SFMS Devils win Reelfoot Conference game

South Fulton Middle School Red Devils capped off a stellar regular season with a Reelfoot Conference Championship, winning over Dresden Middle School Lions, at the Red Devils’ field Oct. 3, 30-26. This was the first time a Middle School football team went undefeated since 2008, when their record was 9-0.
According to SFMS Red Devils’ football Head Coach Jeremy McFarland, interestingly, three members of that 2008 team, Jaquay Garmon, Zach Vaughn and Counce Covington, now serve on the Assistant Coaching Staff for the South Fulton High School Red Devils football team.
When asked if Coach McFarland could attribute the team’s success to any one factor, he referenced a commitment made back in the summer.
“We had nearly 100% participation in summer workouts dating back to July 9.  Having a strong group of 8th graders that were mostly three-year players gave us the leadership we needed.  Our line was inexperienced with four new starters but our skill positions were very talented and had a lot of experience,” McFarland said.
While the Head Coach affirms SFMS always seems to have no shortage of talented kids with different skill sets, this was the largest group of 8th graders the team has had on its roster had in several years.  
“This group was very unselfish which allowed them to focus on our team rather than individual accomplishments and such,” Coach McFarland said.
Could this team’s success spill over into the high school level of play?
“I always encourage all of them to move on and play high school. Success in middle school doesn’t always translate to high school,  due to kids picking sports and the group shrinking.  I encourage all of them to play everything they can.  We are a small school and it takes everyone for our programs to be successful,” McFarland said.
South Fulton’s Brady Parnell was first to find the endzone for the Devils in the championship game Oct. 3, , on a four yard run with Parker Dowdy running in for the extra 2, and an 8-0 lead.
Dresden then countered with a TD of their own, putting up 6.
Dresden then scored again before the end of the first half, and got the extra 2, taking a 14-8 advantage into the second half.
In the third quarter of play, Parnell made the touchdown on a 12 point run, but the attempt for the extra 2 point conversion was no good, and the game was tied 14-14.
The Lions then scored 6 in the third, up 20-14, but in the fourth quarter of play, Parnell went in from 2 yards out and also tacked on the 2-point conversion for the Red Devils, up 22-20.
Another Lions’ score shifted the lead back to the visitors, 26-22, but a Parker Dowdy pass to Jakob Cooley was good for the Red Devils’ score and Parnell capped off the win bringing in the extra 2, for a 30-26 win.
Red Devil Brady Parnell rushed for 154 yards in 21 carries, Parker Dowdy rushed for 45 in 9 carries, Bentley Allen, 2 carries for 2 yards and Jocquan Eaton, 12 yards in 3 carries.
Parker Dowdy had one pass completion for 21 yards.
Jakob Cooley’s one reception was good for 21 yards.
Parker Dowdy had 11 tackles, Parnell had 3 and a blocked punt, and Jamison Barclay, 4 tackles.