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Region champ Rhea County upset in first round of Class 5A bracket

Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Rhea County's Aiden Wilkerson (2) is congratulated on his 75-yard touchdown catch by fellow senior Mason Ford (5) during the Golden Eagles' home game against Lawrence County in the first round of the TSSAA Class 5A playoffs on Thursday night. Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Rhea County's Aiden Wilkerson (2) is congratulated on his 75-yard touchdown catch by fellow senior Mason Ford (5) during the Golden Eagles' home game against Lawrence County in the first round of the TSSAA Class 5A playoffs on Thursday night.

By Patrick MacCoon November 6, 2025 3 min read

EVENSVILLE, Tenn. — Electricity coursed through Eagle Stadium when host Rhea County seemed to grab the momentum during Thursday night’s game against Lawrence County in the first round of the TSSAA Class 5A playoffs.

Golden Eagles senior Aiden Wilkerson burned the defense deep down the home sideline for a 75-yard score on junior Jaxton Schmitt’s third touchdown pass of the first half, putting Rhea County up 20-14 with 6:54 to go in the second quarter.

Wilkerson’s 21st touchdown of the season gave him 117 receiving yards and two scores to that point in Thursday’s game, which included a 38-yard catch-and-run touchdown as he slipped past three defenders on the final play of the first quarter.

The Golden Eagles never scored again on a night that belonged to Lawrence County junior running back Carter Pettigrew — and ultimately, the upset-minded Wildcats, who made it happen.