Stars’ Defense Shines Bright In Loss

Stars’ Shine in First Half

Thursday night Murfreesboro played host to the kick off of high school football in Tennessee. With so much anticipation for the season to begin the first night did not disappoint. Ravenwood, defending 6-A state champs, rolled into town to take on upset minded Siegel. The Stars came into the night riding a wave of momentum from 2015, having won the last three games of the regular season campaign. As for Ravenwood, 2015 was a historic season, going 15-1 en route to the programs second gold ball.

Fans in attendance didn’t have to wait long for the action as Raptor senior, John Rall, almost took a short pass the distance on the first play of the season. Despite the stacked odds and early blow, Siegel showed that the night would not just be a coronation for the champs. As they would hold the Raptors scoreless in the first quarter while the leg of 2015 Mr. Football finalist, Jacob Smith, gave the Stars an early three point lead. Although Siegel’s D played tough in the quarter it ended with the Raptors in an ominous scoring opportunity.

Three seconds into the second quarter, they did just that, taking the lead 7 to 3, with a 1 yard Carter Nelson TD run. After the one falter the boys from “The Boro” would lock back in on D, pitching a shut out and even contributing to the scoring effort in the form of a safety during a botched punt play. With score now 5-7, still favoring the Raptors, the coaching staff at Siegel would do what it did for most of the night, hand the ball to number four, senior and 210 pound battering ram, Rodney Murray. He would tote the rock 26 times for 175 yards and one score, a 16 yard rumble that came with only 55 seconds left in the first half. The scoreboard at the half would surprise many experts reading, Siegel 12, Ravenwood 7.

Even though it was not a high scoring event, the first half was peppered with plenty of exciting football. And just when the fans thought there was going to be a pause in the action the PA announcer directed the audience’s attention back to the field. Seigel’s baseball team took center stage at halftime to receive their state championship rings from the 2016 season.

Little Things Cost Siegel Big Win

The second half started just like the first, with Ravenwood coming out of the gates hitting a big play. The only difference this time, they were able to capitalize, tallying three more points on the board and drawing closer to the Stars’. The score now, 12-10, Siegel. With the defensive theme holding true to form for the game neither team would score again until only 42 seconds remained in the quarter. When fianly Siegel’s, Elijah Walton, broke away from a constable of Raptors on a 65 yard TD pass from quarterback Brendan Crowell. No one outside of north Murfreesboro area could have foreseen the scoreline heading into the fourth, 19- 10.

Perhaps riding a little too high, not being deep enough on defense, or just playing the defending state champs, was beginning to catch up to the Stars’. The defense that “Siegel Nation” had witnessed in the first three quarters was now shaken, missing  tackles, lettings short gains turn into back breaking plays. Ravenwood would show their championship pedigree scoring two unanswered TD’s. The first, an 8 yard hook up between wide out Nathan Freeman and QB McCain Marrow, followed just a few minutes later by another TD toss from Marrow. This time a 37 yard completion to Anthony Holmes. Ravenwood would convert on a 2 point attempt in which would be the finale blow, halting any efforts of an early season upset for Siegel.

Final : Ravenwood  23   Siegel  19

Siegel plays @ Hendersonville next Friday 7 pm

(four-7 pix)