By Noah Dalton
NASHVILLE – Mitchell began their bid for a 2A Sectional 39 championship on Friday, taking on Brown County in the contest’s opening round.
The Bluejackets and the Eagles entered the matchup as familiar opponents, having squared off earlier in the season. In that game, Brown County were the ones who came out on top, edging out the win after a close battle.
Friday’s postseason rematch yielded a similar result, producing another tense game between the two that the Eagles eventually went on to win, this time by a score of 21-6.
It was each side’s defense that shined in this one, holding each other to just one score and a deadlocked 6-6 tie for much of the contest, before Brown County managed to break away with two fourth quarter touchdowns to seal it.
After being forced into back-to-back turnover on downs by Mitchell, the Eagles were the first to score on the night, driving 63 yards down the field, led by quarterback Noah Lewis and receiver AJ Bell, who connected three times for for 47 yards, with the effort culminating in a 16-yard touchdown grab by Landon Scott.
Mitchell was quick to respond, putting together a scoring drive of their own on the next possession.
A botched onside kick, recovered by the Bluejackets, set them up with solid field position to start the drive, already in Eagles’ territory near midfield.
Seven consecutive rushing attempts later, Mitchell’s Malakai Goodman found the end zone from four yards out to tie things up.
In the first half, the Bluejackets’s defense didn’t allow Brown County to convert on an of their third our fourth down attempts, while also holding them to negative rushing yards across double digit carry attempts.
“We played a really good first half. We played really well, I was proud of us. We were flying to the ball. Energy was up the whole time, we were on our keys, doing the assignments, doing our job, which is what we preach,” said Mitchell head coach Zach See.
The two sides remained largely even until the fourth, when Brown County managed to put together a nearly 90-yard drive, culminating in another touchdown pass from Lewis, this time from 12-yards out to Kody Shugars.
The Bluejackets’ next possession was a short one, resulting in an interception from quarterback Cam Gilstrap, his second of the night, this one snagged by Kyle Cobb deep in Mitchell’s territory and returned near the goal line to the four yard line.
With another Eagles’ touchdown seemingly imminent, the Bluejackets’ defense came through one again, forcing a turnover on downs and keeping Mitchell’s hopes alive. The exclamation point of their efforts being a fourth down sack from Kaden Mullis.
Brown County got a few defense stands of their own, forcing a three-and-out on the ensuing drive and then eventually forcing a turnover on downs on the Bluejackets’ next possession. That set them up to start their drive in the red zone, leading to a 12-yard scoring carry from Quentin Bell that secured the win.
“Our defense played well all night. Those two other scores they got, they got in short field position where we got kind of got backed up and we tried to make something happen and we threw a couple picks. You take that chance when you put it in the air sometimes, and I don’t second guess anything we did tonight,” said See.
“It could have easily went the other way, where we complete those passes and keep those drives going. I’m proud of them. Our effort was there with both end and our defense played lights out all night.”
Mitchell’s rushing attack made up the bulk of their offense against the Eagles, with the team earning 145 yards on 39 attempts. Their top ball carrier was Blake King, who tallied 95 yards on 15 carries. Goodman added 42 yards and the team’s lone touchdown.
With a final record on the year of 1-9, this marks the end of See’s first season at the helm, as well as the last night for the team’s seven senior players.
With a young group comprised of mostly underclassmen, See said he relied on the leadership of his senior players this season, as he looks to build the foundations for the program for years to come.
“I had a talk with all the seniors coming in and I told them, we’re gonna be young. I need from you guys to lead every day, that energy’s got to come from you. You know what we’re doing. You know the do’s and don’ts, and you’ve got to lead them the right way, because then they develop into it and then it just keeps going,” he said.
“So, I’m very proud of the seniors and every single one of them from last year to this year, completely different person. They did everything I asked them and more, and just watching threm grow from last year to this year is a beautiful thing.”
