Football

Wartburg Central High School Football Coaching Staff

Head Coach / Assistant Athletic Director
James "Hoot" Gibson

Coaching Staff:

• Mark Proffitt – Offensive Coordinator
• Roger Mason – Defensive Coordinator
• Boone Davidson – Quarterbacks Coach
• Nick Beasley – Defensive Backs & Running Backs Coach
• Daniel Jeffers – Linebackers & Running Backs Coach
• Nick Crozier – Wide Receivers & Tight Ends Coach
• Josh Jackson – Defensive Line Coach
• Sam Pinner – Offensive Line Coach
• Patrick Hughes – Director of Football Operations (DFO)

Wartburg Central High School Football Records & Achievements

Program Highlights

• TSSAA Playoff Appearances: 8
• County Champions: 30 titles
• All-State Players: 16
• College Signees: 26

State Records

• All-Time Receiving Yards: #6 Most Receiving Yards in a Career (TSSAA): Landon Quinney – 3,580 yards (2021-2024)
• All-Time Receptions: #2 Most Receptions in a Career (TSSAA): Landon Quinney – 238 receptions (2021-2024)
• Longest Fumble Return: 99 yards – Mark Goodman vs. Oliver Springs (1993)
• Longest Punt Return: 99 yards – Donnie Neal vs. Scott County (November 1, 1974)
• Most Interceptions in a Game: 4 interceptions – Lawson Swint vs. Jellico (October 7, 2022)
• Most Receiving Yards in a Game: 316 yards – Jeremy VanNorstran vs. Alcoa (October 29, 1999)
• Most Touchdown Receptions in a Game:
  • 4 touchdowns – Adam Spence vs. Jellico (October 15, 2010)
  • 4 touchdowns – Adam Spence vs. Sunbright (October 29, 2010)

School Records

Passing:

• Single-Season Passing Yards: Rusty Phillips – 2,221 yards, 25 TDs, plus 551 rushing yards and 6 TDs
• Single-Game Passing Yards: Josh Melton – 475 yards vs. Alcoa (2000)

Rushing:

• Single-Season Rushing Yards: Marty Cox – 1,196 yards (1996)

Receiving:

• All-Time Receiving Yards: #6 Most Receiving Yards in a Career (TSSAA): Landon Quinney – 3,580 yards (2021-2024)
• All-Time Receptions: #2 Most Receptions in a Career (TSSAA): Landon Quinney – 238 receptions (2021-2024)

• Single-Season Receiving Yards: Adam Spence (2010) hauled in 17 touchdown passes and piled up 1,315 receiving yards.

Tackles:

• Single-Season Tackle Record:
  • Adam Kilby – 160 tackles (2013)
  • Derek Sills – 153 tackles (2002)
• Single-Game Tackle Record:
  • Brenton Griffith – 26 tackles (1995)
  • Adam Kilby – 24 tackles (2013)
• Career Tackle Leader: Derek Sills – 385 tackles, 47 TFL (2002)

Sacks:

• Career Sack Leader: Joey Wright – 44 sacks (2001)
  
  
• Most Sacks in a Single Season: Brenton Griffith – 26 sacks (1993)

Scoring:

• Most Points Scored in a Game: 61 points (October 11, 2019)

Additional Achievements

• Most Shutouts: 94 all-time

Share Updated Information

If you have updated information, see a mistake or have additional records and stats, please contact Coach James ‘Hoot’ Gibson at [email protected].

Your contributions are invaluable in preserving and celebrating the proud history of Wartburg Central Football. Together, we honor the legacy of our program and the remarkable athletes who have built its foundation!

Wartburg Central High School Football: Honors and Achievements

All-State Players

Quarterbacks:

• Rusty Phillips (2010)

• John T. Armes (2003)

• Damon Duncan (2023)

• Joshua Moore (2018)

Running Backs:

• Marty Cox (1996)

Wide Receivers:

• Landon Quinney (2022, 2023)

• Adam Spence (2010)

Offensive Linemen:

• Austin Hensley (2010)

• Bob Zumstein (1950)

Defensive Linemen:

• Hunter Morgan (2022)

• Brenton Griffith (1993)

• Caleb Carrol (2024)

Linebackers:

• Adam Kilby (2014)

• Peron Cruize (2020)

• Aaron Hutchison (2009, 2010)

Defensive Backs:

• Saylor Jones (2019)

This list honors the outstanding achievements of our athletes who earned All-State recognition, showcasing Wartburg Central’s tradition of excellence in football.

