By Michael Lindsay
The second round of the 2023 high school football playoffs wrapped up Friday night with 5 Upper Cumberland teams picking up victories. UCR takes a quick look at each second-round playoff game on the Upper Cumberland:
Upperman Ground Game Leads Bees To 28-14 Win Over Stone Memorial
The Upperman Bees (12-0) are back in the state quarterfinals for the second time in three years following their 28-14 victory over Stone Memorial. Upperman’s rushing attack racked up 258 yards in the win including 115 yards and a score from Ethan Palk and with 99 rushing yards by sophomore quarterback Bronzden Chaffin.
Chaffin hit receiver Branson Turnbow for a 50-yard touchdown pass on the game’s second play before rushing a touchdown of his own to give the Bees a 14-0 lead. Stone Memorial responded with a Brady Lane touchdown to cut the Bee lead to 14-7 entering the second quarter. Carmine Phillips took a jet sweep 3 yards into the end zone to give Upperman a 21-7 lead at the break. The teams swapped third-quarter scores as Upperman held on to a 28-14 victory.
Up next for the Bees is a quarterfinal rematch in Baxter with Region 4-4A foe Macon County (11-1). Upperman defeated Macon County 14-7 in week 3 in Lafayette.
Smith County Routes Fayetteville, 45-12; Riley Martin Throws 4 Touchdowns
The Smith County Owls (10-2) made a second-round statement Friday evening as they dominated Fayetteville, 45-12. The Owls scored 3 touchdowns in a 1 minute and 6-second stretch of the first period to set up their 33-point win. Freshman quarterback Riley Martin opened the onslaught with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Cason to give the Owls a 6-0 advantage.
Following a successful onside kick, Martin hit Riley Lollar on a touchdown pass to give the Owls a 12-0 lead. Fayetteville mishandled the ensuing kickoff to give Smith County their third possession before Fayetteville’s offense took a snap, and the Owls took advantage as Peyton Hix rushed in a score to give his team an 18-0 lead in the first quarter. Martin threw second-quarter touchdown passes to Lollar and Wyatt Claywell along with an Ethan Madewell touchdown run to give the Owls a 38-0 halftime lead.
A Jaeden Evans fourth-quarter touchdown pushed Smith County ahead 45-0 before Fayetteville struck late to make the final score 45-12. Up next for Smith County is a quarterfinal rematch with East Robertson (11-1)
Macon County Picks Up Impressive Victory at Region 3-4A Champ Red Bank, 28-7
The Macon County Tigers (11-1) left the Lions’ Den victorious Friday as they won at Red Bank, 28-7. Class 4A Mr. Football finalist Gabe Borders did it all Friday as he both threw and caught a touchdown pass along with 70 receiving yards and 60 rushing yards.
After a scoreless first quarter, Macon County QB Luke Gammon opened the game with an 18-yard rushing touchdown before Red Bank answered to tie the game at 7 at halftime. Macon County controlled the second half as they outscored the Lions 21-0 in the final two quarters. Zach Borders rushed in a touchdown before his brother Gabe caught one to give Macon County a 21-7 lead after 3 periods. Gabe put the nail in the coffin with 2:17 left as he connected with Kelan Hire for a 15-yard touchdown pass to make the final score 28-7.
Up next for Macon County is a much-anticipated rematch with the 12-0 Upperman Bees Friday in Baxter.
York Institute Cruises Against Oneida, 34-7
A four-touchdown effort from quarterback Myles Leffew led the York Institute Dragons to a 34-7 victory over Oneida Friday night in Jamestown. The 12-0 Dragons never trailed as they racked up 272 rushing yards in the win. Leffew finished the night with 157 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns along with Riylin Miller recording 79 rushing yards and a touchdown. York will head east to the Appalachians for their quarterfinal matchup as they play at Hampton (10-2) on Friday.
Gordonsville Runs Away With 35-15 Win Over Whitwell
The Gordonsville Tigers (8-4) ran away with a 35-15 victory over Whitwell in the Class 1A playoffs Friday behind 4 passing touchdowns by Tiger quarterback J Foster. After a scoreless first quarter, Foster hit Dalton Hancock on back-to-back touchdown passes of 8 and 33 yards to give Gordonsville a 14-0 lead. Following a Whitwell touchdown, Foster hit Kyle Adams on a 31-yard touchdown strike to give Gordonsville a 21-8 halftime lead.
Foster found Hancock on a short touchdown pass in the third quarter to expand their team’s lead to 28-8. A Canaan Musgrove touchdown followed by a late Whitwell score made the final score 35-15 in favor of Gordonsville.
The Tigers head to 12-0 South Pittsburg next week for a quarterfinal matchup with the Pirates.
Cookeville Falls In 6A Second Round at Riverdale, 42-21
Cookeville stayed within striking distance for a while Friday, but Riverdale pulled away late in the second half to win by a 42-21 final score. The Cavaliers wrap their season up at 8-4 overall and finished second overall in Region 4-6A.
Clay County Taken Down by South Pitt, Wrap Up 2023 Season In Second Round
The Clay County Bulldogs finished their 2023 season on Friday as they fell at undefeated South Pittsburg, 58-0. The Bulldogs finish the season at 7-5 overall.