Tigers take down Boyd-Buchanan, 24-21

Nov. 7, 2014 @ Chattanooga

Game Recap Credit: Goose Lindsay

After coming up empty in their four previous playoff trips to Chattanooga since 2009, the Rockwood Tigers finally got the monkey off their back with a come-from-behind 24-21 victory at Boyd-Buchanan Friday night in the opening round of the TSSAA Class 2A playoffs.

Rockwood had lost at Boyd-Buchanan in 2009, 2011 and 2012, while dropping a game at Silverdale Academy last year. The Tigers appeared headed for another loss when the Buccaneers took a 21-10 lead early in the third quarter, but Rockwood didn’t quit and scored the game’s final 14 points.

“Four of the last five years our season has ended with a bad taste in our mouth in Chattanooga,” Rockwood head coach John Webb said. “Tonight was a lot better.

“Our guys turned it over four times tonight, but they found a way to win. We just fought for four quarters and made plays when we had to.”

“This feels great,” Tiger senior FB/LB Jason Gaus added. “We played all four quarters tonight. We’ve been doing that all year, coming back in the fourth quarter like that.”

While the ending was great, the beginning left a lot to be desired as the Buccaneers opened the game with a 7-play, 63-yard scoring drive to take a 7-0 lead with 10:07 left in the first quarter.

Rockwood scored on its first drive as well, but the Tigers didn’t find the end zone. Rockwood settled for a Johnny Turner 24-yard field goal that made the score 7-3 with 5:50 left in the first quarter.

Rockwood’s scoring drive lasted 11 plays and covered 59 yards with a 37-yard run from Isiah Jones being the big play of the series.

The scoring pace slowed considerably until midway through the second quarter.

Rockwood threatened with eight minutes remaining in the half, but the Buccaneers intercepted a pass in the end zone after the Tigers had drove the ball to the 23-yard line.

Rockwood, however, got the ball back immediately when Austin Cooper intercepted a pass at the Buccaneer 37.

After a penalty, Tiger QB Will Warner threw a 41-yard pass to Drake Long, and then Warner scored on a 1-yard sneak to give the Tigers a 10-7 lead with 7:20 left in the first half.

Rockwood seemed poised to hold that lead, or perhaps take an even bigger lead into the locker room at halftime, but the Tigers fumbled the ball at midfield with 2:25 left in the half, and after a 15-yard return, the Buccaneers put together a 34-yard scoring drive to take a 14-10 lead with 1:05 left in the half.

Rockwood moved the ball to the Boyd-Buchanan 28 before halftime, and nearly came up with a score, but a pass was dropped at the goal line was dropped with .9 seconds remaining in the second period.

Another turnover cost the Tigers at the start of the second half, as the Buccaneers drove 45 yards in five plays following an interception to take a 21-10 lead with 9:25 left in the third quarter.

The biggest play of the game might have come two plays after the ensuing kickoff. Boyd-Buchanan thought they had returned an interception for a touchdown that would have probably ended the game, but the Buccaneers were guilty of roughing the passer on the play.

From that point on, the Tigers pretty much dominated the game. After the penalty, the Tigers scored with a 4-yard run from Long that capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive.

Warner then threw to Long for the two-point conversion that made the score 21-18 with 3:04 left in the third quarter.

Gaus was a workhorse in the drive, carrying the ball six times for 48 yards.

The momentum stayed with the Tigers to start the fourth quarter. After forcing a Buccaneer punt, Rockwood moved the ball to the Boyd-Buchanan 37 before a Gaus fumble with 7:50 left to play seemed to give the Buccaneers the break they needed to hold off the Tigers.

Gaus, however, found redemption two plays later when he picked off a pass at midfield at returned it to the Buccaneer 29-yard line.

“I’m glad I could make up for the fumble,” Gaus said. He was then able to predict the future.“I knew once we got it back that we were going to score. We had the momentum,” he said.

Gaus was right as he scored five plays later on a 6-yard run that made the score 24-21 after a failed PAT.

The run was part of a big second half for the bruising fullback. After picking up just 21 yards in the first half, he carried the ball 13 times for 82 yards in the second half.

“They were trying to keep us from getting outside by slanting outside so we just kept running 12 blast,” Gaus said. “The line did a great job and Isiah (Jones) led me through the hole.”

“Jason came to play,” Webb added. “He’s a hard-nosed kid that knows how to play. He turned it over, but he didn’t hang his head. He turned around and made a big play for us with the interception.”

Rockwood’s defense made the lead stand as they took over on downs four plays later, and then the Tigers ran out the clock by taking a knee inside the Buccaneer 5-yard line.

Up next for Rockwood (8-3) is a familiar for as the Tigers travel to Oneida (9-1). Oneida’s only loss of the season came when Rockwood scored two touchdowns in the final four minutes and defeated the Indians 14-13 in the season opener for both teams.

“It’s going to be a physical game just like the first time,” Gaus said. “It’s going to be low scoring and hard hitting.”

Scoring

Team Statistics

Individual Statistics

Passing

Rushing

Receiving

Jason Gaus and Austin Cooper each had an interception.

Click here for the Players of the Week!

Game Video Highlights and Post Game Interviews

Inside Rockwood Football 11/7/14 Rockwood Vs Boyd Game

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Inside Rockwood Football 11/7/14 Rockwood Vs Boyd Post Game Show

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