Cleveland’s T.J. Parker looks to evade Soddy-Daisy’s Austin Williamson (20) and Trever Crisp (28).Cleveland welcomed back runners Raekwon Bunion and T.J. Parker, and the pair frolicked Friday night. Yet it was Soddy-Daisy that chugged into the winner’s circle behind a bamboo defense and a near 300-yard passing outing from quarterback Hunter Maynor.
Taking a thumping by Ooltewah two weeks ago and an open date to heart, the host Trojans pulled out a 23-16 District 5-AAA victory in what some would call an upset, especially considering that Cleveland had won back-to-back games to struggle back to .500.
“I’m sure most people will see it like that. They’re a great ballclub,” Soddy-Daisy coach Justin Barnes said. “At our media day I said we had to have a couple of signature wins, and Cleveland being the type program they are, that’s a signature win for us.”
Parker picked up 191 rushing yards and Bunion gad 168 yards, showing no ill effects from injuries that had hobbled them earlier in the season, but the Trojans made two defensive stands inside the red zone and had two fumble recoveries and three interceptions.
“It’s that bend-but-don’t break defense, I guess,” Barnes said. “We came out at halftime and they gashed us right off the bat, but we took advantage of a couple of turnovers.”