Rhea County 40, Farragut 34
The star: Rhea County’s Mason Stephenson ran 27 times for 295 yards and three TDs in the Eagles’ win at Farragut.Up next: Rhea County has a rematch at Ooltewah next Friday in the Class 5A playoffs.
FARRAGUT, Tenn. - In the end, it was all too fitting that Mason Stephenson got the final carry.
The junior running back scored on a 2-yard plunge with 59 seconds left in the game to give Rhea County High School a wild 40-34 win over Farragut in the second round of the Class 5A state playoffs at Bill Clabo Field.
Rhea County's multipronged rushing attack gashed the Admirals for 429 yards on 58 carries, led by Stephenson's 295 yards on 27 attempts and three touchdowns.
"Coach just said, 'Stick to it, let's run it,' and we did," Stephenson said. "The line did an amazing job; our backs did; everyone did."
The game appeared in hand for Rhea County, leading 34-17 late in the third quarter. But Farragut (10-2) stormed back to tie it at 34 on Jacob Naumoff's 10-yard touchdown pass to Tanner Mengel, Tanner Thomas' 1-yard run and, with 4:46 left in the game, Carter Phillipy's 43-yard field goal.
The Eagles (9-3), who will play Ooltewah in the quarterfinals next Friday, then drove for the winning score, starting on their own 20 and using 10 plays.
Farragut had one last chance and drove to the Eagles' 24-yard-line. But Naumoff's pass was picked off by Tyler Pendleton.
Thomas ran for 182 yards on 26 carries and three scores.
Naumoff was 13-of-27 for 152 yards and a score. He was also picked off twice.
"We let them get too much yardage in the first half and part of the third quarter before we made some adjustments," said Admirals coach Eddie Courtney.
"I'm proud of these guys. This doesn't define this group. We had a great year this year. This hurts tonight because we gave ourselves a chance to win the game in the fourth quarter, and we just didn't get it done. (The comeback) showed a lot heart in our kids."