#TNHSFB Week 2: Pearl Cohn defeats CPA 15-11

<p>After an impressive victory in week one of the season, Christ Presbyterian Academy (1-1) was unable to remain undefeated in week two, falling to Pearl Cohn High School (2-0) by a final score of 15-11. After the close week two battle in Nashville, here's my game recap as well as top performers to keep an eye on as the season moves forward.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Game Recap/Top Performers</h2>   <p>Christ Presbyterian Academy start to flex early on in the first quarter, muscling their way down the field and into solid scoring position. After a strong defensive showcase from Pearl Cohn, the Lions settled for a field goal, taking a 3-0 lead over the Firebirds. Neither team would be able to put any more points on the board for the remainder of the first half of play as the Lions held a narrow lead over the Firebirds entering the locker room. Christ Presbyterian Academy came out roaring at the start of the second half, recording an early safety to take a 5-0 lead over Pearl Cohn. The Firebirds made the proper adjustments and struck back with a touchdown as well as a two-point conversion to take an 8-5 lead over the Lions. Later on in the second half, CPA tipped a pass from Pearl Cohn and recovered the pass to regain possession. After making it into the redzone, the Lions ran the ball in to take an 11-8 lead over the Firebirds. In the final minutes of the contest, Pearl Cohn was unstoppable as the Firebirds forced another touchdown to take a 15-11 lead. Pearl Cohn High School held on to escape week two with a 15-11 victory over Christ Presbyterian Academy. Without any further ado, here's my list of top performers from the week two contest:</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. [player_tooltip player_id='228694' first='Crews' last='Law'] - LB - 2024 - Christ Presbyterian Academy</h2>   <p>At the top of my list of notable performers is [player_tooltip player_id='228694' first='Crews' last='Law'], a 6-foot-1, 215-pound linebacker at Christ Presbyterian Academy. Law was a huge playmaker on the defensive side of the ball in week two, impressing me with his size, speed and explosiveness off the snap. Law made several commanding stops, utilizing his toughness and durable edge to blast past the Firebirds' offensive line, get to the quarterback and create turnovers. Another aspect of Law that stood out was his ability to maintain control on third-down and hit the opposing offense hard.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. [player_tooltip player_id='193750' first='D'Arious' last='Reed'] - WR - 2024 - Pearl-Cohn</h2>   <p>I am additionally impressed with [player_tooltip player_id='193750' first='D'Arious' last='Reed'], a 6-foot-0, 170-pound wide receiver at Pearl Cohn High School. Reed was one of the most significant gamechangers on the Firebirds' roster in the week two matchup against CPA, hauling in an impressive touchdown pass in the fourth quarter that eventually made the difference. In addition to outstanding size, speed and physicality in coverage, Reed impresses me with his execution off the snap, his breakaway speed and his ability to lock in to make a big difference in the endzone when it's needed the most.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. [player_tooltip player_id='149166' first='Ondre' last='Evans'] - DB - 2024 - Christ Presbyterian Academy</h2>   <p>Claiming the number three spot on my list is [player_tooltip player_id='149166' first='Ondre' last='Evans'], a 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back at Christ Presbyterian Academy. Evans caught my attention during pregame warmups with his size, speed and efficient catching. In the first quarter, Evans played a crucial role in getting the Lions within scoring range, hauling in an impressive 20-yard pass under heavy coverage from the Firebirds' defense that led to an early lead. Evans also played well on the other side of the ball, providing physical coverage, quickness and disruptiveness down the stretch.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. [player_tooltip player_id='811032' first='Javion' last='Kinnard'] - ATH - 2025 - Pearl-Cohn</h2>   <p>Another high-level prospect that made his presence known on the field was [player_tooltip player_id='811032' first='Javion' last='Kinnard'], a 5-foot-8, 175-pound athlete at Pearl Cohn High School. What impressed me most about Kinnard was his ability to adjust to the Lions' defense and find openings in the pocket to escape into the backfield, proving his skillset with a 23-yard touchdown run in the second half. Another aspect of Kinnard that stood out to me was his speed and athleticism down the stretch as he proved he can muscle in front of defenders to haul in passes and put the Firebirds within scoring range.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. [player_tooltip player_id='258845' first='Keshawn' last='Tarleton'] - QB - 2024 - Pearl-Cohn</h2>   <p>Coming in at fifth place on my list of top playmakers is [player_tooltip player_id='258845' first='Keshawn' last='Tarleton'], a 6-foot-1, 180-pound quarterback at Pearl Cohn High School. Tarleton was crucial to the Firebirds' late surge in the fourth quarter, locking in offensively to outlast the Lions' defense and force Pearl Cohn into the endzone. In addition to great footwork and execution off the snap, Tarleton impressed me with his pin-point accurate passing in the second half as well as his ability to hit his receivers in stride in the backfield, making a few challenging completions under heavy defensive pressure.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. [player_tooltip player_id='149856' first='John' last='Wayne Oliver'] - OL - 2024 - Christ Presbyterian Academy</h2>   <p>At number six on my list of top performers is [player_tooltip player_id='149856' first='John' last='Wayne Oliver'], a 6-foot-6, 275-pound offensive lineman at Christ Presbyterian Academy. Despite the tough loss, Oliver caught my attention with his execution offensively, providing excellent protection for his quarterback as well as overwhelming strength and pushback against a strong Firebirds' defense. Oliver was especially noticable in the first half as he could exert his power, absorb pressure and push defenders back behind the line, buying the offense enough time to make plays.</p>

After an impressive victory in week one of the season, Christ Presbyterian Academy (1-1) was unable to remain undefeated in week two, falling to Pearl Cohn High School (2-0) by a final score of 15-11. After the close week two battle in Nashville, here's my game recap as well as top performers to keep an eye on as the season moves forward.