By Owen Whitsett
Coffee County Central opened the 2026 football season with a statement Friday night, overcoming an early deficit to defeat Franklin County 34-8 at home in a game heard live on Thunder Radio.
Franklin County wasted little time getting on the board. The Rebels came out throwing from a five-wide look and quickly marched down the field, finishing the opening possession with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Baylor Hayes. Franklin County then faked the PAT and converted for two to take an early 8-0 lead.
That would be the last time the Rebels found the end zone.
Coffee County answered immediately, and did it in explosive fashion. On the Red Raiders’ first offensive snap of the season, Kaysen Lowery took off for a 40-yard run.
Lowery followed with another 14-yard keeper before going to the air on the next play, finding Kam Stafford on a screen.
Stafford shrugged off contact and battled his way 26 yards to the end zone, quickly cutting the Franklin County advantage to 8-7.
The Rebels threatened again on their next possession when Hayes connected with Austin Heath for a 45-yard gain into Coffee County territory. But the Red Raider defense slammed the door, forcing a pair of incompletions and a stop on third down before Franklin County punted.
From there, the momentum belonged to Coffee County — and the Red Raiders never gave it back.
Coffee County put together a long scoring drive highlighted by several crucial third-down conversions. With Franklin County loading the box on third-and-one, Lowery kept the ball on a read option and burst through the defense for 27 yards. Later, Stafford took a jet sweep 14 yards on third-and-12 to move the chains, and Tez Garrett powered ahead for another conversion on third-and-four.
Matthew White later took a left toss down near the goal line, setting Coffee County up to take its first lead of the night.
On third-and-goal from the one, the Raiders brought out the heavy formation, adding Kellan Hershman and Hank Crabtree to the package. Lowery followed the extra muscle into the end zone on a one-yard quarterback power, and the PAT gave Coffee County a 14-8 lead with 10:15 remaining in the second quarter.
Franklin County later mounted one of its best threats of the night, moving inside the Coffee County 20. But on fourth-and-10, Dylan Castillo broke through for a sack, ending the drive and giving the ball back to the Raiders.
Coffee County responded with another methodical possession, chewing time off the clock while continuing to move the chains. Stafford helped push the Raiders deep into Franklin County territory before Lowery kept the ball on a read option and sprinted into the end zone with 37 seconds remaining in the half.
The PAT was no good, but Coffee County carried a 20-8 advantage into halftime after scoring 20 unanswered points.
Franklin County tried to steal the momentum back immediately after halftime — and for a moment, it appeared to work.
The Rebels opened the second half with an onside kick and recovered it.
Their momentum lasted all of one play.
Austin Pierce intercepted Hayes on the first snap from scrimmage, immediately handing possession — and the momentum — right back to Coffee County.
The Raiders made Franklin County pay.
Stafford was put in motion on a play designed to give him the option to throw. With nothing available downfield, Stafford tucked the football and turned the broken play into one of the biggest gains of the night, racing 30 yards down to the Franklin County four.
Garrett handled the rest, powering straight up the middle for a four-yard touchdown.
The PAT was good, stretching the Raider advantage to 27-8 with 7:55 remaining in the third quarter.
Coffee County saved one of its biggest highlights for its final score.
After Lowery moved the chains out of the heavy formation on fourth-and-one, the Raider quarterback went to the air and found freshman Luke Christian streaking downfield on a post route. Christian made the grab through contact and rolled into the end zone for a 40-yard touchdown — the first varsity score of his Coffee County career.
The PAT made it 34-8 with 3:37 remaining in the third quarter and put the finishing touches on a run of 34 unanswered points.
Coffee County turned things over to some of its younger players in the fourth quarter and closed out the 34-8 victory.
The Raider defense was especially impressive after Franklin County’s opening possession. Coffee County did not allow another point over the final three-plus quarters and forced multiple turnovers, including Pierce’s interception and a fumble recovery by Justus Frazier.
Coffee County offensive leaders
- Kaysen Lowery: 8-of-13 passing, 95 yards, 2 touchdowns; 9 carries, 124 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
- Tez Garrett: 13 carries, 58 yards, 1 touchdown
- Kam Stafford: 3 carries, 56 yards; 2 catches, 31 yards, 1 touchdown
- Luke Christian: 4 catches, 59 yards, 1 touchdown
- Aiden Sawyer: 5 carries, 43 yards
- Sebastian Denby: 2 carries, 10 yards
- Joe Jordan: 1 catch, 10 yards
- Brady Clem: 1 catch, 7 yards
- Jordan Henley: 1 catch, 3 yards
- Matthew White: 1 catch for minus-2 yards; 1 rush for 4 yards
Coffee County finished the night with 412 yards of total offense and 17 first downs. Franklin County finished with 250 total yards and five first downs.
Coffee County moves to 1-0 and now turns its attention to one of the biggest nights on the calendar. The Red Raiders will make the short trip to Tullahoma next Friday to face the 0-1 Wildcats in the 101st Coffee Pot. Tullahoma enters the rivalry matchup after falling to Shelbyville in overtime in its season opener.
After the 100th edition of the rivalry a year ago, the Coffee Pot heads to Tullahoma for chapter 101 with county bragging rights once again on the line. The game will be live on Thunder Radio, with complete Friday Night Thunder coverage leading up to kickoff and continuing after the final whistle.
