EVENSVILLE, Tenn. – Rhea County finished the fight.
While the undefeated Golden Eagles fumbled four times and lost three in Friday night’s 28-10 home victory over Ooltewah, composure was not lost.
Trailing 10-7 in the fourth quarter with nine minutes to play, junior linebacker Drew Fisher showcased his playmaking abilities in a critical spot. Rhea County’s leading tackler entering the night jumped a route over the middle for an interception he returned 23 yards to the Owls’ 1-yard line.
Coach Mark Pemberton’s team would roll from there to reach 6-0 as freshmen Ethan Davis and Kaleb Martin rushed for scores along with senior leader Dalton Hampton, who had a 54-yard backbreaking run to the end zone for a 21-10 lead with 5:50 left to play. Gavin Roddy added another fourth-quarter interception for a defense that has 12 interceptions this year.
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“I think this team has learned to fight over the years,” said Fisher, who entered the game with 48 tackles, including four for loss, and a pair of sacks. “We can come back even when things are going against us. We never give up and always get after it. We have to continue to to do that to accomplish what we want to this season.”
While the Golden Eagles’ wing-T offense was far from its sharpest, Hampton ran with power late. The 6-foot-1 workhorse took off as he cut back to the middle at midfield for his 13th touchdown of the season.
“We have fought in every game,” said Hampton, who carried the ball 14 times for 128 yards and also caught two passes for 21 yards. “From the seniors to the freshman, we have all worked our butts off.”
Ooltewah (3-4) looked capable of staging an upset for the majority of the first three quarters as its defense came up with key fumble recoveries, twice inside its own 20-yard line, including once while backed up to the 2.
After a scoreless first half, Ooltewah quarterback Fisher Perry began the third quarter with an impressive five-play, 64-yard scoring drive in which he rushed for 48 yards, including the game’s first score on a 22-yard speed option down the left sideline.
The Owls led 10-0 with 5:48 left in the third quarter after a Christian Doty fumble return led to a field goal by Braeden Haynes. Rhea County’s first score was a diving 24-yard touchdown grab by Jayden Goodwin on a pass from Martin with 3:25 left in the period.
“Our defense stepped up in the first half and sealed it in the fourth,” Hampton said. “We can’t do it without them and everyone working together.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.