With his defense worn out and the game on the line, Soddy-Daisy coach Justin Barnes never hesitated in making the decision to either win or lose on a 2-point play in overtime last Friday.
One of the biggest reasons for such a gutsy call was the confidence he has in Trojans quarterback Isaac Barnes, his nephew. The junior signal-caller delivered on his coach's belief by capping off a huge night with an on-target throw to KeSean Eubanks, and the 2-point conversion connection gave the Trojans a dramatic 43-42 nonregion overtime win at Signal Mountain.
That was only one of several highlight plays for the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Isaac Barnes, who finished 23-of-29 passing for 271 yards and five touchdowns and is the Times Free Press prep player of the week.
Photo by Cade Deakin/ Soddy Daisy's Isaac Barnes (1) throws a screen pass. The Soddy Daisy Trojans visited The Signal Mountain Eagles in TSSAA football action on Oct. 11, 2019."His football knowledge is off the charts," Coach Barnes said. "The biggest thing about Isaac is that he knows the offense. He's been around the program since he was in middle school, so he knows what we're trying to do and how to break down a defense.
"Late in that game, we had been clicking on offense but really hadn't stopped them in the fourth quarter. They scored in two plays, and when I watched our defensive linemen coming off the field I could tell they were gassed. I decided then that if we scored we were going for two."
The game's momentum seemingly swung on each possession with four lead changes and five ties. Soddy-Daisy (4-3) rallied to tie the game on a 13-yard scoring toss from Barnes to Landon Reece with just 44 seconds remaining in regulation.
After Signal Mountain reclaimed the lead in overtime, the Trojans answered with the fourth TD connection between Barnes and Eubanks, who finished with 10 catches for 153 yards.
Staff photo by C.B. Schmelter/ Soddy-Daisy's Isaac Barnes (1) passes the ball against Red Bank at Soddy-Daisy High School's Robert Talaska Field on Friday, Aug. 23, 2019 in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn."KeSean and I have played together for the last six years, so we have a great connection. I know where he'll be on any route and where he wants the ball to be thrown," said Isaac Barnes, who has thrown for 1,567 yards and 21 TDs in his first season as the Trojans starter. It was the second time he's thrown for five scores in a game this season, and he had four TD passes in another.
"As soon as we got the play call, I knew we had it," Barnes added. "I had full faith in the play and where KeSean would be, so I just had to deliver the throw. As we were walking to the line, he gave me a tap on the hip as he went by, like saying 'We've got this.'
"That win should give us a lot of momentum for the second half of the season."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.