Baylor’s Connor Davidson (31) gets tripped up by Ensworth’s Corn Elder (15) during the first half of play. The Red Raiders played the Tigers in the 2011 TSSAA Division II AA championship game at Tennessee Tech University’s Tucker Stadium late Thursday evening.RELATED STORY• Hargis: Early turn of events puts Baylor in hole
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Corn Elder, Ensworth’s Mr. Football winner, left the game early in the second quarter, limping from the field with a high-ankle sprain.
He wouldn’t return, but the defending state champions didn’t miss him or a beat Thursday night in nailing down their second straight Division II-AA state title with a 48-10 victory over Baylor.
The Tigers also avenged their only loss, a 42-14 setback at Baylor on Sept. 16. It was the Red Raiders’ worst playoff loss since a 49-0 setback to Murfreesboro Riverdale in 1994, and it came in their first back-to-back state championship game appearances since 1972 and ’73.
Elder scored Ensworth’s second touchdown less than five minutes into the game, but the offensive stardom this night belonged to little-used Rico Watson, who had just 23 carries, 84 yards and a single touchdown in the Tigers’ first 12 games.