DUNLAP, Tenn. — Having given a tough postgame locker room speech after a season-ending loss, coach Rusty McIntyre could do nothing but speak ever so highly of one of the best teams in Sequatchie County High School football history.
The Indians showcased their toughness throughout the season as they responded to an opening loss at archrival Bledsoe County by winning a dozen straight games to earn just the third state semifinal appearance in program history.
The run ended with Friday night’s 38-3 loss to TSSAA Class 3A juggernaut Alcoa (13-1) — which will take aim at its 10th straight title at next week’s BlueCross Bowl at Chattanooga’s Finley Stadium — but that didn’t make getting this far any less special for the Indians.
A final record of 12-2 included back-to-back signature wins, on the road against South Pittsburg and then at home against Marion County, and Sequatchie County also dominated Giles County in the regular-season finale to win the Region 4-3A championship. When all was said and done Friday night, the Indians concluded their season with a school-record 466 points scored to go with a defense that allowed an average of just more than 16 points per game.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night’s Chattanooga-area prep football playoffs)
“The kids took our opening loss as a challenge and came to work the rest of the way,” said McIntyre, who completed his fourth season at the helm in Dunlap. “When you put your mind to something and you work hard and are willing to make sacrifices, great things can happen in life. We are all hurting now, but there are a lot of good kids coming through this program that will contribute in great ways to society going forward.”
Sequatchie County had a couple of good moments early in the semifinal as freshman Brooks McIntyre had two fumble recoveries in the first quarter. The first came from a clean rip from behind by junior Harrison Smith on Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist Eli Graf.
Sophomore quarterback Hunter Minton’s 20-yard scramble down the home sideline, which was the Indians’ longest play of the night, set up a 35-yard field goal by Will Machado to cut the Tornadoes’ lead to 7-3 with 10:11 left in the second quarter.
However, Alcoa could not be stopped the rest of the way as Graf ran for a pair of first-half scores and also threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jamir Dean, including a 56-yarder that helped build a 31-3 halftime lead.
Sequatchie junior playmaker Austin Griffith finished with 65 total yards on six touches as he concluded a breakout year in which he had 1,204 total yards (740 rushing, 464 receiving) and 12 touchdowns.
“Austin has started for us since he was a 130-pound freshman, and the past two years he got beat up and wasn’t able to finish either season,” McIntyre said of the team-leading rusher who averaged 7-plus yards per carry. “He really went to work this offseason, and gained 25 pounds and was determined to finish the year.
“Like a lot of our guys, he plays with a lot of heart. Austin grew up a lot this season and did whatever he had to do for this team. He stepped up in a big way as a leader, and we are excited to see what the future holds. Everybody on this team should be proud of what they accomplished.”
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.