This wasn’t the way the Stone Memorial football season was supposed to come to an end. The Panthers weren’t supposed to lose in the second round of the playoffs.
Rather, this was the year. Stone Memorial has the quarterback that threw for over 2,000 yards. The Panthers also had a stable of running backs capable of breaking runs for touchdowns, a smothering defense, and they have one of the best receiving corps in the state.
However, thanks to some miscues early and playing one of the top teams in Tennessee, Stone Memorial came out on the short end of a 44-14 decision at Anderson County in Clinton.
“In that environment, [with a] big crowd, big environment, big stakes, fireworks and music and everything that goes along with that, mistakes compound themselves in that environment and that was certainly the case of the night,” Stone Coach Derik Samber said. “It seemed like it was kind of an avalanche after the first mistake and even without mistakes, Anderson County is so good, they can beat you regardless. However, we gave them a little bit, and they took it and ran.”
The loss closes out the Stone Memorial season at 10-2, while Anderson County improves to 9-2 and earns a spot in the third round of the postseason.
Stone Memorial opened the game on its first possession deep in its own territory. Struggling to get any breathing room, the Panthers were taken down in their end zone for a safety with 9:55 to go in the first period.
And after holding Stone again, Anderson County scored on a 10-yard touchdown run by Jayzon Thompson. The extra point was good and ACHS led 9-0 with 7:46 on the clock.
The Mavericks intercepted the Panthers on their next possession and converted it into another touchdown. This time Thompson ran it in from five yards out.
Anderson County closed out the first quarter with another touchdown. Dameion Leavell scampered through the Stone defense for a 34-yard scoring run. The point after touchdown kick was good and the Mavericks led 23-0 with 3:46 remaining in the opening quarter.
“Anderson County showed some things we had not seen on film at all,” Samber said. “They were much more multiple [options, formations] than we had seen on film. When you have mistakes and you dig yourself a hole early, it makes you pretty predictable. It’s hard to have a lot of offensive balance when you’re down by multiple scores early. That was working against us and then Anderson County had a level of team speed that we really hadn’t seen, and it made life difficult on us.”
The run continued in the second quarter for Anderson County. The Mavericks got a touchdown pass from Thompson to Gabe St. John with 11:53 to go. After holding the Panthers on their next possession, Thompson pushed the Anderson County lead to 37-0 with a 51-yard touchdown run at 4:10 on the clock.
Stone did get on the board just before halftime. Noah Potter connected with Dylan Phillips for a 1-yard touchdown pass. The kick failed, and the Panthers trailed 37-6 at the intermission.
Each team scored once in the second half. Anderson County scored early in the fourth quarter, while Stone closed out the scoring with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Kadyn Page to Carson Bunker with 7:33 to go in the game. The extra point provided the final 44-14 margin.
“The breakthrough is certainly the ultimate goal, wanting to take this team and school and community to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and ultimately state championship game,” Samber said. “That’s ultimately the goal, but there is so much to be proud of this year.
“My goal is to build great men and create great moments, and in that senior class we’ve got a lot of great men that are going to go out and make Crossville and Tennessee and wherever they may end up a better world, better community.”