CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The Kirkwood High School football team was only two yards away from making the playoffs in their first year of existence last season. This year, they’ve reloaded and are looking to make a run in the 2024-25 postseason race.
In their inaugural season, the Cobras compiled a record of 5-5, becoming the first team from Clarksville to have a .500 or better record in their first year since Northwest in 1972. Kirkwood High played West Creek during their last game of the season to decide who advanced into the playoffs.
In the end, the Coyotes defeated the Cobras in overtime after stopping them in the redzone. While they fell short last year, the team is looking to make history yet again.
“Everything starts with the off-season program,” said Kirkwood High head coach Chad Watson. “Our kids have hit the weight room hard and got a lot stronger. Some of these kids hadn’t done much weightlifting before last year, so we emphasize that.”
As the off-season has progressed, Watson has been preaching two specific aspects of the game to his team. First, the head coach is looking for his team to be more physical. Secondly, Watson is looking for his team to make more noise on special teams in the fall.
“We weren’t in the greatest of shape last year,” Watson said. “We want to make sure we’re in good shape come fall, so we can try to be more physical. I don’t think we were ready special teams wise from the jump, so now we want to make sure that it’s sound from the start.”
While they may have fallen just short in 2023, the Cobras have revenge in their sites and look to make their first TSSAA postseason appearance in school history. The motto to reach that goal? Cobras don’t quit.
“We’re going to be a physical bunch that fights until the last whistle,” Watson said. “We want to play as hard as we can play and not worry about the scoreboard. Cobras don’t quit, that’s what we’re all about.”
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