CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Two years ago, Kirkwood High School didn’t exist. Before May of this year, no one had even graduated from the school. However, the Cobras football program is hosting a playoff game in 6A in only their second year as a program, the first in TSSAA history to do so.
While it’s one of the quickest turnarounds in history, it didn’t come easy for the Cobras.
When Chad Watson first arrived at Kirkwood in spring 2023, the Cobras were not a school yet, so they couldn’t have spring practice. The Cobras got together for their first practice in June, two months from their first game. Kirkwood somehow turned a non-ideal situation into a 5-5 record, the first team in Clarksville to have a .500 or better record in their first year since Northwest in 1972.
“We just wanted to make sure we could line up correctly and look like a football team come August,” Watson told Clarksville Now. “We had maybe three guys that had gotten varsity playing time. They bought in to start something here, and they laid the foundation.”
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While Kirkwood’s first season was a success in many ways, the Cobras fell 2 yards short of the postseason in an overtime loss to West Creek. Obviously, it’s not how Watson wanted his first season to end, but he believes that is a big reason the Cobras have now found success.
“The way the season ended last year helped us get to where we’re at,” said Watson. “We fell short of our goal, so our kids were really motivated to get back in the weight room and get back to work.”
The Cobras set a goal at the beginning of offseason workouts: Make the playoffs for the first time in program history. It wasn’t an easy road, but they have a spot in the postseason and are hosting a first-round game. Kirkwood is the first school in the history of 6A football in the state of Tennessee to host a playoff game in their second year.
“They raised the bar of expectations very quickly,” said Watson. “We couldn’t be here without the seniors from this and last year. We want to continue to build on it, and we want to raise the bar every year.”
While there is a lot to celebrate this year for the Cobras, they now head into their postseason game against Bartlett on Friday. While Watson realizes that this is a good Panther squad, he’s confident in his team.
“We just have to do what we do,” said Watson. “They’re a physical, downhill team with three or four Division 1 guys. We want to be the best versions of ourselves, play with energy and effort, and see what happens.”
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