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JACKSON (November 18) In second round
TSSAA State Playoff action, the Tigers of
Hollow Rock-Bruceton fought hard but were
defeated by a powerful and versatile Trinity
Christian Academy squad 28-14.
Central starters Chad Jordan, Matt Lane and
Billy Stevens, unable to practice for much
of the week due to a flu-type virus,
received intravenous fluids in the locker
room as their teammates conducted warm-ups
prior to the start of the game.
TCA, often stacking their defensive line
with as many eight men, stalemated Central’s
potent offense and limited national high
school rushing leader Chad Jordan to 56
yards and one touchdown on 28 carries.
Ranked third all-time in Tennessee single
season rushing, Jordan finished the season
with 2,783 rushing yards.
Forced to the throw the football, Tiger
quarterback Jacob Edwards (8-17 pass
completions, 131 yards, one touchdown, two
interceptions) connected with Tiger fullback
Alex “Bubba” Matlock (five pass receptions,
78 yards) and Billy Stevens (four-yard
touchdown pass).
Offensively, TCA utilized the passing of
quarterback Hewitt Tomlin (5-16 pass
completions, 73 yards, one touchdown, one
interception), receiving of Jabriel
Washington (two pass receptions, 50 yards,
one touchdown), and rushing of Hagen Nelson
(four rushes, 51 yards, one touchdown).
Central received the opening kickoff. Unable
to sustain its first offensive drive,
Central punted to TCA at the 7:53 mark.
TCA quarterback Tomlin threw incomplete
passes, forcing TCA to punt to Central at
the 7:22 mark.
Central, backed up near its end zone and
unable to generate a first down, punted at
the 5:38 mark, with Jordan’s short kick
being downed at the Central 29.
Taking advantage of the short playing field,
TCA runningbacks Calvin Shaw and Nate
Crenshaw hammered straight ahead, edging the
ball closer to the Tiger end zone. At the
3:21 mark, Lion Crenshaw scored from eight
yards out. TCA kicker Josh Lenoir’s PAT kick
was good, and TCA led Central 7-0.
Central received the TCA kickoff and was
again pinned in near their end zone. Unable
to gain a first down rushing against the
Lions’ eight-man defensive line, Central
punted at the 1:48 mark, with Jordan’s short
kick being downed at the Tiger 30.
At the 11:16 mark of the second quarter,
Lion quarterback Tomlin took the snap and
raced around the right side of the Tiger
defense to score a 10-yard touchdown.
Lenoir’s PAT kick split the uprights, giving
TCA a 14-0 lead.
Settling into a ferocious dogfight, the
Tigers and Lions exchanged punts and battled
for field position.
Following a Tiger punt at the 5:50 mark,
Central’s defense allotted its team their
first break as Central defensive lineman Abe
Hampson intercepted Lion Tomlin’s pass
attempt at the Tiger 20.
Central opened up their offense as Tiger
quarterback Edwards completed passes to
fullback Matlock to push the ball across
midfield and deep into Lion territory. With
22 seconds remaining in first-half play,
Jordan fought his way into the end zone.
Edward’s PAT kick was good, and Central
trailed TCA 14-7 at the half.
The Central High School Marching Tigers
performed a stellar halftime musical
performance to the delight of fans.
The Lions, shaken by the Central score late
in the second quarter, responded immediately
at the start of third quarter play.
TCA kick returner Calvin Brooks fielded the
second-half opening kick and raced to the 50
yard line. Lion Shaw gained six yards to
move the ball to the Tiger 44. At the 11:14
mark, Lion quarterback Tomlinson dropped
back in the pocket and fired a bomb towards
the end zone. Racing downfield, Lion
receiver Washington leaped between Tiger
defenders at the goal line to haul in the
touchdown strike. The PAT kick was good, and
TCA extended their lead to 21-7 lead.
Tiger Billy Stevens returned the TCA kickoff
to the 20. Jordan rushed for no gain.
Edwards fired the ball to Matlock who ran
over Lion defenders en route to a first down
at the 34. TCA turned up the heat as Lion
Tomlin dropped Jordan for a loss of two.
Lion defender Brooks raced into the Tiger
backfield on the ensuing play and sacked
Edwards for a 16-yard loss. Central
quarterback Edwards pass attempt fell
incomplete, forcing Central into a punting
situation. Kicking from the 18, Jordan’s
punt was downed at the Tiger 48.
Central’s defense turned up the heat as TCA
runningback Nelson was tackled for a loss of
two by Michael Runions. Lion quarterback
Tomlin kept the ball and weaved through
Tiger defenders to gain a first down at the
Central 34. Tomlin was drilled by Lane in
the backfield for a loss of one. Lane and
Runion tackled Crenshaw after a gain of two.
