Riverdale’s Marquise Cantrell
Riverdale’s Marquise Cantrell
Riverdale’s Marquise Cantrell
MURFREESBORO – Marquise Cantrell was honest when he began to talk about his junior season at Riverdale.
Even he didn’t expect to become the premier receiver in Rutherford County. But one year removed from being a candidate for the team’s quarterback, Cantrell thrived at receiver.
The senior wide receiver and defensive back led the county in catches (48) and receiving yards (815) in 2014 to help the Warriors go 9-3 and reach the second round of the Class 6A football playoffs.
“To tell you the truth, I didn’t know what was going on,” Cantrell said of his season. “I don’t know what was going on in my head. I was just making plays. I didn’t know that season was going to happen for me.
“I was just blessed.”
Cantrell’s success coincided with Riverdale’s offensive scheme change. Coach Ron Aydelott changed from a hybrid Wing-T offense to a spread offense, taking advantage of a growing group of talented skilled athletes along with a new quarterback.
Now a new quarterback —Vancouver, Washington, transfer Brandon Bea — has taken the reins of the offense.
“My biggest thing is just getting on the same page,” said Cantrell of having Bea at quarterback with the graduation of Cortland Owens. “If you aren’t on the same page, nothing is going to work out.
“With (Owens) graduating, I didn’t know who was going to be there or if I’d get the ball in my hands. But (Bea) is starting to fit in now. Just getting the timing down is the hard part.”
Cantrell has a college offer from Austin Peay. He said that Western Kentucky as well as UT-Martin are recruiting him as a defensive back.
Cantrell headlines a large group of talented Riverdale receivers this season. The list includes Brandon Somerville, Preston Barge, Gentry Bonds, Gene Odom and Jarek Campbell. All have speed and the ability to elude a tackle.
But Cantrell remains the go-to guy on offense. He’ll also be a key part to the defensive secondary.
“I really like both (positions),” Cantrell said. “I really just want to play the position that will keep me on the field longer.”
Cantrell had a team-high five interceptions and recovered a fumble at cornerback in 2014. And like the receivers, the defensive back position is also deep.
“Back there we have a whole lot of athletes,” Cantrell said. “We can put any one of them back there and we will all make plays.”
Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or on Twitter @Kreager.
COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF
This marks the second of a daily high school football series leading up to the start of the high school football season on Aug. 20.
RUTHERFORD CO. JAMBOREE
The fourth annual Rutherford County Football Jamboree will be Friday at Stewarts Creek High School.
Here are the matchups.
• Blackman vs. Stewarts Creek, 6 p.m.
• Riverdale vs. Smyrna, 7 p.m.
• Summit vs. Siegel, 8 p.m.
• La Vergne vs. Oakland, 9 p.m.