By Michael Lindsay
Friday’s clash of AP top-10 teams in Carthage saw the Smith County Owls hold off a late Macon County rally to win 28-20.
“They’re a top-10 4A team and well-coached,” Smith County head coach Matt Dyer said of Macon. “They’ve got a great football player in Gabe Borders, and they do a great job at getting him in space.”
The Class 3A No. 7 Owls improve to 8-1 overall while the 4A No. 6 Tigers drop to 7-2.
“It’s been about a month since we’ve played a full, 4-quarter game,” Dyer said. “You have to prepare yourself for playoff football, and that’s what tonight’s game is all about. It’s a great test for us and a testament to this football team.”
Smith County’s Peyton Hix led the Owls with 3 touchdown rushes and an interception on defense.
“Peyton’s made big plays all year,” Dyer said. “He’s a weapon, and to make that interception was a huge momentum swing.”
Hix’s first big play came on the game’s opening drive as he intercepted a Macon County pass near midfield and returned it to the Tiger 19-yard line. Smith County’s Bryce Currie found the end zone a few players later on a 1-yard rush with 9:32 remaining in the opening period to put the Owls up 7-0.
“Bryce Currie isn’t going to have a lot of numbers, but he’s a leader of our team,” Dyer added.
Macon County responded on the ensuing drive as a 50-yard run by QB Kyle Shockley set up a Gabe Borders 6-yard touchdown run with 7:08 left in the first quarter to tie the game at 7.
The Owls weren’t phased and found the end zone on the following drive to go up 14-7. Hix punched in his first touchdown of the evening with 3:56 left in the first quarter on a 1-yard rush. The score was set up by a 55-yard completion by freshman quarterback Kaden Powell to Riley Lollar.
Smith County’s 14-7 lead lasted 13 seconds.
Borders returned the ensuing kickoff more than 70 yards for a Macon County touchdown, but Smith County blocked the extra point to hold a 14-13 lead with 3:43 left in the first period.
“They (Macon) have made big special teams played all year,” Dyer said. “For us to weather the storm of those plays and answer the adversity is just a testament to our guys. It takes a lot to rattle them, and they continue to make plays.”
Smith County added to their lead midway through the second period. Following a big run by Powell, Hix punched in his second touchdown to give the Owls a 21-13 lead with 6:20 left until halftime.
Less than 2 minutes later, Smith County would follow the same script to the end zone as a 51-yard Powell rush set the Owls up deep in Tiger territory, where Hix rushed in a 3-yard touchdown with 3:36 left until halftime to put his team up 28-13.
Trailing by 15 with 3 minutes until halftime, Macon County’s offense marched down field to the Smith County 12-yard line. They would get no closer as Smith County’s Jay Phillips forced and recovered a fumble, denying the Tigers points and preserving the Owls’ 28-13 halftime advantage.
Macon County went to their bag of tricks to start the second half, recovering an onside kick to set up a Borders 8-yard touchdown a few plays later with 11:20 remaining in the third period, cutting their deficit to 28-20.
Smith County’s defense would answer the call from there, shutting out two Macon County trips to the red zone in the 4th quarter to win by a final score of 28-20.
The 8-1 Owls return to Region 5-3A play Friday as they host 8-1 East Nashville for the region championship.
Macon County returns to Region 4-4A play with a contest against 2-7 Cumberland County.
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