From Post staff reports
JEFFERSON CITY -- Watertown High football players are honoring the memory of their fallen teammate Tyler Russell -- who died in a June automobile accident.

The Tigers are wearing a helmet sticker with Russell’s No. 67. Russell, who would have been a senior, was killed when the car he was riding in was struck by an apparent drunken driver.

One of Russell's best friends was 2010 graduate and all-stater Nick Lennox, who’s playing at Carson Newman. Lennox asked for and was granted permission by Carson Newman coaches to wear No. 67 in honor of his longtime pal.

“He was my best friend,” Lennox said.” Lennox is working his way up the Eagle depth chart as a defensive end.

LEBANON -- Patrick Maynard rushed for 100 yards and scored three touchdowns as Lebanon shutout Rossview High 35-0 Friday at Nokes-Lasater Field. Leading 7-0, LHS exploded for 21 second quarter points. The Blue Devils (1-1) visit Hendersonville next week.

GLADEVILLE -- Wilson Central improved to 2-0 on the season with a 16-12 victory over visiting Rhea County Friday night. Darell Stewart and Hunter Cranford each scored touchdowns for the Wildcats and Jackson Redditt added a 47-yard field goal.

LAFAYETTE -- Dalton Patterson hauled in a pair of TD passes and Kyle Wood ran for 106 yards and a TD as Friendship Christian (2-0) defeated Macon County 35-27 Friday night.

MURFREESBORO -- Watertown High slipped to 0-2 on the season with a 32-0 loss at Middle Tennessee Christian Friday night.

MEMPHIS -- Mt. Juliet Christian Academy dropped a 28-7 loss at the Academy for Health Sciences Friday night in Shelby County. The Saints (0-2) managed 76 yards rushing on 19 attempts.

LEBANON -- After two weeks of two-a-days, the Cumberland University volleyball team is preparing to open the 2010 campaign as the Bulldogs will host their annual Volleydawg Classic this weekend at the Dallas Floyd Recreation Center .

Cumberland welcomes Faulkner University, Mountain State University, Pikeville College, Reinhardt University and Tennessee Temple University in the two-day classic that begins Friday afternoon (today) at 3 p.m. Action will take place on two courts with six matches on both days.

Cumberland will face Tennessee Temple in the opening time slot and will take on Mountain State at 7 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, play begins at 9 a.m. with CU squaring off against Pikeville before being paired with Faulkner at 11 a.m.

“The girls have really worked hard and are really excited about getting the season started,” CU head coach Dwayne Deering said. “They are really hungry to play.”

Cumberland faced all four of this weekend’s opponents last season, winning all five matches, including two over Tennessee Temple. CU will not play Reinhardt, which is coached by former Bulldog Jenny Hayes. This year’s squad, which was picked to finish fifth in the TranSouth Conference by the league’s coaches, will be a mix of familiar players, including All-Conference returners Kaysi Arnold and Jessica Gericke, as well as several new faces.

Also returning to the starting lineup for the Volleydawgs is three-year starter Taylor Denney. Freshmen Danielle Girardeau and Mackenzie Gass along with transfers Meghan Gass and Jaclyn Rodriguez are also expected to spend significant time on the court this season.

“We are still going to be a young team,” Deering said. “But that further enhances the enthusiasm that these girls have. I am pleased with how we’re doing coming out of fall camp. The new players have really been catching on quickly.”

Admission to the Volleydawg Classic, as well as all other Cumberland home matches, is free.

Mt. Juliet opened the 2010 with a 27-0 victory over visiting McGavock High Thursday night.

The Golden Bears overcame three first half turnovers (two fumbles and an interception) with stellar defensive play. All told, Mt. Juliet defenders picked off a pair of Raider passes, blocked a punt and recorded several quarterback sacks.

"Thank goodness for our defense, they played outstanding -- especially in the first half," said MJ head coach Roger Perry. "They kept the field position for us. We moved the ball offensively, but turning the football over is going to cost any team. Fortunately for us tonight our defense kept stepping up."

Perry praised his team for making some key adjustments in the second half, especially in the area of ball secutiry. "I didn't jump anybody at halftime, I just said we've got to find somebody who will hang on to the football. George Nwokoji came out and had a great second half."

Nwokoji ran for 107 yards and scored a TD to lead the Bear offensive attack -- 80 yards came after intermission.

Mt. Juliet will go on the road next week as they travel to Gallatin to play the Green Wave in a District 9AAA contest.

By TOMMY BRYAN
GLADEVILLE -- Missteps in Lebanon’s kicking game and a pair of costly fumbles opened the door just wide enough for Wilson Central to waltz in and claim a thrilling 14-13 victory over the Blue Devils in Friday’s Week Zero season opener at Wildcat Stadium.

Trailing 14-13, with 2:45 remaining in regulation, Lebanon marched 75 yards in 11 plays all the way to the Central five yard line. Stopping the clock with :06 seconds left, the Blue Devil field goal unit came on for a potential 22-yard game-winning three pointer.

Central’s first year head coach Brad Dedman burned back-to-back timeouts hoping to ice Lebanon’s kicker. The attempt was pulled wide left -- giving Dedman his initial career win.

“We lost two fumbles and both of those really hurt,” said LHS coach Bobby Brown, “we gave up a couple of punt returns -- one that set up the go-ahead score. We had our chances to put the game away -- well before that last kick.”

Lebanon played well enough on defense to get the win -- giving up just 155 yards in total offense and six first downs to the Wildcats.

Junior quarterback Patrick Maynard accounted for 185 yards in total offense -- rushing 22 times for 108 and completing 6-of-11 passes for 77 yards. He threw a 30-yard TD strike to wideout Kelan Rhodes.

Senior Juicy Apple ran eight times for 46 yards and soph Ethan Copas had a solid varsity debut with 45 yards on six carries -- including a 26 yard burst around right end on his first attempt.

Tailback Darell Stewart led Wilson Central in rushing with 57 yards on 12 attempts -- including a 34-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter. QB Hunter Cranford completed 3-of-5 passes for 19 yards and for the most part steered his team clear of trouble.

Defensively, senior linebacker Nathan Corn was in on several big hits, including three tackles for loss.

LHS hosts Rossview High in the home-opener Friday night while Wilson Central entertains Rhea County.