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By JESSE SMITHEY 

The Alcoa Middle School football program exacted a measure of revenge Thursday night in the MAC Football Championship at Bearden.

After having lost to Bearden in the 2019 MAC Championship and then again in the 2020 season opener, the Tornadoes ran wild behind its two massive and bruising tailbacks for a 56-22 win.

But at 5Star Preps, the game wasn’t so much an exercise in Xs and Os; rather, it served as a glimpse into the future of area high school football.

SOME NAMES TO KNOW

Eli Owens (Alcoa): Owens is a man-child. Already somewhere in the neighborhood of 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds, Owens sparks a lot of excitement about his future. He could be a running back, a linebacker, defensive end, tight end — or even grow into an offensive lineman. But this is for certain, he’ll be an instant impact player at the high school level in 2021. Could really see him being an early offer guy.

Shannon Salter (Alcoa): Salter (5-10, 220) has been one of the top RBs in the MAC all season and proved that again Thursday. He’s got power and just enough shift to him that he can slide through a crowd when needed.

Eli Graf (Alcoa): Graf is a gritty QB and a really nice defensive player on the Alcoa Middle team. While it’s hard to project what position he’ll occupy, say, by his sophomore season, you can see his athleticism and football I.Q. He’s a really good runner and showed some serviceable passing ability.

Garrison Stephens (Alcoa): Alcoa used Stephens in the pass game, the run game and on defense. He’s going to be a really nice all-purpose athlete for the Tornadoes on the high school level. Could definitely see him contributing as a defensive back and wideout.

Kolby Barrett (Alcoa): Barrett passes the eye test to a be a really good high school player. Like Stephens, look for him to likely contribute in the secondary and in the wide receiver corps on the varsity level.

Kyrin Tyson (Alcoa): Throughout Alcoa football history, the last name Tyson is synonymous with bruising tailbacks and linebackers. Kyrin Tyson is the change-up. He’s a really good kicker. He impressed with his PAT accuracy and leg-strength. His PATs didn’t just make it over the crossbar. They soared high above it.

Offensive Line (Alcoa): Alcoa High School prides itself in the run game and has had its fair share of legit offensive linemen. We didn’t see any guys last night who would be likely contributors for Alcoa on the high school level in 2021 like Lance Williams was able to do in 2019. But that could all change with an offseason growth spurt. Regardless, Rhyin McCourt, Isaiah Emert, Tyson Click, Mason Martin and John Flynn are guys to watch up front for Alcoa in the future.

Drew Parrott (Bearden): Parrott has wreaked havoc on opposing defenses with his dual-threat ability for two seasons in the MAC. He’s a high-value runner and his passing has really come on big time in 2020. His frame projects well and his competitiveness will drive him to being a great high school player — and maybe beyond.

Kai Ironside (Bearden): Ironside wowed the crowd a few times on Thursday night, as his athleticism and vision were on full display. An injury prevented him from competing in the second half, but you can still tell he’s going to be a highly productive player on the high school level, be that at running back, wideout, return game or in the secondary. Keep an eye out on him.

King Hubbard (Bearden): Not only does he have the name of a star, Hubbard could definitely turn into one. He looks like your prototypical wide receiver. Should he continue to grow more, Hubbard will be a nightmare matchup for defensive backs on the high school level.

Sean Courvertiere and Ethan Couvertiere (Bearden): Nos. 3 and 4 on the roster didn’t disappoint last night. Did they compile a lot of flashy plays? Not necessarily. But they caught our eyes multiple times as really sound football players. Definitely a couple players who could develop into something special by 2022 or 2023.

Boston Yeager and Reid Rowland (Bearden): These two linemen project very well from a body-frame and ability standpoint. Keep an eye on them in 2022.

HOW THEY SCORED

Alcoa took a 16-0 lead with 1 minute left in the half. Alcoa QB Eli Graf and all-purpose athlete Garrison Stephens scored on 8- and 10-yard runs, respectively. In MAC football, PATs garner you two points apiece, and Alcoa kicker Kyrin Tyson made those two and all seven attempts Thursday.

Bearden answered back with a 64-yard, tackle-breaking, juke-infused run by Kai Ironside. That score and subsequent PAT cut Alcoa’s lead to 16-8 with 36 seconds remaining in the first half. Unfortunately, Ironside — who is one of Bearden’s top talents — missed the second half with a hand/wrist injury.

Alcoa didn’t fritter away the final seconds of the first half; rather, it went back into attack mode. Graf threw a deep pass to Stephens, who made a great adjustment on the ball, caught the ball over his defender and then coasted into the end zone for the 52-yard score. Alcoa led 24-8 at the break.

That halftime lead increased to 32-8 on a Shannon Salter 1-yard run.

Bearden quarterback Drew Parrott improvised a score at the 6:17 mark of the third quarter, scrambling around to his right until he ultimately found King Hubbard on a 29-yard touchdown pass. Bearden trailed 32-16 at that point.

But Bearden had no answer for Alcoa’s run game. The Tornadoes pounded Eli Owens and Salter, who added third-quarter touchdown runs to bump the lead to 48-16.

Parrott scored on a short-yardage touchdown run with 4:14 to play for Bearden. Alcoa tacked on the final points with 11 seconds left on an Owens touchdown run.

2020 MAC CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO GALLERY

Pics by Danny Parker Presented FREE by Ellison Sanitary Supply

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