By Michael Lindsay
Two high school football teams remain in the Upper Cumberland as York Institute and Macon County are set to play in their respective state semifinal games tonight. The Dragons travel to Marion County in the Class 2A semis while Macon County hosts Anderson County in Class 4A.
Anderson County at Macon County
For the first time in school history, a TSSAA state semifinal game will take place in Lafayette when Anderson County (11-1) kicks off at Macon County (11-2) tonight at 7 p.m.
“Things are going well this week,” said Macon County head coach Kyle Shoulders. “Our guys are excited and upbeat; they understand the magnitude of this game. I think it’s going to be a really exciting environment.”
The visiting Mavericks enter the contest led by Mr. Football finalist running back Waylon LaRue (#2).
“They’re a really good football team,” said Shoulders. “They have an exceptional running back who’s up for Mr. Football and rightfully so. Their quarterback (Landen Hensley, #10) makes them go as well. They have a balanced attack, which makes things more difficult. Their defense is unpredictable and gets after you.”
The Tigers are led by the senior duo of Zach and Gabe Borders, who have accumulated 3,810 all-purpose yards and 44 touchdowns between the two. Gabe was a Mr. Football finalist as a sophomore and junior.
“This is the first full season Zach has got to play,” said Shoulders. “The experience and how veteran this group is has a lot to do with how we got to this point.”
The supporting cast for Macon County has been key to their historic run.
“Isaac McClard holds us down on defense at that linebacker spot,” said Shoulders. “Kilian Jetton has done everything right and works the edge for us defensively. Ty Young is a senior in the secondary, and he’s kind of our dude defensively. You can’t even start with how big our offensive line has been with seniors Ethan West and Brody Frye have been leading them.”
Macon County’s state semifinal appearance comes after avenging their two regular-season losses to Upperman and White County the last two weeks while Anderson County defeated Elizabethton and Greeneville.
“I think it’ll be the team that handles adversity the best,” said Shoulders. “We’re talking about only four teams left in the state; they’re going to have some success throughout the game. We have to handle that and not lose our minds.”
Friday’s game in Lafayette is the first home semifinal game in program history.
“Macon County’s fans don’t just show up in the fourth round of the playoffs,” said Shoulders. “There’s been times we’ve been 2-8 and they’re still packing the stands. They’re going to be there supporting us and they take pride in supporting our football program. They have definitely done their part.”
Anderson County at Macon County is set to air as UCR‘s game of the week at 7 p.m.
York Institute at Marion County
The York Institute Dragons (11-2) are playing football on Thanksgiving week for the third consecutive season as they travel to Marion County (11-2) for the Class 2A state semifinals Friday evening.
“We’ve had a great week of practice,” said York Institute head coach Derwin Wright. “It was a dream to practice on Thanksgiving years ago, but now we’ve got to the last three seasons and it’s a lot of fun. We told them this year, though, we want to practice in December.”
After starting the season 0-2, the Dragons have reeled off 11 consecutive victories including last week’s 31-7 win over Bledsoe County in the quarterfinal round.
Marion County has won six consecutive games and have an average margin of victory of 42 points during the stretch. The Warriors defeated Westmoreland 14-7 during last week’s quarterfinals.
“They’re a good football team with a balanced attack,” said Wright. “#3 (Zaiden Humphrey) and #4 (Samuel Pickett) are their speedy guys while #8 (Mason Mays) is more of a power guy and a good runner as well. Their quarterback (Tilton Pickett, #12) throws a good ball. They’re explosive and can hit on big plays. If we can limit those and take care of the football, we’ve got a shot.”
York Institute enters the contest with an offense that has rushed for 3,787 yards this season. Logan Pannell leads the potent rushing attack with 1,328 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns along with Blake Voiles rushing for 750 yards and 9 scores, Kole Brannon for 539 yards and Nathaniel Tipton for 487.
Defensively, Voiles leads the Dragons with 105 tackles followed by Joseph Linder with 76.5.
“We have to play fast and tackle,” said Wright. “If you watch the Westmoreland game, Marion County scored on two screen passes for 50+ yards. We can’t give them long touchdown passes.”
The Dragons’ third semifinal appearance comes in a season some saw as a rebuilding year.
“This group was not expected to do this,” said Wright. “They believed in each other and in us as coaches. I want my guys to talk to me and tell me what they see. That communication is vital.”
“When we got off to an 0-2 start, we called in our seniors in and talked with them,” added Wright. “Once we got into that third game of the regular season, I really saw Lake Drake, Donte Brown, Tanner Tallent and Jacob Bertram step up and come alive on the field. Those guys had a team meeting or two and we turned it around. This senior class has been a joy to coach.”
York Institute at Marion County will be an audio-only livestream on UCR2 at 7 p.m.
