For two teams who play in different regions, this matchup has become all too familiar for Red Bank and Macon County. The two teams have not had any scheduled matchups in the regular season the past three years but have met in the playoffs each of these past three seasons.
By luck or by chance the Lions' and Tigers' paths have crossed each other on the big stage with regularity. For Lions’ fans, the lucky landing of the Tigers on their schedule has been a pleasant surprise. Red Bank has won the past two matchups and was looking to make it a third Friday night, but the Tigers had other plans.
A surge of offense from Macon Co. in the second half helped propel them to a 28-7 win over Red Bank, and it was by all means a group effort.
After a slow start from both offenses in the first half, the Macon County Tigers were quick in adjusting to turn the tune of the game. Running Back, Bradon Warren set the Tigers up with great field position after a piercing 60-yard run right through the heart of the Red Bank defense. The Tigers would then take advantage of this great field position capping off the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run from Zach Borders.
The two backs for the Head Coach of the Tigers, Kyle Shoulders, had a huge impact on this game combining for 212 yards on the ground. It was their effort along with many other Macon County players that helped them get their long-awaited win over the Lions.
“There is not a guy on this football team that can’t make plays, and we feel comfortable calling a number of any of those guys' numbers,” said head coach Shoulders on his team’s versatility after the game.
And Coach Shoulders was true to his word on this.
Leading by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter Coach Shoulders dialed up a final deathblow. He let his wideout, Gabe Borders, drop back in the pocket and air out an 18-yard pass that would set this contest in stone. Wide Reciever, Kelan Hire, would catch Borders’ pass in the end zone extended the Tigers lead to three touchdowns. And with just a little over two minutes left there was nothing Red Bank could do.
The Macon County Tigers were headed to the third round of the playoffs for the second time in school history.
“Everyone outside these walls want to say we ain’t big enough, we too small, we ain’t fast enough, we ain’t this, we ain’t that. All I know is we keep winning ball games,” said Coach Shoulders addressing his players after the game.
The Tigers will go on to play, what Coach Shoulders said would be their toughest opponent of the season, in the undefeated Upperman Bees. It will be by no means an easy task for the Tigers, but people counted them out of the game on Friday night, so make sure not to count them out of this one.
SUMMARY
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MACON COUNTY
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0
|
7
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14
|
7
|
-- 28
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RED BANK
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0
|
7
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0
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0
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-- 7
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MC Luke Gammon 2 run (Eli Gammon kick) (11:23, 2nd)
RB Malachi Stephensen 77 pass from Caden Loveless (Stephensen kick) (9:57, 2nd)
MC Zach Borders 8 run (Gammon kick) (6:50, 3rd)
MC Gabe Borders 40 pass from Gammon (Gammon kick (4:40, 3rd)
MC Kelan Hire 18 pass from Borders (Gammon kick) (2:17, 4th)
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STATS
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MC
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RB
|
|
First Downs
|
12
|
6
|
|
Rushes-Yards
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47-238
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15-34
|
|
Passing Yards
|
124
|
184
|
|
Total yards
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365
|
218
|
|
Passing (Comp-Att-Int)
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4-5-0
|
8-14-1
|
|
Fumbles-Lost
|
1-1
|
0-0
|
|
Punts-Average
|
3-32.6
|
5-33.2
|
|
Penalties-Yards
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9-95
|
14-100
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Individual Stats
Rushing: Bradon Warren 12-124; Zach Borders 17-88; Gabe Borders 17-24; Luke Gammon 1-2 (MC); Josiah Featherstone 10-21; Oliver Merritt 3-13; Mario Willis 1-3; Malachi Stephensen 1-(-3) (RB).
Passing: Luke Gammon 3-5-0 for 109 yards, 1TD; Gabe Borders 1-1-0 for 18 yards, 1TD (MC); Caden Loveless 6-9-0 for 129 yards, 1TD; Narrio Willis 2-5-1 for 55 yards (RB).
Receiving: Tyler Gregory 1-71; Gabe Borders 2-38; Kelan Hire 1-18 (MC); Malachi Stephensen 2-83; Drayden Collier 3-72; Turner Humphrey 3-19(RB).
Records: Macon County 11-1; Red Bank 8-4
(Contact Gray Deyo at sports@chattanoogan.com)