Trousdale lives to fight another day with 20-19 win
Survive and advance, we hear that said quite often when it comes to post season play. That statement can be used to describe Trousdale County's 20-19 first round playoff win over Jackson County Friday night.
It was the Yellow Jackets' first one point playoff win since they squeaked by Donelson Christian Academy 28-27 in the second round in 2000.
"We had 22 people that didn't want this to be their last game," Coach Kevin Creasy said. "We knew it was going to be a battle and I'm telling you I am proud of our seniors stepping up right there at the end and making some plays."
After the first 10 minutes of the game, the crowd that was assembled in the Jim B. Satterfield Stadium thought they were going to see a blowout because the Jackets scored on their first two possessions. Instead, the Jackets had to come from behind in the fourth quarter to secure the win.
The Jackets started the game with their best drive of the night as they went 69 yards in 15 plays, taking 5:55 off the clock and reaching the end zone on a 9-yard carry by senior wingback Victor Hardwick. Junior Taidrian Seay kicked the extra point for a 7-0 score.
The Blue Devils' first possession ended with a turnover when senior tackle Kale Satterfield jumped on a fumble.
Nine plays later the hosts struck again on a 3-yard run by junior Dillon Burnley. The conversion kick was blocked leaving the score at 13-0 with 2:01 left in the first quarter and the Jacket fans were making their travel plans to Marion County this week.
Instead, the Blue Devils scored the next 19 points.
Senior tailback Blake Bowman produced all three touchdowns for Coach Sean Loftis' guys with the first one coming early in the second period on a 3-yard carry. Their extra point kick was no good for a 13-6 count.
With 6:22 remaining in the half, the Blue Devils drew even with a 3-yard touchdown run by Bowman and an extra point by sophomore Josh Mee. Bowman raced to pay dirt from 27 yards out in the third quarter. On their conversion try, the Blue Devils wanted to kick the extra point, but a bad snap resulted in Mee getting tackled for a loss. Now the visitors were on top 19-13.
Facing playoff elimination the Jackets used their first possession in the fourth quarter to reclaim the lead. It was a seven play drive covering 71 yards, capped by a 19-yard scoring play on a pass from Marquel Claiborne to Hardwick.Seay split the uprights with his extra point to give the Jackets a 20-19 advantage with 8:09 left in the game.
With 3:28 to play remaining the Blue Devils started a drive at their own 36-yard line. Five plays later they had the ball at the Jackets' 38-yard line, but an intentional grounding call moved the ball back to the Blue Devils' 35. Three plays later, the Blue Devils threw a pass that was intercepted by senior P.J. deLeusomme at the Jackets' 22-yard line. Trousdale County was able to run the final 2:15 off the clock to pick up its 71st playoff victory.
The Jackets had almost twice the time of possession of the Blue Devils, 31:26 to 16:34, but for the fifth time this year the Jackets had double digit penalties as they were flagged 11 times for 85 yards. One of those penalties cost the Jackets a touchdown on an interception return.
Trousdale County was able to take care of the ball as they had no turnovers. The Jacket defenders forced two turnovers.
Burnley led the Jackets ground game with 66 yards on 12 carries. Sophomore Kenyan Harper had 62 yards on 13 rushes. Satterfield gained55 yards on nine attempts and Hardwick was good for 25 yards on five runs. Senior Demarius Smith added 16 yards as Claiborne had nine yards. Sophomore Zack Blackwell had one carry for negative three yards.
Claiborne was 7-of-11 for 97 yards and a touchdown. Harper had two catches for 33 yards and Hardwick had 25 yards on two receptions. Satterfield, sophomore Josh Jackson and sophomore Seth Holder each had one catch for 19- and 15-yards respectively.
Junior D.J. Basford led Coach Adam Keeton's defense with 11 tackles as Holder had six tackles including one for loss and a sack. Harper was credited with five tackles while Jackson and sophomore Brock Ellis each had three.
This week the Jackets hit the road for the second round playoff game in Marion County. The Warriors had a first round bye and will bring an 8-2 record into this week's game in Jasper. They have experienced a big turn around after going 1-9 the previous year.
"Coach Mac McCurry does a great job, he's turned that program around. He has won in every state he has been in," Creasy said. "They were here scouting us tonight. The good news is they probably think we are terrible, but at the smae time, they have been off for two weeks and I think that could probably hurt them. It's going to be a battle."