Hunter Crowe works hard running vs Walker Valley. Crowe Runs, Blocks and Tackles As All Around Performer for Eagles.(Photo:BillynthiaHill)
Walker Wins 42-12 to Remain Unbeaten in Region Play: Eagles Face McMinn Next
9/22/23 Cleveland, TN
Rhea County lost to Walker Valley 42-12 on Friday, 9/22/23 in a game that would put the winner into first place in region play. After the loss the Eagles were faced with the reality that they would host a McMinn County teams on a four-game winning streak, needing a win to stay tied with Walker Valley for first place in Region 4. Walker would be hosting Howard Tech in a game they would be heavily favored to win. McMinn's confidence would be boosted by their 4 game win streak.me. Eagles know that a loss would drop their region record to 1-2, but a win would give Eagles a 2-1 record and at least a share of second place in the region. Eagles will be hampered by loss of Cam Potts to injury and are already dealing with unavailability of top rusher Ethan Davis, due to injury earlier in the season.. Eagles need to improve defense this week for any chance for a win. They can take solace from the fact that the two losses they took the last two weeks were to very good Walker Valley and Cleveland teams, but McMinn could be the third very good team in a row they must face.
Walker Valley 42 Rhea County 12
Rhea County received the opening kickoff and returned ball to 22-yard line. Mason Ford had nice run up to 41 for initial first down for Eagles. Cam Potts had a 15-yrd run to the 43 of Walker Valley. Mustang defense and penalties stopped the drive, forcing a punt from midfield. Fugate punted and Walker began their first possession at their 20-yard line. Walker Valley went deep and quarterback Evan Schwarzl found Hudson Makuch for long pass play to setup Walker deep int Eagle territory.. A short while later, Schwarzl scored the initial touchdown of the game with 7-yard run with 3:37 left in first quarter. Eli Wilson tacked on the extra point for 7-0 lead for Mustangs.
Ethan Mosley returned kickoff to 26. Penalty in the drive put the Eagles back to 20 and setup a 1st and 25 situation. Carr Found Aiden Wilkerson for a big play as Wilkerson caught the ball in the flats, got a block and streaked down to the Mustang 30-yard line, a gain of 40 yards. On the next play, Eagles fumbled and Mustangs come up with ball on their 32-yard line. The moved ball to 40 with pass over the middle. Schwartzl had a big quarterback scramble for 17 yards to setup Mustangs at Eagle 24. A pass play moved ball to the 13. From there, Evan Schwarzl found Roman Eulo for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 9:31 showing on 2nd-quarter clock. Wilson added extra point for 14-0 lead for Walker.
Eagles next possession ended with a punt from their 34-yard line. Fugate punted ball to Makuch at the Walker Valley 35 and he returned the ball to around the 45 of Eagles. Penalty took the ball back to the 29. Hinton had a 33-yard run to move the Mustangs deep into Eagle territory and Schwarzl completed his second touchdown pass of the quarter with Hudson Makuch hauling in the 29-yard pass with 505 left in second quarter. Wilson's kick pushed the lead to 21-0.
The Walker Valley kickoff went out-of-bounds to give Eagles ball at the 35. Mason Ford picked up an Eagles a couple of first downs up past midfield. Caleb Carr and Aiden Wilkerson connected for the 46-yard pass play to get the Eagles on the board with 2:07 left in 2nd quarter. The kick was blocked for extra point try and Eagles trailed 21-6.
Hudson Makuch received the kickoff and ran by several Eagles on the way to a 82-yard kickoff return for touchdown with 1:57 left in the 2nd quarter. Wilson kick ran the lead to 28-6.
Aiden Wilkerson took the kickoff and had a couple of nice moves as he changed speeds and direction on his 32-yard return to the 42-yard line. Wilkerson then had a nice pass reception that took Eagles down to the 41 of Walker. Hunter Crowe came just short of scoring as he went up the middle for 20 yards. Caleb Carr scored on a 1-yard run and the attempted 2-point conversion was no good and Eagles moved to within 28-12. On the ensuing kickoff Walker moved the ball down the field quickly and looked to have scored a touchdown on a "Hail-Mary", but penalty wiped off that touchdown and time ran out in half with Eagles down 28-12.
