Camp David: This year seemed to be an abbreviated edition of Camp David. In years past, Camp David seemed to last around 2 weeks, at least from what my two older sons encountered. I felt pretty good watching the team prepare for the upcoming season. The offense looked more potent than the 2005 edition and defense with all the new personnel that had to be found appeared stout.
The Scrimmages: This year also did not include as many scrimmages as we had in the past plus there was no Jamboree to play in. Against White House we came out like gang busters. Offense moved the ball well and the defense looked like they were ready to play. One injury did occur in the game: Dale Binkley (That made for trying times at our house) The team staggered a bit but went on and played well late. The Overton Scrimmage we looked fairly good and things were progressing. The Sycamore team came in and we looked like it was our first practice of the year. More like a spring squad against a seasoned team. Sycamore pointed out a number of things that we needed to work on.
The Clinic Bowl: We were honored to be able to play Goodpasture in the featured game of week zero at Vanderbilt. Lots of hype and promotion. A big crowd was expected. Weather was somewhat suspect. The question was with such an abbreviated summer practice schedule would we be ready to play in week zero? The last several seasons, week one was a struggle. The game with Goodpasture was complete with some miscues and mistakes and the inability to score inside their five yard line just before the half. We lost the game, however, we did show a lot of offensive promise by executing our two minute drive to make the game interesting late. Still a loss 20-13.
The Regular Season: The season then opened at home with Greenbrier. The Mustangs were back on track and were looking good. Dale Binkley makes it back into the lineup but only to lose your starting senior QB to an injury. This game was in hand, but how long would you be able to operate with a backup sophomore QB, Caleb Simpson. Caleb proved that he could handle the game plan and performed quite admirably. The first 3 games with Greenbrier, Page, and Northwest proved to be that the Mustangs were going to be a tough team to deal with. The running game got going with Elrod and Holt and they were piling up big yardage in each contest. Early into the 3rd quarter of these games, the staff were able to sit the starters and were able to get some valuable playing time for the reserves.
Next on the schedule was a traveling date to Cheatham County. A team that presented itself the year before as a very formidable foe for the Mustangs. However they were hit hard by graduation and became a young team in a rebuilding mode. The Cub defense could not stop the Mustang ground game at all. The game was over by the end of the first quarter. Kevin Davis proved himself as a valuable member of the ground game as he had 3 TD's and over 100 yards rushing just in the first quarter. The defense showed that it may be still a work in progress as Cheatham County had some success moving the ball and scoring. Still with the game in hand, the defensive starters were taken out mid-way thru the 3rd Quarter.
Next another road trip and a homecoming game at Spring Hill. The good news was that Brad Hunt returned to the lineup in a big way as he guided the Mustangs to over 400 yards in total offense, with over 140 thru the air as he went 3-4 passing. The staff still felt that the Mustangs yielded up too much offense to the Raiders as Magwan Smith had a big game. But as in the past several games, The Staff pulls the starters out midway thru the 3rd Quarter. As in the past several games, the reserves got almost a quarter and a half of valuable playing time. Coaches were still tinkering with the defensive alignments and personnel as changes were looming.
Creek Wood, who had been a playoff team the year before came into the Reese Smith Athletic Complex. However, despite their size advantage were no match for the Mustangs as the Red Hawks could not stop the Mustang offensive attack. Big numbers were put on the scoreboard. Mustang backs had a big night. It was a much improved defensive effort and the defensive front garnered players of the game recognition.
Giles County came into the game with a undefeated recorded and a large following came with them. However, Burton Wood and his defensive brothers played exceptionally with some bend and don't break play and limited Giles County to only 3 points. Despite playing a more aggressive and athletic team, the Mustangs were able to tack on 3 offensive scores while the defense put one on the board.
Then there was the much anticipated game and fish fry at Marshall County. Always a dangerous team with loads of talent for senior night. However, their season went south in week 4. Their defense gave up huge offensive numbers to the Mustangs as Russ Moneypenny had secured more playing time with his hard nose running. He was able to step in as Jeremy Holt was hobbled. The Mustangs tacked on 56 points and it could have been more. Defense wasn't able to shut down the Tigers as they put 20 on the board.
Montgomery Central came in and the Sophomore parents couldn't be more happy. This one was over real early on a night that the weather was threatening. A lot of action for the reserves especially our senior members. The Mustangs finished the regular season with another perfect record in the Region. 9-1.
The Playoffs:
Being a new member of Class 3A, we were looking at more teams and programs that we had never faced in the past. There would only be some truth to that statement. Fayette Ware, a team out of Jackson and Region 6 came in as a 4th seed but could have easily been a 2 seed, came in with size, flair, and a top college prospect, and a Coach that Boxing Promoter Don King would love. The Mustangs showed their dominance early with a powerful running game. Zach Rogers named player of the game for his play on both offense and defense. The Defense also picked off a pass and ran it in for a TD. Once again, starters were able to exit the game early and provided great playoff game experience for the backups.
Guess What? Spring Hill advances to face the Mustangs in the second round by knocking off Lexington in a big upset. Everybody in Spring Hill makes their way to the Reese Smith Complex looking for another upset in the making. To their dismay, that was far from reality. Magwan Smith was injured during their opening drive and their next big star Ned McCaster was injured shortly thereafter. This one was over early as Kevin Davis and the offense tacked on 35 points and the Mustang defense only gave up 7 total yards of offense to the Raiders. Starters leave early again.
