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Thursday, November 12, 2026Nov 12

Red Bank Lions counting on senior Eli Massengale’s versatility for another playoff run

Staff photo by Erin O. Smith / Red Bank football players, including Eli Massengale (23), prepare to take the field prior to a home game against Rhea County on Oct. 11.
Staff photo by Erin O. Smith / Red Bank football players, including Eli Massengale (23), prepare to take the field prior to a home game against Rhea County on Oct. 11. Staff photo by Erin O. Smith / Red Bank football players, including Eli Massengale (23), prepare to take the field prior to a home game against Rhea County on Oct. 11.

Red Bank is going to have to figure out how to win football games without Eli Massengale next year.

It won’t be a problem easily solved, and the solution is likely to require more than one person.

“I have never coached a more underrated football player,” said Chris Brown, whose Lions (8-1) are ranked sixth in Class 3A and host Sequatchie County (6-4) in the first round of the playoffs Friday night.

“Eli is absolutely essential in all three phases of the game. He is an excellent long snapper, he is our short snapper, he is a great coverage guy on special teams, he is our starting fullback and has started for us at linebacker for three years.”

photo Staff photo by Erin O. Smith / Red Bank quarterback Madox Wilkey hands off to fullback Eli Massengale during a home game against Central in August 2018.

The versatile senior and team captain has helped the Lions continue to succeed after they reached the state semifinals two years ago and the quarterfinals last season. As a 5-foot-8, 170-pound weakside linebacker, he has made the most of proper defensive alignment to be in place to make plays.