne, Aug. 21

These two are no longer region rivals. But that won’t decrease the rivalry between these two North Rutherford teams. La Vergne will try to beat Smyrna for just the second time in school history. Oh, and it’s a TV game as well.

Blackman senior Miller Armstrong will make his first start of the season at quarterback on Aug. 22 against Alabama defending Class 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville.

Oakland defensive tackle Ty Nix and the Patriots open the football season on Aug. 22 at MTSU against defending Alabama defending Class 7A state champion Hoover.

Middle Tennessee Football Classic presented by Venture Express, Aug. 22

Blackman and Oakland face arguably the two best teams from Alabama at MTSU to open their seasons. Blackman faces Class 6A defending state champion Clay-Chalkville. Oakland gets defending Class 7A state champion Hoover. This doubleheader is well worth the $15 price of admission.

Stewarts Creek and senior Cynterius Lyons (1) will travel to Smyrna High on Aug. 28 for a non-region game with the Bulldogs.

Week 2

Stewarts Creek at Smyrna, Aug. 28

Stewarts Creek searches for its first win over its budding rival. Smyrna has dominated the first two meetings. A competitive game would help the rivalry. Winner has bragging rights in town for the next year.

Riverdale and Brandon Somerville (15) faces Blackman in the Backyard Brawl on Sept. 4 at Blackman. Somerville played part of the 2014 season at Blackman before transferring to Riverdale.

Week 3

Riverdale at Blackman, Sept. 4

This has been labeled the Backyard Brawl. Blackman defeated Riverdale twice by an average of 30 points in 2014 en route to a Class 6A quarterfinal appearance. However, this rivalry should be much closer this season with Marquise Cantrell, Gentry Bonds and Gene Odom all returning for Riverdale.

Riverdale football coach Ron Aydelott faces Hillsboro, his former school on Sept. 11. Aydelott won a state title at Hillsboro before coming to Riverdale prior to the 2006 season.

Week 4

Hillsboro at Riverdale, Sept. 11

Riverdale football coach Ron Aydelott won a state championship at Hillsboro in 2003 before moving to Murfreesboro three years later. This year he meets his former team for the first time. Hillsboro is the 2014 Class 5A runner-up.

Blackman and running back Taeler Dowdy play at Ray Hughes Stadium on Sept. 18.

Week 5

Blackman at Oakland, Sept. 18

The past two seasons these two programs have been tops in the ’Boro. The two have met four times over the past two seasons. Adding to it is that two former Oakland faculty coaches — Kit Hartsfield and B.J. Oliver — are now at Blackman.

Siegel quarterback Jordan Middleton and the Stars play at Smyrna in what should be a key Region 2-6A game this season on Sept. 25.

Week 6

Siegel at Smyrna, Sept. 25

Siegel held on to beat Smyrna for one of its two district games in 2014. The Stars have beat Smyrna three straight seasons and lost only 28-27 in 2011. This meeting should be another close contest.

Siegel’s Greedy Howse and the Stars travel to Riverdale’s Tomahawk Stadium in Week 7 on Oct. 2.

Week 7

Siegel at Riverdale, Oct. 2

Last game before an open week. After this meeting, both teams may need a few days off to recover.

Oakland’s JaCoby Stevens (7) and the Patriots have 10 games after the Patriots inked a deal to play Haywood for Week 8 on Oct. 9.

Week 8

Haywood at Oakland, Oct. 9

This game was just finalized this week to help fill 10-game schedules for both programs. Haywood has a major college prospect in defensive end Emmit Gooden. But Haywood won’t see a team as talented as Oakland all season.

Riverdale’s Marquise Cantrell and the Warriors play at Ray Hughes Stadium in the Battle of the ’Boro uns the ball after catching a punt return during the Battle of the Boro on Oct. 16. Oakland has won the past two meetings.

Week 9

Riverdale at Oakland, Oct. 16

The Battle of the ’Boro. Oakland has defeated Riverdale the past two seasons. A third straight win is virtually unheard of in this rivalry for Oakland. Oakland’s longest win streak is four from 1987-90.

Riverdale’s Gentry Bonds, Canaan Owens, and Preston Barge play at Smyrna in Week 10 on Oct. 23.

