MVP Eli Wilson Leads MTCS To First-Ever Title

Cougars Defeat Friendship Christian, 28-13

Thursday, November 30, 2023
Richard Roberts

First-year head coach Christian Peterson was a happy man when the final buzzer sounded in the Division 2A championship game Thursday at Finley Stadium.

Peterson and the Cougars (12-1) were in control from the outset and in their first-ever appearance in a state championship game, the Middle Tennessee Christian School manhandled Friendship Christian School by a final score of 28-13.

“It's special for this school. It's special for these kids. I'm so excited. They worked their tails off and I couldn't be more proud of them,” said a jubilant Peterson as the Cougars celebrated the victory with fans. “They flew around. They were physical. We know these guys pretty well (Friendship). They are in our region. They (FC) are a physical football team. Were going to have to come out and try and be more physical than them. I think we were able to do that and we came away with a 'W'.”

MTCS's Eli Wilson was the man of the hour for the Cougars cruising his way to 197 yards on 17 carries and a touchdown. The game MVP also recovered a fumble and raced in for a second TD and added icing to the cake with an interception.

“He's Mr. Football. That's the biggest snub in the entire state,” Peterson emphasized. “He's a fantastic kid. He's done everything we've asked of him. It's a shame that he's not going to be in Nashville. But he'd tell you he'd take this (state championship) ring over a Mr. Football award.”

The Cougars wasted little time putting points on the board after an opening punt from Friendship.

MTCS lined up at its own 1-yard line after the kick and promptly marched to the Commanders' 24 highlighted by a 50-yard spring by quarterback Yates Geren. From there the Cougars were looking at a fourth-and-9 when Geren found a diving Brooks Jones for the score. Janick Reynolds made it 7-0 with the PAT.

The Commanders answered quickly with a 60-yard drive on their next possession using the legs of Tyson Wolcott who carried the leather seven times for 55 that included a 31-yard ramble. Wolcott capped the drive with a 2-5ard TD plunge. The extra point attempt failed FC trailed 7-6 after one quarter of football.

It took just three plays for MTCS to up the lead to 14-6 thanks to a Wilson 50-yard burst for another Cougars TD two plays into the second quarter.

The Commanders drove from their own 20-yard line to the Cougars' 36 before turning the ball over after failing to convert on a fourth-and-9.

The first half came to a close with MTCS hanging on to the 14-6 lead.

The Cougars came out running in the third quarter with a 14-play drive that began at their own 37 and ended when Geren pushed the final four yards into the end zone to open the lead to 21-13. The drive chewed up just ender with minutes of the third quarter clock.

Wilson put the final championship points on the board midway through the fourth quarter with his 28 yard fumble return to hammer the final nail in the victory.

“I don't know. We set the bar pretty high.” Peterson said when asked what's next for the Cougars. I like my kids. We're definitely going celebrate this one and we're going to enjoy it. Then we're going to get back to work and see what we can do moving forward.”

FRIENDSHIP CHRISTIAN	6	0	0	7	-- 13
MTCS	7	7	7	7	-- 28

SCORING SUMMARY

MT Brooks Jones 24 pass from Yates Geren (Jarick Reynolds kick) (5:07, 1st) 0-7

FC Tyson Wolcott 1 run (kick failed) (00:35, 1st) 6-7

MT Eli Wilson 50 run (Reynolds kick) (11:15, 2nd) 6-14

MT Geren 4 run (Reynolds kick) (4:24, 3 rd) 6-21

MT Wilson 28 fumble return (Reynolds kick) (5:46, 4th) 6-28

FC Wolcott 11 run (Landon Williams kick) (1:29, 4 th) 13-2

STATS	FC	MT
First Downs	18	15
Rushes-Yards	39-232	42-285
Passing Yards	85	24
Total yards	317	309
Passing (Comp-Att-Int)	9-15-1	1-2-0
Penalties-Yards	4-40	2-10
Fumbles-Lost	2-1	1-0
Punts-Average	1-57.0	1-39.0
Time of Possession	24:06	23:54