Winning season
Mavericks haunt Cherokees with Halloween blowout
Anderson County receiver Israel Small (4) reels in a pass in front of South-Doyle’s Trey Lane (3). Small had three catches for 87 yards in the Mavericks’ 47-13 rout of the Cherokees on Halloween night. (photo:Dwane Wilder )
The Mavericks jumped to an early lead and never looked back in a 47-13 Region 2-4A win over host South-Doyle at Billy K. Nicely Memorial Stadium.
Anderson County (8-1, 5-0) scored 28 points in the first quarter against the Cherokees, who finish their first season under Coach L.A. Headrick with a 1-9 overall record (0-5 in the region).
The Mavericks captured their eighth-consecutive region title and have not lost a league game since 2016, going 44-0 in region play over the past eight seasons.
After stopping the Cherokees on their opening possession, Anderson County took the lead on a 3-yard run by Waylon LaRue. Jackson Payne’s PAT made it 7-0 with 8:46 left in the first quarter.
Following another defensive stop, LaRue scored again — this time from 31 yards out — giving the Mavericks a 14-0 advantage midway through the first.
LaRue, one of the area’s top running backs, amassed 157 yards and three touchdowns on just six carries.
He also made an impact in the passing game, with two receptions for 25 yards and a receiving touchdown.
LaRue scored Anderson County’s fourth touchdown of the night on a 31-yard pass from quarterback Landen Hensley, extending the Mavericks’ lead to 28-0.
That touchdown pass was Hensley’s second of the game. He finished 9-of-12 for 237 yards and three touchdown passes.
LaRue’s TD catch was sandwiched between two scoring passes to Riley Wolfenbarger. His first scoring reception covered 31 yards, while his second went 36 yards and extended the lead to 35-0.
LaRue closed out first-half scoring with a 58-yard run that made it 41-0 at halftime.
The second half was played with a running clock, allowing Anderson County’s backups to gain valuable game experience in the final 24 minutes of the regular season.
The Cherokees got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when sophomore quarterback Cade Carr threw a 50-yard screen pass to Reed Reynolds for a touchdown.
Anderson County answered when quarterback Cody Miller connected with Zach Hapney on a 17-yard touchdown pass.
South-Doyle’s Ramilleeyon Crenshaw had a 64-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to make the final score 47-13.
Next up for the Mavericks: Anderson County will open postseason play Friday at 7 p.m. against Northview Academy, which finished fourth in Region 1-4A with a 5-5 record.
The Mavericks won a state championship in 2022 and advanced to the quarterfinals last season.