Lyttle, young players praised by Jones as BHS season ends
MARYVILLE — Though Maryville running back Gage LaDue grabbed headlines with three TD runs, Bearden head coach Josh Jones was quick to praise another MHS unit.
“The thing that doesn’t get talked about enough with them is their offensive line,” said Jones, whose Bulldogs had their season ended in the second round of the Class 6A playoffs, 28-10, Friday night, Nov. 4, at the Red Rebels’ Renfro Field. “It all starts with their offensive line. They are really good up front.”
The Dawgs, a No. 4 tourney seed, finish with a 7-5 record.
On the other side, “We just could not run the football,” Jones said about his rushing attack. “We didn’t win enough one-on-one battles and just didn’t make enough plays.”
Offensively for the Dawgs, “Tory Beaufort had a good night; I think he ended up with eight catches,” Jones said about his freshman receiver. That included a 7-yard scoring reception from sophomore quarterback Drew Parrott.
BHS sophomore Daniel Kinney added a 23-yard field goal.
Filling in for injured senior star linebacker Sam Nicaud, sophomore Kai Ironside “did a phenomenal job, led us in tackles with 10,” the coach said.
“Senior linebacker Eric Lyttle did what he’s been doing all year. I think he was second on the team in tackles with eight. He had a great day,” he added.
