Special teams led to a special win for Silverdale Baptist Academy as Cam Mullins blocked an extra-point attempt in overtime to seal a 28-27 nonregion win over visiting Marion County on Friday.
The teams traded touchdowns, and each did most of its offensive damage on the ground as Silverdale outrushed Marion 373-225, led by Conner Delashmitt's 113 yards on 27 tough carries with two touchdowns. Turner Junkins added 107 rushing yards for the Seahawks (5-4).
Silverdale Baptist scored first in overtime on a 5-yard run by Delashmitt, and when the Warriors answered with a touchdown from Hutchins, Mullins blocked the PAT to secure the win.
"We've been in some close games all season, and our guys are just learning how to win," Seahawks coach Mike Conner said. "I told the team earlier this week it was time to turn the page and move on and be who they're capable of being. That's what they did tonight.
"We're very excited because this is the type game we can build some momentum from."
Taye Hutchins led the Warriors (5-2) with 188 rushing yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns, and Alex Nunez added 118 rushing and a touchdown.
Hixson 25, Central 6: The host Wildcats got touchdowns from Cory Satterfield, Devon Maples and Eugene Callahan, and a field goal from Jack Alexander to improve to 2-7 heading into next week's finale against East Ridge. Central's season ends at 1-8 after Southeast Whitfield, scheduled to face the Purple Pounders next week, was forced to cancel due to COVID-19. Freshman quarterback Evan Schwarzel threw to Jacob Leftwich for Central's lone score.
Bledsoe County 40, Cumberland County 19: The Warriors rolled up 309 rushing yards in the first half to win the nonregion game and improve to 9-0 overall. Dylan Robeck led the way with 13 carries for 109 yards and a touchdown, and Cadillac Siever added 103 yards and a score on just five carries. Senior quarterback Harmon Keith ran for 92 yards and three scores and also threw a touchdown pass to Siever, while Gunner Sweatt had 78 rushing yards as the Warriors finished with 372 on the ground.
South Pittsburg 84, Sale Creek 8: The top-ranked Pirates actually trailed 8-7 midway through the first quarter but scored 48 points in the second alone to take a commanding 64-8 halftime lead and finished within two of the school record for points in a game. South Pittsburg (8-1, 3-0 Region 3-1A) got points from eight players and outgained the Panthers 591-125 in total yards. Hunter Frame led the way with nine carries for 295 yards and five touchdowns, all in the first half. The Pirates finished with 518 rushing yards, averaging 21.4 yards per carry.
Rhea County 66, Karns 28: The Golden Eagles raced to a 21-0 first-quarter lead and added 24 points in the third quarter for the nonregion win. Dalton Hampton finished with 20 carries for 216 yards and five touchdowns, and Kaleb Martin added 154 passing yards and three scores, while Ethan Davis had 79 rushing yards as Rhea County (9-0) outgained Karns 653-345 in total yards.
Red Bank 45, McMinn Central 0: The Lions' defense was dominant from start to finish, limiting the Chargers to 32 yards of total offense in the first half. Red Bank also forced three turnovers and blocked a punt in the first half while building a 42-0 lead. Joseph Blackmon completed five of six passes for 71 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown to Kel Eddins, and also ran for a score. Lumiere Strickland rushed for 83 yards and two touchdowns as Red Bank improved to 6-0.
Boyd Buchanan 48, Notre Dame 13: The Buccaneers clinched a playoff berth as senior quarterback Eli Morris threw for four touchdowns and ran for two more. The Bucs, who host Knoxville Grace next week, will likely travel to Christian Academy of Knoxville in the first round of the postseason in two weeks. JaMichael McGoy had an interception and scored two touchdowns, while Matt Stone, Karson Gay and Carter Womack also scored for Boyd Buchanan (3-4, 1-4 Divsion II-AA East Region).
King's Academy 28, Grace Academy 0: Grace fell to 1-7 with the loss at Finley Stadium. Grace faces Grace Christian from Franklin next week.
Cleveland 45, William Blount 0: Quarterback Drew Lambert threw touchdown passes to Destun Thomas on both the opening play of the game and the Blue Raiders' next possession as Cleveland improved to 4-5. Thomas also returned an interception for a touchdown, Ben Gray returned a fumble for a touchdown, Lambert and Brian Beard both ran for scores and Lawson Dale booted a field goal. The Blue Raiders forced seven turnovers as they head into next week's Region 2-6A showdown at Ooltewah. The winner of that game goes to the playoffs as that region's No. 4 seed.
Ooltewah 31, Maryville Heritage 22: The Owls improved to 4-5 heading into next week's Region 2-6A visit from Cleveland, thanks to three touchdowns from Fisher Perry, a score from Takota Jones and a 35-yard field goal from Braeden Haynes.
Life Christian Academy (Va.) 24, McCallie 16: The Blue Tornado held a brief one-point lead in the first half, but the visitors scored midway through the fourth quarter to take an eight-point lead that stood the rest of the way. B.J. Harris ran for 111 yards and a touchdown for McCallie, and William Riddle threw for 97 yards and a score. Life Christian outgained McCallie 333-208 in total yards.
Meigs County 49, Polk County 7: The second-ranked Tigers improved to 9-0 overall with the nonregion win. Will Meadows ran for 110 yards and four touchdowns and also had 99 receiving yards, and Logan Carroll threw for 136 and ran for 71 and a score.
Other area scores: Anderson County 43, East Hamilton 14; Fayetteville 46, Whitwell 8; Knoxville Webb 17, Chattanooga Christian 14; Grundy County 25, Sequatchie County 19. The Baylor at Montgomery Bell Academy game was canceled.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293. Follow him on Twitter @StephenHargis.