Mavs rout Eagles
ACHS extends winning streak in region to 41
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Anderson County’s Israel Small (4) looks for open field after making a catch during Friday night’s away game against Seymour. The Mavericks scored 42 points in the first half of the 56-12 win over the Eagles. - Tony Cox
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Evan Pyatt (14) catches a pass from Landen Hensley to advance the Mavericks to the Eagles’ 8-yard line during the opening quarter of Friday night’s matchup in Seymour. - Tony Cox
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Anderson County’s Elijah Johnson (3) stops the kick return of Seymour’s Connor Ogle (11) during Friday night’s away meeting against the Eagles. The Mavericks defeated the Eagles 56-12. - Tony Cox
As Anderson County and Seymour entered their Region 2-4A football game Friday night, they were headed in opposite directions.
The Mavericks had won 40 consecutive region games, going undefeated in league play since 2017. The Eagles, meanwhile, were in the midst of a 20-game losing streak, having not won a game since 2022.
The two teams remained on their respective courses as the Mavericks routed the Eagles 56-12 at Seymour High School.
Anderson County (4-0 overall, 2-0 in the region) put this one away early, scoring 28 points in the opening frame.
It took the Mavericks just four plays from scrimmage and one minute, 21 seconds to get on the board, as Waylon LaRue gave them a 6-0 lead with a short touchdown run. Jackson Payne added the extra point to make it 7-0 with 10:39 remaining in the first quarter.
The Mavericks added three more touchdowns before the end of the first stanza, as Cody Miller had a scoring run and quarterback Landen Hensley threw touchdown passes to Israel Small and Trent Strickland.
Small also made an impact on defense with an interception in the second quarter.
LaRue added a 2-yard scoring run with 9:51 remaining until halftime, and Miller scored on a 1-yard run to make it 42-0 at the break.
The remainder of the contest was played with a running clock as the Mavericks’ high score invoked the TSSAA mercy rule.
Miller, who had a pair of touchdowns against the Eagles (0-5, 0-2), also had a strong night defensively, recording 10 tackles, including one tackle for loss and one sack.
Hensley finished 12-for-15 through the air, amassing 255 yards and three touchdowns. He also had an interception, but completed passes to a variety of receivers.
Evan Pyatt had four receptions for 65 yards. Strickland caught three passes for 130 yards and a touchdown, while Small had three receptions, for a total of 20 yards, and caught a touchdown pass.
LaRue had another solid performance, carrying the ball 12 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns.
After halftime, Elijah Johnson scored for the Mavericks, then Seymour answered twice, making the score 49-12. However, the Mavericks struck a final time with a touchdown by Taylor Davis to secure their 41st- consecutive league victory.
Next up for the Mavericks: Anderson County returns home to play Carter on Friday night. Kickoff is slated for 7:30. The Mavericks will look to extend their region winning streak.
The Hornets (3-2, 1-0) are coming off a non-region loss to Knoxville Halls, 35-19, Thursday.