THS takes care of VHS in V-T game

BY SPENCER CAMPBELL
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER

BRISTOL, Tenn. – The 90th playing of the V-T rivalry was billed as a collision of high octane offenses – and that prediction proved true.

But when Friday night’s match-up between Tennessee High and cross-town rival Virginia High is remembered in future years, it will surely be the defensive play of Vikings senior safety John Ellis Davis that makes Bearcat fans gnash their teeth.

Davis intercepted four VHS passes, a new THS record, to lead the Vikings to a 56-23 blowout win over the Bearcats at the Stone Castle. Friday night’s win was THS’ 64th against VHS, and the Vikings’ 56 points was the most ever accumulated by either team in a V-T game.

Still neither of those feats could have been captured without the Vikings collecting six interceptions as a team, including Ellis’ four.

“It feels pretty good, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates pressuring the quarterback,” Ellis said. “But we did a lot of film work on Virginia High, and we knew their tendencies. Plus, and I don’t say this to be cocky, but I think we have one of the most athletic secondaries in the Big Eight [Conference].”

THS’ first interception came from senior defensive tackle Dylan Crockett, who snatched a floating screen pass over the middle on VHS’ second drive, returning it 50 yards for a touchdown and a 14-3 Vikings’ lead.

Ellis grabbed his first interception on the Bearcats’ next drive, and four plays later THS senior quarterback Taylor Harmon hit a wide open Matt Pendleton for a 41-yard touchdown catch.

Ellis picked off VHS three more times in the first half, giving THS a 42-9 intermission lead, with Michael Fersner adding another one in the second half.

“We knew coming in here that we were going to have to play perfectly, and they were going to have to give us some,” VHS coach Chris Thurman said. “It was a mismatch. They’re a good football team ... they get after it and all the credit in the world goes to that team.”

And Ellis’ secondary doesn’t deserve all the credit for Friday night’s win.

The THS offense racked up 257 yards of total offense in the first half on 23 plays from scrimmage – good for 11.2 yards per play from scrimmage. Harmon was nearly perfect before halftime, going 7-for-9 for 169 passing yards, including scoring passes of 27 and 41 yards.

Throw in another 99 yards and two touchdowns from senior running back Keenan Shepard, and THS produced the highest scoring game in V-T history.

“[The scoring record] I didn’t know. We didn’t have any expectation of that. That’s something we’ll always have,” Harmon said. “It’s all confidence. Everyone has confidence in themselves and each other. Any play we call in the huddle, I’m thinking: ‘This could be a touchdown.’ ”

The VHS offense was nearly as successful as the THS offense early in the first quarter. The Bearcats rushing attack of Damon Dock and Andy Bowers, which had been so successful in VHS’ first two games, was stifled by the Vikings defense, producing 26 yards on 14 carries in the first half.

VHS turned to its passing game, accumulating 12 first downs in the first half as Bowers threw for 168 yards prior to halftime. The Bearcats could never take advantage of their offenses’ success, however, and were eventually buried underneath an avalanche of turnovers.

“They did some great things offensively, early on,” THS coach Greg Stubbs said. “They’re a good football team. Our offense just kept the ball longer.

“I’m pleased with our output. We’re going to need to do that. We’re going to need to score some points with some tough teams on our schedule.”

VHS 3 6 7 7—23
THS 14 28 14 0—00

Scoring Summary
VH – Ian Frye 40 field goal
TH – Davis 27 pass from Harmon (Graham kick)
TH – Crockett 64 int. ret.
TH – Pendelton 41 pass from Harmon (Graham kick)
TH – Shepard 18 run (Graham kick)
VH – Dock 18 run (kick failed)
TH – Tallman 14 run (Graham kick)
TH – Shepard 12 run (Graham kick)
TH – Simmons 12 run (Graham kick)
VH – Dock 11 run (Frye kick)
TH – Gammon 35 run (Frye kick)
VH – Hunt 19 pass from Bowers (Frye kick)
Team Stats
First Downs: VH 20, TH 16; Rushes-Yards: VH 26-114, TH 32-266; Passing Yards: VH 251, TH 204; Comp.-Att.-Int.: VH 19-37-6, TH 9-11-1; Fumbles-Lost: VH 2-0, TH 0-0; Penalties-Yards: VH 4-34, TH 7-79; Punts-Average: VH 3-26.3, TH 2-28