Three players who helped Marion County's football team reach the Class 2A state championship game each of the past two seasons signed Tuesday to play for Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn.
Josh Henderson, who played running back and linebacker and returned kicks; Bryce Massengale, who played both receiver and quarterback; and offensive lineman and long snapper Jake Allender will remain teammates at the NAIA level.
Henderson, a Mr. Football semifinalist, led the Warriors with 1,548 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns and also had six kickoff returns and four punt returns for TDs. Defensively he blocked five field goals, made 53 tackles and 15 for lost yardage. Massengale had more than 600 yards of total offense and eight TDs, and Allender was a two-year starter at center and long snapper, grading out as an 84-percent blocker.
"They set the tone for us for the past couple of years, so we're very excited for them," said Marion County coach Joey Mathis, who was the team's offensive coordinator the past two seasons. "We put a tremendous amount of emphasis on our players continuing their education, and I think them going together will help a lot because they'll all have each other to lean on.
"They're getting quality athletes that will fit in wherever the coaches need them to play."