Jones Conner (76), John Carlevato (4) and the West Rebels faced the Powell Panthers in a TSSAA Class 5A state semifinal on Hayworth Field at Scarbro Stadium on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022, in Powell, Tennessee. West won 28-21. (Photo by Danny Parker)
BY JESSE SMITHEY
When West linebacker Brock Hatcher blitzed off the left edge, sacked Powell quarterback Jordyn Potts and jarred the ball loose for a teammate to recover and clinch a win in the state semifinals last Friday night, the bang-bang play sprung forth a celebration for the ages on the West sideline.
Rebels star running back Brayden Latham immediately sought out West head coach Lamar Brown and hugged him.
Hugged him hard.
“Let’s go take a knee!” Brown reminded Latham, saying it twice.
So caught up in the excitement of eliminating the defending Class 5A state champion was Latham that he, for a moment, forgot that one more task had to be done.
Victory formation.
Let West senior quarterback Carson Jessie take a knee, run the last couple of seconds of clock off the 28-21 game and officially send West to its first BlueCross Bowl since winning it all in 2014.
“I knew when we got that ball back, the first person I was going to go find was Coach Brown and hug him. We finally get to go play that Friday game at the state championship,” said Latham, a senior and Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist.
“It felt surreal. I couldn’t feel myself. I almost busted into tears. I almost forgot we had to go Victory (formation) and stuff. It felt amazing.”
Can you imagine the emotions if West were to pull off one more win?
The Rebels will try and complete their first-ever unbeaten season in school history at 7 p.m. Friday at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.
Standing in their way: last year’s state runner-up Page (12-2), which suffered a down-to-the-wire loss to Powell in the 2021 Class 5A state championship.
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West (14-0) has one of the most dominant defensive units in the state, allowing just 184.7 yards and 9.3 points per game against one of the state’s toughest schedules. Remember the wins over Alcoa and Maryville?
The Rebels have made 145 tackles for loss, 41 sacks, intercepted 24 passes and recovered seven fumbles.
They’ve scored seven defensive touchdowns, blocked three punts and three PATS.
But they know they’ll have to stay on top of their game for all four quarters. Page fell behind 21-0 to Powell last year. And even with Powell having massive defensive tackle Walter Nolen (now at Texas A&M) wreaking havoc throughout the night, Page still managed to have a chance in the final seconds to spoil Powell’s night. The Panthers won 42-34, as Ayden Greene defended a last-second, 32-yard pass by Page in the end zone as time expired.
And Page is finding a way to rally and win win close games this postseason, despite losing starting running back Ethan Cunningham to injury a few weeks ago.
“I got the experience of what playing in a state championship was like,” said Page senior Colin Hurd. “We came up short, but I feel like that really helped us this year, just experiencing that. The big stage and stuff.”
Hurd is the new quarterback at Page, replacing 2022 graduate Jake McNamara who is now on the roster at UTEP. The 6-1, 220-pound Hurd played linebacker for Page last season.
Hurd’s style is a stark contrast to McNamara’s free-wheeling, make-plays-on-the-fly approach.
“McNamara got injured in the first game last year, and Colin stepped in and played several games. I think in a game and a half, or two and a half games, he threw for, like, eight touchdowns and close to 1,000 yards. He knows the reads,” said Page coach Charles Rathbone, who is a native of Maryville, Tenn.
“Colin is a different quarterback. Jake is going to spread it out and throw it all over the place. Colin, he’s going to take what everyone gives him and run it if he has to. Colin is a linebacker playing quarterback for us, for the most part. He’s done a really good job of learning the offense and reads and throwing what’s there.”
West will counter with two-year starter Carson Jessie.
Jessie isn’t a 3,000-yard passer nor is he a 1,000-yard rusher.
“The biggest thing is: Carson is a warrior,” said Coach Brown.
When Jessie first took the reins of the offense, Brown saw a quarterback just “trying to survive” the early weeks of the 2021 season and learning to handle all the intricacies of the position on the fly. Months later, West reached the state semifinals.
And in the offseason, Jessie poured hours into his quarterbacking craft.
“He came in this year with a lot more confidence,” Brown said. “Carson is just a lot more confident kid. You can feel it when you’re around him. I think our offense responds to that.
