Tennessee Community Magazine
Rhea Win Over McMinn Sets Up Region Title Game
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October 30, 2026
12:05 pm

The members of the Rhea County defense celebrate with Zeke Romero after his touchdown secures win over McMinn.(Photo:GaryBolden)

Romero Pick Six Secure Win for Eagles Late in 21-14 Win

Evensville, TN -- 10/23/26 -- Rhea County hosted McMinn County on Friday, 10/23/26 for a big Regional Game with a chance for Region Title in balance. A win by Rhea would setup a battle with Walker Valley with both teams bringing 5-0 region records into the game on Friday 10/30/26. Rhea won this game with late pick six by Zeke Romero secured the lead and Eagles held McMin the last minute of the game for the 21-14 win.

Scoring for Rhea County in the game were Jaxton Schmitt and Zeke Romero. McMinn chose to receive the second half kickoff and Rhea began the first drive at their own 22 yard line. Schmitt hooked up with J.T. Donnegan for a 53 yard pass play to get the action started for the Eagles.

Schmitt put the Eagles on the board with an 18 yard touchdown run. Rasnake added the kick for 7-0 score. McMinn County received the kickoff and began the night with new quarterback, Freshman Finn Holmes. Eagle defense forced a 3 and out and Eagles began second possession at their 49 yardline. Eagles used a couple of passes and running of Schmitt and Brown to move the ball down to the one yardline where Schmitt ran the ball into the endzone for his second touchdown of the game and early with 2:26 left on first quarter clock, it looked like Rhea might be continuing its impressive offensive run it had exhibited over the last three games with three 50 point and plus outputs.

McMinn began the next possession just past the 20 yard line. Eagle defense forced a punt after three plays and Fugate returned the ball to the 47 yardline of the Cherokees. At the end of quarter with Eagles enjoying a 14-0 lead, the Rhea County High School "Best Buddies" program was recognized at midfield on the track area. During the recognition, student Dewight Hampton gave 3 big "Go Eagles" chants for the best buddies group.

The McMinn defense got their fist stop as Schmitt's 4th down pass was incomplete. McMinn County and Rhea County exchanged punts and McMinn began their next drive around the 18 yard line with 6:56 left in the second quarter. The Cherokees moved the ball down the field as quarterback Lawson hit a variety of receivers and found Gonzales for the touchdown as he tiptoed the catch on the left sideline of the endzone. Lawson made the catch for the 2 point conversion to pull McMinn within 14-8 with 1:28 left until halftime. L.T. Donnegan returned the kickoff to the 38 on the short kickoff for the Eagles. Brown had a couple of nice runs to move the ball across midfield, but Schmitt's pass was intercepted by McMinn's Marshall Goodner at the McMinn 21 yardline with 24 seconds left in the half. The Cherokees was not able to move the ball and the half ended with the Eagles up 14-8.

During the halftime break, the Rhea County High School Lady Eagles soccer team was recognized for their accomplishments as they won their 3rd straight Region title with the win over Cleveland earlier in the week.

McMinn reveived the second half kickoff and Eagle defense forced a punt, that setup the Eagles at the 34 yardline of the Eagles. Brown was running well in the drive as Eagles moved down the field to the 11 yardline before a loss put the ball back to the 25 yardline of McMinn, but problem with snap forced Fugate to improvise but Cherokee's defense come up with pass block to give McMinn the possession. McMinn moved the ball down the field with an assortment of plays including nice pass after ball sailed over the quarterback's head, a pass interference penalty, and two penalties, one for horse collar takedown on the sideline and another for targeting on the McMinn quarterback, which gave Cherokees the ball at the Rhea County five yardline. Maddox Frazier ended the drive with the 5-yard touchdown run. McMinn missed the kick and settled for a 14-14 tie with the Eagles with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.

Rhea's next possession ended with a punt, giving McMinn County the ball at their 32 yardline. McMinn moved down the with with help of a personal fould penalty and a bomb from Holmes to Goddard to the 10 yardline. Later in the drive, Holmes had a open receiver apparently wide open on his knees waiting for the ball for the touchdown, when Fugate made last second burst of speed for the interception to end the drive and give Eagles the ball at the 20 yardline.

