Webb unlocks region title with game-winning drive, unbeaten entering TSSAA playoffs

Knoxville Webb football players immediately recognize when the usually calm coach David Meske becomes enraged.

“One thing that makes him a great coach and why I love him so much is just how chill he was,” Spartans starting quarterback Charlie Robinson said. “When coach Meske throws his hat down and his face turn red, you’re in trouble.”

No need for any of that Friday night. Meske's visor cap remained on head and his face kept its color after watching his team finish a perfect regular season with a game-winning drive and two-point conversion against Chattanooga Christian. It marked the second straight Division II-AA East championship for the Spartans (9-0, 6-0).

Final score: Webb 29, Chattanooga Christian 28.  

“That last drive, you know, when your backs against the wall and you have to score to either tie or win it,” said Meske, . Meske, who is retiring at season’s end after 40 years with the program. “I’m proud that we had the confidence and the composure to stick together and do what we do.”

WEEK 11 LIVE SCORES:TSSAA football scores for Week 11 of Tennessee high school season 2022

Undefeated Knoxville West:How West football's undefeated season was shaped by an overnight trip to Pigeon Forge

OAK RIDGE STAR COLLEGE LIST:Oak Ridge football receiver Brandon Heyward trims college list to eight schools

Before the swarm of students on the football field, Meske’s calmness as a coach was contagious to his players. Robinson, a senior, kept his cool as he rolled out of the pocket and delivered a strike to freshman wide receiver Shavar Young, who dived for the game-winning two-point conversion. 

“I was excited, it was electric. I was like ‘man I just won us the game,’” said Young when recalling his feelings after what he called the biggest moment of his career so far. 

Young finished with 10 catches for 102 yards, one touchdown and two two-point conversions receiving. 

“Shavar is just a great player. I mean, he's a freshman, he's gonna get better, and he's gonna get better,” Meske said. “And the best thing about him is he works hard. He's not a guy that's gonna say, ‘Hey, I'm great and I don't have to work hard.’ He works. So I'm really proud of him.”

Robinson completed 15 of 28 passes for 158 yards with two touchdowns and the two-point conversions. The dual-threat QB had 22 carries for 100 yards, two rushing touchdowns and intercepted a pass on defense. 

“Tonight, it was just a bunch of capitalizing off of busted plays,” Robinson, a senior, said. "That's all it was because (the Chargers) defense was stopping us, they really were. But we just had to scramble, find little holes and that's what we did with Shavar in the back end.”

Before the game, Meske said Chattanooga Christian (8-2, 5-1) was “the most talented team we've played all year.” A big reason for that is Chargers junior Boo Carter — the No. 5 player in the state with offers from Michigan and Tennessee, among others. Carter finished with 128 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown and one interception on defense. 

Junior wide receiver Markeis Barrett, who had one 19-yard receiving touchdown, said that what he’ll remember is the expression of his head coach after the win.

“A moment that stood out is after the win seeing (Meske’s) smile on his face, said Barrett, the No. 9 prospect in the state. "That definitely meant something to me and also to us. We definitely wanted to make that happen for him."