Rhea County takes region title on walk-off win at Walker Valley
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Rhea County's Jaxton Schmitt carries the ball during Friday night's TSSAA Region 3-5A game at Walker Valley in the final week of the regular season.
CHARLESTON, Tenn. — It’s hard to imagine a better ending for the Rhea County football team’s regular season.
A dramatic road win put the Golden Eagles in prime position for the TSSAA playoffs, starting with a home game in the first round next week.
Pandemonium reigned on the visitors’ sideline Friday night at Walker Valley after Rhea County senior receiver Aiden Wilkerson beat the defense for a 40-yard touchdown, making a leaping catch at the 5-yard line and shooting into the end zone to score as the game ended. Wilkerson’s 19th touchdown of the season came on a perfectly placed deep ball by junior quarterback Jaxton Schmitt, who set up the winning play with his legs and arm in just 30 seconds.
The 16-10 stunning of the Mustangs sealed the Region 3-5A championship for Rhea County, which got help elsewhere from McMinn County’s 50-48 home win against East Hamilton on Friday.
Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (5) Mason Ford carries the ball during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (3) Tristyan Odum stops Walker Valley (6) Roman Eulo from scoring during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (13) Wyatt Mangefrida wraps up Walker Valley (8) Cason Cunningham during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/Walker Valley (8) Cason Cunningham carries the ball during their home game against Rhea County High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (22) Ezekiel Romero celebrates wth (11) Austin Fugate after Fugate returned a kickoff for a touchdown during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (22) Ezekiel Romero defends as Walker Valley (8) Cason Cunningham carries the ball during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (11) Austin Fugate kicks a field goal during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (22) Ezekiel Romero moves in to tackle Walker Valley (16) Chase Stephens during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Walker Valley (6) Roman Eulo tries to avoid a tackle by a Rhea County defender during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Walker Valley (6) Roman Eulo carries the ball after a catch against Rhea County during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton / Walker Valley’s Sawyer Boyd carries the ball as visiting Rhea County’s Tristyan Odum (3) tries to fight through a block during Friday night’s TSSAA Region 3-5A matchup.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (1) Jaxton Schmitt throws a pass as Walker Valley (5) Kaleb Jackson pressures him during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (61) Jaxson Skiles applies pressure as Walker Valley (16) Chase Stephens throws the ball during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (22) Ezekiel Romero attempts to wrap up Walker Valley (8) Cason Cunningham during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (10) Kaiden Rector tackles Walker Valley (10) Luke Hayden after a catch during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.Staff photo by Matt Hamilton/ Rhea County (1) Jaxton Schmitt carries the ball during their game at Walker Valley High School on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025.
The Golden Eagles, ranked ninth in Class 5A, entered Friday with the potential to finish as low as third in their region, but they found a way to rise to the top and finished the regular season 9-1 overall and 5-1 in region play. Walker Valley (7-3, 5-1), ranked 10th, wound up as the No. 2 seed for the playoffs, with McMinn County (6-4, 4-2) third in the region and sixth-ranked East Hamilton (8-2, 4-2) fourth.
