The halftime momentum Friday night at Tom Weathers Field belonged completely to the host Red Bank Lions.
A relentless defense had held the daunting Anderson County attack scoreless as Red Bank built a two-score lead, and the Lions could almost taste a trip just down the road for next week's TSSAA Class 4A state title game in the BlueCross Bowl at Finley Stadium.
Instead, the Mavericks will soon return to Chattanooga.
Anderson County forced three second-half turnovers while taking control of the game to win 29-13, improve to 14-0 and to advance to a state title game for the first time in program history. The Mavericks will face Pearl-Cohn (12-2), a 53-47 winner against Haywood County in Friday's other 4A semifinal, at 11 a.m. on Dec. 3 at Finley.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area high school football games)
Red Bank's senior class of 12 finished with a second state semifinals appearance. The young team that played in Ted Gatewood's first season as coach of the Lions will lose just two offensive starters and three on defense for next season after finishing 11-3.
"A lot of people didn't believe we could make it this far," Gatewood told his team. "But this group came together and did something incredibly special. We have a great staff, team and community who loves Red Bank football.
"The kids understand we fell short of what we are trying to accomplish, but they left it all on the field like they always do. They are amazing young men."
Anderson County, which had averaged 44 points per game entering the semifinals, faced its toughest first half of the season. Mavericks quarterback Walker Martinez came in with 50 touchdown passes but threw for only one score in the win.
Red Bank junior defensive back Cordell Howard knocked the ball loose from an Anderson County receiver in the back of the end zone for a turnover on downs on the game's first series, and soon after that, sophomore standout Daune Morris took a third-down pass from Eric Hill 96 yards for a touchdown on the Lions' first possession.
Anderson County turned the ball over on downs three times during a first half in which senior Tyler Berry and juniors Kobe Smith and Jordan Shaw all had sacks.
Shaw also had a diving interception during the first half, while Smith had six quarterback pressures, several quarterback hits and a run stop for a turnover on downs in the first half.
Shaw's pick helped set up a touchdown drive in which Tyler Wright made a nice 20-yard grab to help set up an ankle-breaking 15-yard touchdown run by fellow senior AD Crutcher to give Red Bank a 13-0 lead with 10:07 left in the second quarter.
The Lions came away with their second takeaway of the first half when sophomore defensive lineman Micah Hardaway punched the ball out for Shaw to recover and halt a promising Mavericks drive.
"Our defense has been special all year," Gatewood said. "They know there is just one way to play, and that's full speed ahead. They played with that effort every game all year. To have a lot of those guys coming back is really encouraging."
Anderson County forced two turnovers on back-to-back Red Bank possessions to start the second half and cashed in on both to tie it at 13 with 5:04 left in the third quarter.
The Mavericks' power-running game took off late as Nick Moog scored twice and Gavin Noe added another touchdown with 8:50 to play for their first lead. They added to it with a safety and one more score.
"My message to these Red Bank guys for next year is: Win it. It's theirs to win," senior Cameron Jackosn said. "We worked as hard as we could, and it's their job to carry it even further next year."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.