CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Clarksville High got off to a slow start Friday night in the “Battle for the Bridge,” falling to Springfield 35-17 in the 103rd meeting between the rivals.

The loss puts the Wildcats in a familiar position. Clarksville dropped its first two games last season before winning eight straight in the regular season, and head coach Isaac Shelby believes his team can follow a similar path this fall.

“We’re in the same spot we were last year. We ended up finishing 8-2 and being the region champion. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’ll finish it out. This loss is on me,” Shelby said. “I feel the exact same way as we did last year. We played two really good teams. We haven’t quite figured it out yet, but we’ll keep working for sure.”

Much of the conversation surrounding Springfield entering Friday night centered on 5-star athlete Jermaine Cobbins. While he capped the victory with a 55-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, the game also showed that the Yellow Jackets are far more than just their headline star.

“Look at the box score tonight and it’ll show you that it’s not just him. But it is the kids accepting that he’s on the team, practicing well with them and being on the team,” Springfield head coach Dustin Wilson said.

Outside of Cobbins’ fourth-down reception, Clarksville largely succeeded in its game plan to limit the 5-star. The Wildcats, however, struggled to contain Springfield’s explosive plays, surrendering four touchdowns of more than 40 yards.

That hole proved too deep for Clarksville’s triple-option offense to climb out of, despite the Wildcats scoring two rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

While Shelby has his eyes set on replicating last season’s run, he also wants to change the tone of the series after back-to-back losses to Springfield.

“We just have to keep finding the answer somehow. I feel like they’re moving the cheese on the mouse, and we’ve just got to keep finding it somehow. We haven’t found it yet,” Shelby said.

The good news for the Wildcats is that they have a proven playmaker in Ahvare Galbreath.

The senior accounted for one of Clarksville’s late touchdowns and once again showed he can make plays against talented defenses. With a more manageable schedule ahead, Wilson believes the Wildcats will be just fine.

“They’re good. I mean, they’ve got that Galbreath kid that’s good. Why would you not give him the ball all the time?” Wilson said. “They’re physical. That’s just their brand of football. You appreciate that from a coaching staff.”

It’s a disappointing loss for the Wildcats, but the season is far from over. With an annual matchup against Rossview set for next Friday, Clarksville won’t have to wait long for an opportunity to get back on track.

Scoring Summary

First Quarter

C – Owen Richards 34-yard field goal (4:39).

Second Quarter

S – Amiron Leavell 55-yard pass from Preston Ramsey (10:09). Jovanni Colmenares XP.
S – Jamarion Gardner 43-yard pass from Preston Ramsey (5:31). Jovanni Colmenares XP.
S – Amiron Leavell 68-yard pass from Preston Ramsey (1:51). Jovanni Colmenares XP.

Fourth Quarter
S – Cameron Wilson 2-yard run (11:31). Jovanni Colmenares XP.
C – Ahvare Galbreath 10-yard run (5:15). Owen Richards XP.
S – Jermaine Cobbins 55-yard pass from Preston Ramsey (4:59). Jovanni Colmenares XP.
S – Harrison Smith 9-yard run (1:21). Owen Richards XP.

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