Redskins end Polk's perfection

BENTON, Tenn. -- In the end, Loudon succeeded where Polk County failed.

In a matchup of mirroring styles, Loudon's Redskins snuffed third-ranked Polk's running game while establishing their own in a 24-13 victory in the second round of the TSSAA Class 3A playoffs at the Larry G. Davis Football Complex.

The visiting Redskins (10-2) ran for 255 yards and held Polk to 16 -- 280 below its average. The Wildcats (11-1) were forced to throw the ball and quarterback Jared Allen threw for 185 yards and two scores, but he also threw two interceptions, was sacked five times and hurried countless others.

"I didn't expect them to throw that much," Loudon coach Jeff Harig said, "but them doing that played into our hands. They're out of their strength. They're a run team, but when they couldn't run, we did a good job of defending the pass and eliminating big plays."

"We have a ton of respect for Polk County," said Loudon's Matthew Wallace, who had 103 yards rushing, two touchdowns and two interceptions. "To beat the No. 3 team in the state means a lot."

Loudon will face top-ranked Alcoa (12-0), a 31-10 winner over Christian Academy of Knoxville, in the state quarterfinals. The Tornadoes defeated the Redskins 21-0 during the regular season.

Loudon dominated for nearly 18 minutes of the first half Friday. Wallace's first score, a 1-yard plunge, finished a 16-play, 74-yard drive. Polk responded with a 44-yard scoring strike from Allen to Tyler Lee, but the Redskins ate up 7:56 of clock time, and Wallace culminated the 15-play, 73-yard drive with his second 1-yard run.

"Our strength all year has been our ability to control the ball," Harig said. "We scrimmaged them in the preseason and knew coming in that we would have an advantage moving the ball. As long as we didn't hurt ourselves with penalties, we were able to drive all night."

Ahead 14-7 at the break, Loudon scored on a 36-yard strike from Wade Plemmons to Devan Grissom, but the Wildcats cut the lead to 21-13 when Allen hooked up with James Bussey for an 18-yard score. Polk then stopped Loudon on downs in Redskin territory but couldn't take advantage and Allen was sacked on back-to-back plays to end a potential scoring chance.

Plemmons finished with 204 total yards -- 111 rushing and 93 passing.

"They have a tough defense," Polk coach Derrick Davis said. "We missed a few opportunities, but in a game like this, we're going to have to make them and their front four played well.

"We'd like to be moving on, but it's been a heck of a ride and I hate it for our kids. It hurts, but it's not going to diminish what these boys have done. They're a special group and this has been one of the best coaching years of my life. We didn't quit, even when we got down two touchdowns. We just kept fighting."