Quincy Mitchell accounted for seven touchdowns in the Rockets’ first-round playoff win at Chattanooga Prep. (Post File Photo by Kacy Kincaid)
By KACY KINCAID
Sports Writer
CHATTANOOGA — The Forrest Rockets hit the road Friday night, coming away with the 49–36 win over the Chattanooga Prep Sentinels in the first round of Region 4-3A playoffs.
The game showcased two of Tennessee’s best, with both Forrest’s sophomore Quincy Mitchell and Chattanooga Prep’s senior Marquis Gardner being named Class 3A Mr. Football semifinalists earlier in the week.
“What a great win for our program,” said Forrest head coach Justin Palmer. “I’m just so happy for our players. They are such a great group of kids who play for each other. What a night from Quincy Mitchell and our offensive line.”
Behind a dominant rushing performance from Mitchell, who carried the ball 42 times for 397 yards, the Rockets controlled the pace and held off a late push from the Sentinels.
Forrest set the tone early, opening the game with an 85-yard drive capped by a touchdown run from Mitchell to take a 7–0 lead.
Chattanooga Prep answered quickly with a score from Gardner, the two-point conversion failing.
Forrest responded right away as Mitchell broke loose for a 66-yard touchdown run to make it 14–6.
The Rockets continued to lean on their ground game in the second quarter.
Mitchell added two more touchdowns, one set up by a key block from senior Wyatt Holmes and another with Shawn David clearing the way at the goal line, giving Forrest a 28–6 advantage.
Gardner found the end zone again late in the half to close the gap to 28–14 at the break.
Chattanooga Prep scored on its opening possession in the third and converted a two-point run to pull within 28–22.
But Forrest answered with another long drive, capped by Mitchell’s fourth touchdown of the night to push the lead to 35–22.
Gardner connected on a trick play late in the third to make it 35–28 heading into the final frame.
The Rockets extended their lead in the fourth on a touchdown run by Mitchell and then delivered a highlight play when a Sentinel fumble recovered by Forrest’s Lochlin Morris ultimately ended up in Mitchell’s hands, who returned it for a score to make it 49–28.
Gardner added one more touchdown and conversion late, but Forrest ran out the clock to secure the win.
The Rockets finished with 435 total yards to Chattanooga Prep’s 406, while the Sentinels hurt themselves with 12 penalties for 95 yards.
Gardner led Chattanooga Prep with 225 rushing yards on 24 carries.
“We are fired up about the chance to go up to Gatlinburg to play a really good Gatlinburg-Pittman team,” said Palmer. “It will be a trip and a day our players will never forget.”
The Rockets hit the road again Friday as they take on the Gatlinburg-Pittman Highlanders in the second round of the Region 4-3A playoffs. Kickoff in Gatlinburg is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Chattanooga Prep 6 8 14 8 — 36
Forrest 14 14 7 14 — 49
First Quarter
F – Quincy Mitchell 18 run (Isai Garcia kick), 7:22.
C – Marquis Gardner 5 run (pass failed), 5:52.
F – Mitchell 66 run (Garcia kick), 5:01.
Second Quarter
F – Mitchell 56 run (Garcia kick), 11:01.
F – Mitchell 18 run (Garcia kick), 7:25.
C – Gardner 5 run (Gardner run), 3:58.
Third Quarter
C – Gardner 38 run (Gardner run), 11:01.
F – Mitchell 9 run (Garcia kick), 4:19.
C – Gardner 6 run (pass failed), 0:00.
Fourth Quarter
F – Mitchell 52 run (Garcia kick), 8:45.
F – Mitchell 35 run (Garcia kick), 7:04.
C – Gardner 10 run (Gardner run), 5:36.