Football in the Time of COVID-19 by BEN CRAVEN HERALD-CITIZEN
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2020 A publication of the Herald-Citizen Football in the time of COVID-19 BY BEN CRAVEN HERALD-CITIZEN It’s high school football time in Tennessee, but things will look diff erent in 2020 thanks to the COVID-19 pan- demic. Teams have already faced many distractions and setbacks leading up to the season, such as no spring practice, a delayed start to contact practice and constant health screenings. But that was only the beginning. “One worry that you have moving forward is how you continue to maintain a germ- free zone,” Monterey football coach Scott Hughes said. “I know that there is no way you can be completely germ free in football, but you work hard to clean and disinfect. We’re disinfecting our locker room two to three times a day and disinfecting our weight room at the same rate.” The TSSAA has issued a set of COVID-19 regulations that will remain in eff ect for all 2020 sports. Two of the biggest regulations have the potential to be controversial. First, all preseason scrim- mages, jamborees, play days, or any other activities involving another team are canceled. The idea is that limiting exposure to other CHS athletic trainer Chris Loubier, right, takes Mason Vincent’s temperature before practice. schools, players, and fans will mitigate the spread of the practice until proof of a nega- can get (COVID-19). People’s at games. The home school is gram if you have an expo- virus, so teams must practice tive COVID-19 test or docu- brothers, sisters, aunts, and required to provide staff to sure,” Hughes said. “If it amongst themselves until mentation proving the fever uncles all have things to do, clean and sanitize bathrooms, knocks out your whole team the fi rst scheduled regular is not COVID-19 related. and they can get it. Then peo- but they are discouraged for two weeks, are you phys- season contest. Also, all players, coaches ple contact me to try to let me from running concession ically capable to play that Second is that all fans at and team personnel must be know who has it, so I’m try- stands. third week?” any game will be required to given a COVID-19 screening. ing to be diligent in keeping it All coaches also have to “We may not know from wear a mask at all times on This involves questions about out of my locker room.” complete the National Feder- week to week who our players the premises. The only excep- any symptoms the person These precautions will ation of State High School As- or coaches are going to be,” tion is for children under the or someone they’ve been in also be taken at games. All sociations COVID-19 training Cookeville head coach Jimmy age of two. contact with may have. This fans will have temperatures course. Maynord added. Other regulations were screening is to happen before checked before entering the Putnam County has al- “Even if your team is simple and already in prac- the person’s fi rst practice and gate, and the TSSAA will pro- ready started to see COVID-19 healthy, what about your tice by fall sports teams. at least once a week after- vide artwork to display the issues as the Monterey Wild- opponent? I’m glad we’re back All players, coaches and wards. COVID-19 symptoms promi- cats will miss the fi rst two out there with our kids, and team personnel must have “The hardest part for me nently around the venue. weeks of their season because I know everybody is looking their temperature checked so far has been trying to be The TSSAA is encouraging a player tested positive. forward to playing. There are before every practice. If a a detective,” Upperman head schools to limit the amount “You always worry about just a lot of unknowns, and person’s temperature exceeds coach Adam Caine said. “Peo- of fans that attend to either how many people will get things are going to be diffi - 100.4ºF, they cannot return to ple’s parents work, and they 1/3 or 1/4 of normal capacity knocked out of your pro- cult.” B2 HERALD-CITIZEN KICKOFF WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2020 herald-citizen.com CAVALIERSCookeville High School 2020 ScheduleSche Owen set to Aug.Aug. 20 UppermanUpperm @ Tech Aug. 28 LivingstonLivingst Sep. 4 at RiveRiverdale•Rr Sep. 11 White CCo. lead Cavs Sep. 18 at Oakland•ROakla Sep. 25 Coff ee CCo.•R Oct. 2 at WarrenWarr Co.