Russell Leads Signal Mountain Past McMinn Central

Eagles Defeat Chargers, 40-14

Friday, October 18, 2019
Joseph Dycus

Terrance Russell, the true definition of a three-way player, annihilated McMinn Central in every phase of the game during Signal Mountain’s 40-14 win. In Signal’s final home game of the season, Russell vexed McMinn’s passing attack by picking off a rare Chargers’ pass on the one yard line late in the first half.

But Russell did most of damage on the ground from his familiar spot on the wing. Sporting a nifty statline of 161 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, Russell added another on through the air early in the second quarter.

Braden Casner pounded in a one-yard score to start the matchup, and Signal Mountain drove downfield again in the second quarter. Facing fourth down, quarterback Jack Wilson dropped back, and then popped a short dump-off to Russell over the middle. The shifty tailback did the rest, cutting to the right and racing past McMinn’s defense in order to create a 14-0 lead.

Following a Russell interception on a trick play (perhaps the senior’s only blemish on the night), McMinn fullback Jace Derrick and the Charger offense used their methodical wing-t offense to matriculate the ball downfield. Derrick subsequently drove in for six to make a game out of it.

After Casner went out of the game with an apparent injury, sophomore fullback Logan Farr was pressed into action. The powerful runner immediately made an impact with a 55 yard scoring jaunt down the left sideline. It involved multiple broken tackles and great downfield blocking by Farr’s Eagle teammates. That incredible run put the Eagles up 20-7 with only a few minutes to go till halftime.

With a minute or so remaining, McMinn Central had possibly the luckiest play of the season go their way. With the pass rush closing in, quarterback Ezariah Reid faded back and heaved a desperation pass deep downfield. The ball met a collection of players from both sides, and was then tipped into the cold Mountain air. Out of nowhere, a McMinn receiver wearing the number nine caught it off of the ricochet, and sped down to the red-zone afterward. Unfortunately for McMinn Central, Russell picked off Reid and killed the drive.

The Chargers started the third quarter with one of their trademark clock-killing drives, whittling away half of the quarter before it fizzled out after six minutes. Russell took a handoff on the following Signal drive in for six more points, turning the game into a bonafide blowout. The fourth quarter was more of the same for Signal Mountain, albeit with a twist.

Rod Hutcherson, Signal Mountain’s 6’5 flanker, grabbed a slant from Wilson, turned on his gangly jets, and burst in untouched for his first receiving touchdown of the night. This scoring catch capped off an 111 yard night, with most of those yards coming on two deep passes earlier in the game. Using his sizable frame, Hutcherson was able to make plays downfield, despite good coverage by McMinn’s defensive backs.

Hutcherson, like Russell, also played both ways. On a well-timed Eagle blitz, the reeiver-turned-linebacker lit up Reid and forced a fumble in the final quarter. Afterward, Russell toted the rock for a blistering 82 yard score to end Signal Mountain’s scoring.

Derrick slid in for an eight yard touchdown right before the final gun, giving the Chargers another touchdown on the scoreboard. While Derrick procured both scores and lead his team in rushing with 111 yards, his backfield mate Jordan Ledford chipped in with 102 yards of his own as the other half of McMinn Central’s powerful backfield.

The win brings Signal Mountain’s record up to 4-5, while it drops McMinn Central’s to 3-6.

Scoring Summary

MCMINN CENTRAL 0 7 0 7 -- 34

SIGNAL MOUNTAIN 6 13 6 14 -- 48

First Quarter

SM – Braden Casner 1 Run

Second Quarter

SM – Jack Wilson 19 Pass to Terrance Russell

MC – Jace Derrick 1 Run

SM – Logan Farr 55 Run

Third Quarter

SM – Terrance Russell 12 Run