By Michael Lindsay
Week 11 of the 2023 high school football season wrapped up Friday night with 7 Upper Cumberland programs picking up victories. UCR takes a quick look at each Friday night game on the Upper Cumberland:
Upperman Wraps Up Perfect Regular Season With 26-7 Win Over DeKalb
The AP #2-ranked Upperman Bees put an exclamation mark on their perfect regular season Friday as they defeated DeKalb County, 26-7. An Ethan Palk touchdown in the second quarter gave the Bees a 7-0 halftime lead before a strong third quarter saw them go ahead 19-7. The Bees put the game away in the fourth quarter to finish the regular season 10-0.
York Finishes 10-0 Regular Season Via 40-12 Victory Over Polk County
The York Institute Dragons sit atop the AP Class 2A poll and finished the regular season 10-0 via their 40-12 victory over Polk County on Friday. Polk County led 6-0 after the first quarter before the Dragons posted 21 points in the second to lead 21-12 at halftime. Myles Leffew, Blake Voiles and Bryson Bilbrey each found the end zone in the first half for York. The Dragons shut out Polk in the second half while tacking on 19 more points to win 40-12. Leffew finished the day with 197 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 22 carries while throwing for 86 yards and a score.
Gordonsville Wins Double-Overtime Thriller Over Clay County, 42-41
Gordonsville locked up the Region 4-1A championship in a game for the ages as they defeated Clay County in double-overtime, 42-41. Each quarterback (Gordonsville’s J Foster and Clay County’s Nate Adams) threw for three touchdowns and rushed for another. Foster had a 90-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Adams in the second half. Gordonsville senior Canaan Musgrove sealed the victory as he picked off a Clay County pass on a 2-point conversion attempt in the second overtime.
Cookeville Handles Wilson Central, 34-8; Cavs Secure Home Playoff Game
A home playoff game against Siegel awaits Cookeville next week as the Cavaliers won at Wilson Central Friday, 34-8. The Cavs led 34-0 in the third quarter as they cruised to their seventh victory of the season.
Macon County Defeats Stone Memorial In Wild Finish, 15-14
The Macon County Tigers were down Friday but never out as a trick play with less than a minute remaining followed by a broken PAT resulted in a 15-14 victory over Stone Memorial. Macon County WR Gabe Borders threw a long touchdown pass to Braylon Flowers before hitting Tyler Gregory in the back of the end zone on a 2-point conversion to win 15-14 and secure a home playoff game next week.
White County Wraps Up Season With 14-7 Win at Livingston
White County wrapped up their 2023 campaign at Livingston Friday as they left with a 14-7 victory. Sparta QB Tripp Pinion hit Darvon Richmond on a 35-yard touchdown pass in the first period to give his team a 7-0 lead. Tripp rushed in a touchdown of his own in the second quarter to give White County a 14-0 halftime advantage. Livingston quarterback Brodey Coffee rushed in a touchdown with 5:36 left, but the Warriors ultimately held on to win 14-7 and close their regular season out at 5-5. Livingston Academy finishes the year at 3-7.
Smith County Cruises To 31-7 Win Over Monterey
The Smith County Owls enter postseason play on a high note following a 31-7 victory over Region 3-2A foe Monterey. The Owls never trailed and led 12-0 after one quarter. Smith County put up 19 second-quarter points to lead 31-0 at halftime.
Cumberland County Shuts Out Sequoyah, 17-0
The Cumberland County Jets closed out their 2023 regular season with a shutout victory over Sequoyah, 17-0. The Jets finish the season at 3-7 overall.