Gridiron hard lessons for young team
Knoxville – Another week on the gridiron produced another lopsided loss for Bearden High School.
The Bulldogs, who have scored just 13 points in three games this season, fell to Science Hill, 35-0, Friday night at Bill Young Field.
Despite seeing his team shut out in each of its last two games, Bearden coach Brad Taylor remains upbeat.
“We’re a young team and we’re still learning,” Taylor said. “We still have a lot of learning to do and we’re just going to keep working.
“We have some guys, like Connor Gilbreath, Paxton
Parrott and Logan Lamont, who are playing well on defense. Connor is playing well and Paxton Parrott is playing well for us on both offense and defense.”
Lamont had six tackles, a sack and a pass deflection against the Hilltoppers while Parrott finished the contest with seven tackles and one tackle for loss in the contest.
Bearden has played one of the toughest schedules in East Tennessee. It’s scheduled season opener against Knoxville West was canceled due to inclement weather.
The Bulldogs ended up beginning the 2025 campaign against 10-time defending Class 3A state champion Alcoa (now in Class 4A). Bearden dropped that game, 63-13, despite a solid performance from Parrott, who accounted for both Bearden touchdowns.
The Bulldogs lost to Maryville, 56-0, in their Region 2-6A opener.
Science Hill also has high hopes for the 2025 season.
“Maryville is a great team and Science Hill can make a deep playoff run,” Taylor said. “They have a really good team.”
Offensively, Bearden obviously has had its share of struggles.
“We just have to execute better on offense,” Taylor said. “We just have to execute and I have to do a better job getting our guys ready to play.”
After two consecutive home games, Bearden hits the road and makes the short trip to Hardin Valley Academy.
The Hawks (2-2, 0-1) have lost two straight games after opening the season with back-to-back wins over Karns and Morristown East to open the 2025 season.
HVA is looking to snap a long Region 2-6A losing streak as it hasn’t won a league game in five years.
