The running backs wearing the Tennessee all-star uniforms may not light up scoreboards on Saturday afternoons in coming years, but for one last Saturday night they were something very special.
The stable of backs gathered by Tennessee coach Tracy Malone piled up over 400 yards on the ground as the Tennessee all-stars put up the most points in the 11-year history of the series with 45-7 win over the Georgia all-stars.
Led by MVP Isiah Robinson of Hixson, who wound up three yards shy of a rushing record for this all-star game, Tennessee outscored Georgia 38-0 in the second half. Robinson’s 103 yards on just six carries were part of a 407-yard total effort. Tennessee MVP Denzel Boyd of McMinn Central also threatened the record with 90 yards on nine carries.
But Tennessee’s big night began with a pass.
Boyd-Buchanan’s Jim Cardwell, getting one more chance to shine on his home field, put Tennessee on the board first after the defense stopped Georgia on downs in the final minute of the first quarter. Tad Whitaker of East Ridge followed with the first of his game-record six PATs.