GRAY DEYOSports Writer

The Tullahoma Wildcats football team showed out in their first game of the year, winning 35-14 against Shelbyville Central.

It was a packed house last Friday night at Wilkins Stadium, as Wildcat fans anticipated another season of football in Tullahoma. It is safe to say the boys in black, white, and red did not disappoint.

 The Wildcats gained full control of this game in the third quarter after Wildcats’ running back Marvancy Johnson scored off a 54-yard screen pass thrown by Lucas Reed. The score gave the Wildcats a 25-6 lead after a two-point conversion run by backup QB Patrick Riddle.

As much of an anticipated game as the matchup was between Tullahoma vs Shelbyville, some eyes were also magnified on a position matchup between Johnson and the running back of the Golden Eagles, Robert Bailey.

Running back battle: Johnson vs Bailey

The Tennessean in the preseason came out with a ranking list of the best running backs in the Nashville Area. That list included both Bailey and Johnson. Bailey was ranked as the 10th best back while Johnson was ranked as the 18th. In Friday night’s game, Johnson ran for 151 yards on 20 carries and had four touchdowns. Bailey, on the other hand, rushed for 140 yards on 16 carries and had two touchdowns. Both had strong performances, but Johnson should see a rise in his stock given the game he had. He proved he is not only a top 20 running back in TN, but is without a doubt a top 10 back.

In Bailey’s 140 rushing yards, 126 of them came in the first half. The Tullahoma defense did a great job of slowing him down in the final two periods. Along with Tullahoma’s great run defense in the second half, they made huge plays across the entirety of the game that had heavy implications on the outcome. At the forefront of those plays was senior Will Hyden.

Will Hyden and the Wildcats’ defense

Unlike almost every player in high school football, Hyden does not have a typical position tied to his name on the roster. Not LB for linebacker, or DE for defensive end, the fourth year Wildcat reads the following on the team’s roster sheet.

#0 Will Hyden ATH 6’1” 207 lbs

In 2025, Hyden plays ATH for Tullahoma, meaning athlete. Which, honestly, fits perfectly. He is everywhere all the time and has the skill set to line up and play multiple positions for the head coach of Tullahoma Coy Sisk.

“Will is different. Will is a guy who doesn’t yell or boast or anything like that. Hey, Will, down deep is a teacher. He is gonna teach his teammates around him things that he picks up. He also studies the game. He is a super hard worker, and when guys like that are successful, hey, that makes you smile a little bit,” coach Sisk said regarding Hyden after the Wildcats win over Shelbyville.

Against Shelbyville, the Wildcats’ ATH had multiple tackles for loss, a blocked extra point, and a forced fumble on a punt attempt by the Golden Eagles. All the work Hyden put in the offseason has certainly all paid off.

Other notable plays made by the Tullahoma defense were on two interceptions. Senior Sam Bobo secured a pick against his cousin and Shelbyville starting quarterback Stephen Bobo in the first quarter. “Guess what it’s cousin on cousin crime!” This is was how the play was called on Sinclair Broadcasting. Julian Cole got the Wildcats’ other INT, a toe tap pick near Tullahoma’s sideline in the fourth period. Also in the final period of play Tullahoma created another turnover. With under three minutes left, junior Dominick Harris recovered a fumble. Harris also showed well on offense in the game, by breaking off the biggest run by any player in the contest—a 64-yard gain. 

100th Coffee Pot

The Wildcats will take on Coffee County in the 100th edition of the Coffee Pot on Friday night. The Red Raiders are also coming off a win, beating Franklin County High School 31-14.