Pearl-Cohn’s march through the TSSAA football playoffs continued Friday night.
The Firebirds just got a late start. Pearl-Cohn overcame a 21-point deficit to undefeated Marshall County to beat the Tigers 27-21 in overtime in a TSSAA Class 4A state quarterfinal. The win keeps Pearl-Cohn’s quest for a second straight Class 4A state championship alive.
“We had to stop hurting ourselves,” Pearl-Cohn coach Tony Brunetti said. “They had big plays, we were blowing coverage. We were not blocking right.
“We got back to doing what we do all the time. And the defense made big stops.”
Pearl-Cohn blocked a short field goal attempt to end regulation and put it in overtime.
Omarion Starnes scored the winning touchdown in overtime for the win. It came after Pearl-Cohn (10-3) stopped Marshall County (12-1) on its overtime possession. The loss avenges an overtime loss to the Tigers in the Region 5-4A championship.
Starnes finished with 21 carries for 80 yards. LJ Funk was 8-of-19 passing for 102 yards and a TD for the Firebirds and LaDamion Hunter caught four passes for 56 yards and a score.
Pearl-Cohn travels to Melrose (10-3) for the Class 4A semifinals.
Baylor 35, Brentwood Academy 21: George MacIntyre was 20-of-31 passing for 217 yards and a touchdown in a loss for Brentwood Academy (8-4). Larry Sanders had 12 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown and Neo Clifton caught 10 passes for 40 yards and a touchdown.
BGA 28, FRA 27: Kaedyn Marable was 25-of-33 passing for 315 yards with four touchdowns and an interception to lead BGA (11-2). Arnett Hayes, Jr. caught 15 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown and Locke Kennedy had six catches for 134 yards and two TDs for the Wildcats. Roman Mahlerwein threw for 121 yards with an interception and Kwadir Fletcher had 12 carries for 49 yards and three touchdowns for FRA (11-2).
CPA 34, Boyd Buchanan 7: Hutson Chance was 9-of-16 for 212 yards and touchdown while Owen Cabell caught five passes for 126 yards and a 54-yard score as CPA (13-0) reached the DII-AA state championship game for the seventh straight time. Rawls Patterson ran 19 times for 140 yards and a TD and Bradshaw Klym had three rushing TDs.
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Columbia Academy 47, DCA 13: Montae Baldwin had 25 carries for 207 yards and two touchdowns in a win for Columbia Academy (10-3). Stephen Nieves and Harrison Brownlee each rushed for a touchdown and Nieves was 5-of-11 passing for 82 yards and a score. Trace Smith was 3-of-5 passing for 89 yards and two touchdowns for DCA (10-3).
Macon County 35, White County 19: Gabe Borders rushed for 188 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries to lead Macon County (11-2). Luke Gammon threw for 45 yards and two touchdowns with an interception and Zach Borders had 10 carries for 66 yards and one catch for 32 yards and a touchdown. Tripp Pinion had 22 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown for White County (10-3).
McCallie 31, Ensworth 7: Vanderbilt commitment Carson Lawrence’s 44-yard interception return for a touchdown gave McCallie a 14-point lead in the third quarter as the Blue Tornado (10-2) advanced to play Baylor (12-0) in the DII-AAA final. Taylor Hasselbeck was 12-of-19 passing for 220 yards, one TD and an interception for Ensworth (11-1). Justin Hopkins caught four passes for 95 yards.
More:Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley not looking ahead after Ensworth’s season ends vs McCallie
Oakland 49, Riverdale 46: Southern Cal commit Daune Morris had 26 carries for 253 yards and four touchdowns to lead Oakland (12-1). Craig Tutt added 150 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and Kyler Creasy was 3-of-5 passing for 64 yards and a score. Malachi Telin was 19-of-31 passing for 320 yards and four touchdowns and DJ Taylor had 20 carries for 124 yards and a touchdown for Riverdale (10-3).
Page 28, Shelbyville 6: Page’s defense was dominant again as the Patriots took another step closer to the 5A state championship, beating Shelbyville in the state quarterfinals. Tennessee commit, Brenden Anes, ran for a touchdown and caught a 30-yard TD. Page QB William Wiebush had a 72-yard TD run and a touchdown pass to Anes. Page will travel to Springfield in next week’s semifinal.
Ravenwood 38, Stewarts Creek 14: Femi Babalola was 3-of-4 passing for 80 yards and a touchdown and Maverick Chance was 5-of-7 passing for 59 yards and a score for Ravenwood (13-0). Chance, Caden Pace and Davis Dowland each rushed for a score for the Raptors. Jeremy Smith rushed for 138 yards on nine carries and had three catches for 33 yards and Caleb Floyd added 12 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries for Stewarts Creek (11-2).
Springfield 47, Beech 14: Jaidon Hurst had 17 carries for 215 yards and two touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets (8-5) shocked Beech to advance to the Class 5A state semifinals after Friday’s quarterfinal win. Keenan Chatman added 14 carries for 93 yards and three TDs. Beech’s Kaden Powell had 15 carries for 163 yards and a touchdown as the Bucs had their 10-game win streak snapped and its season ends at 11-2.
York 31, Bledsoe County 7: Nathaniel Tipton had 16 carries for 94 yards and a touchdown and was 4-of-6 passing for 55 yards and a score for York (11-2). Joseph Linder had four carries for 94 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 40 yards and a score and Blake Voiles rushed for 42 yards and a touchdown.
