As high school football season openers go, Red Bank looked to be in playoff form. The Lions were impressive in every facet of the game Friday night, dominating rival Soddy-Daisy 38-7 for a nonregion win.
Red Bank outgained the hosts 314-98 in total yards - holding the Trojans to minus-22 rushing yards - and a running clock via the mercy rule was in effect for much of the second half until a late score.
"We graduated a lot of talented players who won several (region) championships, but we've got seniors now who have played in big games," second-year Lions coach Chris Brown said. "They haven't been waiting their turn, they were battling with those guys. That experience, their calm leadership paid off.
"We're extremely fortunate to come out and hit some big plays early and put the defense on their heels."
Last year's game was canceled after a severe thunderstorm, and the start of Friday's matchup was delayed by 30 minutes because of lightning in the area. Once the teams took the field it was Red Bank that struck quickly as senior quarterback Madox Wilkey connected with Lucas Brown, who raced past the pursuit for a 68-yard touchdown on the third play.
Two series later, that same tandem again hooked up on a big third-down play when Wilkey found Brown across the middle for a 50-yard score to convert on third-and-10.
"We knew coming into the game that we've got athletes who can make big plays, and they went out and did that and it gave us a boost," said Wilkey, who was 9-of-19 passing for 191 yards and the two scores. "We can be great. I know all my guys and how hard we've worked, and I know our potential. We've just got to keep working.
"Not getting to play this game last year, all our seniors really wanted to do was get to play Soddy. Lucas is a great kid and a great athlete. He's hard to stop."
After the two quick first-quarter scores, Red Bank settled in with a punishing 11-play, 74-yard scoring drive just before halftime, capped by Alricko Trimble's 2-yard scoring run.
The defense, which completely stymied a Trojans offense that had returned nine starters from a unit that scored 34 or more points four times last season, set up the Lions' first score of the second half when all-state linebacker Clark Lockerby stepped in front of an Isaac Barnes pass across the middle for an interception at the Trojans' 20.
Five plays later, Lumiere Strickland scored the first of two rushing touchdowns, covering 7 yards. Strickland capped Red Bank's next drive with a 10-yard dash to the right corner of the end zone, and midway through the third quarter, the running clock was in effect.
On 36 of the Trojans' 51 snaps, Red Bank held them to zero or negative yardage. The Lions also forced four turnovers.
"They had our attention from the last game we played last season up until this week," Brown sad. "Right now you can't be disappointed coming out against a quality program, after a lightning delay at the start, and executing as well as we did on both sides of the ball."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.