Following a summer full of questions on whether or not a season would actually happen and a cancellation at Columbia Academy on the original opening night slot, Marshall County (1-0) finally took the field on Thursday night in Fayetteville against 5A Lincoln County (1-1).

The Falcons, who beat Tiger rival Giles County (0-2) 20-13 the previous week, jumped out to a 6-0 advantage over Marshall County following an hour lighting delay before the blue and white reeled off 24 unanswered points to take the season opening win 24-6.

"It was a great feeling getting out there playing under the lights," junior quarterback Bryson Hammons said. "With it being in question and doubted all summer, it made the moment even better."

"We started the game with everything going against us," Hammons added. "Late in the first quarter our defense got a big stop and from there on out we pretty much controlled the game."

One of Marshall County head coach Thomas Osteen's biggest expectations has always been to have the Tigers turn in a complete game in all three phases and the boys from Lewisburg executed to perfection against the Falcons.

"We tried to attack their secondary as much as possible and also I think we did a pretty good job on all three phases of the game," senior wide receiver A'Ky Howard, who led the Tigers in both receptions and receiving yards, said. "The turning point of the game after the delay was definitely the touchdown by Devonte Davis. That turned the game around and after that we didn't miss a beat."

Hammons, who entered his second season as full-time starter, led the Tigers in the air with eight completions on 15 attempts and a touchdown pass.

Howard, also Hammons favorite Target last season, came out of the preseason with multiple college offers and did not disappoint in the opener with four catches for 36 yards, one carry for seven yards, and had an 18-yard third quarter touchdown run called back on a phantom penalty.

Devonte Davis had just one catch, a 23-yard touchdown strike to give the Tigers the lead for good in the second quarter and Jayden Hart added a late 29-yard grab.

Connor Hilton picked up where the senior running back left off in the final games of 2019 with 12 rushes for 66 yards and a score, while sophomore Demari Braden (4 rush, 10 yds., TD), and freshman Antomme Cawthorn (2 rush, 18 yards) provided valuable backup reps.

Lamarion Pierce led the Tigers with 75 all-purpose yards that included an electrifying 68-yard punt return in the second quarter.

Pierce also pitched in seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass defended on the other side of the ball.

If the Tigers offense was good on Thursday night then the Marshall County defense was great.

Led by Christian Stacey with an eye popping 15 tackles and Logan McKnight with eight tackles, three tackles for a loss, a QB hurry and fumble recovery, the Tiger defense allowed a first quarter touchdown before giving up just four Falcon first downs the rest of the game.

Kaden Whitson added nine tackles, Hart chipped in six tackles, two for a loss, two QB hurries and a sack, while Anthony Diaz finished with five tackles, two for a loss, and a sack.

Cawthorn tallied a tackle, a pass defended and the first Tiger interception on the year.

The third and often most forgotten phase of the game, special teams, also had a standout night versus Lincoln County.

On a soaked field after an hour long delay, Tiger senior kicker Jon Estes, considered one of the best all-around kickers in the Volunteer state, was still able to send five of six kickoffs into the end zone, connect on all three extra points, and pushed through a 33-yard field goal on two attempts.

Holder Draven West also had a standout game to start the season, saving Estes’ field goal and two extra points by turning an errant snap into a kickable ball.

Punter Joseph Gold also showed marked improvement in the punting game from his junior season, getting off three punts for a 36-yard average with a long of 44 yards.

The Falcons gave the Tigers a scare early in the contest when Lincoln County drove 80 yards on the opening drive after the lightning delay, culminating with a four-yard touchdown run by quarterback Parker Webb before a failed two-point conversation held the lead at 6-0.

The Tigers wasted little time evening the game up with a Hammons to Davis 23-yard touchdown strike before an Estes extra point gave the visitors the lead for good at 7-6.

Following a Falcons’ three-and-out, the Tigers offense continued to gel with Howard running for a first down, then catching a first down ball before Hilton added another first down scramble, followed by a long throw by Hammons to Hart to put the blue and white in scoring position.

Demari Braden, who set the middle school record for touchdowns in a game at Tullahoma two years ago, gave the Tigers’ fan a glimpse of the future with an eight-yard run into the end zone for the first Marshall County rushing touchdown of the season for the 14-6 lead with 6:12 left in the first half.

The Tigers came within inches of a third score in the second frame but a 68-yard punt return was stopped just short of the end zone on a tackle by the Falcon punter.

Marshall County suffered through three straight penalties to turn a sure score into a long field goal attempt by Estes that fell way short.

The contest remained close throughout most of the third quarter until Hilton put some much needed space between the squads with a three-yard score at the 2:21 mark.

Estes finally put the proverbial nail in the Falcons’ coffin with a perfect 33-yard field goal strike for the 24-6 final score.

The Tigers now turn its attention to longtime region rival Tullahoma (2-0), who have taken down 5A Shelbyville Central (1-1) 38-13 and 6A Coffee County Central (1-1) 42-13 to come into Lewisburg undefeated.

"Tullahoma is definitely a good 4A football team and we know what we have to do to stop them," Howard remarked. "Their offense scores 40 points a game and their defense only allowed 26 points in two games."

The Tigers easily beat the Wildcats last season, returning to Lewisburg with a 30-6 region win, but Tullahoma is once again a title contender with a roster full of playmakers and a huge offensive line.

"I think we will have a much better mindset as a team going into the game this week," Hammons predicted. "If we can beat them in touchdowns and limit the little penalties, we have a great shot at winning the game."

Tullahoma will invade Preston Hopkins Field at 7 p.m. on Friday with the contest also selected as the MyTV30 Game of the Week which will broadcast the game throughout Middle Tennessee.

Marshall County 0 14 7 3-24

Lincoln County 6 0 0 0-6

Scoring Plays

First Quarter

Lincoln County- Parker Webb 4-yard run, 2 pt. conversion run failed.

Second Quarter

Marshall County-Davonte Davis 23-yard pass from Bryson Hammons, Jon Estes PAT.

Marshall County- Demari Braden 8-yard run, Jon Estes PAT.

Third Quarter

Marshall County-Connor Hilton 3-yard run, Jon Estes PAT.

Fourth Quarter-Jon Estes 33-yard field goal.

Marshall County

Total Offense: Rushing 83, Passing 94.

Rushing: Connor Hilton 12-66-TD, Antomme Cawthorn 2-18, Damari Braden 4-10-TD, Ak’y Howard 1-7, Bryson Hammons 5-(-20).

Passing: Bryson Hammons 8-15-94-TD-0 INT.

Receiving: Ak’y Howard 4-36, Jayden Hart 1-29, Devonte Davis 1-23-TD, Christian Stacey 1-9, 1-(-2).

Kicking

PAT: Jon Estes 3-3.

Field Goals: Jon Estes 1-2-33.

Punting: Joseph Gold 3-107.

Returns

Kickoffs: Lamarion Pierce 1-5, Connor Hilton 1-0.

Punts: Lamarion Pierce 1-68.

Defense

Tackles: Christian Stacey 13 (TFL), Kaden Whitson 9, Logan McKnight 8 (FUM REC), Lamarion Pierce 7, Jayden Hart 6 (SACK), Davonte Davis 5 (FUM REC), Connor Hilton 5 (TFL), Anthony Diaz 5 (TFL, SACK), Joseph Gold 4, Omari Armstrong 4, Isaac Brinkley 2 (2TFL), Demari Braden 2, Antomme Cawthorn 1 (INT), Kamron Dunnavant 1, Jonathan Bair 1, Braxton Roberts 1.