Two of the hottest teams in the 4-A Region 3 division clashed heads on Friday night. The home-standing East Ridge Pioneers, who have made a miraculous midseason turnaround, were on a four-game winning streak and were looking to even out their record with a win. The Pioneers started their season 0-5 and have won every game since then. As for the away team, the Hixson Wildcats, their season did not get off to an ideal start either, as they started their season 0-2. And similar to the Pioneers they have turned their season around. Since that point, the Wildcats have won six of their last seven.
And although losing has become a rather uncommon feeling as of late for both teams one team was going to have to mark that lousy “L” on their schedule. And on this occasion, it would be the Pioneers. They would wipe their win streak away with a, 14-17 loss to the Hixson Wildcats.
For 36 minutes of this contest East Ridge dominated, but in just 12 minutes the game would just slip away.
Star running back for the Hixson Wildcats, Koko Kendricks, was out for the game. Not having Hendricks in the game left a huge void in the Wildcats’ offense as they struggled to move the ball down the field for the majority of the game. And with time running out it seemed like the Wildcats just weren’t going to figure it out on offense. All until #12, AD Stewart was inserted into the backfield.
Coach of the Wildcats, Nick Rivers, positioned the sophomore at the heart of his second-half scheme, and Stewart did all but disappoint.
Davis who did not receive an offensive touch in the first half, would rush 11 times for 90 yards and a touchdown in the second half. His bruising and calculated gap-hitting playstyle was a colossal key in their win. And his fourth-quarter touchdown run would spring the Hixson bleachers into a frenzy. Davis’ touchdown run came with just a little over eight minutes remaining, and it would cut the Pioneers’ lead to just four.
With what now felt like a brand-new ball game, Hixson’s fans began to scream, shout, and stomp intensely as they tried to encourage their boys to a comeback win. Everyone's eyes were glued to the field as Hixson’s defense tried to get their offense just one more chance to go win the game before it came to an end. But that chance never ended up coming…
Yeah, the offense would not get that chance to try to lead a game-winning touchdown drive. Simply because the defense thought, why don’t we go win it? A question that would soon be answered in the form of a rumbling and bumbling 40-yard scoop and score touchdown.
Senior Chase Packer would run after a loose ball after a QB hit that sent the ball flying toward the Wildcats' endzone. Packer would then pick up the ball and prance his way into the endzone for what would end up being the game-winning touchdown.
It wasn’t a pretty game by any means for the Hixson Wildcats, but they did prove one thing Friday night. They don’t give up and they will never give up.
SUMMARY
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HIXSON
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0
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3
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0
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14
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-- 17
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EAST RIDGE
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0
|
6
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8
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0
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-- 14
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ER Marquell Sails 10 run (run fail) (7:32, 2nd)
HX Isaac Smith 25 kick (0:44, 2nd)
ER Javonte Pullom 13 pass from Jermaine Blackstock (Hasani Jackson pass from Blackstock) (6:02, 4th)
HX AD Stewart 12 run (Smith kick) (8:23, 4th)
HX Chase Packer 40 fumble recovery (Smith kick) (5:08, 4th)
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STATS
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HX
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ER
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First Downs
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12
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18
|
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Rushes-Yards
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23-133
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3-223
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Passing Yards
|
70
|
185
|
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Total yards
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203
|
407
|
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Passing (Comp-Att-Int)
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11-21-0
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8-19-1
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|
Penalties-Yards
|
5-40
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5-42
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Punts-Average
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5-40.2
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1-29.0
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Fumbles-Lost
|
1-0
|
2-2
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Individual Stats
Rushing: AD Stewart 11-90; Ronald Suttles 8-27; Chase Barnard 3-14; Lawaun Hughley 1-2 (HX); Marquell Sails 21-129; Jermaine Blackstock 11-73; Justin Ellis 3-14; Tyreke Wise-Bridges 3-7 (ER).
Passing: Chase Barnard 11-21-0 for 70 yards (HX); Jermaine Blackstock 8-19-1 for 185 yards, 1TD: (ER).
Receiving: Jeremy Bell 3-44; Tramell Davis Jr. 2-15; Lawaun Hughley 3-10; Ronald Suttles 1-8; AD Stewart 1-(-6) (HX); Casino Harris 3-100; Hasani Jackson 3-75; Javonte Pullom 1-13; Tyreke Wise-Bridges 1-(-3) (ER).
Records: Hixson 7-3; East Ridge 4-6
(Contact Gray Deyo at sports@chattanoogan.com)