Here are four surprise outcomes that stand out following last week’s prep football games across Georgia and Tennessee.
› Walker Valley’s offensive woes: What at one point was the state’s second leading passing attack has fallen rather silent the last two weeks.
The Mustangs were held scoreless in the first half of Friday’s Region 3-5A first-place showdown with Rhea County, their sixth consecutive quarter without a point. During that time, Walker Valley turned the ball over on downs eight times, all from 33 yards or closer.
On Walker Valley’s fifth play from scrimmage against Rhea County, senior receiver Roman Eulo made an impressive 28-yard leaping grab over a defender down the left home sideline. While the Mustangs threw for 43 yards on their opening possession, they would only account for 72 passing yards on the way to a crushing last-second 16-10 defeat.
Rhea County second-year head coach Taylor Harvey and defensive coordinator Brandon Ashby’s unit schemed to shut down the quick passing game and also did not give the Mustangs time to drop back to try to get the deep passing game going.