Week 10

Smyrna at Riverdale, Oct. 23

These two teams know each other well. The two met twice a year ago — in the regular-season finale and first week of the playoffs. Plus, they have played each other in the Rutherford County Jamboree the past two years and will meet again Aug. 14 at Stewarts Creek.

Smyrna’s Austin Brown (8) and the Bulldogs wrap up the regular season hosting Oakland on Oct. 30.

Week 11

Oakland at Smyrna, Oct. 30

No better way to end the regular season than a trip to Robert L. Raikes Stadium. The Bulldogs and Patriots have had some classic battles the past few seasons. Oakland has won three straight meetings.

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

La Vergne coach Stanton Stevens works with players during Monday’s practice. La Vergne will drop from 6A to 5A this season.

LA VERGNE – Stewarts Creek cut its teeth competing in an all-Rutherford County Class 6A football league its first two years of existence.

Now in Year 3, the Red Hawks along with North Rutherford rival La Vergne will drop down a class. And both have higher expectations.

“I feel like this is going to be the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here regardless of the classification,” said La Vergne coach Stanton Stevens, who is entering his sixth season. “We made the second round (of the playoffs) last year. I think we could have duplicated that again in 6A.

“We may not have gotten any further. But I think we could at least get to the second round this year had we stayed up. Going down, I’d like to get at least a round or two further.”

La Vergne finished 6-6 in 2014, falling to Oakland 23-7 in the playoffs. La Vergne won three of its last four games to finish on a strong note.

La Vergne was originally slated to be the smallest 6A school in the state, but was given the option to move down to 5A after Maryville requested permission to move from 5A to 6A.

In the new TSSAA playoff system, the schools with the 32 highest enrollments compete in 6A with all qualifying for the playoffs.

In Class 1A-5A the top four teams in each region reach the playoffs, which is like the TSSAA’s playoff plan prior to 2009.

La Vergne and Stewarts Creek are both in Region 5-5A. Columbia, Independence, Franklin County, Lincoln County, Shelbyville and Summit also are in the region.

Stewarts Creek took its lumps over the past two seasons in 6A. The Red Hawks finished 2-8 last season, and are 3-17 in its first two seasons of varsity play. Two of Creek’s three wins have come against Summit.

Stewarts Creek’s Tayne Davis starts to run the ball as Drew Harris moves in for a tackle during a drill during at the school’s first day of practice on Monday. Stewarts Creek will drop from 6A to 5A this season.

Stewarts Creek coach David Martin said the past two seasons competing in an all-Rutherford league should help the Red Hawks this season.

The Red Hawks have played varsity since their first day as a school.

“I don’t think there is any question that our guys have been through the grind for two years and know what it’s all about,” Martin said. “They are older and wiser. They’ve been tested. We have 20 seniors now.

“We are starting to get those numbers up. We have kids that want to play for Stewarts Creek.”

How that transfers onto the football field is not yet known.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

Busy first day in pads for football teams
Can’t miss football games for 2015

Darrick Gibson, a Blackman sophomore football player, comes down an inflatable water slide after practice Thursday, July 30, 2015. The Blackman football players were given a special party with inflatables after completing four days of two-a-day practices in full pads.

MURFREESBORO – Four days of two-a-day practices later, Blackman football coach David Watson gave his team an afternoon off to play and bond as a team.

The Blaze were treated with pizza, snow cones for lunch and inflatable water slides, a row of cornhole boards and human-hamster balls to play in after Thursday’s morning practice as a way to celebrate the end of the first week of practice in full pads.

“It was just a little fun, a little team bonding,” Watson said. “It was just something fun for the kids. I think high school is all about making some memories.

“This is just a reward for them.”

Blackman scrimmages Franklin at 5:30 p.m Friday at The Inferno in its first work in full pads against another team.

Watson said he picked up the idea from former Oakland coach Thomas McDaniel who did it his last couple of years at the Murfreesboro school and continued it at Christian Brothers.

Watson and the Blaze coaching staff surprised the team by having the inflatables set up on the opposite side of the high school from the football fieldhouse.

“He told us we were moving desks,” said Matthew Leifheit, a Blackman senior offensive lineman. “I was like, ‘I don’t think we need 170 kids to move some desks.

“This is definitely a reward for our hard work. I felt like we had a great week of practice.”

