By Michael Lindsay
“Chaotic” doesn’t begin to describe the Macon County at Stone Memorial football game.
The No. 9-ranked Tigers traveled to Crossville Friday and left with a thrilling 35-34 victory over the previously unbeaten No. 7 Panthers.
“What I appreciate out of our guys the most is just how they battled adversity,” said Macon County head coach Kyle Shoulders. “Tonight was somewhat of an unorthodox type of win; we scored multiple touchdowns in the special teams game and came up with some big plays defensively.
“Exceptional team in Stone for sure,” Shoulders added. “To be able to come in here and compete with them on that type of level speaks volumes for our guys.”
Macon County (7-1, 3-1) overcame the adversity of last week’s 28-14 loss to Upperman with a statement victory over the Panthers.
“We’re comfortable in our identity,” Shoulder said. “We know who we are and we can compete with a lot of teams in the area. Our schedule is brutal; we either have a big region game or rivalry each week. We have to stay up. There’s never weeks we can get in a lull or relax, and that’s tough on any level.”
Stone Memorial (7-1, 3-1) suffered their first loss of the season Friday.
“That’s a good football team, and they made every play they needed to win it,” said SMHS head coach Derik Samber. “I was proud of the way our kids fought back; I don’t know if we had the composure to fight back in this kind of game earlier in the season. We made a bunch of plays, too.”
Samber added “After a win or a loss, it can be hard to separate the process from the results. I almost feel better about some things even though we put one in the loss column.”
Macon County’s do-it-all sophomore Gabe Borders rushed for 85 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries along with two special teams TDs. Tiger QB Kyle Shockley went 5-8 for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns through the air.
“Gabe Borders is special,” Shoulders said. “But he’d be the first to tell you this was a group effort.”
The difference Friday?
Special teams.
Macon County scored two special teams touchdowns in the opening 4:30, giving them a 14-0 lead before the Tiger offense took a snap. Sophomore Gabe Borders returned the opening kick 63 yards to the house then blocked Stone Memorial’s punt on the following possession, taking it 15 yards for a TD.
“I came to Macon County from Oakland, and what a lot of people don’t realize is how much pride a place like Oakland takes in all three aspects of the game,” Shoulders said. “I was the special teams coordinator, so that’s always going to be my ‘baby’ and important to me. Coach Drew Scott does an exceptional job with that and scouted them all week. Those two early special teams touchdowns came from how he prepared and schemed.”
Macon County kicker Bryson Higgins tacked on the extra point on both scores, making it 14-0 Tigers early.
Spotting the opponent 14 points in the first 5 minutes is a recipe for getting blown out quickly, but Samber’s Panthers never blinked.
“That has a lot to do with seniors and the character of this team,” Samber said. “It wasn’t easy; we talked a lot at halftime about settling in and playing our game.”
Trailing 14-0, Stone Memorial found the end zone with 36 seconds left in the first quarter as Panther quarterback Hunter Heavilon rushed in a 17-yard touchdown. SMHS trailed 14-7 following the Justin Barnett extra point.
The Panthers found pay dirt again midway through the second quarter as all-state receiver Kaleb Flowers lined up a running back and rushed in a 14-yard touchdown, tying the game at 14.
“We were swapping blow for blow with them,” Shoulders said. “We would stop them, they’d stop us. We’d throw a haymaker, they’d throw one right back. That’s what good football teams do.”
Swing back Macon did as the Tigers found the end zone twice in the final 3 minutes of the second quarter. First, Borders rushed in a 28-yard touchdown to make it 21-14 Macon with 2:57 left until halftime.
Following a defensive stop, the Tigers went to work through the air and found the end zone again as Shockley hit Braylon Flowers for a 22-yard touchdown with 33 seconds left until halftime.
“There’s not a play bigger than Shockley making the throw down in the end zone to Braylon Flowers in the second quarter,” Shoulders said.
The late score put Macon County up 28-14 at halftime following a first half that lasted an hour and a half.
“Our guys stayed the course,” Shoulders said. “That game felt like it lasted four hours. It was a very unorthodox, odd-type game.”
Stone Memorial struck first in the second half as Flowers rushed in his second 14-yard touchdown of the evening, making the score 28-20 Macon with 7:08 left in the third.
The Panthers caught Macon County again with 8:12 remaining as Heavilon broke loose for a 33-yard touchdown run on 4th down, bringing SMHS within two points at 28-26.
Stone Memorial then went in their bag of tricks for the 2-point conversion as Kaleb Flowers completed a pass to Bear Eldridge, tying the game at 28.
Macon County weathered the storm and responded in emphatic fashion on the ensuing drive as Shockley hit Borders for a 73-yard touchdown pass, putting Tigers up 35-28 with 6:59 left.
“We knew they were going to play press coverage and get up in our faces,” Shoulders said. “We held that shot as long as we could to see if we needed it, and when we did it hit. Our coaches had our guys prepared and our guys executed.”
Macon County had a chance to seal the game with 5:33 remaining as Brody Frye recovered a Panther fumble, but the Tigers turned it over to Stone Memorial on the following play.
The Panthers took advantage of their newfound life and scored on a 2-yard touchdown rush by Heavilon with 2:10 remaining, bringing them within one point of Macon County at 35-34.
After a quick discussion, the Panthers brought their offense back out for a 2-point try.
“It’s not much of a decision process; I think it’s part of who we are as a team,” Samber said. “If there’s a moment to try and win a game, we’re going to take that shot.”
Stone Memorial’s 2-conversion attempt fell short, however, as Macon County defended the pass in the end zone to preserve their 35-34 lead.
“Brody Frye made the big stop on the two-point play late,” Shoulders said. “We anticipated that might be coming, so we looped him around.”
Holding a 1-point lead with 2:10 left, the Tigers recovered the ensuing onside kick and kneeled out the clock to pick up a massive Region 4-4A victory.
“This is a good region for football,” Shoulders said. “I am confident that all four teams that enter the playoffs will have some success.”
Heavilon finished 13-20 for 191 yards through the air along with 177 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Flowers recorded 110 rushing yards and two touchdowns on the ground along with 43 yards through the air.
Eldridge posted 110 receiving yards on 7 catches, also.
Both teams now enter their bye week at 7-1 overall and 3-1 in region play.
“It’s an opportunity for some of our guys to not just heal up, but get away a little bit,” Shoulders said.
“We’re going to give them a few days off. Football is a grind.”
“We really need it,” Samber said on the off week. “The kids are banged up after tonight. These young guys need a week off, and it’ll be good for our team.”
Macon County will travel to Smith County on Oct. 21, while Stone Memorial will host Kingston.
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