At this point of the season the only meaningful statistic is the end result. There are no style points for mercy-rulings, defensive shutouts or otherwise impressive wins. It's simply survive and advance.
After six area high school football teams had their seasons ended in the second round of the TSSAA playoffs Friday, the five teams still standing are just grateful to have another opportunity to continue.
Trailing with less than a minute remaining, Signal Mountain scored two touchdowns in the final 35 seconds to pull out a win over Friendship Christian in Class 2A, and Baylor needed a herculean second-half effort from quarterback Jacob Huesman to hold off McCallie 28-14 in Division II-AA. Huesman scored on runs of 74 and 80 yards in the third quarter and finished with 401 combined yards rushing and passing and accounted for three touchdowns.
Friday, Nov. 19 Football PlayoffsTennessee quarterfinalsClass 2ABoyd-Buchanan (8-4) at Wartburg (9-2)Signal Mountain (11-0) at Trousdale County (11-0)Class 1ACopper Basin (10-1) at Coalfield (9-2)Gordonsville (9-2) at South Pittsburg (9-2)Division II-AABGA (7-5) at Baylor (9-1)Georgia second roundLovett (8-3) at Dade County (10-1)Westminster (8-3) at Calhoun (11-0)Alabama quarterfinalsFort Payne (12-0) at BriarwoodNorth Jackson (12-0) at Fayette County (10-2)
Baylor now is one step from its first appearance in a state-title game since 1977, and the Red Raiders host a Battle Ground Academy team they already defeated 33-21 on Sept. 3.
BGA pulled off the biggest upset of the second round, taking advantage of four special-teams miscues by Christian Brothers for a 38-22 win. BGA recovered an onside kick in the first half, returned a blocked punt for a touchdown and turned a fumbled punt into a field goal, and when Christian Brothers fumbled the second-half kickoff, the Wildcats put the game away with another quick score.
Signal Mountain led 35-14 at halftime but found itself trailing when Friendship Christian scored a two-point conversion with 1:27 remaining. But the second-ranked Eagles drove quickly downfield to regain the lead and set up a monster matchup at top-ranked and two-time defending state champion Trousdale County this week. That's a matchup of the only two 12-0 teams in Class 2A.
"We're still playing and that's what matters," said Eagles coach Bill Price, whose team had beaten nine of 10 regular-season opponents by the state's 35-point mercy rule. "We needed a four-quarter game. We hadn't had one since South Pittsburg. Friendship was really good. They're one of the best teams in our class, but we won and now we get to go play again. I feel good about our team."
Boyd-Buchanan overcame a four-hour bus ride and a second-quarter deficit with 17 consecutive points before halftime and again scored 17 straight in the fourth to beat Hampton. The Buccaneers got another strong performance from Chase Reed, who rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown and also kicked two field goals and two extra points. They again will hit the road, traveling to Wartburg this week.
Although South Pittsburg eventually won by the mercy rule, visiting Moore County was at the Pirates' 9 late in the third quarter while trailing by just 14 points. That was one of six times Moore County drove inside South Pittsburg's 30 but came away without points, and the Pirates pulled away late to move on in 1A.
Also in 1A, Copper Basin won on the road, advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1988, and now will play at Coalfield. The Cougars beat Coalfield in the first round last year.
Only traditional power Calhoun and surprising Dade County survived Georgia's first round, and both will host Class AA games this week. Calhoun plays Westminster and Dade County will take on Lovett.
In Alabama, North Jackson continued to roll through the 4A playoffs with another lopsided win, and Fort Payne advanced in 5A. The second-ranked Chiefs will travel to Fayette County, while Fort Payne will be at Briarwood.