August 13, 2012- The two programs that have combined to win the last four Tennessee Division-II AA State Championships will open the 2012 CSS High School Football Television Schedule. The Ensworth Tigers are the back-to-back state champs having won in 2010 & 2011, while MUS won state titles in 2008 and '09. Overall the Owls have captured five state championships with four of those coming under current Head Coach Bobby Alston since 2004. The Tigers are led by Coach Ricky Bowers, who has also guided Ensworth to back-to-back state basketball championships as well. This will be the season opener for both teams. Ensworth is ranked as high as sixth nationally by Max Preps and also ranked 1 in Tennessee by that service. MUS is ranked ninth in Tennessee by Max Preps. The Tigers went 12-1 in 2011 en route to their second straight state title, twice defeating MUS. Ensworth was a 28-14 winner at MUS to open last season and then beat the Owls again in the state semi-finals 28-0. MUS finished 2011 8-4 but the Tigers were the only Tennessee team to beat the Owls. MUS other two losses came against Mississippi powers South Panola and state champion Olive Branch.
Ensworth Players to Watch
Both teams are stocked with college prospects headlined by Ensworth RBFS 4-star Corn Elder, ranked by 247 Sports as the 8 all purpose back in the nation. His offers include Ohio State, Vandy, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ole Miss and Tennessee. Elder is also an outstanding basketball prospect with many mid-major offers. In addition to Elder, the Tigers also boast two high-profile sophomore cornerbacks in Rico McGraw and Donovan Sheffield, who is already committed to Vandy. Though both are just starting the 10th grade, McGraw has offers from Alabama, Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Vandy.
MUS Players to Watch
3-star RB Shane Tucker, who has an offer from Western Kentucky is the Owls highest rated player by 247 Sports. He is joined on the prospect list by 2-star APB Fernando Van Hook, 2-star OT Arbre Jones who has an offer from Duke, 2-star ILB Ford Howell who is committed to Wake Forest, WR Marquez Lanton who is committed to Arkansas State and junior OLB James Prather.
