Northeast Tennessee team dominates bowl game
The three-peat is on for Tennessee. Northeast Tennessee kept the winning streak alive against Southwest Virginia by defeating their rival 27-0 in front of a packed house at Malcolm Field in Bristol, Va. on Saturday, Dec. 15.
Unicoi County High Schools Zach Beard took part in the gridiron event. Blue Devil tailback Hunter Abbott was also selected to participate in the event, but was unable to attend.
They are two fine young men to represent our program, UCHS head football coach Jerad Huskins said. They can play at a high level and deserve the opportunity to play in such a game. I am proud of them and what they did for our program.
While Abbott was unable to attend, the honor of being selected showed what Unicoi County was able to bring to the game, according to Huskins.
He would have done a great job, Huskins said. (Hunter) and Zach (Beard) are two great athletes and really can compete with the top-talent around the area.
Tennessee struck early in the first quarter with Tennessee High kicker, Alex Sigmon, nailing a field goal from 36 yards out to give his squad a 3-0 lead.
The Tennessee seniors scored their first touchdown of the afternoon when Elizabethton tailback Terrence Turner rumbled in from four yards out for a score. Turner was named the Tennessee offensive player of the game.
The failed extra point following the run gave Tennessee a nine-point advantage, but the squad would strike back early in the second quarter when Sullivan South quarterback Charlie Moore rushed from nine yards out to pay dirt with less than nine minutes on the clock.
Tennessee coach Shane Boggs (Tennessee Highs head coach), drew up some trickery on the extra-point attempt when Cherokee running back, Cole Russell, found Beard wide-open in the endzone for a two-point conversion that put the squad up 17-0.
Beard also made some noise on Tennessees next offensive possession when he had a key block on a 48-yard screen pass to Russell that moved the squad from their own territory to Virginias five-yard line.
Russell capped off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run and Sigmons point-after attempt gave Tennessee the 24-0 lead going into halftime.
Both teams would be at a defensive standstill in the second half, with Sigmons 44-yard field goal in the fourth quarter being the only points scored.
ORyen Scott from Science Hill took home defensive player of the game honors for Tennessee.
Virginia saw Chase Ray, a wideout from Richlands, take home offensive player of the game honors. Virginias defense was led by Union defensive back Cody Craft.
By Curtis Carden
Sports Writer
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