By Thomas Sellers Jr.
The good news Thursday night, the Munford Cougars looked dominant in their 2026 football debut against the Memphis Business Academy Executives.
The Munford faithful left the Munford Football Stadium pleased with a 58-0 victory featuring special teams, defensive and offensive touchdowns. But just like most season opening games in the August heat, there were plenty of issues and things to clean up.
“We can’t have penalties,” Munford Head Coach Slade Calhoun noted. “I think we had two pass interference penalties which is what cost us the Region title last year. Whether they were or whether they’re not, they were called.
“We’ve got to figure out how to play pass defense without committing penalties,” he added. “We can’t have a penalty down here with our mouthpiece out. We can’t get touchdown runs called back.”
Coming into the MBA game, the No. 72 jersey of senior lineman Jaydien Mullins was draped over a sweatshirt. The rest of Mullins’ line crew paved the way for long touchdowns runs throughout the night.
Before the offensive unit could take the field, the 2026 season opening kickoff was field by Germarione Turner near the 15-yard-line. Turner exploded through the Executives all the way to the end zone and an 8-0 lead just 12 seconds into the new year.
Before the first quarter concluded, Munford was ahead 34-0. Dixon Mooneyham scored the first offensive touchdown of the season at the 7:46 mark with a 2 yard run to cap off a Cougar drive.
The 15-0 score grew to 21-0 when Tay Starks navigated through the MBA defense for a 37-yard TD run.
About 4 minutes later, Qua Bell displayed his speed going up the sideline for a 66 yard touchdown run to make the score 28-0 with 2 minutes and 54 seconds remaining in the opening period.
The defense unit led by senior Braxton Grant was giving the MBA offense problems the entire first quarter.
Cougars like Dakota Lumm, Amarrie Alston and Emery King were a part of the front seven neutralizing the MBA attack.
To close out the first quarter, Grant executed a strip-sack leading to Caleb Polk finally scooping up the ball at the 5 yard line. Polk poked the ball into the end zone for the defense touchdown and a 34-0 advantage.
“Besides from (the penalties), I am pretty pleased,” Calhoun said. “Jaydien Mullins, our All-Everything offensive lineman, is out for a little bit. We have a sophomore playing in his place. We really didn’t slow down. There are some bright spots. Our freshmen and young guys played brilliantly.”
MBA (0-1) had one threat of scoring in the fourth quarter, but Munford was able to maintain the shoutout. Tay Starks added his second touchdown prior to halftime from 2-yards out to make the tally 42-0 at the break.
The Cougars received two scores in the second half with Patrick Cunningham and freshman Zavion Ross doing the honors with running touchdowns of 42 and 3 yards respectively.
“We’ve got to keep scoring the ball,” Calhoun said. “We’ve got to keep moving the ball. I like how we played defense. We tackled well from the opening bell. The one looked really good. They were hungry to make some plays. That’s what we’ve got to get back to — playing great defense.”
Munford (1-0) returns to the home turf next Friday night for the annual M&M Bowl against rival the Millington Trojans.
“Our special teams were a little shakier than I like,” Calhoun concluded. “We’ve probably lost a guy who is out for the year in DK Burton. That’s a killer right there. He’s a starter on defense and in every single special teams play. Just an all-around great kid, you hate to lose somebody like him. M&M Bowl next week and next man up. Let’s go, because Millington will be a much better team than we played tonight.”