Eagles then began their possession. Eagles had a nice run and then added yards on penalty to move to 40 yardline. Troy Brown had a long run later in the drive to give Eagles a first down at the 20 yardline of the Cherokees with 5:49 left in the game. Eagle worked their way close to the 10 yardline and on a 4th down play, the Cherokee defense made a big stop to give McMinn the ball and a chance to put together a drive to win the game. McMinn moved the ball with combination of passing and running. A reception by Frazier moved the ball to the 39 yardline of the Eagles.

Cherokees picked up another first down with Finn to Gonzalez completion at the 29 yardline. Zeke Romero intercepted the next Finn pass on a dead run and did not stop until he found the endzone and brought the stands to their feet. With just over one minute remaining, the Eagles had the lead and the momentum after the huge score. Rasnake was successful on the kick for the 21-14 lead for the Eagles.

Cherokees were moving the ball and ball, when Tyre Brown came up with the big sack to force a timeout by McMinn with ball sitting on the McMinn 46 yardline with 3rd and 17 to go and 39 ticks on the clock. Rhea County ended the Cherokee drive and essentially the game for McMinn with the stop. Two personal foul flags came out and were called as dead ball fouls and then another flag was assessed on McMinn County and Eagles took a knee to end the game.

The win sets up a Region Title Game on Friday 10/30/26 in Evensville on Senior Night for the Eagles. Eagles season record moved to 7-2 overall and 5-0 in Region play. Jaxton Schmitt went 5 for 9 for 73 yards and one interception as well as rushing for 68 yards on 13 carries on the night. Troy Brown added 117 yards on 24 carries on the night. Austun Fugate added a big interception in the endzone and Zeke Romero had the play of the game with the pick 6 for Rhea County. Magnefreda, Romero and Fullum were all in double figures in tackles with 14, 11 and 11 tackles and Eagles had 6 tackles for losson the night, with Yearwood and Brown each getting two tackles for loss.

Rhea County Football Head Coach Harvey Taylor answered a couple of questions about McMinn and Walker Valley

Talk about the team winning a tough game after 3 easy wins over the last 4 weeks.


Our guys battled in a sloppy game to find a way to win. It sort of felt like the Notre Dame game and our guys grew up since then to find a way to win vs a way to lose.

.What are we looking for from Walker Valley this Friday?


They are going to be playing hard and trying to find a way to win. We have to play sound football and take care of turnovers and penalties.

How exciting is it to be going for second Region title in a row?

It would be massive for us to win a 2nd region title in a row. It would set up a better opportunity in the playoffs for us to be at home pending wins. 

Coach Taylor did communicate that Eagles would be without t LT Donnegan and Quinten Massengill for the Walker Valley game.

Modern Era Series Scores (1974–2026)

YearWinnerScore
2026Rhea County21–14
2025Rhea County34–6
2024McMinn County35–22
2022McMinn County43–14
2021Rhea County34–20
2018McMinn County15–7
2017Rhea County21–20
2016Rhea County30–6
2015Rhea County29–0
2012McMinn County33–7
2011McMinn County34–14
2010Rhea County29–15
2009McMinn County28–6
2008McMinn County49–32
2007McMinn County28–21
2006McMinn County35–15
2005McMinn County23–10
2000McMinn County30–20
1999McMinn County34–26
1996McMinn County14–7
1995McMinn County20–13
1994McMinn County14–13
1993McMinn County21–14
1992Rhea County7–6
1991Rhea County27–21
1990Rhea County32–7
1989Rhea County23–6
1988Rhea County28–7
1987McMinn County14–6
1986Rhea County28–0
1985Rhea County34–0
1984McMinn County20–7
1983Rhea County27–6
1982Rhea County14–7
1981Rhea County49–0
1980Rhea County34–14
1979Rhea County35–0
1978Rhea County9–7
1977Rhea County12–0
1976McMinn County34–18
1975McMinn County32–7
1974McMinn County28–0
Category : Featured Rhea County High School
Tags : football

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