RCHS Running Back Rambles Downfield vs Red Bank on Friday 8/22/25. Ford scored a touchdown, while gaining 70 yards on 15 carries in the 10-7 win by Rhea.(Photo:GaryBolden)

RCHS Football Makes Big Plays to Fend Off Lions

Red Bank, TN -- On 8/22/25, Rhea County football traveled to Red Bank for non-district game to open the season. Eagles received the opening kickoff and Aiden Wilkerson gave Eagles great field position with the return to the 48 of Red Bank. Punter Austun Fugate was called on after Read Bank and stopped the Eagles and pinned the Lions deep with punk fair caught at the 7-yard line. Red Bank got out of the hole with nice blend of passing and running to reach midfield but Tristyan Odum made the big tackle on third down to force the punt. Eagles originally had ball on 13 yard line, but penalty made Red Bank re-punt and Eagles lost yardage as second punt rolled dead around the 5 yard line.

Mason Ford began the second series for the Eagles with some hard running and had the Eagles at the 20 yard line before some miscues by the Eagles stopped the drive, forcing a punt from the 17 yard line, there were some nervous moments as quarterback Jaxton Schmitt was chased into the end zone before he threw the ball away to prevent the safety after a high snap sailed over his head.

Lions began second series around their own 47 and Eagles blew up first play with tackle for loss, but Lions recovered and moved the ball down the field with a pass play and some good running by # 4 on an 18 yard gain down to Eagle's 26 yard line, and then ran to the 20 to end the first quarter. On the third play of the second quarter, quarterback Josh Jackson hit his receiver, but as he turned to go downfield, he lost control of the ball and a couple of Eagles had the ball bounce around and it was Fugate, who secured the ball and had long run up the sidelines to the 32 yard line of Red Bank. On the third play of the series, Elijah Hutchins found a seam and Wilkerson had no chance to avoid the loss back to the 34. A delay of game put the ball back to the 39 and Fugate's punt floated into the returner Marcus Jones and he returned ball to the 17. Quarterback found Keon Harris and then Marcus Jones for nice gains through the air to the 48-yard line of Red Bank. It was Tyler Garrison, who took down Olivir Meritt in the backfield behind the line for the loss. Lions avoided disaster as a lineman fell on a fumble at their 41-yard line, but they were forced to punt. Cayden Loveless punted and Wilkerson fair-caught the ball at the 28-yard line. Red Bank had a couple of stops in the Eagle backfield to force the punt which was brought back to the 46 yard line.

Lions were moving the ball via the pass but with the ball on the Eagle's 46, quarterback Jackson attempted the deep throw and it was Fugate who picked off the pass and returned the ball to setup Eagles at their own 38-yard line. It was Mason Ford with the nice gain as he broke four tackles on the screen pass and brought the ball into Lion territory at the 42-yard line. As halftime horn approached, Eagles needed a nice run by Ford on the toss from Schmitt that put the ball at the 26-yard line. As halftime horn sounded, Fugate was successful with the 43 yard field goal that cleared with room to spare.

Lions returned second half kickoff to their 17-yard line. Quarterback Jackson with nice run put the Lions at the 30-yard line. Olivir Merritt had couple of nice runs and Jacolbi Salley took the ball to the Eagle's 38-yard line. Olivir Merritt down to the 20. Lions completed the pass and Ezekiel Romero forced the fumble with big hit on the receiver and Red Bank's receiver outran everyone to recover the ball, but with a 9-yard loss. But the next play wiped out the loss as quarterback Jackson found Cayden Loveless in the end zone for the touchdown. The kick was good for the 7-3 lead for the Lions.

Aiden Wilkerson had another nice return of 37 yards to the Lion's 43-yard line. A busted screen pass on third down lost back to the 48 of Rhea County to force the punt. Fugate got off a nice punt that was downed on the Lion's 16-yard line. During the drive, Austin Jones made nice fake handoff and went untouched for several yards before defense recovered before Fugate brought him down at the Lion 47-yard line. The Lions crossed midfield as third quarter ended, but penalty put the Lions at their own 40. Quarterback dropped the ball to lose 5 and a penalty put the ball to the 30. Screen pass went nowhere and Lions punted to the Eagles, who began drive on their 46. Quarterback Schmitt avoided a big loss as her whirled and threw the ball out of bound from his own 33 just out of the grasp of a defender. Schmitt found Wilkerson for a nice gain down to the 32 of the Lions. Ford had a nice run down to the 25. Two plays later Ford went into a crowd of defenders then changed direction and found the end zone for the go-a-head touchdown. Fugate added the extra point for the 10-7 lead.