07/19/2026
Inside the Locker Room: Gordonsville Chasing Another Championship Run Under Stephen Jackson
By Scott McCrary – Tri-Star Sports Network
Presented by Realty Empire LLC
After one of the finest seasons in program history, the bar hasn’t been lowered in Gordonsville—it has been raised.
The Tigers finished 12-1 in 2025, rolling through a perfect 10-0 regular season while capturing the Region 4-2A championship with an unblemished 4-0 league mark. Their memorable season ended in the TSSAA Class 2A quarterfinals with a 42-14 road loss to Marion County, but the expectations remain unchanged inside “The Jungle.”
Head coach Stephen Jackson believes the next step isn’t about dwelling on last season’s success. It’s about building on it one day at a time.
Quality Over Quantity During Summer
Rather than filling the calendar with numerous 7-on-7 competitions, Jackson has taken a different approach this offseason.
“We go to our first one today at Jackson County and then next Tuesday we’ll be at Lebanon,” Jackson said. “We used those first few days after dead period to get back in the weight room, get our strength back after taking two weeks off, and get back on the practice field working on our offensive and defensive schemes. Instead of chasing a bunch of 7-on-7 dates, I really want us focusing on ourselves.”
The emphasis has been on preparation, development, and making sure the Tigers peak when the games truly matter.
Josh Peacock Headlines Offseason Growth
One player who has caught the coaching staff’s attention this summer is junior offensive lineman Josh Peacock.
Jackson said Peacock’s gains have been impossible to ignore.
“His strength numbers have just gone through the roof,” Jackson explained. “We’re tracking velocity-based training now, so we’re not just measuring weight—we’re measuring how explosively our guys move the bar. Josh has made tremendous gains in the weight room and he’s moving faster than ever.”
Those improvements could pay major dividends for an offensive line expected to be one of Gordonsville’s strengths this fall.
Coaching at Home Means Everything
For Jackson, leading the Tigers is about much more than football.
As a Gordonsville graduate, every Friday night carries special meaning.
“It’s exciting,” Jackson said. “People here love football. Friday nights are unbelievable, whether we’re home or on the road. The whole town kind of shuts down, and everybody is either in the stands or following the game. I understand how important football is to this community, and we want to put a product on the field that everybody can be proud of.”
Why “The Jungle” Is Different
Tri-Star Sports Network recently ranked Turney Ford Field as the toughest place to play in the Upper Cumberland, and Jackson understands exactly why opposing teams struggle there.
“A lot of newer stadiums have tracks around them and the fans are pushed back,” he said. “At our place the fans are right on top of the field. It feels like they’re out there with you. It gets loud, it creates an unbelievable atmosphere, and it’s definitely an advantage for us.”
Anyone who has experienced a Friday night in “The Jungle” knows exactly what Jackson is describing.
Built on Toughness and Character
Gordonsville football has long been synonymous with physical play, discipline and toughness.
Jackson intends to keep it that way.
“We want people to watch us and think those guys play football the right way,” he said. “We want to play as hard as we can, be physical, have high-character kids and represent our school and community with pride.”
Quarterback Battle Will Continue
Replacing standout quarterback J. Foster won’t be easy, but Jackson likes the competition developing this summer.
Junior Cruz Frye and sophomore Ryder Roberts are battling for the starting job.
Both have quarterback experience from middle school, and Jackson isn’t ruling out using both throughout the season.
“They both love to compete,” Jackson said. “They feed off each other and do a great job running our offense. If one wins the job that’s great, but if not, don’t be surprised if you see both quarterbacks on the field.”
Learning From Last Year’s Success
Despite winning 12 games, Jackson said the coaching staff spent the offseason studying every detail of last year’s team.
“We’ve done a lot of self-reflecting,” he said. “There are things offensively and defensively we want to tweak. We’ve changed some things in the weight room with our velocity-based training because we’re trying to become faster and more explosive. We want to keep building the tradition we have here.”
Coalfield Provides Immediate Test
The Tigers won’t have much time to ease into the season.
Week one brings another showdown with Coalfield, one of the state’s perennial contenders.
“It’ll be another great football game,” Jackson said. “Last year’s game was back and forth before the lightning delay. Coach Napier has said this may be one of the most athletic teams they’ve had. They’re a semifinal team from last year, and that’s exactly the kind of competition we want. We want to challenge ourselves in non-region play.”
Progress Before Results
Jackson isn’t asking his team to focus on championships in July.
Instead, the daily message remains simple.
“We just want to get one percent better every day,” he said. “Don’t worry about wins and losses right now. Learn from what you do well, learn from your mistakes, and by the time region play gets here we want to be playing our best football.”
Veteran Leadership Emerging
Several experienced Tigers have become the emotional leaders of the football team.
Wyatt Lankford, Chris Mclain and Will Petty have each taken ownership of the locker room while setting the standard during workouts and practice.
“Our team really respects those guys,” Jackson said. “They’ve played a lot of football and they’re doing a tremendous job leading us.”
Experienced Playmakers Return
While the quarterback competition receives much of the attention, Jackson believes the Tigers have plenty of experienced talent surrounding whoever wins the position.
Maddux Randolph, Waylon Kennedy, Camrix Stott and Turner Booker all return after playing significant roles in last season’s championship run.
Booker, in particular, already has extensive varsity experience after contributing as both a freshman and sophomore.
Strength Begins Up Front
Perhaps the biggest reason for optimism is the offensive line.
Josh Peacock, JT Clemons and Will Petty all return after starting last season, while Cage Petty, Bryson Smith, Noah Smith and Isaac Bush are competing for additional playing time.
“We’ve got good size and we’ve got competition,” Jackson said. “Having depth allows us to stay fresh during games, and that’s something we feel really good about.”
Region 4-2A Will Be A Battle Again
Although Gordonsville swept through Region 4-2A last season, Jackson expects another demanding race.
With rivals Trousdale County, Jackson County, Cannon County and Smith County all capable of challenging for the title, he believes every Friday night will require championship-level football.
“I really think anybody can win this region,” Jackson said. “Every game is a rivalry, every game is competitive, and you’re going to have to make plays to win. We’re excited to see how Gordonsville football stacks up.”
Eyes Still Fixed on December
The Tigers came within two victories of playing for a state championship last season.
Jackson believes reaching Chattanooga this year won’t require anything extraordinary—just ex*****on when the biggest moments arrive.
“We were in the game against Marion County,” Jackson said. “The difference was they made a few more plays than we did. That’s what football comes down to in November. When your opportunity comes, you’ve got to make the play.”
If Gordonsville continues to improve one day at a time, those opportunities may come again.
And if they do, expect “The Jungle” to be louder than ever as another championship pursuit unfolds in one of Tennessee’s proudest small-school football communities.
