CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Red Bank bent but didn’t break.
Mired in some offensive struggles in the second half Friday night, Red Bank turned to its defense, which answered the bell time and time again in the final 24 minutes of the game to help the TSSAA Class 4A Lions hang on to defeat 6A Bradley Central 17-10 and improve to 5-2 this season.
The Bears (3-5), who have struggled this fall after a state semifinal run in 2023, won the total offense battle 274-192, but the Lions forced four turnovers and did just enough to hold off a late rally by their hosts, ending the game with a trio of fourth-quarter sacks, two by first-year player Javeon McCrosky.
“He’s a young man who has done everything we’ve asked and worked hard every week,” Red Bank coach Ted Gatewood said. “We talk about making plays, and he did a great job of doing that tonight.”
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night’s Chattanooga-area prep football games)