Josh Peterson, editor Manchester Times
Two quick scoring drives and a shutout performance from its defense was how Coffee County Central closed out the preseason Friday night in Lewisburg.
The Red Raiders scored on their first two possessions — a 6-yard gallop by Kyle Brazier and a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Chris Murray — to topple Marshall County 13-0 in the Marshall County jamboree.
The win marks the end of the preseason for the Raiders. They went 2-1 — beating Wilson Central and Marshall County. Their lone loss came to Page High School on July 30.
"That was a good way to go into the season," said Murray, who finished with 35 yards on the ground during the one quarter the first string offense played.
"But week zero starts everything," Murray added. "It sets the tone. We want to get in a groove of winning and rebuild a winning tradition in Coffee County ... 3-7 isn't getting it done."
Murray finished 0-of-1 through the air.
CHS head coach Eddie Nunley said the Raiders eliminated some mistakes that have handicapped them during their first two scrimmages.
"We cut out some of the silly stuff," said Nunley, who is entering his third year as the head coach of Coffee County's program. "But we still have some mistakes that need correcting."
Offensively, Coffee County was able to snag a 7-0 lead seven plays into the two-quarter scrimmage when Brazier took a pitch around left end without being touched.
Brazier's score was set up by a pair of 8-yard rumbles from Charles Jones and a 34-yard scamper from Ethan Myers.
Luke Dendis' extra point was good. Dendis missed his second try.
"The blocking on my [34-yard] run was perfect," explained Myers, a senior wingback. "I got to the secondary and they were still hitting people."
CHS scored its second touchdown after stuffing the Tigers on fourth-and-one and marching 39 yards on seven plays, capped by a sneak by Murray, whose 22-yard scramble on second-and-long helped prolong the drive.
"Offensively, we are improving," stated Nunley.
Despite not allowing a score, Nunley wasn't as pleased with his defense.
"We had a breakdown on third down that can't happen," said Nunley.
Each team substituted liberally in the second quarter.
Coffee County opens the regular season Friday when Shelbyville Central travels to Manchester for a 7 p.m. start.
"Shelbyville certainly has the skill players," said Nunley. "It will be a challenge."