Huntingdon Stems the Tide, Claims Region 6-2A Runner-Up

TRENTON (October 31) — Halloween night was extra scary for Region 6-2A teams battling for playoff position, but the Huntingdon Mustangs faced their fears head on and secured the runner-up position (and hosting rights to start the postseason) with a 38-21 win over the Peabody Golden Tide.

Thursday night closed the book on a wide-open region with five teams fighting over four playoff spots. Wins by JCM over Gibson County (on Wednesday) and Milan over Riverside cemented the standings.

Milan (9-1, 6-1) claims the region title and will host Lewis County. Runner-up Huntingdon (8-2, 6-1) hosts Loretto. JCM (7-2, 5-2) lands in third and travels to Summertown, and defending state champion Riverside (6-4, 4-3) finishes fourth and goes to East Hickman. Peabody (4-6, 4-3) is eliminated from contention.

Peabody received the opening kickoff and started at their 24. A pair of short passes by quarterback Jonah Smith earned the Tide a first down, but tackles by Mustangs Broox Bennett and Braylin Dearmon and pass defense by Tyreke Hutch forced a punt.

The Mustangs took over at their 25 and picked up a quick first down on a 12-yard run by Brady Warbritton. The drive stalled, and Huntingdon punted.

The Tide went three-and-out and punted, and Huntingdon did the same.

Peabody’s Billy Wilkins started the drive with a five-yard gain, then Edward Agnew went 67 for a first-and-goal at the 4. Amahd Thomas gained three, then Smith punched it in from the 1 on a sneak. The PAT was good, and the Tide led 7-0 with 21 seconds left in the opening frame.

Mustang quarterback Gray Eubanks started the ensuing drive with a six-yard keeper as the first quarter ended. He and Warbritton kept it on the ground for a 13-play, 74-yard scoring drive that blew through half the quarter. Eubanks had the eight-yard touchdown, and Greyson Anderson kicked the PAT for a 7-7 tie with 6:24 remaining in the half.

The Tide responded in kind with a nine-play, 63-yard drive to regain the lead. Seven of the plays were runs, but the two passes were most consequential. Smith went to Wilkins on a third-and-eleven for 27 yards, then found him again for a 23-yard touchdown. The PAT gave Peabody a 14-7 lead with 1:32 left in the second frame.

Huntingdon started at the 35 after the kick went out of bounds. Warbritton ran twice, then Eubanks was stopped just short of a first down. On fourth-and-one, he tried again and was stopped for no gain.

With time winding down, Agnew ran for 14, then Smith threw an interception to Hutch near the 10. Hutch returned the pick to the Mustang 30.

With eleven seconds on the clock, Eubanks broke loose and was tackled at the Tide 16 as the clock expired. Officials conferred and determined Eubanks was down with 0.7 seconds remaining. Anderson kicked a 35-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 14-10 at intermission.

The Mustangs received the second-half kick and stuck with the plan. Eubanks and Warbritton pounded the ball 71 yards on seven plays, capped by Eubanks’ four-yard score. Anderson kicked, and Huntingdon had a 17-14 lead with 8:40 to play in the third.

Starting deep, the Tide had a strong start, mixing plays and earning a pair of first downs. The drive stalled near midfield, and a short punt was downed at the Mustang 38.

Warbritton gained six, followed by an incomplete pass. Eubanks made a short gain and got extra yards on a penalty for a first down. He repeated for six, then Warbritton scored from 40 yards out. The PAT made it 24-14 with a minute and a half remaining in the third quarter.

A quarterback sack by Aiden Hilliard and Hayes Eubanks, paired with an unsportsmanlike penalty, doomed Peabody to a three-and-out. The punt was downed at the Mustang 41.

Eubanks made a short gain as the quarter ended, and the Tide were flagged on the first play of the fourth to give Huntingdon a first down at the Peabody 46. Eubanks and Warbritton did what they do, and Warbritton had the final touch for a two-yard score. Anderson hit the PAT to put his team up 31-14 with 8:33 to play.

Another Tide drive was marred by a penalty and a sack (by Easton Byars). Smith’s desperation heave on fourth-and-21 was broken up (and nearly intercepted) by Wesley Williams.

Taking over at the 15, Hilliard ran for a short gain, the Eubanks kept twice down to the 1. Hilliard punched it in, and Anderson completed a perfect night of kicks for a 38-14 lead with four minutes to go.

A great kickoff return set the Tide up at the Mustang 34, and Jaquan Kinney took it the rest of the way. The PAT cut the Peabody deficit to 38-21 with just under three minutes on the clock.

Dearmon dove on the Tide’s onside kick attempt. Runs by Hilliard and Hutch earned a first down and allowed the Mustangs to run the clock out for the win.