GRAY DEYOSports Writer

The Wildcats, with their loss to Columbia Central last Friday, will not have the benefit of having home field advantage, as they will travel to Walker Valley High School for their first-round playoff matchup. Here is a breakdown of the keys of the game for Tullahoma and a little insight on their opponent, Walker Valley.

Tullahoma will have to break from their subpar play of late in this matchup. They are coming into the game losing three of their last four games. They were competitive in all of these losses. The one thing that they have to do, as cliché as it sounds, is clean up losing plays. In all three of those losses, there is a play that can be pointed to where the game derailed and played a big reason for the ‘L’ that ended up on the Wildcats’ schedule. They cannot make these plays against an uber-talented Walker Valley team.

The opposing Mustangs have an explosive offense. They have scored over 40 points a game in five of their 10 games. Here are a couple of players Tullahoma will have to contain to get the win in round one of the playoffs.

The Mustangs’ senior quarterback, Chase Stephens has had a great season. He has thrown for 2,484 yards, 27 TDs, and 6 INTs. The Wildcats will have to collapse the pocket on him and make him uncomfortable. Stephens, as good of a passer as he is, is not much of a run threat. This is good for Tullahoma, as they have struggled in some spots this season guarding dual threat QBs. Stephens this year has only 19 carries for 27 rushing yards.

Three more players the Wildcats will have to slow down in this game on the Mustangs’ offense are wide receivers Sawyer Boyd and Roman Eulo, and running back Cason Cunningham. Boyd, on the year in nine recorded games, has 60 receptions for 907 yards and nine touchdowns. Eulo has 43 receptions for 808 yards and seven touchdowns in eight recorded games. Cunningham has 151 rushes for 958 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 games. Cunningham has shown some capability to take over games offensively, rushing for over 100 rushing yards in five contests this season.

With this high-powered offense they have still shown vulnerability. Walker Valley is coming into the playoff bout losing their last two games. In those two games they combined for just 12 points. The Wildcats have the pieces to win this game; they just have to go out and execute.