By Michael Lindsay
Week 6 of the 2023 high school football season wrapped up on Friday with 9 Upper Cumberland programs picking up victories. UCR takes a quick look at each Friday night win on the Upper Cumberland:
Smith County Wins At AP #3 East Robertson, 14-7
The Smith County Owls picked up the win of the night on Friday as they won at AP #3-ranked East Robertson, 14-7. After a scoreless first half, Owl freshman QB Riley Martin hit Clayton Rigsby midway through the third period to take a 7-0 lead. East Robertson took advantage of a Smith County turnover early in the fourth quarter before Martin hit and uncovered Key Harris for a 20-yard touchdown pass with 1:36 remaining to put the Owls up 14-7. Payton Hix put the icing on the cake with less than a minute left as he picked off an East Robertson pass to seal the victory. Smith County improves to 5-1 overall with the win and takes control of Region 3-2A.
Stone Memorial Wins Shootout Over DeKalb, 27-24
Another Stone Memorial game comes down to the final play as the Panthers squeaked out a one-score victory over DeKalb County, 27-24. The Tigers missed a field goal as time expired after starting a drive inside their own 12-yard line with less than 2 minutes left. DeKalb County held a 10-6 lead after the first quarter before the Panthers found the end zone in the second period on a long touchdown pass by Nick Osmun to Chris Hannah. Stone led 13-10 at halftime and went up 20-10 early in the third quarter via Maddox Oquendo touchdown run. DeKalb County responded with a Brizz Trapp TD late in the third to cut the Panther lead to 20-17. The teams traded touchdowns in the fourth quarter to give Stone Memorial the 27-24 victory to improve to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in Region 4-4A play.
Gordonsville Picks Up Impressive Road Victory at Monterey, 23-7
The Gordonsville Tigers went up a classification for their third victory of the season as they won at Monterey, 23-7. Monterey got on the scoreboard first as the Wildcat defense scooped up a fumble and returned it to the house to take a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter. Gordonsville took over from there as the Tigers hit a field goal followed by a 75-yard touchdown pass from J Foster to Dalton Hancock with 20 seconds left until halftime to take a 10-7 lead at the break. Foster found Kyle Adams late in the third period on a 25-yard touchdown pass before a Jemario Williams touchdown run late in the fourth quarter sealed the 23-7 victory. Gordonsville (3-3) hits the road to Region 4-1A foe Red Boiling Springs next week.
UC #1 Upperman Improves to 6-0 Via 34-0 Win at Cumberland County
The Upperman Bees took care of business in Crossville on Friday as they won at Region 4-4A foe Cumberland County, 34-0. Upperman QB Bronzden Chaffin rushed in 2 touchdowns and threw another in the win. Branson Turnbow caught a touchdown pass while Ja’Lyic Cullom and Ethan Palk each rushed in a score. Upperman improves to 6-0 and faces a stout non-region foe in Smith County (5-1) next week.
Cookeville Runs Away With 49-7 Win at Warren County
The Cookeville Cavaliers got back in the win column in emphatic fashion Friday evening against rival Warren County by a 49-7 margin to improve to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in Region 4-6A play. The Cavs found the end zone early and often as Caden Outlaw, Thomas Johnson and Mason Taylor each scored in the first quarter to give Cookeville a 21-7 lead. The Cavs blocked a punt for a touchdown in the second period followed by a 41-yard Blake Owen touchdown run and 36-yard TD pass from Owen to Presley Jared to give the Cavaliers a 42-27 halftime advantage. Johnson rushed in another touchdown in the third quarter to secure the 49-7 victory.
York Wins Rivalry Showdown At Livingston, 27-6
The York Institute Dragons kept their perfect start to 2023 rolling as they won at Livingston Academy, 27-6. After a scoreless first quarter, the Dragons found the end zone twice in the second period as Leffew rushed in a touchdown followed by a 54-yard touchdown pass to Logan Pannell to give YAI a 14-0 halftime lead. Leffew punched in a short touchdown in the third period followed by a Pannell 2-yard rush early in the fourth quarter to give the Dragons a 26-0 lead. Livingston got on the scoreboard to close the night as Brodey Coffee hit Will Brown on a touchdown pass to make the final score 26-7. York Institute improves to 5-0 with the victory and travels across the Big South Fork to Oneida next week for a region showdown against Oneida.
Macon County Never Trails In 41-28 Win Over White County
The Macon County Tigers lit up the scoreboard Friday evening as they won a Region 4-4A showdown with White County, 41-28. Macon County QB Luke Gammon was a perfect 7-7 for 82 yards and a touchdown in the victory while the Borders brothers combined for 199 offensive yards and four total touchdowns. Zach rushed for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns while Gabe rushed for a touchdown and ran a kickoff back 82 yards for 6. Macon County improves to 5-1 overall with the win.
Clay County Wins Border War Over Monroe KY, 34-20
The Clay County Bulldogs defeated their Kentucky neighbors to the north as they defeated Monroe, 34-20. Clay County QB Nate Adams had a hand in 4 of the 5 Bulldog touchdowns as he went 19-26 for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air while rushing in a score as well. Nolan Adams had 8 catches for 147 yards and two touchdowns in the win as Clay County has now won 4 straight games to go 4-2 overall.
Red Boiling Springs Bounces Back With 42-21 Win Over Perry County KY
The Red Boiling Springs Bulldogs are back in the win column after a 42-21 victory over Perry County on Friday. RBS improves to 4-2 overall with a Region 4-1A showdown with Gordonsville next Friday.
Jackson County Falls To Trousdale, 55-27
The Trousdale County Yellow Jackets improved to 3-3 overall via a 55-27 home victory over Jackson County. The Blue Devils fall to 2-4 overall and host Pickett County next week.