CPA Stomped by Knox Catholic, Falls to 0-2

CPA

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 By CHRIS POOL

The turf on Dudley Field at Vanderbilt Stadium read 101 degrees at 6:34 p.m. Friday, and the only thing hotter was the Knoxville Catholic football team.

The only thing stopping the Fighting Irish was lightning. But even it was too late.

The defending 4A state champs scored on their first play from scrimmage – a 50-yard strike from Chase Cunningham to Clemson commitment Amari Rodgers – and the Irish never looked back, en route to a 45-0 win that was called in the 3rd quarter due to weather.

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Knoxville Catholic is not only defending a state title but it came into tonight’s game with a chip on its shoulder after dropping a 38-10 loss last season to CPA.

Tennessee commitment Cade Mays (6-5, 310) is as advertised, but was caught on a few occasions with being too aggressive and received unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.

That might have been the only downfall of this Knoxville Catholic team, penalties and a lot of them.

Mays & Rodgers may be the first to catch your eye but the Fighting Irish are loaded with playmakers on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Chase Mathews is steady. He moves the offense with precision.

Senior Chase Kuerschen & junior Cameron Blakley will be very important to the Irish in their quest to repeat as state champions.

CPA moves to 0-2 in the standings, but it played two very good teams out the gate with perhaps the youngest and most inexperienced team in Ingle Martin’s coaching tenure with the Lions.

Coach Martin said he wants his team to be playing its best football on November 1. So here’s the silver lining: Knoxville Catholic started last season at 2-4 and won a state championship. Don’t count out the Lions just yet.

The getting well starts next week as CPA travels to White-House Heritage.

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