CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Battle for the Bridge – pitting the Clarksville Wildcats against Springfield Yellowjackets – is one of Tennessee’s most competitive and historic rivalries, with the 103rd matchup this Friday. This year, the matchup feels a little bigger with Clarksville facing a historic talent in Springfield’s five-star cornerback and receiver Jermaine Cobbins.
Cobbins is the pride of Springfield and needs no introduction to most football fans around the Midstate. He has offers from almost every notable Southeastern school, including Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. In July, he became the youngest player to ever sign a Nike Football deal at just 16 years old. Now, he has his third shot at the Wildcats.
After Cobbins recorded 142 yards against Rossview in Week 1, Clarksville head coach Isaac Shelby knows the Wildcats will have their hands full.
Wildcats number one goal: Stoppin’ Cobbins
“We’re a great school. We’ve got these kids sitting in math class trying to figure out the cosine, tangent and stuff. And then they’ve got to cover him (Cobbins) at night. It’s just a brutal day. He’s a great player,” Shelby said. “I used to think Josh Bey was the best player at Springfield I’ve ever seen, but I think it’s Jermaine Cobbins now. The hype is 100% real on that dude.”
Calling Cobbins the best player in Springfield history may sound like hyperbole, but his ability at both cornerback and receiver presents a difficult challenge to gameplan for. Still, Clarksville did its best to prepare for his athleticism at Tuesday’s practice, using a Cobbins scout-team player in a special red jersey.
Wildcats defensive back Wyatt Wooten has taken on a leadership role in the secondary after recording five interceptions last season. This week, the preseason All-Area selection will be tasked with helping limit Cobbins’ production. It’s a difficult assignment, but the senior has faith in his team.
“Whenever you’re going out there with a guy like that, you can’t let all the outside stuff get to you. Yeah, he’s a five-star. He’s a great athlete, but at the end of the day, we’re 11-on-11 out there,” Wooten said. “One player’s not going to win this, and we just have to work together as a team and play the game.”
Preparing for full-team matchup
Wooten’s right. Although Cobbins’ trip to Hilda J. Richardson Field will be the headline, there is plenty of other talent on both teams.
Clarksville senior running back Ahvare Galbreath will match up against Springfield’s Amiron Leavell, who scored three touchdowns in the Yellowjackets’ Week 1 win over Rossview. Meanwhile, sophomore quarterback Harrison Smith will meet Springfield senior quarterback Kason Woodson.
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The Battle for the Bridge has been interrupted only twice in its history: once during World War II and once during the Spanish flu pandemic.
Clarksville fell to Springfield 19-7 last season and enters this year’s matchup as the likely underdog again. But a win over its historic rival would be more than just another victory; it would give the Wildcats a major jolt of momentum as they look to build toward the rest of the season.
“There’s a lot of history, there’s been a lot of good football games in the past between the two schools,” Shelby said. “We’re just going to go out there and play really hard and show our community how prideful this team is.”
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