Nelson was dropped in the backfield by
Phillip Petz for a loss of two. Facing
fourth and 11, TCA gambled, as Lion
quarterback Tomlin scrambled under pressure
and fired an incomplete pass to Adam Walker,
forcing the ball over on downs to Central at
the 2: 37 mark of the third quarter.
Central runningback Jordan was tackled for a
two-yard loss by Lion Alex Silva. Edwards
fired a huge pass completion to Matlock for
a first down at the 47. TCA, with nine men
in the defensive box, stopped two
consecutive Jordan rushing attempts for no
gain. At the 1:34 mark, Tiger Edwards’ pass
was intercepted by Lion Andrews.
Taking possession at the 46-yard line, Lion
quarterback Tomlin threw an incomplete pass
to Walker. Lion runningback Haden Nelson was
drilled by Runion for no gain. Tiger Jordan
broke up a pass attempt from Tomlin to
Washington. Facing fourth and 10, TCA
punted, with the ball being downed at the
Tiger 4 yard line.
Central quarterback Edwards kept the ball
and rushed for a first down at the 24.
Jordan gained two yards. Edwards completed a
pass to Matlock at the 30. The Lions
responded on third down and four as Shaw
sacked Edwards for a loss back to the 23.
Central punted, with Jordan’s kick being
downed at the 42.
Central defenders Sam Lowe, Jarrett Watson
and Cody Norden shut down the TCA running
game, forcing Tomlin to attempt a pass that
was knocked down, giving Central possession
of the ball at the 47 at the 9:25 mark of
the fourth quarter.
Jordan gained six yards. Matlock fought to
the 45. A dead-ball personal foul against
Central moved the ball back to the 30.
Edwards fired a pass to Matlock who fought
to the 40 before being tackled by
Washington. Facing fourth and four, Central
runningback Jordan was tackled for no gain,
turning the ball over to TCA on downs at the
7:10 mark.
Crenshaw gained 3 yards, but a dead-ball
personal foul against TCA cost the Lions 15
yards moving the ball back to the TCA 45.
The Lions fought back, as Tomlin completed a
pass to Nelson at the Tiger 38. Central’s
fired-up defense clamped down on the Lions
forcing TCA to punt, with the ball rolling
into the end zone for a touchback.
Central, down but not out, rallied
offensively. Jordan gained three yards.
Matlock fought for a six-yard gain. Matlock
slammed into the Lion defensive line for a
first down at the 31. Edwards, behind strong
pass blocking, unleashed a beautiful
completion to Tiger Billy Stevens at the TCA
38. Edward’s next pass attempt near the end
zone was intercepted by Walker at the 3: 29
mark of the fourth quarter.
With their backs to the wall, TCA
runningbacks Shaw and Crenshaw were dropped
by Tiger defenders after gains of one and
two yards. Facing third and seven, Central’s
hard-hitting defense forced a fumble that
was recovered by the Tigers at the TCA 6
yard line with 2:32 remaining in the
contest.
Central responded immediately as Edwards
threw a perfect touchdown strike to Stevens
at the 2:03 mark. Edwards’ PAT kick was
good, and Central battled back to trail
21-14.
TCA recovered Matlock’s onside kick at the
46. Tomlin kept the ball for a gain of
three. Lion runningback Hagen Nelson,
returning to the game after leaving due to
injury midway in the fourth quarter, sealed
the victory for TCA by racing around the
right side and weaving through Tiger
defenders to paydirt. Lenoir’s PAT kick gave
the Lions a 28-14 lead.
The contest concluded with an ugly finish as
a Trinity Christian player was penalized and
warned for back-to-back dead-ball personal
and excessive celebratory fouls.
Following the game, Tiger Head Coach Gilmer
consoled his senior team members, “I started
coaching at Central four years ago, and you
(seniors) were my freshmen then. Though not
blessed with God-given ability, each of you
worked very hard and made yourselves into
good football players. I am so proud of all
of you. Don’t let this loss tarnish how you
remember your career at Central. Be proud of
what you accomplished. No matter where you
go or what you achieve in the future, always
remember that you are a Tiger.”
Addressing the team, he continued, “We faced
adversity often in the last four years, and
without offering excuses, we faced adversity
tonight. But…you never quit-you played like
warriors until the end.”
He concluded, “There is no shame in getting
beaten by a better football team, and TCA
was the better team tonight. Let us give
thanks to God in defeat just as we do in
victory, and walk off this field with our
heads held high.” |
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