Players challenged each other and coaches to games of cornhole while others took turn climbing up inflatables and diving down into water. Others squeezed in the large plastic balls and raced each other.

“I heard the air compressors, and I wondered what was going on,” Blackman junior Joeseph Sewell said. “Then we just saw (the inflatables), and we just took off running.”

Sewell said his highlight of the day was the human ball. He challenged teammate Tony Ochoa to a race.

“We were watching a video on Twitter on it the other day,” Sewell said. “We were like, ‘We need to do that.’”

Senior quarterback Miller Armstrong said the coaches’ reward was welcomed and unexpected.

“It was a nice surprise after a hard week,” he said. “We have fun even in the hard work having to get up early and practice in the heat.

“But this is definitely more of a team-bond experience. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

TODAY’S FOOTBALL SCRIMMAGES

MBA at Siegel, 9 a.m.

Eagleville at Huntland, 9 a.m.

Spring Hill at Riverdale, 4:30 p.m.

Franklin at Blackman, 5 p.m.

Smyrna at Centennial, 5 p.m.

Stewarts Creek at Page

La Vergne, Pearl-Cohn at Goodpasture

American Football Sports Scoreboard

MURFREESBORO – Danielle Jedlicki became a national bowling champion recently.

She’s only 14.

The Siegel High freshman won the USBC Jr. Gold national championship in Chicago a week ago, winning by just nine pins.

The national championship came in her third year of bowling at nationals, an invitation-only event.

“I was excited (to win),” Jedlicki said. “Last year at nationals I was seventh, and the year before I was 11th. I stayed more calm this year and got my spares.

“I just took it one shot at a time.”

A replay of the event will be aired at 9 p.m., Aug. 11, on CBS Sports Network.

Jedlicki has been bowling since she was 4. She had her lone perfect game at 13.

Jedlicki bowled on different sport-shot patterns. These patterns place oil at different locations on the lane, making accuracy a premium.

“It’s not that difficult when you find your mark,” she said.

VanPatten chosen for Southeastern team: Siegel High senior Chase Van Patten will be competing Tuesday-Saturday in Tuplelo, Mississippi, in the Southern Zone Swimming Championships as a representative from the Southeastern Zone.

Van Patten will be competing in all freestyle events — 50-meter, 100, 200, 400 and 1,500 — as well as the 100 butterfly.

Van Patten was selected from the event after accruing points in the Southeastern championships earlier this month. It marks his first time competing in the event.

“I’m really excited about it and honored to be selected for the team,” Van Patten said. “I want to go have fun and have some good races and compete with some new swimmers I haven’t competed against before.”

Van Patten said this is his last meet of the summer before he starts his final year at Siegel.

“Junior Nationals was this last weekend,” he said. “So this is the last big meet for me.”

Former Blue Raider now a Cougar: Former MTSU standout Cam Robinson has joined the MTCS football coaching staff. Robinson, who led the Blue Raiders in tackles in 2009, will help coach the defense. He is also on faculty. Robinson was most recently a graduate assistant at Louisiana Tech.

Offered: MTCS senior running back Tanner Green recently received his first college offer. Green, who rushed for 902 yards as a junior, received an offer from Harding University, an NCAA Division II school located in Searcy, Arkansas.

• Oakland defensive back Mark Pruitt, who had three interceptions a year ago, also has received an offer from the school.

• Siegel senior distance runner Tyler Smith has received an offer from UT-Martin to run cross country and track and field.

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

Riverdale wrestler Nick Boykin, holds up the two national championships that he won in Fargo, N.D. The championships were for Greco-Roman and freestyle.

MURFREESBORO – Nick Boykin spent his summer vacation in Fargo, North Dakota, as his family went to the beach.

The Riverdale junior two-sport athlete wouldn’t change that decision after two national wrestling titles and an invitation to move to Colorado and train with Team USA.

Boykin, 16, recently won the 2015 Cadet National Championships in both Greco-Roman and freestyle at 265 pounds in his first year competing in nationals. He is the first from Tennessee to win both in the same year.

His two national titles come after winning a TSSAA Class AAA state championship at 285 pounds.

“A bunch of opportunities have come up,” said Boykin, who is also a two-way football player. “Navy has wanted me to come up whenever my brother (Scottie) wrestles up there (for UT-Chattanooga). West Virginia spoke to me. But the biggest is the training facility in Colorado.”

