Dawgs blank KDB to open ’23 playoffs; Jeff Co. next
KNOXVILLE — After opening the season with two losses, Bearden High School’s football team ran off seven straight wins.
But in the final regular-season game, the Bulldogs lost badly to Region 2-6A foe Bradley Central.
Friday night, Nov. 3, at home on Bill Young Field in the first round of the TSSAA Class 6A State Playoffs, no Bradley hangover was in evidence.
Bearden (8-3) combined a balanced offense with big-play defense to shut out No. 3 seed Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett 27-0.
In the second round this Friday, Nov. 10, BHS travels to play No. 1 seed and Region 1-6A champ Jefferson County, a 44-36 home winner over No. 4 seed Cleveland Friday.
“Proud of our kids,” Bulldogs head coach Josh Jones said. “We had a good week of practice. Playoff wins are hard in 6A. Our effort was good; we played physical.”
Bearden took the game’s opening kick but couldn’t move the ball and punted. But the punt was fumbled and recovered by linebacker Ross Elder on KDB’s 46.
After a 38-yard completion from quarterback Drew Parrott to Sam Tummins put the ball on the Indians 8, running back Jayzon Thompson took it in for a 7-0 lead.
For the game, Parrott was 16 of 24 for 176 yards and a score.
“It’s a big confidence booster going into next week,” Parrott said. “We’re gonna work really hard. I think we have a lot of playmakers to get it done.”
Jones has confidence in his junior signal-caller. “Drew is the ultimate selfless team player,” he said. “He does whatever we ask of him.”
BHS made it 14-0 with 5:24 left in the first when Thompson scored on a 17-yard run. The drive started on Bearden’s 43 and needed 10 plays.
The Bulldogs tacked on another score with but two seconds left in the half. After KDB threw incomplete on fourth down with 30 seconds left, BHS took over on its own 38.
On third and 10 from the Indians’ 20, Parrott found Tummins wide open over the middle for the touchdown. Kicker Daniel Kinney’s third conversion made it 21-0 at the half.
Twice in the third quarterKDB tried to rally, and both times the Dawgs’ defense stood firm. A fourth-and-1 run was stuffed on Bearden’s 38 with 7:13 left.
On its next possession, the Indians had a fourth down on BHS’s 35. But quarterback Austin Sykes was sacked for an 8-yard loss.
The defense made yet another big stop in the fourth when Ethan Couvertiere picked off Sykes on fourth and goal with 8:47 left.
“To shut them out was unreal,” Jones said. “My defensive staff does a great job. Our ‘D’ has played well all season.”
A huge exclamation point came at the end of the game when Nick Hodge picked off Sykes on the game’s final play and ran it 97 yards back for the score.
Jones and the Dawgs now focus on the Patriots. “They’re good,” he said. “We’re gonna have to play well. We’ll enjoy this one then turn to next week.”
