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Scores and Photos of Friday night high school football - Sept. 25
DUNLAP, Tenn. - Sequatchie County doesn't take a team picture after every home victory.
But the Indians gathered in front of the scoreboard Friday night for a photo opportunity with the lights shining 21 under the home side and showing 0 for their rivals from Bledsoe County.
"The stump stays home," shouted several players as they hoisted a wooden trophy awarded to the winner of the rivalry game between the neighboring counties.
"We beat Bledsoe in my senior year," proclaimed Sequatchie County running back Brandon Rudd, who rushed 30 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns. "I have an amazing line up front, and I have an amazing team."
That certainly includes a stout defense - a group that forced three turnovers, made a goal-line stand on fourth down and limited the Warriors (3-2) to 133 rushing yards, with 45 of those on a fake punt late in the third quarter.
"It's kind of been who we are through the first five games," said Sequatchie County coach Adam Caine, who is undefeated in his first season leading the Indians. "My kids did what they do.
"We had some breaks. We were in the right spots in the secondary the few times that they threw the ball."
Sequatchie County nickelback Austin Stephens made two interceptions and linebackers Hunter Davenport and Kyle Cates were in on about a dozen tackles each.
"We're going to live and die with the run game, and they completely shut the run game down," said Bledsoe County's Josh Owensby, another first-year head coach. "They lined up and beat us. They beat us up front, and their linebackers fly around about as good as you'll see."
Sequatchie County needed only five plays to get on the scoreboard after forcing Bledsoe to punt after three snaps.
Sequatchie junior Alec Hudson took a handoff and sped around the left side of the line before heading upfield for a 31-yard touchdown less than four minutes into the game. The Warriors then proceeded down the field but missed a 42-yard field goal.
Later, Stephens intercepted Chaise Sorrow, giving the Indians possession at their 27-yard line. But Bledsoe County senior Caleb Smith made a spectacular play and stripped the ball to hand the Warriors great field position at the Sequatchie County 18. The drive stalled, and Bledsoe attempted another field goal - which also fell short.
Sequatchie jogged into its home locker room with a 7-0 lead at halftime as sprinkles returned to the stadium.
Stephens' second interception set up the Warriors at the Sequatchie County 25. Rudd capped the drive with his first touchdown by leaping over the line from the 1.
Bledsoe County seemed to get on track when Tavian Dodd rumbled 45 yards on a fake punt down to the 2. But the Warriors moved early and tried four consecutive runs to score from the 7. Tanner Rheal and a few of his teammates stuffed Dodd on fourth down.
"Once we had that fake punt, I thought things were rolling," Dodd said. "But they stopped us, and that was a game-changer. It hurt quite a bit, because I thought we were going to get the ball rolling. We didn't."
The Indians then marched 96 yards, with Rudd finishing the drive on a 10-yard run right through Bledsoe's defense.
"The defense was working and giving us the ball back," Sequatchie quarterback Houston Mainord said. "The zero on the scoreboard is pretty impressive."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6484. Follow him at Twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP.