Yellow Jackets Grab Early Lead in Frank Mullins Football Standings
by Mark Moran

After two weeks of play, the Short Stop Market Yellow Jackets have the early lead in the standings as they slipped by the Mike Thompson Ford - Mercury - Mazda Falcons in the opening game this past Saturday at the Frank R. Mullins Youth Football Field located at Waggoner Park. The two teams battled to a 0 - 0 tie at the end of the first quarter. The highlight of that quarter was Jordan Sheffield of the Falcons intercepting a Jacket pass. Jordan Sheffield broke loss early in the second quarter and rambled 16 yards for a Falcon touchdown, Sheffield also added the conversion. The Yellow Jackets answered with a good drive that ended with Trey Burks breaking through the middle for eight yards and a Jacket touchdown, the conversion attempt failed. Jordan Sheffield of the Falcons returned the Jacket kick off 40 yards, putting the Falcons in good field position for a short drive that ended on a one-yard burst up the middle by Eric Nelius. Jordan Sheffield threw a short pass to Brandon Koche for the Falcon conversion. The Falcons lead is 14 - 6 at the half.

In the third quarter, the Jackets moved the ball and Burks pounded in the touchdown from two yards out, the conversion attempt failed. The two teams exchanged punches the remainder of the third quarter and most of the fourth quarter. The Jackets put a nice scoring drive together as time was winding down. The score came with about 20 seconds remaining in the game as Aaron Banks, the Jacket quarterback, connected with Zach Lampkin from approximately 15 yards out. Lampkin went high in the air at the one-yard line and hauled in the pass with a spectacular catch and came down and backed into the end zone. The Yellow Jackets win 18 - 14 in a truly great youth football game.

The Yellow Jacket head coach, Jason Dendy, praised the work of Aaron Banks, Adam Banks, and Hayden Eggleston on defense and Jacob Gagnier, Blake Greene, and Jake Crabtree on offense. Travis Sheffield, head coach of the Falcons, praised the efforts of Kenny Belt on defense and Brandon Koche.

The second game of the day pitted the Bank of Tullahoma Tigers against the host Sports Plus Bulldogs. The going was slow early in the game but the Sports Plus Bulldogs drew first blood late in the first quarter. The Tigers answered as Scottie Maupin raced around the right side for a big gainer that set up the Tigers first score early in the second quarter. The Tigers were driving and Alex Williams scored as he fell on a loose ball in the end zone, the conversion attempt failed. The Bulldogs got hot and added three more scores before the intermission. Justin Brandon scampered 55 yards for a touchdown and Zane Price added a two point conversion as he split the uprights making it 15 - 6 in favor of the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs scored again from 53 yards out as Bulldog quarterback, Van Williams, threw a strike to Justin Brandon and Brandon raced in for the score, the conversion attempt failed. The Bulldog's last score of the quarter came as Brandon raced in from 22 yards out, Zane Price split the uprights again making it 29 - 6 in favor of the Bulldogs at the half. The lone score in the second half was set up as Jordan McKelvey, of the Bulldogs, intercepted a Tiger pass and returned it 35 yards. Zane Price then broke free on the outside and scampered 40 yards for the score. The Bulldogs win 36 - 6.

Head coach, Warner Tomes, of the Bulldogs praised the hard work turned in by Jesse Kochans and Brett Martin on defense and Nick Thompson and Aaron Gray on offense. Tiger head coach, Billy Bates, praised the efforts of Hayden Hines, John Maldanado, and Jackson DuBois on defense and Ben Carter, Scottie Maupin, and Charlie Scott on offense.

The ARAMARK Cardinals, SIM&S Titans and the Stan McNabb Chevrolet - Cadillac Cowboys will all be in action this coming Saturday beginning at 9:00 a.m. These three instructional division teams will continue with three team round robins for the next several weeks. In the upper division, the Sports Plus Bulldogs will host the Short Stop Market Yellow Jackets at 9:00 a.m. and the Bank of Tullahoma Tigers will host the Mike Thompson Ford - Mercury - Mazda Falcons at 10:30 a.m.

We plan to have a few extra activities before the games get started, as Mayor Troy Bisby will be on hand for our grand opening at the Waggoner Park facility.