Walker received the second half kickoff and setup their opening possession at the 38-yard line. Walker moved the ball downfield and Malachi Martin scored for Mustangs on a 2-yard run and Wilson's kick was no-good with 8:42 left in 3rd quarter. Wilson made the kick and Walker led 35-12.
Eagle moved the ball on the next possession, but drive stalled at the 35 of Walker and Eagles turned the ball over on downs after unsuccessful 4th down conversion. The final touchdown of the night belonged to Tyran Forte as he went 55 yards for the touchdown. Wilson's kick put the final margin at 42-12 with 4:43 left in 3rd quarter.
Next Eagle possession ended with a punt from their won 36. Walker used up a lot of the clock running the ball before kicking back to Eagles at their 39. Walker got the ball back one more time and ran out the clock on the game. Final scored for game ended up 42-12, Walker Valley.
Evan Schwarzl led Walker Valley on offense with 15/19 passes completed for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns, while rushing for 56 yards on 5 carries and a touchdown. Tyran Forte led Walker in rushing with 2 carries for 54 yards. Hudson Makuch had 4 catches for 110 yards receiving and added a touchdown on an 82-yard kickoff return.
Aiden Wilkerson led the Eagles on offense with 121 yards receiving on 6 catches. Caleb Carr went 9/17 in the air for 136 yards. Mason Ford had 59 yards rushing on 13 attempts. On defense Hunter Crowe led the Eagles with 11 tackles and Ace Robinson added 8 total tackles.
| Scoring | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
| Rhea County | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Walker Valley | 7 | 21 | 13 | 0 | 42 |
| # | Player | Att/Carr | Yards |
| 5 | Mason Ford | 13 | 59 |
| 4 | Cam Potts | 6 | 31 |
| 0 | Hunter Crowe | 5 | 43 |
| 4 | Caleb Carr | 3 | 3 |
| 19 | Ace Robinson | 1 | -3 |
| 28 | 133 | ||
| 4 | Carr | 17/9/1/1 | 136/1TD |
| 2 | Aiden Wilkerson | 6 | 121 |
| 21 | Deshawan Smith | 1 | 4 |
| 10 | Kaiden Rector | 1 | 6 |
| 28 | Ethan Mosley | 1 | 5 |
| Rushing Att | yards | ||
| Rhea | 29 | 126 | |
| Walker | 23 | 221 | |
| Pass Att. | Comp | yards | |
| Rhea | 17 | 9 | 136 |
| Walker | 20 | 16 | 236 |
| Penalties | Turnovers | Punts | |
| Rhea | 8/50 | 1 Fum 1 Int | 3/126/42 avg |
| Walker | 13/117 | No Turnovers | 1/24/24 avg. |
| 1st Downs | 3rd Downs | 4th Down | |
| Rhea | 12 | 5/11 | 0/2 |
| Walker | 18 | 4/5 | 0/0 |
| Total yards | |||
| Rhea | 262 | ||
| Walker | 457 |
| # | Athlete Name | Solo | Asst | Tot Tckls | TFL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Hunter Crowe (Sr) | 6 | 5 | 11 | 1.0 |
| 2 | Aiden Wilkerson (So) | 2 | 2 | ||
| 10 | Kaiden Rector (So) | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
| 19 | Ace Robinson (Jr) | 5 | 3 | 8 | |
| 21 | Keshawn Smith (Jr) | 3 | 3 | ||
| 35 | Dawson Mickel (Sr) | 2 | 2 | ||
| 38 | Ethan Mosley (Jr) | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 45 | Eli Evans (So) | 4 | 4 | ||
| 46 | Carter Jolley (Jr) | 1 | 1 | ||
| 50 | Maurice Shirley (Sr) | 1 | 1 | ||
| 52 | Ty Masters (Jr) | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 52 | Andrew King (Jr) | 1 | 1 | ||
| Team Totals | 25 | 19 | 44 | 1.0 |