It took three long quarters of mediocre football, but Creek Wood gets the win on a senior night and for homecoming.
A 14-0 victory, the Red Hawks did not find the endzone until the fourth quarter.
Both teams seemed affected by the wet field and ball conditions.
Creek Wood had two first-half fumbles while the Wildcats of Lawrence County suffered one in the second half.
No one seemed to be able to get their footing as field conditions were very mucky.
This game came down to two good defenses and one x-factor; the Wildcats had not prepared for Jacob Stephens at QB.
The senior had been working toward playing his natural position for several weeks and Head Coach Houston Thiel had been playing it close to the vest.
Coach Thiel had held off saying anything on the record because no one was a hundred percent certain Stephens would be able to do it.
With a little tape and medical clearance though, the senior returned for one final hooray in a Red Hawk uniform and it certainly made the difference.
His teammates seemed to feed off his energy, especially late in this game as he began to will them to first down after first down.
Stephens ultimately scored the first of two touchdowns where he was stopped at around the two-yard line charging in from the six but would not be denied carrying two Wildcats with him into the endzone.
He wasn’t the only Red Hawk to do something special last night, however.
Michael Harris warmed up in his standard number 32.
When the team returned to the field though, for senior night festivities and the opening kick-off, he was wearing 40.
Harris wanted to honor his father by wearing his number in his final football game and it seemed to feed him.
Averaging more than five yards a carry, Harris set up the Stephens touchdown and several of Stephens critical first down runs.
He also set the stage for Demontae Evans to put the dagger in the Wildcats late.
Lawrence County with about five minutes to go in the game, loaded up ready to stop Michael Harris and Jacob Stephens.
The Wildcats were already down seven points and had been gashed by Harris all night.
Evans took advantage when the Wildcats sold out to stop Harris and Stephens he burst through a hole, broke an arm tackle or two, and scampered 30 yards to the 4-yard line.
Two plays later he would be rewarded for his 30 yard run with a four-yard touchdown to seal the game.
It was a night to remember in Charlotte, TN.
Several seniors got to compete in their final game and it was a win like so many before were for this group.
We will have a season recap article coming, but congrats to Andrew Bruce, Jacob Stephens, Porter Matlock, and Michael Harris on superb careers at Creek Wood.
