The Science Hill football team celebrates its upset victory over Dobyns-Bennett.
When it comes to high school football, there are no bigger rivalries in our area than Science Hill vs. Dobyns-Bennett and Daniel Boone vs. David Crockett.
Both of those rivalries were renewed last Friday night, and the results were nothing short of thrilling.
Science Hill’s Andrew Kanady blocked a potential game-tying field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter, and Amare Redd scooped it up and ran it back for a game-clinching touchdown as the Hilltoppers upset the third-ranked Indians 31-21.
With the win, Science Hill (7-2, 4-1) can now clinch at least a share of the Region 1-6A championship if they beat Knox Bearden on the road this Friday night. But at halftime of last Friday’s game, the path to a regional title was very narrow. The undefeated Indians were up 21-17, and their running game seemed primed to wear the Science Hill defense down in the second half.
Instead, the Hilltoppers’ defense rose to the occasion after halftime, shutting Dobyns-Bennett (8-1, 5-1) out in the final two quarters. Meanwhile, Jaxon Diamond hit Redd on a long scoring strike in the fourth quarter to put Science Hill ahead, and the blocked field goal and subsequent return sealed the deal.
Over in Jonesborough, the hero was Prince Kollie. The Notre Dame commit scored two touchdowns in the second half to lift the Pioneers to a hard-fought 20-14 victory over Daniel Boone in the 50th annual Musket Bowl game.
The Trailblazers (4-4, 3-2) did an excellent job of holding Kollie in check in the first half, and the game was tied at 7 when halftime rolled around. Crockett (7-2, 5-0) came out of the locker room and got two quick TD runs from Kollie to jump out to a 20-7 lead.
While Boone’s offense could never get things rolling in the second half, defense kept them in the game. Rylan Trout recovered a Crockett fumble in the end zone for a touchdown to make the score 20-14, but that was as close as the Trailblazers could get.
In other action, the Big 11 Conference Cross Country Championships were held last week at Steele Creek Park in Bristol.
The Daniel Boone boys wrapped up their ninth conference title in the last 10 years, and they did so in historic fashion. The Trailblazers posted a perfect score for the second time in the history of the event, and the first time since 1963. Boone occupied the top five finishing spots with Conner Wingfield winning the meet with a time of 16:17. He was followed to the finish line by teammates Luke Mussard, Bryson Lewis, Evan Bruce and Alex Quackenbush.
The Boone girls completed the sweep by winning their second conference title in the last three years. Kamryn Wingfield and Patricia Chellah finished second and third respectively to help the Lady Trailblazers edge Crockett 35-38 in the team competition. The regional race will be held this Thursday at Daniel Boone High School.
