By Donovan Stewart
CPA Lions
City– Nashville
County– Davidson
Enrollment– 449
Last Year’s Record– 7-7, lost to Liberty in 3A Semifinals
Region– Division II-AA Middle
Head Coach– Ingle Martin (74-13 in six years at CPA)
Offensive Coordinator– Steve Haywood
Defensive Coordinator– Ryan Taylor
Assistant Coaches– Steve Lenger (OLB/ Special Teams Coordinator), Danny Keck (DB/JV HC), Brian Epps (Head Strength Coach/WR), John Patton (RB/Freshman HC), Ryan Smith (DL/Freshman DC), Phillip Hancock (ILB), Tim Schmid (OL), Josh Roberts (FB), Patrick Jordan (Video Coordinator), Randy Hearon (Spiritual Coordinator)
Offense– Two Back Shotgun
Defense– 3-4
Returning Starters on Offense and Defense– 11 (6 Off/5 Def)
Last Playoff Appearance– 2016
Key Returnees– Coleman Smith (WR/DB, Sr.), Chase Huseman (RB/DB, Sr.), Joe More (OL/DL Sr.), Henry Proctor (OL/DL Sr.), Sam Bahou (TE/DL, Sr.), Domenic Ferrari (FB/DL Sr.), Dylan Lynch (OL/DL Sr.), Tucker Duncan (WR/DB Sr.), Matt Adams (OL/DL, Sr.), Garrett Beam (WR/LB, Sr.), Jackson Lewis (WR/DB, Sr.), Griffin Sweat (WR/DB, Sr.), Kane Patterson (RB/LB, Jr.), Ryan Eledge (QB/DB, Jr.), Jacob Stopkotte (OL/DL, Jr.), Noah Henderson (WR/DB, Jr.), Bryce McCormick (ATH/LB, Jr.), Andrew Madden (RB/LB, Jr.), Ethan Stewart (RB/LB, Jr.), Seth Jones (OL/DL, Jr.), Sam West (RB/DB, Jr.) Brown Myers (OL/DL Jr.), Grant Buell (OL/DL, Jr.), Reed Stout (OL/DL, Jr.), Payne Trapnell (WR/DB, Jr.), McNiel Stout (WR/LB, Jr.), Brett Nabors (WR/DB, Jr.), Sebastian Stubblefield (K/P, Jr.), Sam Ellis (WR/DB, Soph.), Jarrett Mathews (OL/DL, Soph.), Sam Leonard (OL/DL, Soph.), Jack Diamond (OL/DL, Soph.) Barrett Smith (RB/LB, Soph.), Zack Smitherman (TE/DL, Soph.)
Key Losses– Will Peters (OL/DL), Andrew Howard (WR/DB), Brad Smith (DL/RB), Rooke Young (OL/DL), Grey McCullough (WR/DB), Robert Carpenter (OL/DL), Land Teller (WR/LB) James Deaton (RB/LB), Keaton Carr (FB/DL), JT Gilbert (K)
Outlook:
The CPA football program will celebrate a milestone in 2017 as it will mark the 25th football team in school history.
The Lions made the semifinal round for the sixth consecutive season under head coach Ingle Martin last season and with 11 starters returning, CPA could cap off the 2017 season with a Division II-AA state title. CPA’s consistency under Martin has been staggering.
CPA was ranked No. 3 in the tnhighschoolfootball.com Division II-AA Spring Top 6 in May and definitely has the firepower to make a deep playoff run which they noted for under Martin.
The Lions return six starters on offense led by junior quarterback Ryan Eledge who passed for 1,755 yards and 17 touchdowns as a sophomore.
His favorite target in the passing game will also return as fellow junior Noah Henderson comes back after catching 44 passes for 730 yards and seven touchdowns in 2016.
Another junior Bryce McCormick also returns to start at wide receiver after catching nine passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns.
CPA will have depth at wide receiver this season as senior Tucker Duncan (14 catches, 143 yards, one touchdown) and junior McNiel Stout (18 catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns) return to get snaps at wide receiver.
The other three returning starters are on the Lion offensive line as seniors Joe More and Henry Proctor as well as junior Jacob Stopkotte return to lead the line and will be joined by seniors Matt Adams and Dylan Lynch.
Junior Sam West will be the starter at running back as he rushed for 270 yards and two touchdowns in 2016.
West will have a major role on defense as he will be one of two starters in the CPA secondary along with senior Griffin Sweat.
West (58 tackles, 10 for loss) and Sweat (34 tackles, two interceptions) will lead the secondary while McCormick (80 tackles, 10 for loss) and junior Kane Patterson (75 tackles, 18 for loss, five sacks) will return to lead the CPA linebacking corps.
Senior Domenic Ferrari is the lone returning starter on the defensive line, while Stopkotte and Proctor will both double as defensive linemen as well.
The Lions arguably have the toughest non-region schedule as they host Stratford (3A), Hillsboro (5A), Smyrna (6A) and will travel to Ensworth (DII-AAA), Pearl-Cohn (3A) and Independence (6A).
CPA Since 2010:
79-19 overall record, seven playoff appearances
2010- 5-6
2011- 12-2
2012- 13-1
2013- 14-1
2014- 15-0
2015- 13-2
2016- 7-7
By The Numbers:
20- Number of total playoff appearances for CPA
1993- First football season for CPA
1995- The Lions first playoff appearance
CPA In the Playoffs:
Total Number of Playoff Appearances- 20
Playoff Record- 46-17
Deepest Playoff Run- Won three state titles in 2000 and 2002 (1A), 2014 (3A)
Coach Martin’s Thoughts:
“We are excited about the 2017 football season for many reasons. The first one being that we will get to watch this group of seniors have the opportunity to lead our team. This group has worked extremely hard and they are ready to compete to the best of their ability.”
2017 Schedule
August 18- Stratford
August 25- at Ensworth
September 1- Smyrna
September 8- at Pearl Cohn
*September 15- BGA
September 22- Hillsboro
*September 29- Lipscomb Academy
October 6- at Independence
*October 13- at Goodpasture
October 20- OPEN
*October 27- at FRA
*Denotes Region Game
