Win streak ends at Bullring
Gibbs halts Anderson County’s long region run with late score
Jayzon Thompson carried the ball 30 times and gained 182 yards during Thursday night’s 35-28 loss to Gibbs. (photo:Tony Cox )
One of the longest region winning streaks in Tennessee high school football came to a screeching halt Thursday night as Anderson County High School lost a league game for the first time in nearly a decade.
Gibbs High School invaded the Bullring and left with a 35-28 victory in a key Region 2-4A matchup, ending the Mavericks’ region dominance that dated to 2016.
The Eagles (5-2 overall, 2-2 in Region 2-4A) jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter and held a 24-14 advantage at halftime.
But the Mavericks (4-2, 3-1) battled back, taking a 28-27 lead before Gibbs blocked a punt late in the fourth quarter. That play set up the winning touchdown — a 14-yard run by DeJuan Harris.
Anderson County still had a chance to extend its streak, but Gibbs defensive back Clay Phillips intercepted a pass at midfield with 2:01 remaining to seal the win.
After the Eagles scored first, the Mavericks pulled even on a 15-yard run by Jayzon Thompson, who went on to have a monster night.
He finished with 30 carries for 182 yards and three touchdowns, including runs of 52 and 2 yards. His 2-yard plunge early in the final frame gave ACHS a brief 28-24 lead.
The Mavericks’ other touchdown came on special teams when Landon Burnett returned a kickoff 50 yards for a score.
Anderson County will have an open date this week before returning to action Oct. 17 with another regional showdown against Union County.