The Waverly Central football team runs onto the field at Sycamore on Friday, Sept 3., in its first game back since the deadly August flood in Waverly. Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
SYCAMORE — Daniel Dooley describes his son as a non-talkative type, especially on game days.
“Usually doesn’t say much,” he said.
But Thursday night, Waverly Central quarterback Jacob Dooley was antsy. He was walking the floor.
“He was in the living room just tossing that football up in the air,” his dad said. “He was excited about this.”
So was the entire town. About 200 fans traveled from the Waverly area, which was ravaged by the deadly Aug. 21 flood, to watch the Tigers come unhinged in a 42-20 victory at Sycamore on Friday.
The flood in Waverly and other parts of Humphreys County claimed 20 lives. Normalcy has not yet resumed there. Many Waverly players are still working every day to help those affected, whether by dropping off supplies or helping haul debris.
But for a couple hours Friday, with the first cool September breeze in the air, it was all about football.
Waverly was ready to play: it led 28-0 at halftime, and its defense held Sycamore to negative yardage until the backups went in for the fourth quarter.
Waverly coach Randall Boldin meets with his Waverly Tigers.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
Junior running back Easton Elliott ran for 117 yards.
Dooley threw for 101 yards, rushed for 52 and accounted for five touchdowns.
That first score felt special, he said.
“This sport means so much to our city,” Dooley said. “My dad’s wearing a shirt that says ‘We’ll carry this city wherever we go.’ And that’s what we’re gonna do this season.”
The Tigers will play their entire regular season away from home due to damage at Ray Hampton Stadium and Wayne Himes Field House. Friday was the first stop on the longest road swing of their lives.
Dooley wondered why they were so nervous on their first drive, why he missed a few shots downfield and why there were so many penalties.
But Waverly fans didn’t seem to mind. For one night, conversations about the flood took a backseat.
In between downs, players buzzed about their big plays on the field, how hard they hit the quarterback. They showed each other their cuts and bruises.
The Waverly Tigers stand during national anthem at Sycamore.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
Just getting to play on a football field was a luxury for the Tigers, who proved they are no slouches after last year’s Class 2A state semifinal berth.
“We’ve been practicing on a dang baseball field,” Dooley said. “Just to be out here on a field meant for this sport is awesome. Yesterday we did our walk-through on a (youth) field and it was 80 yards.”
The Tigers are actually lucky, Dooley realized.
“When I went down to the field house, the dang water was up waist high,” he said. “The field had nails and glass in it, and I was thinking we weren’t gonna play again. It’s a blessing to be out here.”
Waverly assistant coach Joe Rhodes was at the field house Aug. 21 when the waters began to rise. He scooped up the team’s jerseys and perched them up on a weight rack to keep them from getting ruined.
That meant players were wearing their fresh road whites when they ran onto the Sycamore field. Senior Kade Anderson led them out while hoisting an American flag.
Waverly running back Emrik Houston (24) heads for the end zone against Sycamore.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
Football means more than ever to Waverly under the circumstances. Two more students even joined the football team this week, head coach Randall Boldin confirmed, which could just be a coincidence.
But the team has been a rally point.
There were plenty of “Waverly Strong” and “We Are Waverly” hats and shirts in the bleachers. But the largest insignia was a banner that read, “Nothing beats America and Friday Night Lights.”
Everyone was ready for this.
“I think they’re focused. They were locked in,” Boldin said of the players. “My (starters) were trying to go back in at the end of the game. They were going, ‘Put us back in! Put us back in!’ They don’t understand our job is to try and keep everyone healthy. We’ve been off an entire week, and we’ve got a long season in front of us.”
Waverly Central 42, Sycamore 20
Waverly coach Randall Boldin meets with his offense.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
W 7 21 14 0 — 42
S 0 0 0 20 — 20
Scoring summary
First quarter
W – Jacob Dooley 11 run (1:36), Ian Holland kick
Second quarter
W – Kade Anderson 34 pass from Dooley (11:06), Holland kick
W – Dooley 18 run (6:34), Holland kick
W – Emrik Houston 44 run (4:15), Holland kick
Third quarter
W – Dooley 3 run (9:01), Holland kick
W – Dooley 5 run (1:16), Holland kick
S – Rayvon Green 80 run (11:39), kick failed
S – Rhett Hunt 35 pass from Brandon Pennington (6:28), run failed
S – Jayden Nieves 51 pass from Pennington (3:46), Logan Garrett run
Waverly’s Ryan Edwards (2) and Ayden Brooks (15) prepare to meet with their teammates before the game at Sycamore on Sept. 3.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
Sycamore tacklers Noah Webb (13) and Jacob Bramlett (45) try to tackle Waverly’s Landon Dooley (7) during action on Friday at Sycamore.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
Waverly lineman Caiden Plant (55) get a block on Sycamore’s Logan Garrett (45) as Tiger running back Easton Elliott (20) looks for daylight.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
A Waverly tackler get to Sycamore QB Noah Webb (13).Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
Waverly’s Bryce Stanfield (9) watches as Sycamore receiver Jesse Lewis (29) goes up for a pass.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
Waverly’s Michael Atweel tackles Sycamore QB Noah Webb.
Waverly’s Landon Dooley (7) cuts to avoid a tackle from Sycamore’s Noah Webb.Phil Stauder/Main Street Nashville
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