CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Kirkwood head coach Chad Watson established three goals for this season with his seniors before the year began; The first box was checked Thursday night as the Cobras captured their first region title in school history with a 31-28 victory over Henry County.
Watson’s team became the first Montgomery County program to defeat the Patriots in 12 years, but just as importantly, continued the progression that has defined Kirkwood’s first four seasons. After falling to Henry County in a heartbreaking loss last season, the Cobras wouldn’t be denied the biggest win in program history.
“Super proud of our kids, our coaches and our administration. To build a successful program, it takes (a lot) from top to bottom. Everybody’s got to be completely invested, and I think that’s what makes us special,” Watson told Clarksville Now. “This is the biggest win in school history, no doubt.”
The Cobras went from missing the playoffs at 5-5 in their inaugural season to becoming one of Middle Tennessee’s top programs and a class 5A contender by year four. That progression hasn’t happened by accident. Watson and his staff have placed a strong emphasis on development, both on and off the field.
Former Cobra and current Tennessee Volunteer offensive lineman Kamari Blair watched Thursday’s victory from the sidelines. Blair arrived at Kirkwood as a tight end before developing into one of the highest-rated prospects to come out of the area. Four years into the program’s existence, that development isn’t just producing big-time recruits; it’s translating into big-time wins.
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Kirkwood didn’t have to get cute or reinvent itself to beat a consistent contender in Henry County. The Cobras simply trusted the brand of football that got them there. “We’ve been telling them for the last two weeks that what we’ve been doing is good enough. We’re not changing what we’re doing,” Watson said. “We’re going to show up and play a clean game. Honestly, we didn’t play a clean game, but we found a way to overcome and find a way to win.”
Reding steals the show
It’s hard to look at Kirkwood’s success over the last four years without recognizing the importance of the player under center. Senior quarterback Miles Reding is now 26-7 at Kirkwood. He was a Mr. Football semifinalist as a sophomore and is making another push for the award this season. Against Henry County, Reding took care of the football and accounted for two touchdowns as he added a region championship to his resume.
“It feels amazing. We made goals at the beginning of the year. This was definitely one of them, and I couldn’t ask for anything better,” Reding told Clarksville Now. “Each year, we’re just improving. We won the region championship, and we’re looking to improve and make a run in the playoffs.”
The Region 7-5A title was the first step, but Kirkwood won’t be content with just that. The next of the Cobras’ three goals is to win 10 games, a program record they can reach next week in the first round of the playoffs against Memphis Overton.
Although Watson wasn’t willing to reveal the final goal, he made it clear that the Cobras aren’t changing their approach anytime soon.
“Keep doing what we’re doing. Try to play a little bit better next week than what we did the week before. That’s going to be our motto and everything for the rest of the year, however long it lasts.”
Scoring Summary
- K – Montrell Perry 52-yard run (7:18). Hudson Marsh XP.
- H – Spellings to Kendall 9-yard pass (1:37). Jake Hatcher XP.
Second quarter
- K – Reding to Vereen 23-yard pass (6:43). Marsh XP.
- K – Marsh 23-yard FG.
Third quarter
- H – Maxwell Nored 26-yard run (8:12). Hatcher XP.
- K – Reding 10-yard run (5:04). Marsh XP.
- K – Portis to Clark 11-yard pass (0:05). Marsh XP.
Fourth quarter
- H – Nored 11-yard run (8:09). Hatcher XP.
- H – Spellings 3-yard run (1:57). Hatcher XP.
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