Boykin has been approached by Team USA to move to Colorado to train full time.

It’s an offer Boykin has weighed heavily, but he currently is leaning toward finishing out school at Riverdale before possibly training in Colorado full time, and then attend college later. However, he said he currently plans on going to the training facility for a couple of days after the football season to see what it is like.

“Football would be the thing I would miss the most,” said Boykin, who didn’t lose a match while in Fargo.

Boykin opened the week with two days of Greco-Roman wrestling. Greco-Roman wrestling is “all just throws and all upper body stuff” Boykin said. Freestyle is similar to high school.

“Once you win that first tournament, people start following you,” Boykin said.

Boykin’s two national titles came in his first appearance.

“I wanted to do it last year, but I went to visit my family in South Carolina instead,” Boykin said. “I really wanted to go because I hear there are a lot of colleges that go there to recruit.”

Boykin admittedly has a dream of college football. His father Scott Boykin was a standout at MTSU. However, Nick realizes his small height — he’s just 6-foot — is a hindrance for being a college defensive lineman.

“No one has offered me in football,” he said. “I want to wrestle in college, but it’s just hard to get college scholarships.

“But if I do this Olympic thing for a couple years (after high school), they’ll pay for whatever school I want to go to.”

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

Oakland quarterback Cody Miller throws a pass during the Ravenwood 7-on-7 Passing Tournament Saturday.

High School Football 2015

BRENTWOOD – One week later, the quarterback situation at Riverdale appears to be clearing up.

At rival Oakland, things remain up in the air.

The two Murfreesboro squads reached the semifinals of the Ravenwood 7-on-7 Passing Tournament Saturday.

Riverdale rising senior Brandon Bea, who moved in from Vancouver, Washington, continued to grow more comfortable in the Warriors’ offense while adjusting to a new playbook. The Warriors lost to eventual champion Independence in its semifinal game.

“We were real basic (Saturday),” Riverdale coach Ron Aydelott said. “We have a lot to improve on. But I felt we improved. We competed a little bit better.

“(Bea) has come miles. He’s a smart child. That’s good for all of us.”

Bea hadn’t practiced with the team until Monday when he was splitting reps with rising sophomore Christian Souffront. However, Bea has quickly taken command of the offense.

“He’s fitting in pretty well,” said Riverdale wide receiver Marquise Cantrell said. “He’s learning plays, learning his reads and progressing. He’s grinding every day.”

The competition remains fierce for Oakland at quarterback and appears to be far from having a favorite emerge as the starter.

Juniors Cody Miller and Brendan Matthews alternated snaps both Thursday at Riverdale and on Saturday at Ravenwood. Neither has separated himself as the clear favorite to start the season opener.

“Both quarterbacks are benefiting from getting snaps,” Oakland coach Kevin Creasy said. “We swapped them every single play. We made sure that they got equal number of snaps and had an equal opportunity.

“At the end of the day, we may do that in the season. We’re proud of both of them. We think both of them has a ways to go, but they are making progress. That’s all you can ask for in 7-on-7.”

Oakland played the entire Ravenwood tournament without rising junior JaCoby Stevens. Stevens, a Rivals.com top-100 college recruit for the Class of 2017, did not play due to a high ankle sprain sustained in the championship game of Riverdale’s 7-on-7 tournament.

That forced others to pick up their play at both receiver and at defensive back.

“It feels good that we have others in the secondary that can come in and put it together,” said Kaleb Oliver, Oakland rising junior receiver and defensive back, who already has a college offer from MTSU. “We didn’t have a fall off when we put in the seconds.”

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

Oakland’s Zarius Gamble pulls in a touchdown pass during a win over Stratford in Saturday’s Ravenwood 7-on-7 Passing Tournament. Gamble reached the semfinals of the tournament.

This isn’t football, but close enough
Oakland QBs begin battle for starting role
Transfer competing for Riverdale QB job

Brad Rohling oversees athletic trainers at high schools in county.

MURFREESBORO – Lawrence County native Brad Rohling is often visible on the athletic sidelines.

But he is not a coach or athlete.

He is an athletic trainer at Central Magnet and is the coordinator of athletic training outreach for NHC Rehabilitation and TOA (Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance). Rohling took his undergraduate work at MTSU and graduate work at Auburn.

