Sept. 14, 2018 @ Meigs County

Game Summary By Ed Greif

The Meigs County Tigers scored on 8-of-10 possessions to take a 46-6 victory over the Rockwood Tigers in a rematch of last season's playoff game at Decatur, where Rockwood defeated Meigs County 9-8 to eliminate the hosts in the quarterfinal round of the Class 2A playoffs.

After holding Rockwood to three plays and out on their first possession, Meigs County drove 47 yards in four plays to take a 7-0 lead with 9:34 left in the first quarter. Gabriel Maldonado scored on a 12-yard run for the early lead. Nic Adcock booted the PAT.

Again, Meigs County held Rockwood to three plays and out, taking over at the Rockwood 37. Martin Smith exploded for 68 yards to give the hosts a 13-0 lead with 6:45 left in the quarter. Adcock's PAT made it 14-0. Taz Bazel's 18-yard kickoff return put the his team on their own 23-yard line, but the drive stalled at the Rockwood 40, where Nate Brackett booted a 38-yard punt to the Meigs' 22-yard line.

Four plays later, Brackett picked off a Logan Carroll pass and returned it 13 yards to the Rockwood 36, where Bazel broke several tackles and weaved his way the distance for his team's score with 2:39 left in the first quarter. Ben Woodall's PAT was no good, leaving Rockwood behind 14-6.

A 29-yard kickoff return by Caleb Hyde put Meigs County good positition, but a penalty on the hosts moved the ball to their 21. The running of Martin Smith, Michael Moseley and Maldonado set up Martin Smith's 8-yard TD run for a 20-6 lead, but the PAT failed in the early seconds of the second quarter.

Another three and out by Rockwood gave Meigs County at the Rockwood 26. Five plays later, Martin Smith scored his third TD on a 10-yard run for a 26-6 lead with 7:11 left in the half. The two-point conversion failed. Rockwood's next series picked up 18 yards rushing on five carries, but a personal foul penalty helped kill the drive, forcing another Bracket punt to the Meigs County 32.

Jackson Fritts racked 56 yards to the Rockwood 18, Maldonado scored from the 19 three plays later for a 32-6 lead, with David Mason booting the PAT for the 33-6 advantage. Swafford was 1-of-2 passing for 9 yards for Meigs County, who was charged with a blocking in the back penalty.

Meigs County extended the lead to 40-6 on a 15-yard pass from Swafford to Jon Jon Beeler with 41.5 seconds left in the half and Adcock's PAT, after holding Rockwood to another three plays and out to set up the 5-play, 36-yard drive. Dade Turner returned the enusing kick 18 yards, but his team could only run a couple of plays before the first ended.

Meigs County dominated the first half, rushing for 296 yards on 23 carries and 44 yards passing on 3-of-8 passes, while Rockwood was rushed for 84 yards on 21 carries and passed for 4 yard on 1-of-5 passes with only four first downs.The first half was marred with a number of penalites - Rockwood, 4 for 40 and Meigs County, 3 for 15.

Fritts returned the second-half kick 21 yards to the Rockwood 49. Four plays later, senior offensive lineman Marshall Brantley scored from six plays out for a 46-6 lead with 10:11 left in the third quarter. Fritts carried twice for 37 yards. From that point forward, the TSSAA mercy rule kicked in.

Rockwood pickied up 3 yards rushing on four carries, before Brackett copleted a pass to Williams, but block in the back penalty set the ball back to the Rockwood 42. Mason picked off Bracket to end the threat. Meigs County was held to three-plays and out to end the third quarter, leading 46-6.

Rockwood took over at their 14 and moved the ball on the running of Octavious Worthy, Dom Simpson, Gavin Evans and Abe Gaskins to the Meigs County 8-yard line, but Bracket was sacked twice for minus seven yards. On the second sack, he fumbled with Meigs County recovering at their 15-yard line. Simpson carried five times for 39 yards, while Gaskins picked up 13 yards on carry.

Meigs County collected 412 total yards ( 368 yards rushing on 32 attempts and 44 yards passing on 3-of-7 tosses) with 15 first downs, while Rockwood had 180 total yards (156 yards rushing on 36 attempts and 14 yards pass on 2-of-7 attempts) with 10 first downs.

Bazel was the leading Rockwood rusher with 78 yards on 8 attempts with 1 TD and had 4 kickoff returns for 56 yards, while Simpson added 39 yards on 5 carries. Bracket compled 2-of-7 passes for 14 yards, punted six times for 38,3 average and picked off one Meigs County pass. Rockwood returned 8 kicks for 84 yards.

Rockwood will host Harriman this Friday at 7:30 p.m. This is the 99th game in the long rivalry for the Rockwood Football Alumni Assciation's dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the high school cafeteira.

Player of the week for the Meigs County Game is: #8 Octavius Worthy

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