THE RED Raiders stadium was packed as thousands of football fans gathered to witness Coffee County history: The 100th Coffee Pot. The Coffee Pot is the annual football game between Coffee County Central High School (CCCHS) and Tullahoma High School (THS), starting in 1924. This rivalry creates what Tullahoma’s head coach, Coy Sisk, said is the quintessential high school football experience.

“It’s amazing that we’ve had two teams in the state of Tennessee that have been able to keep a tradition like this alive for 100 years!” Sisk said. “It is really unique. This is exactly what high school football is supposed to be, and what I hope it continues to be.”
Last year, CCCHS won in the 99th Coffee Pot, and this year, the THS Wildcats claimed the victory for the 100th Coffee Pot with a score of 57-23. Sisk said it is a team effort, and everyone has to work together and support each other for the team to succeed.

CCCHS head coach Brandon Harmon said win or lose, the experience always pushes both teams to be at their best and to learn something from it.
“My guys played extremely hard for four quarters. We executed well on offense, with quarterback Kaysen Lowery leading the way,” Harmon said. “We made some key mental mistakes on defense and special teams, but I was proud of our guys for how hard they played, and we gained some much-needed experience for our young team as we prepare for region play.”

The atmosphere was contagiously energetic as the marching bands played, and the color guards, dance teams, and cheerleaders executed perfect routines during halftime and throughout the game. The Tullahoma Wildcats were elated to rush the field victoriously at the end, but Coach Sisk, while proud of the win, said now they have to focus on region games.
“The Coffee Pot is an emotional football game — an emotional week for everyone involved on both sides,” Sisk said. “But at the end of the game, Coffee County is no closer or farther away from the playoffs than Tullahoma right now, so we all have to keep looking forward and prepare for those games.” GN