He worked with Auburn football for four years when Tommy Tuberville was the Tigers coach.

Rohling recently spoke with the DNJ about his role with Rutherford County athletics:

How many athletic trainers cover Rutherford County’s schools? And what are their responsibilities?

We have 10 that cover 10 high schools. All 10 have bachelor’s degrees. Five of them have completed their master’s. And five are currently enrolled in master’s classes.

They are responsible in covering any varsity, junior varsity or freshman sport.

What is your role, outside of being the athletic trainer at Central Magnet.

I oversee the other nine athletic trainers in the county. I oversee, manage and supervise and deal with any issues we have with any of those guys.

High school practices have begun across the state. What do you recommend athletes do to make sure they stay hydrated now?

It’s preparation. You have to pre-hydrate. You have to hydrate the day before, two days before going into it. You have to prepare yourself for what you are about to get into. You need to be smart and not practice in the middle of the day. There is the TSSAA heat policy that says we can’t go out if it is a certain temperature. And there is the recovery time. You need to get the proper rest and the proper food.

What type of meals and how much rest should athletes be getting now with practice starting?

It’s a lot more food than what you think because athletes are burning so many calories and using so much energy during the day. Proper food — stay away from any fast food. Grilled chicken sandwiches and things like that are good. Drinking fruit juices, Gatorade and water. They need to stay away from sodas and Kool Aid. There is too much sugar in that.

And how much rest do athletes need now?

For sure, they need to get the proper amount of rest. I wouldn’t stay out all night. I can’t put a number on it.

Concussions are a big concern these days. If an athlete receives a blow to the head, how can an athlete and parents monitor their athlete to make sure there isn’t a concussion? What are the signs?

Part of the Rutherford County concussion policy gives parents information as to what to look for. If they are sleeping a lot more or a lot less. If they are irritable or sensitive to light or noise. If they have nausea and aren’t acting right, those are potential signs. We put a lot on the parents because they know their kids; they see their kids at night and after practice. That’s part of the education packet.

Is everyone doing baseline testing for concussions in Rutherford County?

Everyone is.

What is baseline testing, and how important is it to monitor concussions?

Impact testing is just that, a baseline test. It’s not a cure. It’s not going to prevent a concussion. It’s not going to help them get better. You get a baseline as where that kid is for short-term memory, long-term memory and reaction time. Then, if a kid receives a concussion, they can take the test and it measures the results against what the baseline test result was.

With so many practices and sporting events going on during the school year, how do athletic trainers cover all of the teams?

There have been studies done as far as rate of injury. Football has the most injuries. Football is the priority. But soccer is a priority over volleyball just because it is a contact, collision sport. It’s based on the rate of injury.

What are the most common injuries during a high school season?

There are a lot of ankle injuries and shoulder injuries during the season just because of how the body is and how the joint is. The more movement you have in the joint, the looser it is.

How important is it for an athletic trainer to get to know the high school athlete?

That is a crucial part of our job because I can tell if something is going on with that kid. Even with a concussion, you can tell if he’s not acting right. Or if there is something else going on, I know the kids. In our role, a lot of times they feel more comfortable telling us than they will their coaches. We kind of have to be the go between. We have to sometimes play the good-guy role and also sometime the bad-guy role. That is a huge part of our job — is getting to know the kids.

Overall, how good are the coaches in Rutherford County to work with?

I think we’ve got the best coaches in the state. They understand that we’ve got a job to do, and that is to protect those kids. With all of the concussion legislation going on, they are definitely going to defer to our opinion on things. We generally don’t have any issues with coaches getting upset.

What is the best part of your job?

The kids, the coaches and the level of competition in Rutherford County.

What is the worst part of your job?

The way our program is set up, a lot of times the people that work for me hit two years and go work somewhere else. I enjoy watching those guys grow. As soon as they get to be a high-level athletic trainer, they leave and go somewhere else.

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

Meet Brad Rohling

Who: Coordinator of athletic training outreach for NHC Rehabilitation and TOA

Age: 38.

Family: Wife: Amber; daughter: Stella, 6 months old

Education: Lawrence County High School graduate. Bachelor’s in athletic training at MTSU. Master’s in higher education administration from Auburn.

Alcoa coach Gary Rankin said it would be hard to re-zone open-zoned schools because of the number of schools that allow it.

