Tate is joined by Coach Eddie Cunningham of Lincoln County HS Football to talk about their 3-0 start to the 2025 season and more!

Tate is joined by Coach Eddie Cunningham of Lincoln County HS Football to talk about their 3-0 start to the 2025 season and more!

Growing up in a coaching family and now the owner of Mathews Team Sports, Tate Mathews brings a unique perspective to High School Sports Saturday.

With over fifteen years in the sporting goods industry in Middle Tennessee working with and for high school administrators and coaches, Tate’s relationships provide insight into middle Tennessee high school athletics.

High School Sports Saturday covers each sport during their respective competitive seasons.  Coaches, administrators, TSSAA officials and student-athletes are interviewed each week at 8 AM on 104-5 The Zone.

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HSSS - Eddie Cunningham

Tom Kreager and Tate discuss recent performances and upcoming games in the Tennessee secondary school basketball state tournaments. They highlight standout players such as Aiva Jared from Lipscomb Academy, Sage Starks, and Mia Green from Knoxville Webb, noting their critical roles in recent victories. The conversation also covers the intense four-overtime game between Catholic and Briarcrest, the longest in Division II state tournament history. Key matchups discussed include Knoxville Webb versus Lipscomb Academy, and JP2 versus Briarcrest, with a focus on players like Trey Pearson, Fred Smith, and Josh Higgins.

They also  focuses on TSWAA's new, stricter penalties for recruiting violations. The hosts discuss the implementation of a three-tier penalty system, where the most severe violations (Level 4, involving inducements) result in a two-year ban from the playoffs. They emphasize that these harsher consequences are intended to deter illegal recruiting and ensure a fairer playing field. The discussion also touches on the ambiguity of "direct or indirect" involvement by individuals associated with programs and the need for further clarification on these definitions.

Tom Kreager and Tate discuss recent performances and upcoming games in the Tennessee secondary school basketball state tournaments. They highlight standout players such as Aiva Jared from Lipscomb Academy, Sage Starks, and Mia Green from Knoxville Webb, noting their critical roles in recent victories. The conversation also covers the intense four-overtime game between Catholic and Briarcrest, the longest in Division II state tournament history. Key matchups discussed include Knoxville Webb versus Lipscomb Academy, and JP2 versus Briarcrest, with a focus on players like Trey Pearson, Fred Smith, and Josh Higgins.
They also&nbsp; focuses on TSWAA's new, stricter penalties for recruiting violations. The hosts discuss the implementation of a three-tier penalty system, where the most severe violations (Level 4, involving inducements) result in a two-year ban from the playoffs. They emphasize that these harsher consequences are intended to deter illegal recruiting and ensure a fairer playing field. The discussion also touches on the ambiguity of "direct or indirect" involvement by individuals associated with programs and the need for further clarification on these definitions.

HSSS- Tom Kreager 

Coach Kris Hooper, in his first year as the head coach of the Ravenwood Raptors, has led the team to a historic position through a culture focused on meticulous attention to detail and collective buy-in. Reflecting on their recent performance, Hooper highlighted a tense "nail-biter" victory against Summit and a high-energy offensive win against Page before the team eventually fell to a formidable Brentwood squad in the region finals. Despite that loss, the Raptors remain alive and are preparing for a critical sectional game on Monday night, where a victory would secure their first-ever trip to the state tournament, often referred to as the "Glass House".

Looking ahead to the matchup against Blackman, Hooper anticipates a grueling, low-scoring defensive battle where the first team to reach 30 points might emerge as the winner. He emphasizes that the game will be won in the paint, requiring his players to limit second-chance points and effectively rebound against Blackman’s standout post player, McDonald. To ensure his team is mentally and physically prepared during spring break, Hooper scheduled a concentrated Friday-Saturday practice block to allow for recovery time on Sunday, urging his seniors to embrace the magnitude of the moment as they attempt to make school history.

Coach Kris Hooper, in his first year as the head coach of the Ravenwood Raptors, has led the team to a historic position through a culture focused on meticulous attention to detail and collective buy-in. Reflecting on their recent performance, Hooper highlighted a tense "nail-biter" victory against Summit and a high-energy offensive win against Page before the team eventually fell to a formidable Brentwood squad in the region finals. Despite that loss, the Raptors remain alive and are preparing for a critical sectional game on Monday night, where a victory would secure their first-ever trip to the state tournament, often referred to as the "Glass House".
Looking ahead to the matchup against Blackman, Hooper anticipates a grueling, low-scoring defensive battle where the first team to reach 30 points might emerge as the winner. He emphasizes that the game will be won in the paint, requiring his players to limit second-chance points and effectively rebound against Blackman&rsquo;s standout post player, McDonald. To ensure his team is mentally and physically prepared during spring break, Hooper scheduled a concentrated Friday-Saturday practice block to allow for recovery time on Sunday, urging his seniors to embrace the magnitude of the moment as they attempt to make school history.

HSSS- Kris Hooper

Coach Marty Euverard discusses his transition out of retirement to become the head football coach at Providence Christian Academy (PCA). After a highly successful 14-year tenure at Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA), Euverard had initially moved to his family farm in East Tennessee, but he felt a spiritual calling to return to the sidelines to influence young athletes. The move is particularly significant due to his personal ties to the school, where his daughter is a teacher and his eldest grandson will soon be a freshman on the team. Euverard highlights the collaborative nature of the transition, noting that he has spent considerable time consulting with his predecessor and longtime friend, Lebron Ferguson, to maintain the program's culture.

The conversation also dives  into the deep-rooted history and coaching philosophy shared by Euverard and Ferguson, who coached together for years at Oakland High School. They reminisce about the "Inside Drill," a notoriously intense "smash-mouth" training tradition involving several local high school powerhouses that focused on downhill rushing and physical toughness. Euverard emphasizes that his primary goal at PCA extends beyond football, focusing on the school’s mission to build young men with a strong faith and a spirit of excellence. This return to Middle Tennessee marks a new chapter for the Hall of Fame coach as he seeks to build upon the foundation Ferguson established at the growing program.

Coach Marty Euverard discusses his transition out of retirement to become the head football coach at Providence Christian Academy (PCA). After a highly successful 14-year tenure at Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA), Euverard had initially moved to his family farm in East Tennessee, but he felt a spiritual calling to return to the sidelines to influence young athletes. The move is particularly significant due to his personal ties to the school, where his daughter is a teacher and his eldest grandson will soon be a freshman on the team. Euverard highlights the collaborative nature of the transition, noting that he has spent considerable time consulting with his predecessor and longtime friend, Lebron Ferguson, to maintain the program's culture.
The conversation also dives&nbsp; into the deep-rooted history and coaching philosophy shared by Euverard and Ferguson, who coached together for years at Oakland High School. They reminisce about the "Inside Drill," a notoriously intense "smash-mouth" training tradition involving several local high school powerhouses that focused on downhill rushing and physical toughness. Euverard emphasizes that his primary goal at PCA extends beyond football, focusing on the school&rsquo;s mission to build young men with a strong faith and a spirit of excellence. This return to Middle Tennessee marks a new chapter for the Hall of Fame coach as he seeks to build upon the foundation Ferguson established at the growing program.

HSSS - Eddie Cunningham

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