RHEA COUNTY 14, OOLTEWAH 13
The star: Rhea County fullback Mason Stephenson ran 21 times for 182 yards and a touchdown as the Eagles edged Ooltewah in their Class 5A state quarterfinal. Stephenson’s 67-yard carry set up his 2-yard scoring run late in the first quarter.Up next: Rhea County will play at Sevier County in a semifinal next Friday at 7 p.m.
Thanks to Eddie Davis, the ongoing celebration in Rhea County this week is officially a "block party."
The outcome of a football game never hinges on one play, but it would be hard to pinpoint a bigger play than Davis's fourth-quarter blocked extra point in Friday's 14-13 victory over host Ooltewah in their TSSAA Class 5A state quarterfinal.
Rhea County (10-3) advances to a semifinal at Sevier County next Friday at 7 p.m. Sevier County is coached by Tony Linginfelter, a former Rhea County assistant under the late Bill Horton.
Current Rhea coach Mark Pemberton said one of the team's extra-point blocks was called for after Ooltewah's touchdown with 10:58 to play. Davis, who also blocked a kick in the loss at Indianapolis Cathedral on Sept. 25, charged right through the middle of the line.
"I looked at the left-side A gap when the block was called," Davis said. "I saw the splits were tight, so I went to the opposite A gap and it just opened."
Said Pemberton: "He came through clean. It looked like he about ran past the spot. That was a huge play. You've got to play every play, and he did."
It was a huge play because the Eagles killed much of the remaining clock, sandwiching rushing the ball 17 times in the remaining time for 74 yards around holding the Owls to a three-and-out. Rhea lost a fumble, its fifth lost fumble of the game, but picked up six first downs, and its 18th play in that span was a kneel-down at the end.
Fullback Mason Stephenson topped Rhea with 182 yards on 21 carries, including a 67-yard run that led to his 2-yard touchdown run with 52 seconds to go in the first quarter. Dylan Smith added seven carries for 87 yards with 58 coming on the Eagles' second-quarter scoring drive that led to a 14-7 halftime lead.
It's no secret Ooltewah (10-3) likes to throw the ball, and quarterback Landon Elrod did so 39 times. But those throws, one intercepted by Peyton Barger, produced only 186 yards.
"Their pass rush was really good," Ooltewah coach Mac Bryan said. "That's probably the most pressure we've gotten from a front all year. We couldn't find any rhythm. We'd make a play or two, but we couldn't put anything together."
Elrod did avoid being sacked. One of his 21 completions was a 14-yard touchdown to Rashun Freeman, who also scored the Owls' first touchdown on a 28-yard fumble return.
Pemberton said his team rotated among three coverages in trying to confuse Ooltewah's offense.
"If you sit in the same stuff," Pemberton said, "they'll pick you apart."
Ooltewah won the regular-season meeting between the teams, 16-0 on Sept. 18.
The Owls played this time without linebacker and league player of the year Jeremiah Jackson, who was arrested Tuesday on a domestic-assault charge.
"I'm very proud of this group," Bryan said of his team. "We won our third straight district/region championship. It's hard to be disappointed in them."
Contact Kelley Smiddie at sports@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/KelleySmiddie.