Marion County quarterback Bryce Massengale (12) breaks up the middle for yardage against Peabody in the TSSAA 2014 Class 2A state final at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium in Cookeville. The Warriors will be there again Saturday with Massengale at receiver.There was no doubt that Marion County’s Bryce Massengale would get on the field for a second starting season.
The debate, one that raised both voices and eyebrows, was where.
And Massengale, the ultimate Warrior, unselfishly and with no second thoughts placed his teammates and coaches above any desire to man football’s most glorious position again.
“I want to win,” the former and still part-time quarterback said. “I wanted whatever the coaches felt was best for the team. I would roll with it.”
Marion coach Ricky Ross knew before the question was asked of his spirited senior how Massengale would respond when questioned about the spring and summer competition.
“What he said – that’s the truth about him,” Ross responded. “Whatever it requires, he’s always been ready to do it.”
After a 2014 season when he was under center and leading Marion to the Class 2A state championship game and a spring and summer of quarterback competition with fellow senior Logan Walters, Massengale moved to wide receiver while returning to linebacker on defense.
“I think both of us wanted what was best for the team, and whatever they decided was fine with us,” Massengale said of the battle with Walters, who transferred back to Jasper after a highlight junior season as North Jackson’s quarterback.
Ross and his staff felt their decision last summer would enhance their team with three accomplished players in two bodies.
With Walters at quarterback, Massengale gave them an experienced, know-the-offense player at receiver and alleviated reservations about a quarterback again manning a linebacker spot defensively.
It was a move that kept them from having to use a sophomore quarterback in case of an emergency and one that actually strengthened the Warriors’ hopes for a return trip to Cookeville and another championship game, which they’ll kick off at noon EST Saturday in Cookeville against Trezevant.
“Bryce is a good-sized kid – good build, athletic and fast,” Ross said of the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder. “He can stretch the field for us. He can block and he is physical on the edges. As a linebacker he’s strong and brings a lot of physical skills to the table.”
When asked what was first and foremost on his mind last spring and summer, Massengale offered a one-word response: “Wins.”
His sacrifice enhanced his coach’s “win the day” philosophy: “Be the best you can be each day. Do what you can to be the best student, the best player, the best teammate you can be,” he says.
“One of the things we talk about most every day is being a great teammate. When I think of young men who have been great teammates, I think of Bryce Massengale,” Ross added. “He’ll do whatever is required for his team to be successful. There are a lot of things you can talk about when you talk about this youngster, but that one is awfully high up the list.”
Massengale returned to quarterback earlier this year, finishing one game and starting three others after Walters sustained a serious concussion.
He then returned to wide receiver – no questions asked – and that type of leadership, combined with ability, desire and maturity, would lead one to conclude that he is the ultimate warrior.
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at @wardgossett.