PIKEVILLE, Tenn - "I love you, man."
Those were some of the words exchanged between senior Bledsoe County offensive linemen Hunter Eldridge and Kaigan Thomas as they embraced one another Friday night, shortly after a 14-7 loss to Trousdale County in the second round of the TSSAA Class 2A playoffs.
The Warriors fought to the bitter end as a 25-yard heave to the end zone was batted down as time expired on the program's best season since 2011, when they won 10 games and lost to Alcoa in the second round.
"I give credit to all of my guys," Eldridge said of the 11-1 season for Bledsoe County. "We play like a team and we love each other. We gave it all we had every Friday night. I have loved being here for the last four years and wouldn't trade it for anything else."
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area high school football games)
Going from four- and three-win seasons in 2017 and 2018, respectively, to a combined 19 victories the past two years has shown the turnaround of a team under new leadership, with this Dewayne Tabor's second year as head coach. Also making a difference was the play of standouts such as senior running back Dylan Robeck and juniors Harmon Keith, Cadillac Siever, Kyree Stewart and Gunner Sweatt.
"Not until Coach Tabor showed up did I believe we would ever have a season like this," Eldridge said. "He and our coaching staff showed us how to work and become a unit. Once we bonded together and played as one, the wins came for us.
"To the juniors and others coming back next year, I want them to keep their heads up, work hard in the weight room and never let up. Most importantly, love each other."
Friday's game was scoreless at halftime as Stewart and Sweatt made big plays for a defense that helped Bledsoe County allow an average of just 10.5 points per game and had five outings giving up fewer than 10 points.
A 39-yard connection through the air from Keith to Siever on fourth down helped set up a 1-yard touchdown pass to Brady Turner as Bledsoe County answered a 21-yard touchdown run by Jayden Hicks. The score was 7-all with 7:15 left to play.
Trousdale's bruising running back Cameron Rankins capped the winning 12-play, 84-yard touchdown drive with a 10-yard rumble up the middle with 45 seconds left. Rankins had 12 carries for 65 yards in the second half.
Siever fought for a 23-yard reception down the right sideline with less than 20 seconds to play, but Trousdale (10-2) soon after closed the game and advances to next week's quarterfinals to face Watertown, which beat Marion County 44-21.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Bledsoe County junior Cadillac Siever runs the ball behind his blockers for positive yardage in Friday's TSSAA Class 2A playoff game against visiting Trousdale County, which won 14-7 to reach the state quarterfinals.