Payton Campbell's ability to quickly assess a situation and react on the football field has helped him make a difference on both offense and defense during Sequatchie County's 4-1 start.
As a quarterback, the 6-foot-1, 165-pound senior has executed the Indians' read-option attack well while passing for 637 yards, rushing 53 times for 470 yards (8.9 average) and accounting for 16 touchdowns (11 rushing, five passing).
As a safety, the soft-spoken leader has 35 tackles (three for loss) and an 88-yard touchdown on an interception.
"Payton is the toughest player I have coached," Sequatchie County coach Rusty McIntyre said. "His speed and arm are not going to wow anyone when you first see him, but he goes out there and battles and knows how to make a significant impact on the game. He is the guy everyone rallies around."
The program is one victory away from its first five-game winning streak since the 2016 Indians started 13-0 before losing in the Class 3A semifinals, but Friday night's visit to border rival Bledsoe County (3-2) of Class 2A will require stopping a wing-T offense that has averaged 225 rushing yards per game.
Sequatchie County has won eight of the past nine series meetings but narrowly survived last year. Campbell totaled 227 yards, three touchdowns and 15 tackles, and Austin McCurry's 55-yard run was the winning touchdown in the Indians' 31-29 victory against the Warriors, who rushed for 280 yards.
Bledsoe County's ground game has been paced by senior Hunter Clark and sophomore Caymen Siever this season. The Warriors are coming off a 14-9 loss at Marion County, but two weeks ago they generated 395 rushing yards while beating Grundy County 50-8.
"We are ready for a four-quarter battle again," Campbell said. "This team has grown a ton in physicality since last year. We have an experienced offensive line, and so many guys who can catch the ball, too. We are ready to try to keep things rolling."
Since opening with a road loss to reigning Class A state champion South Pittsburg, Campbell's Indians have scored 50, 41, 48 and 42 points to build their winning streak, which has been helped by an offensive line that features seniors Avery Headrick, Brandon Presto and Garrett Worthington.
The Indians have also picked off eight passes in the past three games, and in the season's second week, senior Brayden Johnson had 78 receiving yards and a touchdown plus eight tackles as they battled back from a 28-13 deficit to beat Marion County 50-47.
"The key is for us to go out there and play to our standard," Johnson said. "We believe in ourselves and that we can win any time we go out there. With all the hard work we have put in, we know what our worth is."
The Indians' hot streak comes after a combined six wins the past two seasons. Presto, a 6-2, 300-pound left tackle with power and speed, is excited to see how far they can go in McIntyre's second year — but the next step is at Bledsoe County.
"This is a bragging rights game, and we want to dominate up front," Presto said. "We have bought into Coach McIntyre's style of play, and everything has been clicking."
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.