PIKEVILLE, Tenn. — Despite the two teams combining for nearly 700 offensive yards, a defensive stand in the closing seconds likely sealed Bledsoe County’s second straight District 7-AA championship.
With the Class 3A seventh-ranked Warriors clinging to a six-point lead and Sequatchie County facing fourth-and-10 at the Bledsoe 33, a desperation pass near the end zone was batted away with 11 seconds remaining, preserving the 34-28 victory.
“The kids just bowed up and found a way to hang on,” Bledsoe coach Jason Reel said. “With a bye week, we’ve had two weeks to have to sit and think about this one, all the scenarios that could happen, and our kids were ready. They really wanted this one.”
The teams combined to gain 681 yards, but it only seemed like Bledsoe junior running back Brandon Smith accounted for all of that total. Smith ran 25 times for 211 yards and four touchdowns and also caught a 14-yard score. Just as big was the 6-yard reception by Smith on fourth-and-2 to keep alive the deciding drive.
Smith capped that possession with a 20-yard TD run with 1:22 remaining, giving the Warriors the lead back after Sequatchie had battled back for two touchdowns in just over a minute midway through the fourth quarter.
“I just wanted the ball every time we needed a big yard,” Smith said. “Those yards were because of how our offensive line was blocking.
“This win was all about heart and Bledsoe County pride.”
The Warriors (6-0, 2-0) appeared to have control of the game after a 17-play, 97-yard drive was capped by Smith’s 1-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter, giving them a 14-point lead. But the Indians answered with a 10-play drive, all 64 yards coming on the ground, to pull within one score. Justis Stewart then recovered an onside kick and capped the ensuing driving with a 19-yard scoring run with 5:35 left.
After Bledsoe regained the lead, Sequatchie returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield and was aided by a 15-yard late-hit penalty. But four plays netted zero yards and the Warriors had their second straight narrow win in the rivalry.
All 328 of Sequatchie’s offensive yards came on the ground, as it didn’t complete any of its seven passing attempts.
The Warriors need only to beat Grundy County or Chattanooga Christian to claim their second straight district title.
“Brandon was just as fresh in the fourth quarter as he was at halftime,” Reel said. “We just had to keep finding ways to get him the ball and let him make plays.”
Stephen has covered high school sports in the tri-state area since the early 1990s, starting at the News-Free Press as a 19-year-old reporter. He has been with the Times Free Press since its inception and has been an assistant sports editor for more than seven years. Stephen is among the most decorated writers in the TFP’s newsroom, winning numerous state and regional awards for his writing on high school athletics. He has two children, Riley ...
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