HIGH-SCHOOL

Beech football surprises even own coach by shutting down explosive Cane Ridge in TSSAA quarterfinals

George Robinson
Nashville Tennessean

Beech football coach Anthony Crabtree said he wasn't exactly sure how his team's Class 6A quarterfinal game against Cane Ridge would go on Friday, but he felt confident that his Bucs could stay with the explosive Ravens.

Crabtree was almost at a loss for words to describe his team's convincing 35-7 win Friday that propelled Beech (12-1) to its first state semifinal game since 2018.

"We weren't expecting this really," Crabtree said. "We thought we had a chance to win but to be able to hold (Cane Ridge) to seven points, our defense played unbelievable. And this team is super determined. They're so much fun to coach."

PLAYOFF SCORESTSSAA football scores for 2022 playoffs: Tennessee high school quarterfinals, semifinals

PLAYOFF BRACKETSTennessee high school football state semifinal schedule

Now Crabtree turns his focus to a nearly three-hour drive to face Bartlett (11-2) at 7 p.m. Friday in the state semifinals.

"We've just been trying to prove everybody wrong," Beech running back J.P. Courtney said. "I mean, we see on social media people may doubt us or we hear what others may say about Beech, but we just keep coming at you. That's the mentality we have, and it's worked. Now it's on to the next game."

Crabtree knows the long ride into west Tennessee can take its toll but his team has already made a trip to Farragut (in Week 1), a two-hour and 45-minute trip. The trip to Bartlett will be three hours and 16 minutes.

"You have to break that up any way you can," Crabtree said. "It can't just be sitting on a bus for however long not doing anything. We've got to stop and maybe go through a walk-through on Friday. We'll eat. We'll keep these kids sharp. But really, we haven't had to say much to them through the playoffs. They've been laser focused."

Beech Buccaneers Jp Courtney (7) is tackled during the Class 6A football quarterfinals matchup in Antioch, Tenn. on Nov. 15, 2022.

Beech kept Cane Ridge (11-2) off balance, applying pressure to quarterback Shivan Abdullah, who had six touchdowns in a second-round win last week against Clarksville. Abdullah managed just a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter for the Ravens' only points and was 19-of-35 for 180 yards. He was sacked three times and Beech had seven tackles for a loss.

"I think we have something to prove, definitely," said Courtney, who ran 15 times for 142 yards and a touchdown. "To win championships, you have to commit yourself to doing everything little thing right. We didn't want to walk away with a loss feeling we hadn't given our best effort."

Beech's versatile offense gouged Cane Ridge for 334 yards on the ground. Courtney took snaps out of the Wildcat and scored on a first-half 69-yard run. Caden Thieman added 119 rushing yards on seven carries.

"We know this journey is long but we took the next step," Courtney said. "This next one is the only one that matters now."

Reach sports writer George Robinson atgrobinson@gannett.com or (931) 245-0747 and on Twitter @Cville_Sports.