The Sports Report Jason PattersonA week ago we posed the question on this page, “Can anybody beat Tri-County?”
Although the state championship game still has to be played on Friday, I’m convinced the answer is no.
Unless Tri-County’s bus breaks down on the way to the game, I feel confident the Rebels will bring home another state title. If I managed the company that builds state championship rings, I’d be calling this week to confirm that TCA’s mailing address is still 400 Cox Ferry Road.
With no disrespect intended to Wilkinson Christian, I believe the title was decided last Friday. Benton Academy did everything it took to have a chance to win Friday night, but still TCA pulled away in the end.
The Raiders kept the game close through three quarters, made some big plays when it counted and didn’t make many careless mistakes.  Benton gave the Rebels the biggest scare the team has had all season, but TCA kept pounding away and doing what they do best.
Tri-County’s roster is so deep that there just doesn’t seem to be any significant weaknesses on either side of the ball.
The numbers speak for themselves.
The Rebels hold the state’s longest active winning streak at 26 games and boast an incredible 40-1 record over the last three seasons.
There are guys on this football team who don’t know what it’s like to lose a high school football game.
Sophomore running back Ryan Cothern eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark on the season Friday night by rushing for 228 yards on 28 carries against a very aggressive Benton Academy defense. The Raiders have a great defense, and they brought everything they had at Cothern, but he still broke loose for big plays.
Cothern is an exciting player to watch, and you’ll probably see him playing at the next level in three years.
Rebels quarterback Trey Bozeman proved himself Friday night when the going got tough. Bozeman found himself in unfamiliar territory when Benton’s Ben Street got an interception and the Raiders soon scored. For a short time Benton seemed to have seized the momentum, but Bozeman kept his composure and led his team to victory.
TCA’s defense is equally effective. Benton’s Kent Manor brought his usual brand of rushing where he makes opponents pay for tackling him. Manor has rushed for over 1,500 yards this seasons, but he never scored Friday because he had a legion of defenders in pursuit every time he touched the ball. Quarterback Dalton Burton made some big plays, but his speed didn’t provide nearly the edge it has against other teams.
It was a great test for Tri-County, and the Rebels passed with flying colors. Red and Blue to be exact.
Friday night was a great football game that I’ll never forget. I hope that this week’s title game proves to be just as exciting, but I’ll be shocked if the Rebels aren’t celebrating yet another victory.