Stephen has covered sports in the tri-state area for the Times Free Press for more than 25 years and was named Sports Editor in February of 2015 after 10 years as assistant sports editor.CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Like most prep football coaches, Scott Cummings prides himself on being the man his players look to for answers. Whether that means making the right midgame adjustments or helping them cope with personal problems off the field, Cummings recognizes his role as a leader of young men.
But late last Friday night, standing in front of his Cleveland players – along with students in body paint, as well as parents and community supporters – the veteran coach realized that for once he had no answer for the situation they were suddenly facing.
In the span of six quarters the Blue Raiders had gone from the state’s No. 4 ranking in Class 5A, a team averaging 47 points per game and brimming with confidence that the program would return to state-title contention, to a group that wondered what hope they had even to make the playoffs.
Doubt began to creep in during the second half of a lopsided loss to rival Bradley Central when starting quarterback Dallas McCrary, who had moved back from Colorado to finish his prep career where it began and was on pace to throw for 3,000-plus yards, was lost for the season with a torn ACL.
McCrary had been so good that even Cummings, who prefers the run-first veer offense, had relented and allowed the Blue Raiders, who were also stocked with several big-play receivers, to throw the ball all over the field.