Members of the Holston High School football team have grown used to the pressures of playoff football. They enjoy when the stakes are higher, the intensity is revved up a notch and the bleachers are packed.
“It feels good,” said Holston senior wide receiver Micah Thomas. “It’s a really good experience. The atmosphere is great and it’s fun to play in colder weather.”
The Cavaliers are also used to something else – facing the Bath County Chargers.
“It wouldn’t feel like the playoffs unless we played Bath County,” said Holston coach Jason Matlock.
For the third time in as many seasons, Holston will host the Chargers in the Region C, Division 1 playoffs. Kickoff for today’s regional championship game is set for 2:30 p.m. in Damascus.
Two years ago, Bath County spoiled Holston’s return to the playoffs after a 12-year absence with a 27-20 semifinal victory.
Last season in Damascus, Holston claimed the first regional title in school history with a 13-3 triumph. The Cavaliers trailed 3-0 at halftime, before second-half touchdowns from Jeffrey Bramlett and
Jordan Blevins secured the win.
“It was exciting,” Blevins said. “I’ve never had a feeling like it. I can’t really explain it; it was just a great feeling.”
Holston has had plenty of great feelings this fall en route to compiling a 10-1 record. Quarterback John Pratt and running backs Cody Blevins and Bramlett have keyed the high-powered offense.
Meanwhile, the defense has also delivered. The team has allowed just 10.3 points per contest and shut down Rural Retreat last Friday in a 27-0 playoff victory.
“Defensively [against Rural Retreat], we played lights out and held them to negative rushing yards,” Matlock said. “Anytime, in the second round of the playoffs, you can hold a team under 100 yards of total offense, you are doing well. I was real proud of the way we played defensively.”
The Cavaliers will have to play well against a Chargers team that is capable of putting up big numbers. They upset Eastern Montgomery, 31-30, last week thanks to two touchdown passes by Michael
Robertson and a defense that picked off three passes.
“They’re pretty solid all the way around,” Matlock said. “They don’t make very many mistakes and their offensive and defensive lines have some big guys up front. Their QB’s a pretty good decision maker and they run hard.”
Bath County has played in eight regional title games since 2000 and are a contender every fall in the state’s smallest division. Meanwhile, Holston has reversed its football fortunes since Matlock took over three years ago.
Neither team will need an introduction to one another this afternoon.
“Bath County’s pretty good, but we’re a pretty good team too,” Blevins said. “It’s going to be a battle.”
thayes@bristolnews.com|(276) 645-2570
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