In a moment of celebration late last Friday night, Tucker Ross climbed atop the podium to help direct the Soddy Daisy High School marching band after leading the Trojans football team to a season-opening home win.
There was no sweeter sound for Ross, who was a conductor in more than one way at revamped Robert Talaska Field, where his all-around performance included navigating a turnover-free showing for Soddy Daisy’s offense in a 49-42 shootout with Rhea County.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior completed all six of his passes for 131 yards, rushed for 70 yards and four touchdowns, delivered a pair of punts that pinned Rhea County inside its 10-yard line, accounted for six tackles on defense, was the holder on extra-point kicks and ran for a 2-point conversion behind a dominant offensive line that featured four senior starters.
“In my first start last year, we lost 34-0 to Rhea County, and that sucked,” Ross said. “I dreamed about this game so many times over the summer. I just wanted to get revenge, and my team and I came out here and left everything we had on the field to get that win.”
Before what turned out to be 3 1/2 hour battle against the Golden Eagles, four Soddy Daisy football players received their TSSAA wrestling state championship rings. Ross, Jonathan Davis, Pete Laxton and Nathan Wade were all starters this past winter as the Trojans swept their classification’s state duals and traditional tournament team titles for the first time since 2012. In addition, the Class A champions’ 34-0 record in duals provided just the second unbeaten season in program history.