As Zay Brown was putting the final touches on a very memorable farewell at Tom Weathers Field, the message from the loudspeakers blasted very loudly.
Red Bank, the speakers blared, is headed to the state semifinals for the first time since 2000.
Since 2000, when the Lions won the whole shebang under the field's namesake. Since 2000, when head coach Chad Grabowski was a senior in college and offensive coordinator Drew Akins was an eighth-grader at Boyd-Buchanan. Since 2000, which was before a vast majority of these Lions were even born.
"Yeah, I'd like to play another game here," Brown said after rushing for 232 yards and two scores in the Lions' 27-8 win over Smith County on Friday. "But it's exciting right now knowing that we get to play again."
Red Bank will go next Friday to Alcoa, which dropped Austin-East 34-7 on Friday. The winner will play the next week in Cookeville for the Class 3A state championship.
For the Lions, the trip northeast - and back in time - has been years in the making even if it was crafted with 48 stout minutes Friday night.
"I remember talking to a lot of them coming back from Upperman (two years ago)," fourth-year Red Bank leader Grabowski said. "I can remember telling them that if they are willing to work and willing to do what it takes, they could have a chance to play for a state championship."
The Lions are one step closer and on the cusp of realizing that premonition in large part because of Brown and a determined defense that was at its best when it needed to be.
"Yeah, that's a great way to finish (my home career)," Ivan Young said after recording three sacks, including two on fourth-down plays inside Red Bank territory to end Smith County drives.
With Young creating pressure, the Lions (11-2) flummoxed the visiting Owls (9-4), especially on fourth down.
Smith County failed on two fake punts and failed on four other fourth-down tries, including two inside the Lions' 30.
In fact, other than Carson Hackett's 62-yard touchdown run that offered a glimmer of hope for the visitors, the Red Bank defense was smothering. Hackett needed 31 passing attempts - most of which were short outs and swing passes - to net 123 passing yards.
"It wasn't anything overly different," Grabowski said. "We just wanted to get after them and make them drive the length of the field."
Unable to sustain much of anything, Red Bank turned to Brown and the senior obliged.
He scored the game's first touchdown on a 59-yard run and scored his final touchdown at Weathers Field less than two minutes after Hackett put Smith County on the board.
Add in a couple of Braulio Velazquez field goals and Calvin Jackson's short touchdown run, and the Lions had an embarrassment of offense by comparison.
"I'm so happy for these players, especially the seniors," Grabowski said. "They were willing to put the work in, and they have a great opportunity in front of them."
Red Bank is one of 30 or so Tennessee high school teams still alive across all classifications.
Friday night, though, perspective and pride deserved its moment, too, and the celebration lasted well after the final buzzer. Pictures, poses, powerful smiles for everyone in Red Bank blue.
It's the joy that comes with the realization that your dreams are right in front of you.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com.