| Lions' turnaround season will end with bowl game |
By: Stephanie Sturgis - Press Sports Editor
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Posted: Thursday, November 5, 2009 5:26 pm
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Downfield — Dresden quarterback Dale Hutcherson will look downfield for receivers when his 6-4 Lions take on the host Jackson County Blue Devils (5-5) in the Cumberland River Bowl at 2 on Saturday afternoon in Gainesboro. Photo by Stephanie Sturgi
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For the Dresden Lions, the doubters were plentiful heading into the 2009 season. The Lions were carrying the baggage of a 19-game losing streak.
The Lions, who won their first game of the season to end the skid and went on to win six games, will now be loading their luggage and traveling across Tennessee to Gainesboro to compete in the Cumberland River Bowl. Kickoff is set for 2 on Saturday afternoon. Dresden (6-4) will take on the host Jackson County Blue Devils (5-5) on their Kyle Sisco Field.
The invitation to the bowl game came Sunday night after the Lions and Jackson County were the last two teams eliminated from playoff contention in Class 2A under the TSSAA's new "Z-Plan." Dresden, the only team with a winning record in the state that won't be playing in the TSSAA playoffs, accepted the bowl offer early Monday.
"No formula is perfect. What (TSSAA) came up with is what we go by," Lion head coach Scott Hewett said on Monday. "We should have beaten Halls. We didn't take care of business. That tells you that every game in the season is important."
A 27-0 win over Gleason last Friday night provided the Lions with their first winning season since a 7-4 record in 2003. This will be the first postseason appearance by any current members of the Lion squad.
Under the guidance of first-year head coach Sean Loftis, the Blue Devil program has also been in turnaround mode. Jackson County managed its first five-win season since 1983.
JCHS started out hot with two wins, but quarterback Jeret Goad suffered a season-ending injury. Senior Kaleb Allen shifted from receiver and stepped into the signal caller role for the Devils, but Jackson County lost four in a row before finding its footing after the transition. Allen made huge contributions as the Devils put together a three-game winning streak before falling to Watertown 31-8 in Week 10.
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