By Michael Lindsay
Week 10 of the 2023 high school football season wrapped up Friday night with 5 Upper Cumberland programs picking up victories. UCR takes a quick look at each Friday night game on the Upper Cumberland:
Upperman Scores 27 First-Quarter Points En Route to 48-6 Win Over Stone Memorial
The AP #2-ranked Upperman Bees made a statement Friday night as they defeated Region 4-4A foe Stone Memorial. The Bees scored two touchdowns in the game’s opening 34 seconds to take a 12-0 lead before leading 27-0 at the end of the first quarter. Upperman rushed for 337 yards led by 126 and two touchdowns from Ethan Palk and 113 from Bronzden Chaffin. The 9-0 Bees secured first place in Region 4-4A with the win as they host DeKalb County next week.
Cookeville Wins Back-And-Forth Showdown With Green Hill
Cookeville is keeping their shot at hosting a playoff game alive as the Cavaliers won a dramatic contest over Region 4-6A foe Green Hill, 28-20. Green Hill struck first as the Hawks led 7-0 midway through the first period before Cookeville’s Blake Owen rushed in a 6-yard touchdown to tie the game at 7. Owen hit Mason Taylor on an 18-yard touchdown pass before halftime to give the Cavaliers a 14-7 halftime advantage. Green Hill tied the game midway through the third quarter before taking a 20-14 lead late in the period. Cookeville answered with a 7 play, 70-yard touchdown drive capped off by an Owen 7-yard keeper for a touchdown with 10:04 to go. Mason Taylor took a sweep into the end zone with 5:30 remaining to make the final score 28-2o in favor of Cookeville. The 6-3 Cavaliers travel to Wilson Central next week for their regular season finale.
DeKalb County Secures Playoff Berth Via 35-20 Win at Sparta
A 5-touchdown performance from Malachi Trapp punched the DeKalb County Tigers’ playoff ticket Friday night as they won at White County, 35-20. White County led 20-7 midway through the second quarter before DeKalb County stormed back with 28 unanswered points over the final 29:37 to win 35-20. DeKalb County (5-4) closes their season at Upperman next week.
York Stays Perfect Via 40-7 Win at Wartburg
The York Institute Dragons cruised to a 40-7 victory at Wartburg Friday to improve to 9-0 overall. The Dragons held a 14-7 halftime lead before turning up the head in the second half to outscore Wartburg 26-0 in the final two periods. York quarterback Myles Leffew rushed for 123 yards and two touchdowns in the win along with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Bilbrey. York Institute hosts Polk County (4-5) next week to round out the regular season.
Monterey Bounces Back With 49-0 Victory at Jackson County
Monterey got back in the win column in emphatic fashion Friday evening as they won at Jackson County 49-0. The 5-4 Tigers are set to close out their season at Region 3-2A #1-seeded Smith County next week.
Trousdale Rolls to 42-14 Victory Over Clay County
Trousdale County picked up their second straight multi-score victory Friday as they defeated Clay County in non-region play, 42-14. Clay County now turns their attention to their battle at Gordonsville next week with the Region 4-1A championship on the line.
Community Defeats Red Boiling Springs In 46-44 Shootout
The Red Boiling Springs Bulldogs fell to Community in a shootout Friday, 46-44. The Bulldogs travel to Jo Byrns for their regular season finale on Thursday.
Livingston Picks Up Region 4-4A Win at Cumberland County, 19-7
The Livingston Academy Wildcats picked up their first region victory since 2020 Friday as they won at Cumberland County, 19-7. Brodey Coffee rushed for two touchdowns and threw for another in the victory.
Macon County Shuts Out Watertown, 34-0
The Borders brothers put on a show Friday against Watertown as they scored all 5 touchdowns in their 34-0 victory. Gabe ran for three while Zach rushed in two more. The 8-1 Tigers host Stone Memorial with a home playoff spot on the line next week.
Gordonsville Falls at Bledsoe County, 21-14
Gordonsville fell in non-region play Friday against Bledsoe County, 21-14. The Tigers now turn their attention to their Region 4-1A championship showdown with Clay County next week.