Model landed a couple of early punches, went for the knockout and was thwarted as Trion rallied from a 6-0 deficit to score 31 consecutive points on the way to a 31-12 win Friday night in Rome to move to 4-0.
The Trion defense, which allowed only 213 total yards, held the Blue Devils (2-1) to field goals after the hosts recovered a pooch kick to start the game and then intercepted a Kade Smith pass in Trion territory.
"Our defense forced them to settle for field goals, which was huge, and it allowed us to settle down and get the offense rolling," Trion coach Sean Patrick said. "To withstand those early blows was a huge credit to our kids."
Toby Maddux led the rally, capping a 75-yard touchdown drive with a 12-yard run. After Lucas Stoker returned a fumble 30 yards to increase Trion's lead to 14-6, Maddux scored from 22 yards out late in the half. The senior, however, injured his ankle and did not play in the second half.
"Our offensive line did a great job; we leaned on them in the second half, and Zach Camp came in and carried the load for us after Toby went down," Patrick said. "And defensively, we got pressure on them all night."
Maddux had 118 yards on 15 carries in his lone half, while Camp had 104 yards on 16 carries. Andy Ramirez added a field goal and Cohen Blaschke a 22-yard touchdown run early in the final quarter to wrap up the nonregion win.
Dalton 56, Lassiter 20: The Catamounts improved to 4-0 as surging quarterback Ethan Long passed for 322 yards and five touchdowns. Long connected twice each with Kendrix London (two catches, 99 yards) and Bubba Tanner (three catches, 84 yards) for touchdowns and also had a 28-yard scoring toss to RJ Storey. Adriel Hernandez had 112 yards and two touchdowns as Dalton built a 56-7 halftime lead in the nonregion game.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area prep football games)
Northwest Whitfield 21, Darlington 17: The Bruins (4-1) used a strong defensive performance to edge the Tigers in a nonregion game. Northwest held Darlington to 258 total yards and star tailback D'Marion Floyd to 65 yards.
Gavin Nuckolls had 159 yards passing and 48 rushing, while Cameron Collins and Jacob Lea scored rushing touchdowns for the Bruins. Austin Cooley had eight catches for 71 yards and Isaiah Foster six for 45 yards to lead the Northwest passing game.
Adairsville 49, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe 13: The Tigers started their bid to repeat as Region 6-AAA champions in style as running back Tamarius Wilkey had 170 yards and two scores and quarterback Jonathan Gough added a touchdown pass and a touchdown run.
Darian Keefe passed for 148 yards with touchdowns to Grayden Johnson and Jared Mitchell for LFO (1-3).
Coahulla Creek 35, Ridgeland 0: The Colts (2-2) opened their Region 6-AAA schedule with a dominant win as quarterback Chase Ward passed for 180 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 96 yards and a score. Nate Tilley had four receptions for 85 yards, Luke Swiney caught a touchdown pass and Karim Bradley scored on the ground against the Panthers (0-4).
Christian Heritage 29, Pickens 24: The Lions earned their first win under first-year coach Frank Barden as Carter Triplett passed for 171 yards and three touchdowns and also led the team in rushing with 140 yards and a score. Charlie Idom had 91 yards and a touchdown on seven catches, while Sawyer Corn and Jackson Locke also gathered in touchdown passes for the Lions (1-3), whose defense held Pickens to 154 total yards.
Calhoun 52, Sonoraville 16: Trey Townsend had three touchdown passes -- 34 yards and 43 yards to Justin Beasley and 17 yards to Emaree Winston -- and Caden Williams added a 68-yard touchdown run as the host Yellow Jackets (4-1) defeated their Gordon County neighbors in a nonregion game. Sonoraville is 2-3.
Other area scores:
Armuchee 53, Southeast Whitfield 10
Bowdon 49, Dade County 15
Bremen 31, Gordon Lee 3
Murray County 28, Chattooga 21
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.