With its 43-14 home win over Sequoyah last Friday, Hixson snapped the state's longest football losing streak. The Wildcats came into the Region 3-4A game with a 24-game losing skid - their previous win coming on Oct. 21, 2016 - including 13 straight league losses.
Hixson's Richard Hunter threw for 216 yards and four touchdowns, including three to his twin Reginald, who caught four passes for 154 yards. Running back Nyikee Logan rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown, and linebacker Brandon Park had eight tackles, including two for loss, and returned an interception for a score.
"The community came on the field and we were able to celebrate with them," Wildcats coach Gary Murray said. "Celebrating with them and as a team inside the locker room is something I will never forget. I got to see our boys finally take a breath and really enjoy what they do every day.
"It was good to get that monkey off our backs."
Cleveland at Bradley featured
Cleveland High School's football game at Bradley Central on Oct. 4 has been chosen to be featured in the Great American Rivalry Series.
A trophy, presented by the Marines, will be awarded to the winning team, and the most valuable player will be recognized after the game. Also, a senior scholar-athlete from each team will receive a college scholarship based on academic and athletic performance.
Since 2004 the series has covered 859 prep football rivalry games in 44 states, including Tullahoma against Coffee County already this season. The series partners with ScoreStream, a fan-driven sports-sharing app that will allow fans worldwide to upload videos, photos and scores from the game as well as live footage.
For more details, visit GreatAmericanRivalry.com or follow on Twitter @AmericanRivalry, Instagram @americanrivalry and on Facebook (Great American Rivalry Series).
Cherokees impressive
It's been a big bounce-back season so far for McMinn County's football program. After missing the playoffs the past two seasons, the Cherokees are off to a 4-0 start for the first time in 20 years.
They opened the season with back-to-back shutouts and host winless Bearden in a nonregion game tonight, followed by a game at winless Maryville Heritage next week. Their final two games of the season are against a pair of Region 2-6A powerhouse programs, at top-ranked Maryville and at home against fourth-ranked Bradley Central.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.