GILES COUNTY 42, HIXSON 14
The Star: Rekell Reed totaled 195 yards rushing on 18 attempts and 73 yards receiving on two catches for Giles County. Up Next: Giles County (8-3) will visit Marshall County (10-1) in the second round.
Friday's second-round Tennessee playoff pairings
(All kickoffs at 7 p.m. local time) CLASS 6A Bradley Central (9-2) at Blackman (8-3) CLASS 5A Farragut (10-1) at Rhea County (9-2) Walker Valley (7-4) at Ooltewah (9-2) CLASS 3A East Ridge (6-5) at Red Bank (8-3) Notre Dame (7-4) at Sequatchie County (11-0) CLASS 2A Watertown (10-1) at Marion County (10-1) Meigs County (10-1) at Forrest (10-1) CLASS 1A Fayetteville (9-2) at South Pittsburg (10-1) Whitwell (6-5) at Columbia Academy (10-0) DIVISION II McCallie (7-4) at Brentwood Academy (7-2) Baylor (7-4) at MUS (10-0)
Hixson senior quarterback LaDaquis Word's first-ever playoff game ended in disappointment as the Wildcats literally couldn't run with the Giles County Bobcats in a 42-14 loss.
The Bobcats' speed and athletic ability was too much for the Wildcats. Giles County running back Rekell Reed finished the game with 268 yards total, which was more than the entire Hixson team.
Word totaled 166 yards with two touchdowns, one passing and one rushing, and an interception.
The Wildcats' inability to get yardage through the air hurt them. Hixson finished the game with 280 yards (191 rushing) on 62 plays. By contrast, Giles County's offense gained 448 yards on 52 plays.
"They were going to make us throw it," Hixson coach Dan Duff said. "We had to throw the ball a little bit more, and once we loosened them up some, then it opened up things inside. Like I said, the kids fought hard, they're a good team. I was real impressed with their linebackers. They had real good linebackers."
The Wildcats have 13 seniors, including Word. When asked about them, Duff smiled and said, "Just fantastic kids. They led well. When we were 0-3, the seniors just said, 'That's enough. (We're) going to turn it around,' so we did. So I'm proud of them. They led well, and that's why we are where we are today."
Contact Shakeem Holloway at sports@timesfreepress.com