Rhea Looking for Improvement After Opening Loss to Alcoa

9/3/21

Evensville, TN -- Rhea County Eagles host the Mcminn County Cherokees on Friday, 9/3/21 with a 7:30 kickoff. Both teams lost their last game. This will be a opening night for 5A Region 4 play with McMinn at Rhea and Ooltewah at Walker Valley on the schedule. Two teams will gain the upper hand with wins tonight. This will be the 66th time the two teams have meet with Eagles having 19-17 edge since Rhea consolidated back in 1974.

Eagles dropped their opener on the road at Alcoa 41-13. Cherokees dropped tough one to Cleveland 21-17, in a game they gave up last second touchdown in first half and finished the game just outside the endzone of Cleveland.

Rhea last played McMinn in 2018 with Cherokees getting the 15-7 win in what was then a non-district game. In that game Jalen Hunt went for 156 yards rushing and two touchdowns in 18 carries to carry McMinn to the win. Eagles were led by Senior Zack Pemberton, who had 49 yards passing and 72 yards rushing to lead both categories for the Eagles. Aubrey Smith lead the defense with 11 total tackles.

With the postponement of the Elizabethtown High School game, the Eagles had time to get some of the walking wounded healed up in time for this game. Rhea County will be looking for improvement on both sides of the ball against Mcminn.

Alcoa 41 Rhea 13

Against Alcoa, Eagles ran for 173 yards and passed for 70 yards. On defense, Rhea gave up too many big plays and went in to halftime giving up 41 points. A better second half gave the Eagles some hope for the future. Rhea actually outscored the Tornadoes 7-0 in second half. Martin scored the first touchdown for Rhea on a 9 yard rushing touchdown to pull Rhea within 14-6 with under a minute left in first quarte. Hunter Crowe added a 60 yard touchdown late in 4th quarter. A Ruehling extra point put the final margin at 41-13 for Alcoa.

Alcoa began the game with one several big plays with long kickoff return to the Eagles 4 yard line before quarterback Caden Buckles found the end zone from 3 yards out. A short punt started Alcoa on the Eagles 42 yard line. Jordan Harris had a 16 yard run down to the Eagle 16 yard line and three plays later Buckles found Jordan Harris for the 7 yard touchdown for 14-0 lead after successful kick.

The next series for the Tornadoes after an Eagles score had a long Buckles pass to Eagle' 40, before a Itty Salter run took the ball down to the 3 yard line. Elijan Cannon found end zoe from 3 for 21-6 lead after Lauderback PAT with 11 minutes to go in half. A stalled drive and short punt put Alcoa in business at their 38 yard line. Another big play took the ball down to the Rhea County one yard line but failed to score.

Eagles were unable to move the ball and a short put gave alcoa ball at Eagles after good return by Alcoa. It was then Buckles with the 17 yard touchdown run for 28-6 lead after Lauderback PAT. Tornadoes put up a score on their next series. Buckles had long pass completion to move the ball to the Eagle 13 yard one with couple of minutes left in half. A couple fo short runs put the ball at the 3 yard line where Buckles had the 3 yard touchdown run. Score went to 35-6 after successful kick.

On the next possession, the Eagles were driving with Hunter Crowe providing a nice run in the drive. But a fumble bounced up toe Aloca's Brayden Cornett and he saw nothing but turf on his way to a 50 yard fumble return for touchdown. Unsuccessful PAT kept the score at 41-6 Alcoa.

After a 47 point first half the scoring dried up in second half as neither team counld find the end zone before Crowe found it late in game for the final 41-13 margin for Alcoa.

Kaleb Martin was 3 of 7 for 70 yards on the night and he added 19 yards on 5 carries and scored a touchdown. Sophomore Hunter Crowe had 7 carries for 115 yards for the most impressive performance of the night. Drew Fisher had one catch for 31 yards and Briley Mayberry and Drew Massengill added a catch each for 25 and 14 yard respectively. Also rushing the ball were Caleb Odell 2 rushes for 3 yards, Briley Mayberry 7 runs for 16 yards and Ethan Davis 6 runs for 20 yards.

On defense, Austin Bracketts had 8 solo and 4 assisted tackles for 12 yards, Sir Alloway had 7 solo and 3 assisted tackles and Trent Edwards had 4 solo and 4 assisted tackles to lead the Eagles. Brackett and Alloway had tackles for loss. Eagles will be looking to improve on punting as Kaleb Martin(4/91) and Cole Ruehling(1/12) combined for a 20.6 yard average on 5 punts. Total Tackles - Jadden pankey 6, Gavin Roddy 4, Drew Fisher 7, Kaleb Martin 3, Garrett Ramsey 4, Ethan Davis 2, Maurice Shirley 3, Austn Dodd 2, Braden Edwards 3 and Donte Sales 1.

McMinn 17 Cleveland 21

Junior quarterback Jayden Miller lead the Cherokees in the air and on the ground against Cleveland with 48 yards passing on 6/14 in the air and 66 yards rushing with 15 carries. Jaryd Gable(9) and Landon Feggins(8) led the Cherokee defense, and Caden Hester, Josh Rouse and Dallas Stewart each added 7 tackles. The prior week Evans went for 109 yards on 11 carries by McMinn Central in a 27-0 win by McMinn.