A Quick Look at Pearl-Cohn

Coach Tony Brunetti has led his Firebirds to the state semi-finals in both of his years as head coach. P-C is 21-6 under Brunetti. The offense is led by Kentucky commitment Deaunte Mason. Mason has completed 127 of his 228 pass attempts this year for 2025 yards and 17 TDs. He is equally a threat on the ground, where he has 875 yards rushing and 9 TDs. Pass catching targets for Mason include William Johnson (36 catches, 622 yds, 8TD), and Wayne Cox (32 catches, 568 yds., and 2 TD). The defense is led by a strong linebacker corp including senior Howard Griffin.

This is P-C’s 13^th playoff appearance. They have a 21-10 record in the post season, and won back-to-back 4A state championships in 1996 and 1997.

Last Meeting- FHS 26 P-C 12

Fulton survived an aerial barrage in Nashville last year and outlasted the Pearl-Cohn Firebirds 26-12 to advance to the BlueCross Bowl for the fourth time in the previous five years. P-C QB Deaunte Mason passed for 264 lards in the losing effort. Fulton’s Mr. Football finalist Dennis Rogan rushed for 267 yards and accounted for all 26 Fulton points.

Rogan began the scoring for the Falcons in the first quarter, racing 38 yards for a TD. The Firebirds answered through the air, driving 80 yards on 7 pass plays. Mason hit a wide-open Howard Griffin for a 10-yard scoring pass. Fulton blocked the extra point attempt. The Falcons retook the lead late in the quarter thanks to a 64-yard screen pass from Jock Stinson to Rogan. The Falcons increased the lead to 20-6 in the second quarter, as Rogan scored on a 35-yard run, and scored the 2-point conversion. Pearl-Cohn went back into pass mode and nearly tied the game before halftime. Mason hit 6’6” WR Rashad Mason on a 4^th down Hail Mary strike to cut the lead to 20-12. After forcing a Fulton interception, the Firebirds drove inside the 10 before Fulton’s Derrick Humphrey intercepted a Mason pass to close the half. Fulton added the last score of the game in the 3^rd quarter on another Stinson to Rogan screen covering 75 yards. P-C continued to make spectacular plays in the passing game, but the Fulton defense held the Firebirds out of the end zone thanks to another Humphrey interception, and a fumble recovery. For the game, Rogan amassed 406 total yards, 267 yards on 32 carries, and 139 yards on 2 receptions.