Zach Lunsford of the Alcoa Tornadoes. (Photo by Danny Parker)
By JESSE SMITHEY
MARYVILLE — For Zach Lunsford, the senior starting quarterback at Alcoa, the postgame celebration at Maryville High School on Friday night was a long time coming.
“I’m not sure what to feel,” said Lunsford just after the hand-shake line and just minutes after Alcoa’s 27-14 win went final.
But whatever he ultimately felt Friday night at Maryville had to feel better than what he did there two years ago. Then a wide-eyed sophomore making the first start of his prep career against the then-defending 6A champions, Lunsford and the Alcoa offense struggled all night to give its dominant defensive unit much help. And the Tornadoes wound up falling 14-9, as Alcoa inserted California QB transfer Safdar McCrary into the game late to try and manufacture a late rally.
Didn’t happen. McCrary eventually transferred from Alcoa, Lunsford held the reins of the offense the rest of the season until the third round of the 3A playoffs. That’s when Catholic transfer Caden Buckles got eligible, and Buckles starred the rest of the 2020 postseason and then had a Mr. Football caliber season last fall.
Through all the turmoil and waiting, Lunsford final got his moment.
He completed 10 of 13 passes against Maryville (3-1), rushed for 32 yards and steered the go-ahead scoring drive in the fourth quarter. And when senior defensive back Jordan Harris returned an interception 82 yards for a touchdown with just 3.7 seconds left to play, Alcoa got its first win over Maryville since 2018.
“I’m happy. I don’t know. I’m speechless,” Lunsford said.
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