Red Bank might have clinched the Region 3-3A title after last week's win over Brainerd, but the Lions still have one regular-season goal to chase before heading into the playoffs.
Perfection.
The host Lions remained undefeated at home Friday night, amassing 464 yards of offense on their way to a dominating 42-7 nonregion win over Region 4-5A member Lenoir City. Senior Calvin Jackson had three touchdowns and 213 total yards from scrimmage.
"Our kids just love playing football," Lions coach Chris Brown said. "Every Friday night everyone else gets to see what I see every day. Chasing the championship and being able to say 'undefeated regular season,' those things matter to us."
Red Bank (8-0) was a well-oiled machine on offense - particularly through the air, where junior Madox Wilkey threw for four touchdowns on 22-of-28 passing for 322 yards. Jackson had 10 catches for 147 yards, while Lucas Brown caught seven passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
In a game full of highlights, it was the human-highlight-reel Jackson who left everyone in awe after his 54-yard touchdown catch on the Lions' first possession of the second half.
What started as an 8-yard reception along the home sideline turned into a dizzying run by Jackson, as he made his way across the field and eventually down the visitor sideline, leaving Panthers defenders in his wake, before crossing the goal line to give the Lions a 35-0 lead.
Said Brown: "As a defensive football coach, that is a great 8-yard play, but when you add Calvin Jackson to it, it's a touchdown."
"I might could've scored easier, but I wanted to make the highlight look good," Jackson joked. "Seriously, it's the offensive line that drives this offense. That is what makes us go; when they're on, everybody's on."
The defense was nearly as dominant. Lenoir City (4-5) - which was averaging 29 points per game coming into the game - was held to 71 yards on the ground and one score that came midway through a running-clock fourth quarter. The Lions' defenders bowed their backs on two straight possessions in the second quarter, stopping the Panthers on fourth down inside the 10-yard line.
Contact Kevin Llewallyn at sports@timesfreepress.com.