Wlaf1450TOP PHOTO: The Cougars put in their last big day of practice on Wednesday ahead of what Coach Justin Price calls his mental day of practice on Thursday. WLAF’s Matthew Moore snapped this photo at Wednesday’s practice.
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF) – The Campbell County Cougars will board the big bus around 1:30 this afternoon Chattanooga bound. The Orange-n-Blue will meet the Central Purple Pounders for the very first time in tonight’s 7:30pm season opener. Watch the game televised live right HERE over the WLAF – Doyle’s Tire Shop Sports Network.
“We’ll leave out between 1:30 and 1:45 and make our stop in Lenoir City. We’ll eat at the Cracker Barrel and then head on to Harrison,” said Head Coach Justin Price. The Cougars will wear their road white jerseys with blue pants. “We’ll be on natural grass, and you know how tough those grass stains are on white britches,” added Price with a laugh.
Print your 2021 CCHS Roster HERE.
The 2021 edition of Campbell County Cougar Football brings back a lot of experienced players on both sides of the ball. Eleventh year head coach Justin Price calls it a “good situation to have, because you can’t coach experience.”
“Anytime a high school football team has an experienced quarterback, it has a very good opportunity to have success on the offensive side of the ball,” said Price. The coach is not trying to add pressure, but quarterback Hunter White returns for his third season as a starter; a first for Campbell since the Ethan Jeffers Era. Zach Rutherford was on his way to starting for three straight seasons though he was injured in the first game of his sophomore season.
White played quarterback in a limited role as a freshman and earned the starting job his sophomore season. “Hunter made big strides from a sophomore to a junior in a lot of areas, and he’s improved heading into his senior season as well,” added Price.
Senior C.J. Allen is without question a dynamic player, and the Cougars will again be finding ways to get him the ball. “We go as C.J. goes,” said Price. The humble leader is also a key defensive player for CCHS and makes sure he and his team maximize their potential.
“Several linemen return, and that’s huge on both sides of the ball. Jadon White, Calob Osborne, Jordan Pierce, Joseph Snodderly and Storm (Webb) are among the returners we’ll be counting on,” Price noted.
Devin Jones and Mason Shanks are returning receivers. Jones will also play in the secondary while Shanks will anchor an outside linebacker spot. Price will be relying heavily on these two juniors.
Head Coach Justin Price is very excited about his returning linebackers in Desmond Gilbert (senior) and Will Lester (junior). Outside ‘backers Blake Roberts, Caleb Muncy, Dillon Marney and Shanks are expected to play very important roles while senior Josh Moore at six-one and 350+ pounds will again anchor the defensive line at nose guard.
“Even though they’re both seniors, I call them up and comers after they had a really good spring camp,” said Price. He’s talking about Josh Heatherly and Conner Robinson who will see significant playing time especially on defense.
“Skill guys that will really contribute are Westley Wallen (senior) and Ethan Miller,” added Price. Price describes Miller, a junior, as dynamic. He calls him a very good athlete who excels in multiple sports. Miller will share time in the secondary and the wide receiver corps.
Campbell will be calling on senior Latham Carr, who kicked some last season, to handle kick-offs, field goals and extra points. “He’s very self motivated,” Price noted.
Elsewhere in the Cougars kicking game, C.J. Allen and Mason Shanks will handle punting while Ethan Miller will long snap. Hunter White will serve as holder. Speedsters Peyton Ferguson and Skylar Clawson will handle kick and punt returns.
The Campbell coaching staff, led by Price, offensive coordinator, and his twin brother defensive coordinator Matt, have quite an experienced staff especially with the addition of their brother-in-law, Josh Kerr. Kerr, a standout high school and college player, was also head coach at Clinton and Union County. Kerr is the assistant head coach and instructs both lines. Former Cougar all-stars, Troy Arnold, Nick Bailey, Chris Honeycutt and Landon Reese, round out the staff. “Landon and Nick were part of two of the best teams we’ve ever had,” said Price.
Honeycutt is special teams coordinator while Bailey will coach linebackers. Arnold will work with wide receivers and the defensive line while Reese coaches wide receivers and defensive backs.
After scrimmages with Webb at Knoxille, Knoxville Central at home and the jamboree with Fulton, the Cougars are good to go with game one tonight at 7:30pm at Memorial Stadium. It’s the first ever meeting with the Central Purple Pounders.
The live radio, television and internet coverage of Campbell County over WLAF is brought to you by these outstanding corporate partners:
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Robert Higginbotham – County Commissioner
Grace Rehab
David Bales Buick-GMC
Byrge Screen Printing
Martin-Wilson Funeral Home
PCUD
Precision Auto Repair
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Southern Sass
Gray Insurance
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Terry’s Pharmacy
Community Trust Bank
Valley Roofing
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United Cumberland Bank
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TCAT
Hearthside Bank
ALCO Builders and Realty
(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 08/20/2021-6AM)