Red Bank freshman Cayden Loveless used a quick release and a tight spiral to eat up the Hixson defense in his first high school start behind center.
Loveless, the fifth quarterback the Lions have used this season — with three currently injured — did not flinch for a second Friday night in Red Bank's pivotal and utterly dominant 34-7 Region 3-4A road victory against the Wildcats.
The poised youngster engineered a 15-play, 87-yard scoring drive to open a battle for the top spot in the standings with only next week remaining in the TSSAA regular season.
Loveless showed his athleticism while running around the right end for a 4-yard score to cap an opening drive on which he completed all five of his passes, including a 26-yarder to Malachi Stephenson. Loveless completed nine of his first 10 passes, winding up 16-of-23 for 170 yards and two touchdowns.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area prep football games)
"Cayden has done a great job and stepped right in there to the quarterback position this week and was so comfortable and relaxed," Red Bank coach Ted Gatewood said. "Going from slot receiver and corner — he actually came into tonight leading us in interceptions — he understands where to put the ball. He is a great kid who is hard-nosed, competitive and has an uncanny knowledge for the game at a young age."
Staff photo by Patrick MacCoon / Red Bank senior Turner Humphrey stiff-arms a Hixson defender on a 30-yard catch in the first half of Friday night's game.Red Bank (6-3, 5-0) continued to assert its dominance on defense in region play as the Lions shut down Hixson (6-3, 4-1), limiting the hosts to 11 yards in the first half.
Junior defensive back Drayden Collier returned an interception 15 yards for a Red Bank touchdown, and Micah Hardaway was dominant on both fronts for the Lions, who also got big plays from Duke commitment Kobe Smith.
Under defensive coordinator Ted Lockerby, Red Bank has allowed a total of 20 points in region play and never more than seven points in one of those five games.
Hixson's only touchdown came after Isaac Smith boomed a punt to the 1-yard line, which was followed by a high snap over Loveless' head that was recovered in the end zone by Adam Billingsley for a Wildcats score in the second quarter.
"Our defense has played hard and was lights out against Bradley Central for two quarters last week," Gatewood said. "They are out there playing hard every snap and really have found their identity. They give great effort every day of the week and have helped us set the tone in the region."
Red Bank's receiver corps starred as Larry Gaines, Cordell Howard, Turner Humphrey and Stephenson all contributed big plays. Howard had an 8-yard score, Gaines caught a 20-yard touchdown pass to conclude the scoring with 9:25 left and Humphrey's 30-yard grab was the longest play of the game.
Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com.