Buckner scores 4 touchdowns to lead Cookeville to first playoff win

By Michael Heitman
Cookeville.com
November 09, 2002

The Cookeville High School Cavaliers have not had a great history in the TSSAA playoffs. 2002 is a season where the Cavaliers continue to write school history and Friday night they did it again. Stevie Buckner rushed for four touchdowns as Cookeville hosted and won their first ever playoff contest as the Cavs defeated Smyrna 35-27 in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Cookeville did what they have all season as they pounded the ball with their stable of running backs. Buckner owned the first half, breaking off scoring runs of 4, 53, 2 and 2 as everything seemed to go right for the Cavs. The Bulldogs answered with a 10-yard scoring pass from highly touted quarterback David Wolke to Brandon James. The Cavalier defense gave Wolke fits all-night and didn't let him get in much of a passing rhythm. That effort gave Cookeville a big 28-7 lead at the half.

Although two quarters remained, the crowd seemed confident that Cookeville would get their first playoff win. However, the cold winds started blowing and it seemed to cool off the Cavaliers' hot start.

Smyrna came out, hit some short quick passes which set up some open lanes in the running game as David Shannon and Wolke both found the end zone on runs of 6 and 15 yards. The PAT attempts both failed, but the Bulldogs had cut the lead to 28-19 as the game moved into the fourth quarter.

Cookeville wasn't having much success when the defense stepped up and got an interception. A few plays later, Justin Farley broke a run down the left sideline for a 42-yard scoring run. The kick was good and Cookeville had a 35-19 lead with 8:39 remaining in the contest.

Smyrna would not quit as Wolke moved the Bulldogs down the field and he scored himself 12 yards out. The two-point conversion was good making the score 35-27 with 6:43 still left on the clock. Cookeville couldn't seem to move the ball and punted again and Smyrna seemed to have momentum. However, they defense came up big again as linebacker Tyler Fisk sacked Wolke on 3rd and 10. The Bulldogs went for it on 4th down and 11 yards to go. Wolke took the snap, looked down field, then scrambled to his left and moved all the way back across the field, but came up a couple of yards short and the Cavaliers got the ball with 3:34 remaining. The Cavs pounded the ball with Buckner and managed to get first downs, run the clock and secure the victory.

The fans ran onto the field to celebrate the history just made. The history will continue next week as Cookeville hosts Blackman who defeated Franklin County 42-6. The game should be another good one as Blackman defeated Smyrna 9-6 earlier this season. No matter the outcome next week, the efforts of this Cavalier squad will be remembered.

             Q1   Q2   Q3   Q4 Total 
Smyrna        0    7   12    8   27 
Cookeville   14   14    0    7   35 

1st quarter
C-Stevie Bucker 4 run (Jack Lynn kick). 
C-Buckner 53 run (Lynn kick).

2nd quarter 
C-Buckner 2 run (Lynn kick). 
S-Brandon James 10 pass from David Wolke (Wesley Peach kick). 
C-Buckner 2 run (Lynn kick). 

3rd quarter
S-David Shannon 6 run (kick failed). 
S-Wolke 15 run (kick failed).

4th quarter
S-Wolke 12 run (Shannon run). 
C-Justin Parley 42 run (Lynn kick). 

                       Smyrna           Cookeville
First downs                14                   13
Rushes Passing         29-200               49-343
Pass yards        12-30-2 122             3-7-0 63
Fumbles/lost              1-0                  3-0
Punts                  4-41.2               3-34.5
Penalties                1-10                 3-20
 
Individual statistics
Smyrna
 Rushing 
   Jawan Bradley: 8-25
   Justin Chambers: 1-10
   Michael Hinson: 1-40
   David Shannon: 10-64, 1 TD
   David Wolke: 9-61, 2 TD
 Passing    (CMP-ATT-INT-YDS) 
   David Wolke: 12-30-2-122
 Receiving 
   Jawan Bradley: 1-14
   Michael Hinson: 3-27
   Brandon James: 3-24
   Daryl Tigert: 5-57
 Kicking    (FG-FGA XP-XPA Pts.) 
   Wesley Peach: 0-0 2-3 2

Cookeville
 Rushing 
   Stevie Buckner: 29-165, 4 TD
   Brandon Cowan: 4-20
   Justin Farley: 12-147, 1 TD
   John Ledford: 1-10
   Gus Paxton: 1-0
   Zack Thompson: 2-1
 Passing    (CMP-ATT-INT-YDS) 
   Brandon Cowan: 3-7-0-63
 Receiving 
   John Ledford: 1-25
   Klay Lesko: 2-38