Covington plays Pearl-Cohn at Glencliff High School in Nashville tonight in a 3A state semifinal. Here are five quick things to know about the game, which starts at 7 p.m.:
1. The winner will play the Alcoa-Loudon winner on Friday, Dec. 6 at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville in a 3 p.m. state title game. Alcoa, of course, is the team which beat Covington the last two seasons in the state title game. Loudon’s last appearance in the title game was 1975.
2. This is the second time in three seasons Pearl-Cohn and Covington have met in the state semifinals. In 2017 the Chargers trailed Pearl-Cohn by 21 points before a late rally ended with a last-second 35-yard field goal by Alex Cook to give the Chargers a 31-28 win in Nashville.
3. Pearl-Cohn (14-0) was ranked second in the state, behind Alcoa, in the final Associated Press Class 3A state poll. Covington (12-2) was ranked seventh.
4. Junior Pearl-Cohn quarterback Martino Owens has been one of the best passers in the state this season. He’s completed 129 of 194 passes for 1,929 yards, 27 touchdowns and four interceptions. Cedric Watkins is his primary receiver. He has caught 51 passes for 789 yards and 11 touchdowns.
5. Covington’s rushing offense is averaging 285 yards per game, which ranks first in the Shelby-Metro area. The Charger defense is allowing just 135 yards per game, which ranks fifth.
