MTCS edges Grace 22-21 on late two-point run [photos]

Grace Baptist Academy player Cade Tinsley (9) tumbles over Middle Tennessee Christian School player Trey Harris (44) during Grace's football game against MTCS at Grace Baptist Academy on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Grace Baptist Academy player Cade Tinsley (9) tumbles over Middle Tennessee Christian School player Trey Harris (44) during Grace's football game against MTCS at Grace Baptist Academy on Friday, Oct. 26, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Grace Academy overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half, but a late touchdown and two-point conversion earned Middle Tennessee Christian a 22-21 Division II-A East win Friday night.

The result granted the Cougars (8-2, 4-2) the region's No. 3 seed in the state playoffs, where they will host Jackson Christian next Friday. The loss dropped the Golden Eagles (6-3, 3-3) to the No. 4 seed, and they also will host a game next week against Tipton-Rosemark from Millington.

"We made too many mistakes in the first half, including two turnovers, and that ended up making all the difference in the world," Grace coach Bob Ateca said. "All I could've asked from my players was that they put that behind them and play a new game in the second half and we did that, but we couldn't pull it out and that's just a part of the game."

Drew Berry of MTCS notched the first points of the game midway through the second quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run and a two-point conversion for an 8-0 lead that carried over into halftime.

Grace Academy fumbled away the opening kickoff of the second half but subsequently forced a stop on MTCS. However, a muffed punt by the Golden Eagles set up another Berry touchdown run - this time from 14 yards out.

The Golden Eagles answered strong with 21 consecutive points. First, Ryan Merritt capped off a 10-play drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. Early in the fourth quarter, Grace quarterback Cade Tinsley ran in a 1-yard touchdown, and less than three minutes later Tinsley gave the Golden Eagles the lead with a 20-yard scramble.

With less than five minutes to play, however, the Cougars' Kemari McGowan raced 73 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown that set up a Berry run for the game-winning two-point conversion.

"The irony is that most coaches don't go for two all the time, so when we go for two every week we're used to it and the other team has to deal with it," MTCS coach Fred Shambaugh said. "That's just who we are. The game came down to a two-point play. We've been doing it all year, so there was no stress from us."

Contact John Mitchell at sports@timesfreepress.com.

Upcoming Events