Post Photo by Chris Siers D.J. Gardner (11) celebrates with Aja Jones after scoring his first touchdown. Gardner had six carries for 19 yards and two scores in Marshall County’s win over Hardin County.
Post Photo by Chris Siers Aja Jones keeps his eyes upfield and finds the open route. He had seven catches for 93 yards and added 14 more yards on a carry out of the backfield as well.
By Chris Siers
csiers@bedfordcountypost.com
SAVANNAH — Two years ago, the Hardin County Tigers (11-1) ended the Marshall County Tigers’ season with a 24-0 first-round playoff win.
Friday night’s second-round matchup between the two schools had a little bit different of an outcome.
Hardin County’s unbeaten streak came to an end on Friday night as the Marshall County Tigers (9-2) put forth their most efficient offensive game of the year and punched their ticket to the third-round of the playoffs with a 45-23 win.
“So happy with our entire organization and team. coming over here and playing an 11-0 Hardin County team. They’ve been the No. 1 team in West Tennessee all year. Just a total team win,” Marshall County coach Thomas Osteen said.
“This is as good of a win as our program has had in a few years. To be playing
Post Photo by Chris Siers Jayden Randolph stretches for the end zone and drags a Hardin County defender along as he scores the game’s first touchdown on a 14-yard pass from Silas Teat.
this late in November in the third round of the playoffs, 85% of the teams are already done playing. Really happy our kids made a life-long memory tonight.”
Tiger quarterback Silas Teat orchestrated Marshall County’s best offensive showing of the year, completing 22-of-26 attempts for 267 yards and three scores.
He added a fourth touchdown on the ground as well.
“Our offensive staff burnt the midnight oil this week trying to figure out a way to be efficient on first down and put ourselves in a good position. That first drive, we snapped it 13 times. It was as efficient as we’ve played all year and maybe in a couple of years. That starts with Silas Teat, our quarterback,” Osteen said.
Leading the way in the ground game, Kamariq Perryman totaled 146 yards on 18 carries, but it was D.J. Gardner who found the end zone twice a
Post Photo by Chris Siers Senior quarterback Silas Teat completed 22-of-26 attempts for 267 yards and three touchdowns. He added a fourth score on a 1-yard run as well.
nd had 19 yards on six carries.
After forcing a fumble on the first Hardin County possession of the night, the Tigers answered with a lengthy drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Randolph with 1:44.
Gardner added his first touchdown of the night with 7:36 left in the first half for his first score of the night.
Threatening to put the game out of reach early, Hardin County turned the ball over on downs on the Marshall County 3-yard line.
Eventually, the Tigers snapped the ball out of the end zone for a safety to put the hosts on the board.
Hardin County took the momentum on the following possession and capped the drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Smith.
Smith went on to throw two more touchdowns, including a 69-yard dime to Ryan Weaks.
“He (Smith) is as good as there is. He got some yards tonight. We tried to limit his explosive plays. He got some, but to hold Hardin County to three touchdowns when they’ve been scoring 40 and 50 all year is big,” Osteen said.
Smith completed 17-of-28 attempts for 282 yards and three scores.
After Hardin County closed the gap within a single possession by halftime, Marshall County came out guns blazing in the third quarter and Teat connected with Randolph and Markese Davis on completions of 19 and 11 yards before
Post Photo by Chris Siers Kamariq Perryman finds a crease and breaks loose on a 55-yard run at Hardin County. He had 18 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown in the win.
finishing the drive on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.
Hardin County answered the score with a 7-yard touchdown pass to pull within nine.
Marshall County closed the game by scoring on its final three possessions of the game.
The win snapped the 11-game win streak for Hardin County and avenges a season-ending playoff loss in Savannah from two years ago.
The win also puts the Marshall County Tigers in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2017, but the path doesn’t get any easier.
In fact, the Tigers get an all-too-familiar opponent waiting in the Class 4A quarterfinals—No. 1 ranked Pearl Cohn.
The Tigers fell to Pearl Cohn in the regular season finale three weeks ago, but posted the most points against the Firebirds this season in that game.
“Happy we’re playing, but I told the kids we’re not done. Pearl is Pearl. They’ve been the No.1 team in the state all year. We don’t have to go beat Pearl 10 times. We have to go find that one win,” Osteen said.
Pearl Cohn crushed Lexington, 42-2, in the first-round of the playoffs and overcame a slug-fest on Friday against Station Camp in the second round.
On Friday, the Tigers will once again travel to Nashville to face the Firebirds, with a trip to the Class 4A semifinal round on the line.
“We’re going to go play loose, fast and try to get that thing late in the fourth quarter and put all the pressure on them,” Osteen said.
Marshall Co. 7 10 14 14 — 45
Hardin Co. 0 9 7 7 — 23
First Quarter
MC — Jayden Randolph 14 pass from Silas Teat, (Wyatt Joyce kick), 1:44.
Second Quarter
MC — D.J. Gardner 3 run, (Joyce kick), 7:36.
HC — Safety, snap through end zone, 4:02.
HC — Ryan Weaks 11 pass from Carter Smith, (Nolan Foster kick), 1:32.
MC — Joyce 21-yard field goal, 0:00.
Third Quarter
MC — Teat 1 run, (Joyce kick), 10:21.
HC — Weaks 7 pass from Smith, (Foster kick), 7:03.
MC — Markese Davis 25 pass from Teat, (Joyce kick), 4:51.
Fourth Quarter
MC — Kel Hightower 7 pass from Teat, (Joyce kick), 11:18.
HC — London Rose 69 pass from Smith, (Foster kick), 10:21.
MC — Gardner 5 run, (Joyce kick), 5:31.
