Commerce Plans A 'Black Friday' For Jefferson

Last year, Jefferson stormed into Commerce, handing the Tigers a 42-7 loss that not only broke the Tigers’ 12-year winning streak over the Dragons, but also gave them their second region loss in as many weeks.
But this year is different.

It’s different because instead of facing the Dragons in the middle or toward the end of the season, Commerce will face its archrivals in the season opener. It will be the first time the two have started their seasons against each other.

Even more important is the fact that Jefferson has moved out of region 8-A and into 8-AA, taking some of the pressure off of the meeting on both sides.

That is a fact not lost on Tiger head coach Steve Savage.

“We’re playing a AA school,” Savage said. “It’s not one of those games where it will be do or die for us to win.”

But don’t be fooled. Savage’s teams are not known for playing games for anything but the win. But, he said, the focus has to stay on the ultimate goal of netting another state title.

“Certainly we’d like to win (against Jefferson), but it doesn’t have anything to do with our region,” Savage said. “That’s the most important thing for us, the region games.”

Commerce has a history of early-season success against Jefferson. The earliest the two have met has been in the second game of the year for Commerce. In 1996 and 1997, they met in the second game for both teams, while in 1986 and 1987, the games were Commerce’s second and Jefferson’s third of the season.

Commerce won all four.

Overall, in 62 meetings over 68 years, Commerce has won 41 of those games, 22 of them came at home.

With last year’s win, the longest winning streak in the ongoing rivalry was broken. The previous win streak by the Tigers went 11 games, from 1983-1993, and was broken up by back-to-back Jefferson victories in 1994 and 1995.

Regardless of history and the rivalry, Savage says he and his team will prepare this week for Friday night in the same way they will prepare every week this season.

“We have certain things we do through the week to make sure we have all the little things covered. Then we go play it.”

In other words, it’s just another game. At least, on the surface. But the deeper meaning is that it’s one of four games the Tigers have to get their legs under them before their first region match up on Oct. 3.

With the loss of several key seniors, including quarterback Reuben Haynes, Cohen Cooke and Jake Flint, the Tigers are working to adapt their offensive formations to the abilities of the players stepping up to fill the gaps.

Several Tigers will be working to keep the transition smooth, including sophomore Deon Orsbone, junior Casey Drinkard, and seniors Chase Bowen and Phillip Edwards.

Following Jefferson, the Tigers will travel to Morgan County on Sept. 5, play host to Franklin County on Sept. 12, then after an off week, they’ll travel to Lincoln County on Sept. 12.

Despite the fact that the Tigers have just over a month before their first region game, there’s no denying that the fans, the students and the players are ready to get started, and they hope for some payback against Jefferson.

Savage says he knows his team wants to win, but he is keeping his eye on the big prize that could come later in the year.

“Certainly I know they want to play well and do well and have a chance to win,” he said. “That’s how we’re going to approach the game. We’re going to go in and try to find a way to win it, but at the same time, it’s not do or die for us.”

On paper, Commerce is going up against a team that went 8-4 last year, and 3-1 in the region. Last year, Jefferson went two games into the post-season, with a loss at the hands of Warren County on Nov. 23 ending its year.

But with the beginning of a new season, the odds are even and anything can happen. That includes the creation of milestones in history, and the beginning of new winning streaks.