Coffee County pounds Pioneers 31-13

Written by Derek Harryman | 04 September 2010

From the opening kick-off of Friday's District match-up against rival Warren County, the Red Raiders were determined to right what seemed to have gone terribly wrong in the first two games of the 2010 season.

Brent Wix raced 83 yards to the end-zone with the opening kickoff and added three interceptions as the Coffee County Red Raiders (1-2, 1-0) picked up their first win of the young 2010 season over Warren County (1-2, 0-1) 31-13.
The win puts the Raiders in a familiar position, in a race with Cookeville for the District 6-3A championship.
"You got after it tonight. That is what we have to do every week, we have to get after it and have a good time," Coffee County head coach Eddie Nunley told his team after the game.
After Wix returned the opening kick, backup quarterback Jesse Brown mishandled the snap on the PAT leaving the score 6-0 CCHS.
After swapping punts the majority of the first quarter the Red Raider offense found pay-dirt on the first drive of the second.
Runs of seven, 12 and 14 yards by junior quarterback Chris Murray on the drive setup a third and goal carry by senior fullback Ronnie Manus who moved the pile four yards for his first score of the night with 8:20 remaining in the first half. The
Luke Dendis PAT was good making the score 13-0 Big Red.
Each team punted again before CCHS senior defensive back Ethan Myers intercepted a Pioneer pass for what looked like a pick-six. Coffee County was flagged for a block in the back on the play however and the Raider offense began work at the Pioneer 12 yard-line. Four plays later from the WCHS one yard-line Manus found pay-dirt for the second time, blasting his was through the Pioneer front seven with 3:30 remaining before the half. The Dendis PAT was no good making the score 19-0.
Facing a fourth and 16 Warren County coach Tommy Johnson decided to go for it and the Raider defense answered with a sack. The CCHS offense setup shop at the Warren County 45 and went back to work. On second and five from the 25 yard-line Coffee County ran a screen pass to Manus and executed to perfection as Manus scampered the end-zone for his third score of the half. The score came with just 0:23 remaining in the second quarter. Coffee County went for two and did not get it making the half-time score 25-0 CCHS.
The Raider defense stifled the Pioneers in the first half only allowing the visiting team to gain four yards total offense. The half ended with Lance Cunningham intercepting a Pioneer pass.
With CCHS already subbing on defense Warren County finally scored with 4:28 left in the third quarter when Caleb Northcutt found a seam and raced 33 yards to the end-zone. The PAT was good making the score 25-7 Red Raiders.
Brent Wix's second interception of the night setup Coffee County's first touchdown of the second half. With 7:30 to go in the game Logan Baumstein raced 14 yards around the edge for his first touchdown of 2010. The Dendis PAT was wide making the score 31-7 CCHS.
With Coffee County subbing heavily on defense the Pioneers added one more score when senior receiver Michael Thrower hauled in a 47 yard touchdown pass thanks to a busted coverage. The two-point try was no good making the score 31-13.
Wix added a third interception with just minutes to go in the game and the Raider offense was able to run the ball up the middle and gain a first down on the shoulders of Ronnie Manus and DeAngelo Rozier to run the clock out and celebrate the win.
Chris Murray led the Raider offense with 138 yards rushing on 23 carries and completed two passes for 35 yards and a touchdown. Manus finished the night with 26 yards rushing on seven carries and two touchdowns. He also added a touchdown receiving the ball with one catch for 21 yards.
Next week Coffee County travels to Tullahoma for the annual Coffee Pot Classic. Tullahoma is fresh off an overtime upset over then second ranked Columbia Thursday night in front of a regional television audience.
"It's Tullahoma, the kids won't have to be motivated," said Nunley after the game.