•R Oct. 16 Siegel•RSiegel•R in 2020 Oct. 23 at Rockvale•RRock Oct. 30 Blackman•RBlackm BY BEN CRAVEN All Games 7 p.m. HERALD-CITIZEN R — Region Game As the Cookeville Cavaliersaliers enter a 2020 football seasonon with COVID-19 concerns and more ques- tions than answers, one certainty loss, is that senior quarterbackk Stockton inter- Owen will be running thee show. ceceptedpted In 2019, Owen took overr the three passes, quarterback spot and led the CavCavss broke up fi ve in every off ensive categoryry except other passes and receiving. He rushed 140 times fforor forced a fumblfumble.e. 1,103 yards, completed 58 percent “BJ is one of the of his passes for 1,106 yardsrds and more dynamic players on scored 22 touchdowns. our team, and he needs This year, however, Owenwen the ball in his hands,” will also take a shot at de-e- Maynord said. “He can fense, playing free safety.. plplayay wide receiverreceiver,, he can “Stockton is our big come out of the backfi eld and play guy,” CHS head we’re probably going to move coach Jimmy Maynord him around. BJ’s not very big, said. “He had a great but he’s very strong, very athletic year last year, and ev- young man.” erything runs through him.im. Drew Dyal and Logan Sides will He’s a great kid, and he’s worked work into the running game, whilwhilee exceptionally hard. returning receiver Harris CravenCravenss “He wanted to play defense,ense, and spsplitslits out wide with SSkylarkylar Lassiter ththee I’ve been apprehensive aboutbout that. and Donovan Sullivan. bet- He’s a very intelligent kid,d, a good The biggest question mark for the teterr of athlete, and he wants to be on the Cavs is on defense, as players like CHS the fi eld, so I’m not going to keep him Owen, Sam Harness, Alex Delk and past two years. from it. You always worryy about Cravens will all try their hands at The game will be injuries with any of your plplayers,ayers, defense for the fi rst time. plplayedayed at Tennessee B.J. Billen but that’s just part of the gamegame.”.” Still, Ethan Cumby returns to Tech for the second Owen is poised to have another the defensive line after recording straight year Thurs- big year off ensively withan an off off en- 60 tackles in 2019, while Markus day with a 7 p.m. sive line made up of fi ve exexperi-peri- Banks and Cade AApplepple return at kickoff . enced seniors. linebacker with a combined 111 “Upperman lost At the guard positions, brothers tackles. Cumby also had four tactack-k- some good foot- Alex and Wes Delk return,n, along les for loss, while Banks and Apple ball players, but with tackles Malachi Williamsliams andand combined for eight. they still have good Reece Wilkerson. At center,er, TrTripip “We’ve got some new faces on tthehe athletesathletes,”,” Maynord Wallace returns after startingarting as a defensive side of the ball that either said. “The“They’vey’ve been sophomore but missing lastast season didn’t play or were strictly off en- able to defeat us two because of injury. sive players in the past,” Maynord years in a row, and we Another player to keep an eye on said. “I think they’re good athletes, want to end that. We had is senior BJ Billen. Not onlynly is he and I think that thethey’rey’re ggoingoing to chances last yyearear but jujustst the lone returning defensivesive back, be good defensive players. But the didn’t make plays when but Maynord also plans too use him fact that they don’t have in-game we nneededeeded ththem.em. in both the running and passing experience on that side, it’s more of “It’s going to be a tough, exciting game. In 2019, Billen was second on an uunknownnknown fforor mme.”e.” game, and this has turned into a the receiving chart with 18 catches Once again, the Cavs will open pretty good rivalry. It’s good for the for 198 yards and a touchdown.down He theirseasonagainstin-countyrivaltheir season against in-county rival communityandagreatwaytostartcommunity and a great way to start also made 40 tackles with two for a Upperman. The Bees have gotten the season.” Reed Hall Harris Cravens Stockton Owen 2020 Cookeville High School Roster 1 Jayden Baker RB•CB 5’ 9” 175 lbs So. 31 Kyron Davis RB•LB 5’ 10” 165 lbs SO 65 Clayton Barrett OL•DL 6’ 3” 235 lbs JR 2 B.J Billen RB•DB 5’ 7” 165 lbs SR 32 Henry Peters WR•LB 5’ 10” 160 lbs SO 66 Wesley Bowling OL•DL 6’ 3” 235 lbs SR 3 Marcus Banks RB•DB 6’ 195 lbs SR 35 Brady Luetkmeyer RB•LB 5’ 10” 195 lbs SO 67 Parker Norris OL•DL 5’ 9” 175 lbs SO 4 Evan Whited RB•LB 5’ 11” 175 lbs JR 37 Wyatt Russell WR•LB 5’ 8” 160 lbs SO 69 Gael Romero OL•DL 6’ 2” 330 lbs SR 5 Waylon Whited WR•DB 5’ 11” 175 lbs JR 38 Clayton Barrett TE•DL 6’ 3” 235 lbs JR 70 Lucas Allen OL•LB 5’ 9” 160 lbs SO 6 Stockton Owen QB•DB 6’ 1” 205 lbs SR 39 Nathan Bowling RB•LB 5’ 9” 195 lbs SR 71 Reece Wilkerson OL•DL 6’ 3” 275 lbs SR 7 Drew Dyal RB•LB 6’ 210 lbs SR 41 Shane Mahan RB•DB 6’ 160 lbs SO 72 Malachi Williams OL•DL 6’ 3” 315 lbs SR 8 Reed Hall WR•DB 6’ 160 lbs JR 43 Truck Wilson RB•LB 5’ 9” 160 lbs SO 73 Cole Rich OL•DL 6’ 2” 230 lbs SO 9 Cade Apple RB•LB 6’ 1” 210 lbs JR 45 Sam Harness TE•DL 6’ 3” 265 lbs JR 74 Owen York OL•DL 5’ 11” 230 lbs SO 10 Adam Farris QB•DB 5’ 11” 155 lbs JR 46 Collin Garrison RB•LB 5’ 10” 170 lbs SO 75 Blaise Newman OL•DL 6’ 2” 250 lbs SO 11 Dontay Dillard WR•DB 5’ 10” 160 lbs JR 48 Talis Newman P 6’ 2” 185 lbs SR 76 Trent Smith OL•DL 5’ 11” 245 lbs SO 12 Harris Cravens