Hawks topple Dawgs, first region win since 2020
Hardin Valley – Competing in Region 2-6A football is never easy.
One team, however, has had more than its difficulty in the league, but a long streak of futility finally came to an end for Hardin Valley Academy last week.
The Hawks won their first region game since 2020 when they toppled Bearden, 24-7, Friday night to bring their alumni a homecoming victory Friday night.
Hardin Valley (3-2 overall, 1-1 in the region) picked up its first league win since 2020 when they defeated Morristown West by forfeit on the final night of the regular season. The Hawks’ last outright region victory came earlier that season against Jefferson County.
Years of frustration came to an end for HVA, which had had a revolving door of coaches since its first head man, Wes Jones, departed for Johnson City and Science Hill several years ago.
Tyler Wynn, now in his second season as coach of the Hawks, said he was told Hardin Valley couldn’t compete in the region, which features the likes of the Bulldogs, Farragut, Bradley Central, Cleveland, Oak Ridge and Maryville.
“When I came here, everybody told me, you can’t win a region game at Hardin Valley,” Wynn said. “That was the consensus. You can’t do it.
“And I told our kids. That is one of our No. 1 goals.”
Hardin Valley checked off that goal from its list as it improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the region, tripled its win total from last year and snapped a two-game losing streak in 2025.
“We were able to win that first game this season, win more than we won last year, and now win a region game, so there were three of the huge goals that we set out to accomplish this year,” Wynn said. “I’m unbelievably proud of our seniors and their leadership.”
The Hawks never tailed the Bulldogs (0-4, 0-2) on their way to snapping a 21-game region losing streak.
Hardin Valley opened a 10-0 lead by halftime.
The Hawks scored first when Riley Matz connected with Brody Lamb on a 23-yard touchdown pass. Logan Holbrook converted the ensuing extra point to make the score, 7-0, with 4 minutes, 5 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
The only other points of the first half came from Holbrook, who converted a 42-yard field goal less than a minute into the second stanza.
HVA’s defense came up with two turnovers as Michael Arce had a fumble recovery and Carter Jones intercepted a pass he appeared to return for a touchdown but the play was blown dead, by an errant whistle. The points came off the board but the Hawks retained possession.
They couldn’t, however, cash in and turn the Bearden miscue into points.
In the second half, Matz scored on a 1-yard plunge, making the score 17-0 midway through the third frame.
Bearden scored early in the final period when Paxton
Parrott had a 25-yard touchdown run before HVA’s Ayden Perry closed out the scoring with a 6-yard run a short time later.
Even in defeat, Bulldogs’ coach Brad Taylor remained upbeat. He did, however, lament his squad’s turnovers.
“Obviously we can’t afford turnovers. I think we had two tonight,” Taylor said. “That being said, I thought we played better.
“Hat’s off to Hardin Valley. They played tough and they had a good game plan and they didn’t give up any big explosive plays.”
Both teams will be home this week as Bearden hosts Farragut in a battle of winless teams and the Hawks entertain state power Maryville.
