Playoff debut Signal of success

In the program's first postseason football game, the Signal Mountain Eagles showed some nerves Friday night.

Nerves of steel, that is.

The Eagles started and finished quickly to overpower visiting Silverdale Baptist 63-23 in the first round of the Class 2A state playoffs.

"We came out and played really well, especially early," Signal Mountain coach Bill Price said. "We talked this week about taking care of our business, about playing hard and playing four quarters."

The Eagles (10-1) really needed only two quarters offensively. Using a bevy of formations that ranged from Price's favored wing-T to the wildcat, Signal rolled up yards. It scored touchdowns on its first nine possessions, with seven players crossing the goal line for an offense that was equal parts balanced and bruising.

Signal gained 159 yards of offense on 26 plays during its three first-quarter drives. Running back Andrew Price sandwiched short touchdown runs around Hogan Whitmire's scoring pass to freshman Reese Phillips to give the Eagles a 21-0 lead before the first quarter was completed.

Silverdale (5-6) found some success using massive fullback Shay Prescott up the middle and with quarterback Will Amos scrambling. But it was not enough to overcome the powerful Eagles or the Seahawks' self-inflicted wounds that included three lost fumbles.

"We knew it was going to be a challenge," Silverdale coach John Allen said. "They can compete with any team in the bracket. They are good, but we can't fumble it that many times. We're not good enough to do that and expect to win."

With a 35-7 halftime lead, Whitt Sitton scored on a 50-yard run on the first play of the second half to expand the margin. Sitton's long run punctuated the Eagles' impressive balance across every facet of the offense.

Operating behind an mercilessly efficient offensive line, Signal did not have a negative-yardage play until taking a knee to run out the clock. Whitmire was rarely pressured and completed 73 percent (8-of-11) of his throws for 113 yards.

Nine Eagles carried the ball more than once, and each had more than 15 yards rushing. Darien Hogans, Gervell Morgan, Ben Philyaw, Caden Thomas and Phillips joined Sitton and Price with touchdown runs.

Henry Frick scored the the Seahawks' first touchdown, and Prescott and Amos added fourth-quarter scoring runs.