By John R. Schirmer
News-Leader staff
The Nashville Scrappers wrapped up the District 7-4A championship and secured home field advantage in the state Class 4A playoffs with a 46-28 victory over Malvern Friday night, Oct. 30, at Scrapper Stadium.
The win capped off a night filled with special events, including recognition for stadium announcer Johnny Wilson, Senior Night and a reunion for the 1996 state championship team.
“We had a lot going on, good things,” Coach Brad Chesshir said.
Wilson has been the stadium “Voice of the Scrappers” for 55 seasons. “Honoring him this way was phenomenal,” Chesshir said.
Family and friends gathered across from the field house before the game to visit Wilson and look back on his seasons at the stadium.
He was honorary team captain for the coin toss before the game. With Wilson on the field, the Scrappers won the coin toss. “This is only the second coin toss all year. We’ve not been very good,” according to Chesshir.
“He’s not retiring,” Chesshir said. “You won’t find a man who’s put in the effort that Johnny Wilson has. I appreciate what he does.”
The 1996 state championship team attended the pre-game event for Wilson, then went to the field house to meet the Scrappers before the game.
After the session with the current team, the state champions led the Scrappers up the hill and onto the field.
“That was extra special for me,” Chesshir said. “As a kid, I looked up to them and wanted to be just like them. That was a special moment to hear them address the team.”
The current players and staff “are following in the footsteps of that team and a legend like Coach Billy Laird,” Chesshir said. “Now, I’m leading a team that was led by a legendary coach. Meeting the 1996 kids was special. Our kids enjoyed it. It was special for our team to be led by the 1996 players.”
Overall, “It was a neat experience, good for the community and players. We enjoyed seeing the 1996 team. I hope they continue to find their way back to the Hill. The field house door is always open. It makes the culture stronger if we get the alumni involved,” Chesshir said.
Also before the game, senior football players, cheerleaders and band members, along with their families, were introduced by NHS Assistant Principal Eric Perez, who served as stadium announcer until Wilson returned to the press box from the pre-game ceremonies.
The game itself held playoff implications for the Scrappers.
“It was a big game with the number one seed” in the playoffs at stake for Nashville.
By defeating the Leopards, the Scrappers ran their record to 9-0 overall, 6-0 in district.
They won the outright 7-4A championship, the district’s top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.
The win didn’t come easy, however.
“Malvern did some good things,” Chesshir said. “Their defense played disciplined football and took the run away. We could throw the ball but only had 172 yards rushing.”
Jacoby Hopson accounted for 142 of those yards, running the ball 15 times and scoring a rushing touchdown.
“As hard as Malvern played the run, we threw the ball successfully,” according to Chesshir.
DJ Jefferson completed 19 of 28 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns.
Six different receivers had catches. “He threw to them effectively.”
However, the Scrappers also had “self-inflicted wounds,” Chesshir said, including a “big turnover. We were backed up on the one and gave them a short field” to score.
On the other side of the ball, “We didn’t play as hard defensively. We showed our kids that on film, not what it has been. We had 50 lopes versus Malvern. We weren’t getting to the ball, and that led to missed tackles,” Chesshir said.
“We have to be better moving forward with our effort and intensity.”
The Scrappers “gave up some conversions on third down. They [Malvern] hit a big screen play. We lost containment on the quarterback and gave up yards to the quarterback,” Chesshir said.
Nashville gave up 258 yards rushing against the Leopards. “That’s not like us. We take pride in stopping the run. We have to be better. It comes down too effort and intensity.”
Chesshir was “thrilled to win with as many self-inflicted wounds as we had. Overall, it’s good to clinch that one seed. Week 10 will be an opportunity to continue to grow as we travel to Genoa.”
The Scrappers will wrap up the regular season at Genoa Central Friday night, Nov. 6. The Dragons are 3-6 overall, 0-6 in District 7-4A.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
By earning the top seed from 7-4A, the Scrappers will have a bye for the first round of the playoffs Nov. 13.
They will be at home for round two Nov. 20.
Whether a bye week is good or bad “depends on the team and where you are,” Chesshir said. “Sometimes it can hurt you. Sometimes it can be bad. I don’t see any issues this year. It gives us a week of preparation” before returning to the field in the second week of the playoffs.
Nashville’s opponent for the second round will be determined in games this Friday night and on Nov. 13.
Stats
Offensive stats in the win over Malvern include the following:
Jefferson completed 19 of 28 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns. He also ran the ball five times for eight yards.
Hopson had 15 carries for 142 yards, along with four receptions for 69 yards. He scored two TDs.
Bryce Perry carried four times for 24 yards and caught five passes for 68 yards. He had one touchdown.
Gauge Applegate made four catches for 68 yards and a TD.
Jailyn Staggers had three receptions for 43 yards and a TD.
Al Green made two catches for 11 yards.
Zavion Vaughn had one reception for 54 yards and a TD.
The Scrappers had 500 yards total offense.
On defense, Blake Moody had 11 tackles, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery.
Staggers made nine tackles, had two TFLs and recorded a sack.
Jacob Teague had seven tackles.
Bo Dean made six tackles and recovered a fumble.
Khamari Canady and Milik Gilliam had six tackles each.
DeShawn Hawkins made four tackles and had a TFL.
Kiron Johnson, Skyler Ramsire and Trenton Northcross had four tackles each.
MJ Jefferson made three tackles and returned an interception for a touchdown.
Hayden Crabtree had two tackles. Drew Mitchell and Kishon Jefferson made one tackle each.
