Grundy football blanked 34-0 at Sequatchie County

“Our guys just ran out of gas in the fourth quarter,” head coach Nick Bryant said. “We have too many players having to play both sides of the ball. Sequatchie had just two playing both sides. I feel like that was the biggest difference in the game.”

Junior quarterback Sam Evitts threw for two touchdowns and rushed for another to help preserve Sequatchie’s unblemished Region 4-3A record and a showdown between the Indians and Giles County on Friday in Pulaski for the region championship.

The Yellow Jackets clung to a 7-0 deficit at the half. After allowing a touchdown on the game’s opening drive, the Grundy defense forced a fumble, a missed field goal and a three-and-out to keep Sequatchie scoreless until the break. 

Senior linebacker Will Foster dropped Evitts for a sack, causing the quarterback to fumble away the football on the Indians second possession. On Sequatchie’s following trip down the field, the GCHS defense stopped the Indians on the 13. SCHS sent the kicking team out on fourth-and-10, but the kick missed left. Grundy forced a punt for Sequatchie’s last possession of the half.

A 65-yard touchdown pass from Evitts to Braylon Long extended the Indians lead to just 13-0 in the third, but the game slipped away from the Yellow Jackets quickly in the fourth.

Sequatchie put the contest out of reach with 20 points in the final period. Evitts threw a TD pass to Lamonte Kelly and rushed for another, and running back Tripp Stewart scored from 38 yards out. Junior Will Machado booted all four extra points.

“We had some opportunities late but couldn’t capitalize,” Bryant said. “We had the ball inside the 15-yard line to start the fourth, but we couldn’t finish the drive. 

“I believe it was one of, if not the most physical game Grundy has played all year. The boys played really well. It was a tough loss, but I am really proud of the way they played.”

GCHS quarterback Kyler Hopkins completed nine of 14 passes for 84 yards. The senior threw one interception and lost a fumble while hitting four different receivers. Dakota Grayson led receivers with four catches for 47 yards, and freshman Vincent Bryant reeled in three for 33 yards.

Hopkins led the rushing attack with 21 carries for 111 yards, and fellow senior Colton Rogers followed up with 91 yards on 16 carries.

Senior linebacker Will Foster paced the defense with nine tackles. He and senior Tommy Byers each tallied one sack, and Foster and Bryant each caused fumbles. Senior Timmy Bivens recovered one fumble.

The Yellow Jackets return to Crisp Field to wrap up the regular season Friday. GCHS hosts Pickett County at 7 p.m. for Senior Night. 

Pickett County is 1-7 this season with its only win coming in the second week of the season over Sunbright. The Bobcats are on a six-game skid. Friday’s game will serve as the first-ever meeting between Grundy and Pickett.