Special teams struggle, Dawgs tumble at ACHS
CLINTON — When Bearden High rolled into Anderson County for its non-region game against the unbeaten Mavericks, No. 3-ranked statewide by TSWA, it was short-handed.
The Bulldogs were without running back Jayzon Thompson and starting quarterback DJ Hunter, who were injured in their narrow lost to Alcoa the week before. Both players went through pregame warm-ups, but neither saw the field after kickoff.
Anderson County had its own issues in Week 3, as its game against Science Hill was canceled due to inclement weather in Week 2.
The Mavericks (2-0), however, looked anything but rusty as they notched a 35-18 win versus BHS in front of a packed house Friday night, Sept. 6, in a regionally televised game.
Anderson County (2-0) scored first and never trailed against Bearden (1-2) thanks largely to Bearden’s struggles on special teams. The Bulldogs had a field goal and extra point blocked. BHS also bobbled a snap on another PAT and missed yet another.
The Bulldogs also gave up a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the final seconds before halftime.
The Mavs took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when running back Waylon LaRue scored on a short touchdown run. Jackson Payne added the extra point with 2 minutes, 48 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
The Bulldogs came up with a stop on fourth down in the second stanza. The big defensive play would set up a score ,as Torian Riggins had a 36-yard touchdown run to make the score, 7-6.
Anderson County answered in quick fashion, as quarterback Landen Hensley, a transfer from Campbell County, connected with Israel Small on a scoring strike.
Riggins would find the end zone once again for the Bulldogs, making the score 14-12, as Bearden appeared to have the momentum heading into the locker room. But LaRue would score on the ensuing kickoff and give the Mavericks a boost with just 5.6 seconds left until halftime, making the score 21-12.
Bearden head coach Josh Jones said his team struggled, and noted the Bulldogs were beaten in every facet of the game. “We got outcoached, we got outplayed and we got out prepared,” he said.
Jones also questioned his team’s fitness, as the game was stopped on several occasions as many Bearden players were cramping up.
“We’re obviously not in good enough shape,” the BHS coach said. “(We had) guys cramping all over the place.”
After the break, the Bulldogs scored its final touchdown of the night as Riggins again found his way into the end zone, this time from 27-yards out. He broke multiple tackles and appeared to be stopped, but landed on an ACHS defender before culminating Bearden’s last scoring drive of the night.
The Bulldogs’ defense couldn’t find answers for LaRue or Hensley.
LaRue finished with 175 yards and one rushing touchdown on 25 carries — and, of course, had the big play of the night on special teams.
Hensley ended with 248 passing yards and two touchdown tosses. He also had a 1-yard scoring plunge.
“Landen was huge. He did some things savvy-wise, tonight, that kept the chains moving at crucial points, and those were backbreaking things,” ACHS head coach Davey Gillum said.
“I still believe in our football team, love our football team, but we’re better than we played tonight,” Jones said. “But (I) tip my hat to Anderson County, a good football team.”