John Olive

Gary Rankin of Alcoa

MURFREESBORO – Tullahoma football coach John Olive works at a school that offers an open zone for students.

In the past that’s brought standout athletes as well as outstanding students.

However, he believes if the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association approves a plan to move all open-zone schools — which includes all private schools — to their own division, it would hurt his program’s future success.

“If they decide to go that route, that would make life pretty rough on a school like Tullahoma,” Olive said. “We’re an open-enrollment school, meaning students outside our city limits can come here if they pay a tuition to go to school here.

“We’ve got a majority of our kids that come within our city limits. But we have some that may live on Tims Ford Lake and want to come in to Tullahoma to go to school. How many are athletes? Some are really good athletes. But we also get some that are very artistic and very good in our music programs and our art program.”

The TSSAA’s Legislative Council meets at 1 p.m. Thursday at the DoubleTree Hotel in Murfreesboro to vote on a potential public-private split. The council has spent the past month looking at five proposals presented by the TSSAA staff. One option is to put all open-zoned schools together in their own division.

TSSAA Executive Director Bernard Childress used a simple analogy when determining if a school is open zoned.

“We are seeing more and more county systems going to open enrollment,” Childress said. “What we say is when you walk out of your house and get on the bus, where does it take you? Does it take you to the school you are attending?”

Central Magnet is considered an open-zone school by TSSAA standards. If students qualify academically and reside in Rutherford County, they can attend the Murfreesboro magnet school. However, Principal John Ash does not consider his school open-zoned.

“We are not open any more than Oakland is open zone,” Ash said. “Any child in Rutherford County can go to Oakland.

“We can’t take anyone we want. We have such stringent academic requirements.”

Oakland offers an international baccalaureate program that all students in Rutherford County can apply to attend.

There are other situations statewide where students can receive permission to attend a school because of a course offered. But Childress said that doesn’t make those schools offering one program open-zoned.

However, Olive, as well as Alcoa football coach Gary Rankin, said those schools should be considered an open-zoned school.

“That is an open zone,” said Rankin, who won four state titles at Riverdale. Alcoa is an open-zoned school. “To do it right you would have to make sure nobody takes anybody from out of their zone and county. “But that wouldn’t be fair to kids.”

Among public schools considered open-zoned schools: Knoxville Austin-East, Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett, Dyersburg, Gibson County, Greeneville, Hume-Fogg Magnet, Martin Luther King Magnet, Maryville, McKenzie, Science Hill, Tennessee High and all private schools.

Alcoa and Maryville have had a high level of success on the football field over the years. Maryville has won 15 football state titles. Alcoa has won 13.

Childress pointed to a change in Nashville’s public schools that could lead them into falling into open zones.

Metro Athletic Director Roosevelt Sanders said Metro students can apply for schools out of their zone if there is an academy at another school the student is interested in attending. Students aren’t promised a spot.

“There are probably hundreds of open-zoned schools,” Rankin said. “I don’t know the exact definition. But I know coming out of eighth grade a student can go wherever they want.

“I know Maryville and Alcoa get attention when it comes to open-zoned schools. For 50 years, Alcoa has been open-zoned.”

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

Contributing: Sam Brown

Oakland quarterback Cody Miller looks downfield during Saturday’s 7-on-7 tournament at MTSU. Oakland finished runner-up to Marshall County.

Oakland coach Kevin Creasy is entering his first season at the Murfreesboro school after winning multiple state champions at Trousdale County.

MURFREESBORO – New coach.

New offense.

New quarterback.

Oakland High and first-year coach Kevin Creasy Saturday reached the finals of their third of four 7-on-7 passing tournaments .

I guess the ole Wing-T offense must not be that bad afterall.

Oakland finished runner-up to Marshall County, falling 21-14 at Floyd Stadium in its final 7-on-7 tune-up before putting on shoulder pads Monday to begin work in helmets and shells to get acclimated to the heat per TSSAA rules.

Here are five things to take from the Patriots’ 7-on-7 success.

Winging it

Creasy, who won three state titles at Trousdale County before coming to Murfreesboro to replace Thomas McDaniel, has quickly implemented his offense.

If the past two weeks are any indication, fans shouldn’t be concerned with the new offense.

