Nine months and two days after receiving the 2015 TSSAA Mr. Football Award, East Ridge running back Traneil Moore made his 2016 debut in the Pioneers' third game of the season at Signal Mountain.
Despite a good start to the game and a strong second half by the winless Eagles, the senior running back didn't disappoint in the end, leading East Ridge to a 35-28 win on a late score in both teams' Region 3-3A opener.
With less than six minutes to play, the Pioneers forced the fourth Signal Mountain fumble of the night, putting the ball in the hands of their offense - more specifically, their best player.
He needed only one play.
From the Pioneers' 24-yard line, Moore took the ball and made one cut up the hole. Seventy-six yards later, he was in the end zone for what turned out to be the game-winning score.
"It was kind of crazy because I didn't think I was running that fast, but I guess I was just in a zone," Moore said. "I still have a lot to work on, but I'm glad I helped us out like that."
The senior led East Ridge (2-1) with 165 yards on 20 carries.
"It was an ugly night for us, but it's a good win," East Ridge coach Tim James said. "They played our tails off and fought us for 48 minutes. Coach (Ty) Wise has some warriors on that team."
Both teams' running games took awhile to kick in gear with both teams going three-and-out in their first two possessions. About midway through the first quarter, the Eagles tried something different. Junior quarterback Tom Vatter rolled out right after a good play-action fake and dropped a bomb directly into the hands of receiver Charlie Gauthier.
The Pioneers caught a huge break near the middle of the second quarter when an Eagles ball carrier fumbled on the first play of a possession for the second time in the game. The Pioneers couldn't take advantage the first time, but fullback Deondre Chambliss made sure his team converted the second time - running the ball in for a score on East Ridge's ensuing possession.
Signal Mountain trailed by 14 at halftime, but two drives and 11 minutes later the Eagles knotted the game behind a touchdown run from Collin Weigert and a TD catch from Sam Gault. But, just like in many games before, the Signal Mountain turnovers proved to be too much.
"We played well. It was just the little things that kept killing us in the end," Vatter said. "I think we can come out next week and improve on those mistakes so we can be good enough to pull one out."
East Ridge quarterback Alonzo Russell put in a 7-of-13, 134-yard passing performance. Weigert was the workhorse for the Eagles with 101 rushing yards on 20 carries.
Next week the Pioneers will be back at Raymond James Stadium to meet Central in another Region 3-3A game, while the Eagles dip out of region play to visit Tyner.
Contact John Mitchell at sports@timesfreepress.com