By Donovan Stewart
MaxPreps.com
Scanning the scores as I do every Friday night after coming in from a game from around the Mid-state, one immediately caught my eye: Marion County 30, Tyner 20.
The score was big for two reasons: (1) Marion County is my alma mater and I bleed purple and white, and, (2) It had been 13 years since the Warriors had beaten the Rams.
Rivalries go up and down like peaks and valleys and winning streaks have to come to an end sometime. That’s what makes Friday nights in Tennessee so exciting.
Shocking Result No. 2
Siegel 35, Riverdale 29.
That is not a misprint. The Stars (4-1, 3-0 4-5A) made school history by beating the Warriors (2-3, 1-2) for the first time in the Stars’ short, six-year school history.
Senior wide receiver Marc Gooch was the Star of the game, catching eight passes for 162 yards and two touchdowns as Siegel led the Warriors 35-21 in the fourth quarter before Riverdale scored to get it close at 35-29.
The Warriors, who have been the bullies of Region 4-5A for a little over a decade, find themselves tied for fifth with a losing record for the first time since they went 2-3 in 1990.
Riverdale also saw an 85-game region winning streak come to an end at the hands of rival Oakland to open the season.
Friday Night Stat Stuffers
Benjamin Cunningham, RB, Goodpasture – Rushed for 207 yards and five touchdowns in 55-35 shootout win over Ezell Harding.
Justin Williams, RB, Davidson Academy – Carried 45 times for 234 yards and all four Bear touchdowns in 23-12 win over Bishop Byrne.
Jacob Maynard, RB, Lebanon – Ran for 217 yards and two touchdowns in 31-14 win over LaVergne.
Caleb Crocker, RB, Huntingdon – Rushed for four touchdowns and 215 yards on only 15 carries in 35-0 blanking of Houston County.
Chris Bradley, RB, Brighton – Accounted for four touchdowns and 205 yards rushing in 48-21 win over Hardin County.
James King, RB, Manassas – Rushed for 279 yards and two scores in 44-28 win over Fayette Academy.
Sam Woodward, Oneida – Was a special teams terror, returning two punts for touchdowns, one kickoff return for a touchdown and on defense scooped up a fumble for a touchdown as well in 56-19 win over Oakdale.
Keenan Shepard, RB, Tennessee High – Ran for 217 yards on 37 carries and scored three touchdowns in 27-23 win over Unicoi County.
Devin Young, RB, Knoxville Bearden – Had 237 yards on only nine carries and scored three touchdowns in 33-14 win over Karns.
De’Andre Purty, RB, Knoxville Farragut – Rushed for 250 yards on 25 carries and scored twice in 28-10 win over McMinn County.
David Roberts, LB, Austin East – Recorded 11 tackles and had four sacks in 26-19 win over previously unbeaten Scott County.
By The Numbers
0 – Points Houston County has scored this season.
8 – Points Polk County defense has yielded in team’s 4-0 start.
228/57 – Points this season and points per game for defending state champion South Pittsburg, tops in state.
5-0 – Record for first-year Sequatchie County head coach Chad Barger. The Indians are ranked for the first time since 1993.
7.4 – Yard per carry average for Davidson Academy sophomore Justin Williams, who has 1,245 yards on the season.
19 – Consecutive wins by defending Class 1A state Champion South Pittsburg.
20 – Consecutive wins by defending Division II-AA state champion Montgomery Bell Academy.
48 – Winless teams left in the state.
53 – Undefeated teams left in the state.
54 – Consecutive losses by Red Boling Springs.
65 – Consecutive wins by Maryville, second most in the country behind South Panola, Miss.
79 – Plays that Independence ran compared to only 29 by undefeated Franklin. Franklin won 41-20.
Stew’s Top 10 (Regardless of Classification)
1. Maryville (4A) 5-0
2. Montgomery Bell Academy (DII) 5-0
3. Franklin (5A) 5-0
4. Henry County (4A) 5-0
5. David Lipscomb (3A) 4-0
6. Memphis University School (DII) 5-0
7. Farragut (5A) 5-0
8. Dobyns- Bennett (5A) 5-0
9. Alcoa (2A) 3-1
10. Ensworth (DII) 4-0
Contact Donovan at dstew4vu@yahoo.com
