It’s understandable if the Beech High football team still has a sour taste in its mouth.
After all, Friday’s opponent – Hillsboro – did alter their postseason course with one clutch, fourth-quarter drive two weeks ago.
The Burros (8-3) drove 98 yards over 7:28, using 14 plays to take a 21-17 lead with 3:01 remaining and held on to hand the Bucs their third loss of the season. It kept Beech from a top-two finish in Region 6-5A and allowed Hillsboro to win the region.
Beech plays at Hillsboro on Friday in one of eight second-round games in the Class 5A playoffs.
Prior to the go-ahead drive, Beech had a chance to extend its lead, but a dropped pass in the end zone on a fourth-and-goal play gave the Burros possession prior to their go-ahead drive.
Hillsboro has won five consecutive games and is 4-1 at home this season, with its only loss coming in a 36-28 setback to Oakland on Aug. 28.
The Buccaneers (8-3) are 5-1 on the road, with their only loss away from home occurring in a 30-16 setback at Hendersonville on Sept. 11.
The Buccaneers made their lengthy trip to Lincoln County a successful one last Friday, claiming a 20-9 victory in their playoff opener.
“Any time you get a win, you feel good for your team,” Beech head coach Anthony Crabtree said. “An opportunity to play in the second round of the playoffs, that’s why you play the season. Our guys are excited, and I’m proud of them.”
With senior Auston Vanzant sidelined due to an undisclosed injury – which also leaves him questionable for Friday’s contest – classmate Rodrick Napper handled most of the early carries.
However, Napper sprained his ankle and didn’t return after one carry in the third quarter, pushing junior Alex Vanzant to the leading backfield role.
The younger Vanzant didn’t disappoint, scoring twice and rushing for 107 yards on 22 carries in rainy conditions, helping the Bucs wear down Lincoln County’s defensive front.
“It was getting slippery, and my hands were getting wet,” Alex Vanzant said. “I (kept holding the ball) high and tight.”
Junior Michael Iacob continued his stellar season on special teams, blocking a field goal and an extra point to give him 11 blocked kicks this season. That is a school record. Iacob blocked a punt in the Bucs’ first meeting with Hillsboro in week 11.
Iacob said there hasn’t been any big secret for his kick-blocking success.
“I’ve been working on start-offs,” Iacob said. “I just dive and hope I hit the ball.”
Napper is probable for Friday’s contest.
“We’re going to try and rehab him and get him ready to go for (Friday),” Crabtree said.
The Burros’ opening-round victory over La Vergne was a postgame celebration they couldn’t enjoy, after La Vergne defensive lineman Daz’ren Dillard was injured late in Hillsboro’s 26-7 victory. Dillard remained on the ground for approximately 20 minutes and was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he was later diagnosed with a concussion.
Jeremy Hill and Deandre Alexander combined to rush for 242 yards and scored all four Burro touchdowns.
Hillsboro’s defense came through in tight spots as well, stopping La Vergne twice inside the Burros’ 20 yard line as well as grabbing two interceptions and holding La Vergne to a season-low seven points.
The Burros have won four of the six previous meetings, including a 31-26 victory at Beech in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs in 2013. Beech defeated Hillsboro, 35-6, in the second-round of the 2012 playoffs on its way to the Class 5A state championship.
Beech will visit Hillsboro for just the second time. The only other visit the Bucs made came in 2007, a 37-7 loss in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
Beech’s only other victory over Hillsboro came in the 1983 Boyce Smith Bowl, a 23-12 win.
The winner will face the winner of the Hendersonville/Independence contest in the quarterfinals. Beech would be on the road regardless of its opponent.
Class 5A playoffs
First-round scores
Quadrant 1
Sevier County 34, Gibbs 20
Knoxville Halls 38, Tennessee High 36
Morristown West 52, Heritage 7
Knoxville West 20, Morristown East 14
Quadrant 2
Farragut 50, Cleveland 20
Rhea County 35, Campbell County 0
Oak Ridge 45, Soddy-Daisy 33
Ooltewah 40, Clinton 21
Quadrant 3
Independence 49, Cane Ridge 7
Hendersonville 43, Shelbyville 20
Beech 20, Lincoln County 9
Hillsboro 26, La Vergne 7
Quadrant 4
Centennial 20, Southwind 14
Brentwood 52, Memphis Central 7
Henry County 35, Munford 14
Clarksville Northeast 36, Brighton 29
Second-round games
Quadrant 1
No. 2 seed Knoxville Halls (7-4) at No. 1 seed Sevier County (9-2)
No. 2 seed Morristown West (9-2) at No. 1 seed Knoxville West (9-2)
Quadrant 2
No. 2 seed Rhea County (8-3) at No. 1 seed Farragut (10-1)
No. 2 seed Oak Ridge (10-1) at No. 1 seed Ooltewah (9-2)
Quadrant 3
No. 2 seed Hendersonville (10-1) at No. 1 seed Independence (11-0)
No. 3 seed Beech (8-3) at No. 1 seed Hillsboro (8-3)
Quadrant 4
No. 3 seed Brentwood (6-5) at No. 1 seed Centennial (10-1)
No. 4 seed Clarksville Northeast (6-5) at No. 2 seed Henry County (9-2)