“I know he makes me a more confident coach when he’s on the field.”
Jessie usually throws around 10 times per game, and that’s yielded him some 1,531 yards and 17 TDs passing this season; the Rebels’ pass game feasts off play-action shots.
But his ability to play through injury, his ability to check out of bad plays and get West positive yardage, his ability to command the huddle and lead — and his even-keel demeanor — make West go.
“He’s a calming force for our offense,” said Brown. “He never gets too high. He never gets too low.”
“He doesn’t force the issue,” added Brown. “He lets the game come to him.”
CLASS 5A BlueCross Bowl Championship
Kickoff: 7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2, Finley Stadium (Chattanooga)
TV: MyVLT
On the call: Voice of the Titans Mike Keith, Josh Corey (color analyst)
PAGE (12-2)
Head coach: Charles Rathbone (89-42 in 11 seasons at Page)
Championship history: 2021 runner-up to Powell.
Playoff Road: def. Green Hill (48-21), Mt. Juliet (42-39), Nolensville (35-28), Henry County (27-24)
PAGE PLAYER WATCH
4 – Colin Hurd (QB, senior, 6-1, 220): 2,746 yards, 28 TDs, 8 INTs
11 – Max Collins (WR, senior, 6-2, 180): 38 catches, 672 yards, 6 TDs
12 – Boyce Smith (WR, senior, 5-10, 160): 59 catches, 854 yards, 9 TDs
22 – Brendan Anes (LB, senior, 6-2, 205): 91 tackles, 13 TFLs
40 – Eric Hazzard (LB, sophomore, 6-3, 215): 58 tackles, 14 TFLs, 10 sacks
72 – Ronan O’Connell (LT, junior, 6-5, 280)
WEST (14-0)
Head coach: Lamar Brown (130-54 career, 59-19 in 6 seasons at West)
Championship history: Class 5A champion in 2014, runner-up in 2013
Playoff Road: def. David Crockett (56-7), Morristown West (68-14), Daniel Boone (49-7), Powell (28-21)
WEST PLAYER WATCH
2 – JaQurrius Wrenn (WR/DB, senior, 6-0, 165): 11 catches, 375 yards, 2 TDs; 3 punt return TDs; 59 tackles, 6 INTs, 2 defensive TDs
3 – Marshaun Bowers (WR/DB, junior, 5-9, 175): 13 catches, 156 yards, TD; 10 carries, 98 yards, 2 TDs; 48 tackles, 4 INTs, 2 defensive TDs
4 – John Carlevato (ATH/LB, senior, 6-2, 225): 7 carries, 168 yards, 4 TDs; 92.5 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, two blocked punts
5 – Brock Hatcher (LB, senior, 5-11, 200): 57.5 tackles, 9.5 TFL, 4 sacks, 4 INTs
6 – Syxx Hoard (WR/DB, junior, 5-8, 150): 13 catches, 367 yards, 4 TDs
8 – Cayden Latham (WR/DB, senior, 5-10, 170): 13 catches, 212 yards, 3 TDs; 41 tackles, 4 INTs.
9 – Carson Jessie (QB, senior, 6-2, 190): 1,531 yards, 17 TDs, 6 INTs
14 – Brayden Latham (RB, senior, 6-0, 190): 180 carries, 1,636 yards, 24 TDs; Mr. Football finalist.
15 – Ryan Scott (LB, junior, 6-1, 195): 17.5 tackles, 15 TFLS, 2 INT
16 – Tyson Siebe (K, senior): 57-88 KOs for touchbacks, 64-68 PATs, 8-13 FGs, long 42
18 – Anderson Smith (LB, junior, 6-2, 195): 75 tackles, 14.5 TFLs, 7.5 sacks, INT
42 – R.J. Brooks (TE, senior, 6-3, 240): 9 catches, 261 yards, 7 TDs
44 – C.J. Smith (DE, junior, 6-3, 235): 37 tackles, 18 TFLs, 8 sacks; Power 5 prospect
55 – Jameiyes Mills (NG, senior, 6-1, 275): 79.5 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, 2 blocked PATs
5STAR PREPS PREDICTION
West 27, Page 10
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