Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 9/9/16. Bradley Central quarterback Cole Copeland (10) looks to throw while playing Cleveland during the first half of play at the Blue Raiders' home field on Friday, September 9, 2016. Bradley Central quarterback Cole Copeland came within one pass of a perfect night a couple of weeks ago, completing 23 of 24 passes for 315 yards in a win over Jefferson County.
"He kept making the right decisions," Bears coach Damon Floyd said. "As coaches, we take him for granted. We expect him to do that all the time."
He comes close and his completions-per-attempts rate is probably going to be another school single-game record added to his collection.
How close did he come to perfection?
"I had an argument with my receivers coach (Matt Moody) the other day. He says it wasn't a drop, and I say it was," Floyd said. "To be honest, it was probably pass interference."
Bradley-Maryville game date moved
Bradley Central's home game against Maryville has been moved up a day to Oct. 20, a Thursday. Kickoff will remain at 7:30 p.m.
The game is expected to bring a standing-room-only crowd, and at least two Knoxville stations are paying to televise it. Perennial state power Maryville is currently the top-ranked Class 6A team, while Bradley is No. 4. They are among 36 teams in the state that are still unbeaten.
Staff Photo by Dan Henry / The Chattanooga Times Free Press- 8/26/16. Calhoun High School's Olico Dennis (2) picks his way through the Dalton High School defense on Friday, August 26, 2016, at Harmon Field. Calhoun loses Dennis
Calhoun will have to play the rest of the season without three-year starting running back Olico Dennis, who tore the ACL in his left knee in last week's win over North Murray.
"He's done for the year," Calhoun coach Hal Lamb said. "It's a tough break. We'll be fine, but you really feel for Olico. He's having surgery Friday and the doctors said he should recover 100 percent."
Lamb said the Yellow Jackets will go with a committee approach to replace Dennis, including seniors Jess Ralston and Keenan Dixon and sophomore Zach Fuller.
No King for Ringgold
As subregion play opens in Region 6-AAA, the Ringgold Tigers are forced to play Catoosa County rival Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe without at least one key cog.
Starting running back and linebacker Dee King injured his knee in last week's loss to Sonoraville and will not play tonight. The severity of his injury will be determined by results of an MRI taken this week, according to coach Robert Akins.
Ty Jones will be the featured back, with Michael Layman moving into the other running back spot.
The Tigers did get some positive news regarding linebacker Dalton Green, who was thought to have suffered a concussion but is likely to be cleared after it was ruled a minor neck injury.