Creasy has found ways to get his top athletes the ball. Oakland quarterbacks Cody Miller and Brendan Matthews have taken turns finding Oakland’s receivers for big plays over the past two weeks.

Granted, the next week fans will see a heavy dose of the run game at practice prior to practice in full pads July 27.

QB tandem

Matthews had moments where he looked like the clear cut favorite to win the quarterback battle at MTSU. His deep ball to Mark Pruitt against Shelbyville was a beautifully placed ball.

However, Miller had two big TD passes against New Hope, Alabama, in their quarterfinal win.

Both are competing for the starting job. Miller was a backup the past two years. Matthews was a backup at Independence a year ago.

So far, neither appears to have separated themselves despite swapping snaps at tournaments at Riverdale, Ravenwood, the Titans complex and MTSU.

Perhaps a two-quarterback system could work during the season too.

Injuries mounting up

JaCoby Stevens, Kaleb Oliver and Quintavious Boyd each didn’t play at MTSU because of injuries. All three are key components of the Patriots’ receiving corps and defensive backfield.

Others such as Lazarius Patterson and Zarius Gamble stepped up on both sides of the ball as did Pruitt.

However, is sustaining injuries in one-hand touch a bad sign? Maybe.

But several were held out for precautionary reasons. Creasy said had it been real games those injured may have been able to get on the field.

Room to improve

Don’t go ahead an crown the Patriots the Region 2-6A champs just yet because of a little passing success.

Smyrna beat the Patriots 14-7 in a pool play, but didn’t make it to the top bracket in single elimination. While the Bulldogs struggled early, quarterback John Turner rallied his team for the upset.

In the hunt

Despite some disappointments, such as falling to Marshall County in three tournaments the past two weeks, the Patriots have shown it will be a region player this season despite having a new head coach with virtually a brand-new coaching staff.

Will it be better than Riverdale and Blackman? Who knows? However, they are the top three teams to beat in the county entering the season.

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

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Smyrna quarterback John Turner throws a pass as coach Matt Williams watches.

Smyrna freshman Nick Watkins makes a move on an opponent during the 7-on-7 tournament at MTSU.

Smyrna coach Matt Williams talks to his team during Saturday’s 7-on-7 tournament at MTSU.

Smyrna’s Austin Brown makes a move on Oakland’s Lazarius Patterson during Saturday’s 7-on-7 tournament at MTSU.

MURFREESBORO – High school football teams have been relegated to playing one-hand touch the past two weeks while practicing and playing 7-on-7 in shorts and helmets.

On Monday things begin to get a little more physical as teams spend the next five days practicing in helmets and shoulder pads to get acclimated to the heat.

“You can do a little more, that’s for sure,” Smyrna coach Matt Williams said. “We’ll do a little more one-on-one stuff and some inside drills.

“Obviously, it’s going to have to be thud. It can’t be going to the ground. We’ll make sure we preach to the kids about staying off the ground.”

The TSSAA mandates that every high school football player have a minimum of three days of practice in shoulder pads before the beginning of full practice in pads on July 27.

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While the measure is for safety, this allows for more work to be done than what teams have been doing the past two weeks. Skill players and linemen, who have stayed separate the past two weeks, will begin to work together more as more offense and defense is installed.

But doing things safely will be the key.

“We can have a few more collisions,” Oakland coach Kevin Creasy said. “It’s a little bit safer. Most of the pros, that’s how they practice full time.

“So we’re going to try to learn how to practice like a pro. There are going to be times this season when we are going to practice in helmets and shells.”

Oakland has had its share of injuries the past two weeks, including an ankle sprain to standout two-way player JaCoby Stevens.

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Creasy said this week will be a learning experience for his team.

“We aren’t going to have a lot of contact, but we are going to have to learn how to practice in shells,” he said. “We are going to have to take care of each other. We have to be smart.

“I think more than anything it’s about getting more mentally tough when you are practicing and it’s 99 degrees outside.”

Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.

Murfreesboro places four in 6A preseason poll

Rutherford Co. Football Jamboree

Stewarts Creek will host the fourth annual Rutherford County Football Jamboree on Aug. 14.

Here is the schedule:

6 p.m.: Stewarts Creek vs. Blackman

7 p.m.: Riverdale vs. Smyrna

8 p.m.: Summit vs. Siegel

9 p.m.: La Vergne vs. Oakland