‘A lot of great things’ in 2024 for Bearden football after reaching state quarterfinal
MARYVILLE — When Bearden High School’s football team turned a 7-0 deficit into a 10-7 first-quarter lead Friday night, Nov. 22, it looked like it might be an historic night for the Bulldogs.
A win in the TSSAA 6A State Quarterfinals over homestanding Maryville would have sent BHS to the semis, with a chance to get to the state title game.
The 10-7 lead, on quarterback DJ Hunter’s 4-yard touchdown run, would be the Dawgs’ high point of the game. From that point, the Rebels (12-1) outscored Bearden 34-7 and won 41-20.
The Bulldogs finished the season 9-4. It was only the second time in school history that BHS made the state quarters in consecutive years.
“A lot of great things these kids have done,” Dawgs head coach Josh Jones said about the season. “Our staff, too. So dang proud of us. I hurt for them because they hurt. We had plays we’d like to have back. Our kids battled. ...”
Two sudden momentum swings in the game, both of which went against the Bulldogs, were pivotal.
Down 14-10, Bearden took over with 9:24 left in the first half. On the fifth play of the drive, Hunter was hit while scrambling and fumbled.
The Rebels recovered, and on the first play, quarterback Will Jones hit Casey Cobble over the middle for a 41-yard touchdown and 21-10 lead.
Torian Riggins’ 2-yard scoring run cut an 18-point MHS lead down to 28-17 late in the first half. But the second big dynamic shift came during the Dawgs’ opening possession of the second half.
Bearden took the second-half kickodd and drove to near midfield before going backward. The next two plays, sacks, resulted in losses of 24 and seven yards. The resulting punt put the Rebels in business on their own 41 midway through the third. Eight plays later — helped by a pass interference call — Price Davis ran it in from the 1.
A 30-yard field goal by Daniel Kinney cut the lead to 35-20 with 6:29 left in the game. But a Red Rebels interception returned for a TD ended the game.
