Rhea County defensive coordinator Taylor Ownbey has a saying that Eagles linebacker Tyler Pendleton lives by.
"He says there are no stats for big hits, but there are stats for tackles and missed tackles," said Rhea County's senior defensive leader.
Pendleton averaged 16.7 tackles per game on the Eagles' way to a 10-3 record and a date tonight with Sevier County in Sevierville. Yet he is humble, almost shy, when asked about his defensive prowess.
"I've had a couple of big hits, but I'm not out there to tear somebody's head off," he said. "I'm no highlight reel, but I feel I'm consistent. I read my keys and do what I'm supposed to do. If it comes down to making the play or trying for the big hit, I'm going to make the play."
He does it very well, offered Rhea County coach Mark Pemberton, who has had some great players in his standout career.
"He's one of the better linebackers I've ever had, plus he's intelligent. Tell him one time and he's got it," Pemberton praised. "He's a really good leader - leads by actions - he's very dependable and he's made a ton of plays for us the last two years. He was linebacker of the year in our region. The kid is as solid as the day is long, the type any parent would love to have as his son."
A shade under 6-foot-2 and weighing 220 pounds, Pendleton is a college football prospect, but accepting a scholarship will come with terms because he has his other priorities also.
"I'd like to play, but I'm going to college to get my education. That's number one. I want to be a physician specializing in pediatrics," said Rhea's probable salutatorian, who has made just one B since starting school in kindergarten and owns a 4.6 grade-point avearge.
Although academics occupy many of his post-church Sunday afternoons, Pendleton has found time to juggle academics and sports, and he has a captain's perspective regarding Rhea County football. He has excelled as a playmaker and defensive ringleader but quickly denied there is a single defensive star for the Eagles.
"A friend asked me the other day who was our best player on defense. I couldn't really say. Everybody plays hard and nobody takes any plays off," he said. "I wouldn't say the defense is set up for me to make plays, but what I will say is that our defensive line does an outstanding job keeping the tackles and tight ends off of me. My name gets in the paper a lot and I get a lot of stats, but I know a lot of credit belongs to those guys."
The primary guys up front are James Sharp, Nick Mullins and Tyler Brown, but Pendleton said the Eagles have enough depth to rotate players and keep fresh bodies in the game.
"It's nice from a linebacker's point of view. Our linebackers have been fortunate to have good coaches and good players in front of us," he added.
Rhea County's defense has quite often been stingy as well as tenacious, and the offense likewise has been effective, yet there was a time when the Eagles were doubting themselves. They were just 3-3 after a shutout by Ooltewah and a drubbing by Indiana power Cathedral High.
"Coach (Micah) Ruehling, our athletic director, said, 'This team is something special and we can do something, but it has to start with senior leadership and trickle down from there,'" Pendleton said.
The Eagles listened, forging their competitive spirit into a seven-game win streak.
"This is the most competitive group I've ever been around," Pendleton said, "whether you're talking about games, the weightroom or the practice field. It makes you better. It makes everybody around you better."
Contact Ward Gossett at wgossett@timesfreepress.com or 423-886-4765. Follow him at @wardgossett.