The Quarterfinals presented a big rematch with the once beaten Giles County Bobcats. Once again a town empties on Friday night to follow their team on the road. Giles County came in with one of the best prepared and executed game plans that the Mustangs had seen in several years. The Mustangs had to come from behind twice in the game. The Elrod winning TD would come with only 32 seconds left in the game. It was the concluding play on a masterful offensive drive. The Mustang crowd was at a lost at the half. However, they found new life and truly became the Lipscomb 12th man and help rally the Mustangs to victory. It was probably the second or third largest crowd ever to see the Mustangs play at home. It was probably the loudest home crowd during the 4th quarter has ever sat in the bleachers at the Reese Smith Athletic Complex.
The Semi: It was Thanksgiving Weekend School was out. Who would follow the Mustangs to Dyersburg. Parents got together, members of the pep club got together and busses were chartered. Nearly 2000 Mustang fans followed the team to West Tennessee as Lipscomb brought their own version of shock and awe. Matt Elrod another huge night with over 180 yards on the ground and 4 TDs. Dyersburg had no answer for Elrod, Holt, Moneypenny, Davis, and Hunt. Defense gave up only 10 points all in the first half to a team that had another Division 1 prospect in the Trojan backfield. The Mustangs never had to punt during the entire game.
The Championship Game: The Mustangs came into the game figured by most as the underdog. The Mustang game plan was hoping that they could shorten the game with their ground attack and manage the clock, while the defense who might bend would not break. During most of the first half that was the case. While the Mustangs were able to generate enough offense to score twice, it was the speed and a power blocking scheme by Fulton who were able to eventually wear the Lipscomb defense down to some extent with the Falcons also tacking on two scores during the second half, and perfect on every 2 point conversion. There was no question that the Mustangs played as hard as they could. Final score was 24-14.
In General: It was a tremendous season. Despite losing their opening game, The Mustangs reeled off 13 straight victories and in most cases they were lopsided. Coach Mac and his staff did not lose any steam nor has the team fallen off since the move to 3A. There is now a tremendous respect for the Lipscomb program not only from our Region 5 member schools, but across the State in all classifications and with Ronnie Carter, executive director of the TSSAA. The Lipscomb Game Day Experience has blossomed and grown. There have been at times nearly 15 people who took time on Friday's to paint the field. Volunteers who decorate the stadium on game day and feed the team at various times during the season. People willing and wanting to help whether its getting food to away games, driving Chuck all over the mid-state, handling the duties of making sure the opponents roster are included in the program, working and selling our own media guide to advertisers. I could go on and on. A fifteen week season, with the pressures of game preparations the coaching staff and players had to had fatigue start to set in. If it did, it didn't show very much. We are very fortunate to have Glenn McCadams and his staff at Lipscomb. Their reward in all of this is to see how the guys respond to both the good times and the bad times. Lipscomb football players are a credit to this staff and to their school. They have carried themselves well and proudly. They have achieved quite a bit and such have fond memories to share for their lifetime.
As a senior parent (of my last child to play at Lipscomb), I have had the most fun witnessing the successes of the Lipscomb program for a number of years. However, this is my last go round. Its been a great ride. My family has been blessed from being a part of this program. My three sons all got to be a part of 5 Championship games... the only place for this could happen for our family is from our association with the Lipscomb Football program. I will miss it a lot. I will miss the boys and I will really miss all of the Senior parents whom we consider our friends. The Radio work was so much fun. I know Coach Mac won't miss this hack moving up and down on his sideline nor trying to squeeze information out of him on Thursdays. I cherished each game as I was able to get a unique perspective and view of the games.
Future teams realize the bar has been raised to a very high level. I hope each player will commit himself to the off season workouts and play as hard as they can and to maintain the high standards of how they conduct themselves on and off the field win or lose and to continue to represent Lipscomb in a positive way.
Again many thanks to Coach Mac, Coach Taylor, Coach Tillman, Coach Stewart, Coach Lansdell, Coach Morris, Coach Blair, and Coach Kevin Temple. Thanks to former Mustang Coaches: Coach Webber, Coach Edwards, Coach Gore, Coach Pugh, Coach Williams, and Coach Green. Thanks again to all the Senior Parents. Thanks to those families who stepped up to re-organize the Booster Club: Bob and Karen Wood, Jonathan and Barbara Seamon, Debbie and Randy Gott, Joan and Lester King, Lorrie and Fred Dance, Ron and Micki Eubanks, Ernie and Donna Lehning, David and Rita Solomon and to our 2006-07 officers. Many thanks to our football class liaisons, and especially to Sharon and Johnny Dorris who made all of our operational aspects of the season a successful one. To Rhonda and Kirk Lehmer who assisted the Dorris' and will step into those duties next year. Thanks to the Purple Shoe Gang...such a great time together. Thanks to our Game Day Veterans; Bo Wilkerson, Billy Shepard and Walt Arthur. Special thanks to Peter Powell, what a tremendous find for the Football Program. Thanks to all who purchased purple seats and to those who will in the future. Thanks to the all of the Press Box crew who keep everyone informed and the score and the clock working.
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