By Thomas Sellers Jr.
If everything goes as planned, the Munford Cougars will hit the field August 19 at home against the Covington Chargers.
In 2020, that was about the only thing on the schedule to take place at the right time. The Cougars did host the annual M&M Bowl against the rival Millington Trojans. Munford got a chance to play the South Tipton Showdown against the Brighton Cardinals. The twist on that rivalry game was a winner-take-all outcome for the Region 8-5A title.
The only two teams playing in the league during the pandemic season, the Cougars’ win over Brighton gave then the championship. Through it all, all the Munford players were grateful for Head Coach Slade Calhoun and staff going the extra mile to make sure they could play most of the 2020 campaign.
“Our coaches made sure we had a game almost every Friday,” senior Nathan Tuggle said. “They did a lot of work to get us to where we are right now. We would be in this spot right now if it wasn’t for our coaches.
“I am very grateful because our coaches stayed late night worrying about us getting into college, having a game and just worrying about us,” the dual lineman added. “There was never a day our coaches didn’t ask us if we needed something. They would go out of their way to help us.”
On the eve of the 2021 season, Tuggle is hopeful for a normal year and a chance to play all 10 games on the docket. After games against Covington and Millington to start the season, Munford will play two more out of Region games vs. Douglass and Dyersburg.
Then the gantlet to repeat as Region champs begins Sept. 17 against the new-look Overton Wolverines. After new league foe Dyer County comes to town, the Cougars travel north Oct. 1 to take on the Brighton Cardinals.
Then Munford closes the 2021 season with a triple threat of Memphis teams Southwind, Kingsburg and Memphis Central.
Calhoun will hand the football to new quarterback sophomore Jordan Bell. Bell who got his varsity feet wet in with Cougar Basketball, helped that team reach the Regional Semifinals as a freshman.
Now Bell is ready to prove to Tipton County, Memphis, West Tennessee, the Volunteer State and the nation he is one of the best dual threat signal callers around.
“I am ready to live up to the expectations and show people what I can do,” he said. “I think I just got a lot to prove and show people things they haven’t seen yet. It’s going to be a good season, something to watch.”
Bell has been watching the 10 older Cougars taking the field with him during practice to learn the ropes. Known for their running game, the Cougars are mixing in new plays to suit Bell’s skill set.
“We’ve been building our chemistry a lot, getting things together to make sure everybody is on the same page,” Bell said. “They’re working hard to make sure they know every thing. They’re helping me grow on and off the field.
“Auvic White is going to be a big role model for my game on and off the field this year,” he added. “Tuggle is the big guy on the line who is going to protect me in the backfield. Zach Smith is another big lineman who will do anything to protect me. Icarius Hodgin will do anything you ask him to.”
Adding some fire power with players like DJ Vassar, Xavier Russell and Jace Hodgin, the Cougars look to rack up points. Bell and Tuggle agreed the foundation of their offense is 1,400-yard rusher White. In a shorten season and sharing carries with college-bound Traveon Hawkins, White is looking for an improved campaign in 2021.
Tuggle will move from defense and make the offensive line his primary home this season. The senior said one of the top priorities is getting Bell comfortable
“It’s going to take a lot of hard work and dedication,” he noted. “We’re going to be lifting weights in the weight room getting stronger. At the same time getting our minds stronger too with a lot of film practice and studying just to get him the way he needs to go. And to get the ball moving.”
Tuggle said the chemistry and trust is there with White. The line just has to give him daylight and he will take care of the rest.
“We get him the gaps he needs to get through,” he said. “We give him the couple of seconds he needs because when he sees a gap he’s going through. If we get him that space he’s going to go through and get us that touchdown.”
The Cougars would like to repeat as Region champs and get back into the playoffs to make a run in November. Bell said the mindset has to stay positive throughout July, August, September and October.
Tuggle said if the football season is a traditional one, the Cougars have to take advantage of each day they were the uniform.
“If all our players set down and actually grind out to get better,” he concluded. “We have to listen to coaches because we’re installing a bunch of new stuff. We’re going to show some big things this year.”
