Rhea chills Owls with running game, defense

By Kelley Smiddie November 15, 2014 4 min read

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Chattanooga plice and code officers tackle unsafe houses

Landlord Ron Bhalla walks up the stairs to one of his properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

Landlord Ron Bhalla enters one of his properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

Landlord Ron Bhalla talks about the kitchen floor cited in one of his properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

An old sessions court summons notifying a tenant of eviction remains on the door of one of landlord Ron Bhalla's properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

Keys hang in the doorknob of one of landlord Ron Bhalla's properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

Landlord Ron Bhalla stands inside one of his properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

Landlord Ron Bhalla looks through documents for a codes enforcement document about one of his properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

One of landlord Ron Bhalla's properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors is seen on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

Curtains cover a window in one of landlord Ron Bhalla's properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

Landlord Ron Bhalla calls a potential tenant from one of his properties in East Chattanooga that was recently brought back to code after being condemned by city codes inspectors on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Some area landlords are speaking out against codes inspectors, who they say use unfair practices in condemning properties.

Rhea County’s Jacob York (5) runs the ball in for a touchdown past Ooltewah defenders.

Rhea County 47, Ooltewah 14The star: Rhea County’s Zack Daoust ran 12 times for 198 yards, including an 80-yard scoring run, and he caught a TD pass and intercepted a pass in the Eagles’ win.Up next: Rhea County (12-0) plays next at Oak Ridge (12-0). Ooltewah ends its season 11-1.

EVENSVILLE, Tenn. – The simple mathematics is this: Cold weather, plus a stout running game, equals Rhea County moving on.

The Eagles showed no ill effects of playing in near-freezing weather in Friday night’s TSSAA Class 5A state-playoff football game. The hosts piled up 428 rushing yards while their defense teamed with some cold temperatures to play havoc with Ooltewah’s passing game, and Rhea whipped the Owls 47-14.

Not only did the Eagles consistently pick up positive yards in their running game, but they busted scoring runs of 41, 80 and 21 yards in the first half to go with a 35-yard touchdown pass that came on a possession in which the first five plays were runs.

“Big plays by Rhea County was the biggest thing,” Ooltewah coach Mac Bryan said. “They had five or six plays in the first half where they got big chunks of yardage. They scored a few times, got us behind and we never could get out of that hole.”