Jackets dominate Red Boiling Springs
The Trousdale County Yellow Jackets concluded their regular season Friday night with a 48-14 over the visiting Red Boiling Springs Bulldogs. The Jackets are now 7-3 and will make their 25th consecutive playoff appearance this week when they host the Jackson County Blue Devils at 7 p.m. Friday.
"I thought it was the best game our seniors had played," Coach Kevin Creasy said. "Thanks to all the parents that showed up for Parent's Night and the sacrifices they make for their kids to play football."
The Jackets had over 400 yards of total offense for the fourth time this season as they rushed for 345 yards and threw for 69 more. Five players scored touchdowns.
For the fifth time this year, the Jackets scored on their first possession and needed only three plays to do so, including the 43-yard carry for touchdown by senior wingback Victor Hardwick. Junior Taidrian Seay booted the extra point and the hosts were off to a 7-0 start.
In their next drive, sophomore wingback Kenyan Harper had his only carry of the night and he turned it into an 86-yard touchdown. Seay added the extra point for a 14-0 margin with 4:41 left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs then put together a 63-yard, 15 play drive to get on the board. Senior Dakota Dickens ran the last three yards for the score. The 2-point try was no good, leaving the score 14-6.
With 40 seconds left in the first half, sophomore tight end Seth Holder scored his first offensive touchdown of the season on a 20-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Marquel Claiborne. Seay added the conversion for a 21-6 halftime count.
The Bulldogs had the ball to start the second half, but fumbled on the possession, which was picked up by senior defensive end Demarius Smith who raced 28 yards to pay dirt. Seay banged home the extra point, making the score 28-6 with 10:58 remaining in the third quarter.
Hardwick scored his second TD of the night with 3:59 remaining in the third quarter on a 1-yard run. The Jackets misfired the extra point leaving the score 34-6.
The next possession for Trousdale County was a four play, 45-yard drive capped by a 12-yard run to the end zone by Smith. Seay split the uprights and the Jaclets were enjoying life at 41-6.
Dickens got the Bulldogs on the board again with an 11-yard run with 1:16 remaining in the game. Junior Kason Wheeler caught a pass from senior Kason Wix for the 2-point conversion and the score was 41-14.
The last score of the game was turned in by sophomore Zack Blackwell on an 83-yard run down the South sideline. It was his first touchdown at the high school level. Freshman Luke Fergusson followed with his first career extra point kick for a 48-14 final.
Trousdale County's 345 rushing yards were distributed among six players. Blackwell showed the way with 93 yards on four carries. Harper had one run for 86 yards while Hardwick gained 67 yards or six attempts. Senior fullback Kale Satterfield rumbled for 47 yardson five rushes, Smith had five carries for 31 yards and Claiborne picked up 21 yards on two runs.
Claiborne was 4-of-9 for 69 yards and a touchdown. Holder had two catches for 47 yards, freshman Ricky Harrison had a 21-yard reception and Smith grabbed a pass for a yard.
Satterfield and junior D.J. Basford paced the Jacket defenders with 11 tackles each. Blackwell finished with nine tackles and sophomore Brock Ellis had six stops. Senior P.J. deLeusomme, Hardwick, Holder, Harrison and freshman Chase Dallas were each credited with five tackles.
This week Trousdale County will host the Jackson County Blue Devils in the first round of the playoffs. The Blue Devils went 3-5 in the region and 5-5 overall.
On Aug. 31 in Gainesboro the Jackets downed Jackson County 27-6. The Jackets lead the game 7-0 at the end of the half before adding seven points in the third quarter and 13 in the final period. The game saw 10 turnovers, six by the Bulldogs and four by the Jackets.
Trousdale County is 70-23 in the playoffs and the Blue Devils are 1-5.
The winner of this game will travel to Marion County for the second round.