College Football Signees

• Bob Zumstein – University of Tennessee

• Donald "Mouse" Shadden – Mississippi State University

• Larry Davis – University of Memphis

• Jay Moore – Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU)

• Chad Sills – Maryville College

• Andrew Kittreal – Union College

• John T. Armes – Carson-Newman University

• Joey Wright – Carson-Newman University

• Damon Shadden – MTSU

• Sean Phillips – MTSU

• Eugene Pool – Cumberland University

• Adam Kilby – Kentucky Christian University

• Joshua Moore – Tusculum College

• Michael Wilkie – Rainy River Community College

• Brenton Griffith – Carson-Newman University

• Adam Spence – Tennessee Tech University

• Cody Sexton – Bethel University

• Dakota Smith – Lindenwood University

• Michael Lowe – Carson-Newman University

• Tony Young – Austin Peay State University

• Don Edwards – Tennessee Tech University

• Dwight Hamby – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

• Steve Garrett – Tennessee Tech University

• Marty Cox – Tusculum College

• Ryan Hamm – University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

• Landon Quinney – Eastern Kentucky University

Wartburg Central High School Football Hall of Fame

Our Hall of Fame honors the remarkable athletes, coaches, and contributors who have built the foundation of Wartburg Central High School Football. These individuals represent the best of our program’s tradition of excellence, leaving legacies that inspire current and future Bulldogs.

Hall of Fame Coaches

Homer Rice

• Born: February 20, 1927 (Bellevue, Kentucky, U.S.)

• Died: June 10, 2024 (aged 97)

• 1951 Wartburg Head Football Coach

• Led an era of athletic excellence and later pioneered the NCAA Life Skills Program

• Coaching Career:

  • Wartburg Central High School (1951)

  • Spring City High School (1952–1953)

  • Ft. Thomas Highlands High School (1954–1961)

  • University of Kentucky (Assistant Coach) (1962–1965)

  • University of Oklahoma (Backs Coach) (1966)

  • University of Cincinnati (1967–1968)

  • Rice University (1976–1977)

  • Cincinnati Bengals (1978–1979)

• Administrative Career (Athletic Director unless noted):

  • University of North Carolina (1969–1975)

  • Rice University (1976–1977)

  • Georgia Tech (1980–1997)

• Head Coaching Record:

  • Overall: 12–28–1 (College)

  • NFL: 8–19

  • High School: 101–9–7

Coach John 'Tex' Davis

• Played for the University of Tennessee under Coach Bob Neyland, winning the 1951 National Championship with Wartburg Central High School graduate Bob Zumstein

• Coached at Wartburg Central High School from 1956 to 1964, leading both the football and boys' basketball teams

• Coached at Jefferson City High School from 1965 to 1974

• Revolutionized Wartburg’s football and basketball programs

• Known for his strict yet caring mentorship, discipline, and leadership

• Wartburg’s home-side bleachers are named in his honor

• Played for the University of Tennessee under Coach Bob Neyland, winning the 1951 National Championship

• Revolutionized Wartburg’s football and basketball programs

• Known for his strict yet caring mentorship, discipline, and leadership

• Wartburg’s home-side bleachers are named in his honor

Larry "Polar Bear" Davis

• Winningest football coach in Wartburg Central history

• Head Coach 1995-2006, 2015-2016

• Head Coach at Rockwood High School (1980-1985) (Record: 32-30)

• Head Coach at Cookeville High School (1987-1989)

• Assistant Coach at Scott County under Coach Gibson

• Assistant Coach at McMinn Central and Rockwood (2016-Current)

• Assistant Football Coach at Ole Miss University, MTSU, and Memphis

• Led the Bulldogs to four playoff appearances (1996, 2001, 2002, 2004)

• Defeated powerhouse Alcoa, one of the school’s greatest victories

• Coached multiple All-State and All-East Tennessee players

• Served as Principal of Wartburg Central Middle School

Dr. Dan Shoemaker

• Coached at WCHS since 1993 both as a Head Football Coach and Assistant.

• Took over as Head Coach in 2008, ending a 33-game losing streak

• Led the team to a 9-3 season and a state quarterfinals appearance in 2010, the best in school history

• Served as Athletic Director and Principal at Wartburg Central Elementary and Morgan County Career & Technical Center

Honoring the 1951 Wartburg Central High School Football Team

We proudly induct the 1951 Wartburg Central High School Football Team into the Wartburg Football Players Hall of Fame! This legendary team achieved an undefeated season and earned national recognition under Coach Homer Rice.

Team Roster:

• Players: Wayne Garrett, Calvin Davis, Kelly Redmon, Earl Sisson, Ekie Hatfield, Jimmy Massengill, Everett Kreis, Lynn West, James Dautel, Tommy Weiford, Franklin McCartt, Lloyd Basler, Ralph Goodman, Bill Davis, Alan Redmon, Billy Harris, Don Terry, Ray Bardill, Lloyd Lowe, Don Patrick, Laerence Rains, Paul Langley, Barney Hall, John Tidwell

• Managers: Ronnie Jones, Billy Christopher

• Coach: Homer Rice

Their pioneering triple-option offense and unwavering determination exemplify the Bulldog spirit. The 1951 team was honored at halftime of the 2001 Tennessee-Syracuse football game, celebrating the 50th anniversary of their historic season.

🏆 Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog! 🏆

Wartburg Central High School Football proudly celebrates the Hall of Fame inductees whose dedication, talent, and leadership continue to inspire generations of Bulldogs. Their legacies form the cornerstone of our proud football tradition, ensuring that the future of Wartburg Football remains as strong as its past.