MAKE EM SAY ONE! EHS 28 Baylor 21 Ensworth Wins Their First State Title

Photo: Ensworth.com

The gold football is coming to Ensworth! Ensworth defeated Baylor 28-21 in a thrilling last-second come from behind victory to finally reach the summit of high school football after falling short in the playoffs in their first three attempts.

A scoreless first quarter filled with turnovers and miscues showed that both sides had some state championship jitters to overcome. In the second quarter, Baylor broke through with a 34 yard touchdown pass as Jacob Huesman masterfully evaded the rush and fired a strike on the run that hit Matthew Oelleri in stride down the sideline.

Ensworth answered back on their very next possession. After driving to the 35, Drew Parker threw up a jump ball to Cory Batey, who showed his athleticism and pulled it down to level the score with 7:45 remaining in the first half.

Baylor looked to go into halftime with the lead, advancing the ball all the way to the Ensworth 4 yard line. However, following 2 penalties on the subsequent series and a delay of game that nullified a 19 yard field goal that split the uprights, Andy Priddy’s 25 yard attempt went begging as it sailed wide left. The halftime score was 7-7.

Baylor got the ball back to start the second half, and this time they were able to hit paydirt. A 12 play 69 yard drive that culminated in a 2 yard Huesman sneak for a TD took 5:12 off the clock got the lead back for Baylor, taxing Ensworth’s defense in the process.

That fatigue showed the next time Baylor got the ball. Following a Drew Parker interception, Baylor got the ball in EHS territory at the 34, and they wasted no time running over, around, and through the Ensworth defense that had just been on the field for over 14 minutes of game time in a row. Huesman broke a 17 yarder that gave Baylor a commanding lead of 21-7 with 4:41 remaining in the 3^rd quarter.

The next Ensworth drive would prove to be the turning point in the game. After one of many touchbacks from Baylor’s kickoff specialist, they got the ball at the 20. After a 12 yard gain on the first play, Corn Elder got the call, and he answered it to the tune of a 68 yard electrifying touchdown run. 21-14 was the score with 3:51 remaining in the 3^rd quarter.

Despite a quick turnaround, the Ensworth defense appeared to get its second wind, shutting down Baylor’s previously dominant running attack and keeping them off the board entering the 4^th quarter.

Ensworth got the ball toward the end of the 3^rd and took it 70 yards on 14 plays, the last one being a Drew Parker QB sneak from a yard out to tie the game, taking 5:42 off the clock in the process.

Baylor’s chance to respond was stifled, but they got the ball back with 4 minutes to go in the game. They picked up a first down, getting to their own 35, but Quinn Hamilton led the charge to stop them right there, picking up 2 sacks of Jacob Huesman that forced Baylor to punt the ball back to the Drew Parker-led Tiger offense with 1:21 left in the game.

Photo: HighSchoolSports.net

The fate of Ensworth’s final drive rested on Drew Parker’s right arm and his legs on one occasion. His scramble got Ensworth into Baylor territory at the 47. Several pass plays later, including a 20-yard strike to a wide-open Wirth Campbell down the middle, got the Tigers to the Baylor 11. Parker spiked the ball, setting up 2^nd and 10 with 16 seconds left. As on the first touchdown pass, the play call again relied on the athletic talent of Parker’s strong-side receiver, and David Dingess did not disappoint, going up high to avoid what could have been a game-saving interception for Baylor and ripping the ball and the state championship dreams away from Baylor. The touchdown came with 8 seconds left on the clock, finishing Ensworth’s second straight comeback victory and bringing the state championship trophy back to Nashville.

-Alex Boehm

Ensworth and Baylor To Face Off in Cookeville

Where: Tennessee Tech -Tucker Stadium

When: 7PM

Media: PBS (Comcast channel 8), EnsworthLive.com, 560 AM

Records: EHS 9-2 (6-1) Baylor 10-1 (6-1)

After losing their best player, an 0-2 start and a QB change, Ensworth has managed to find themselves in the DII-AA State Championship game with the Baylor Red Raiders. Baylor has only lost once this season and that loss was to the Tigers in Chattanooga.

Out of the 6 Mr. Football finalist in DII-AA, 3 of them are playing in this game; Corn Elder, Keenan Crenshaw and the winner, Jacob Huesman.

How these teams got here...

Since losing to MBA, Ensworth has averaged 31.4 points per game on offense. Senior QB Drew Parker came and took over at QB after the loss to MBA and has broken about every school passing record in the process. Sophomore RB Corn Elder has been nothing short on sensational; Corn has rushed for 1,768 yards and 23 TDs. On the line Seniors Keenan Crenshaw, Taylor Grant and Chance Williams have stepped up big after Antonio Richardson withdrew from school.

Baylor is led by their Senior QB Jacob Huesman. The Mr. Football winner has passed for 1,078 yards and 7 TDS and rushed for 1,750 yards and 25 TDS. Huesman's primary target is Matthew Oellerich with 29 rec. In the backfield is Freshman RB George Porter, who has rushed for 952 yards and 9 TDS. Baylor's defense is led by Senior LB David Helton, who has racked up 115.5 tackles in all 11 games. Baylor's defense only gives up an average of a mere 19 points a game.

Last time these two teams met Corn Elder took control of the game. Elder scored 4 TDs (2 rushing, 1 receiving and a 80 yard punt return). David Dingess and Cory Batey both had good nights receiving while Drew Parker threw for 239 yards and 2 TDs on only 18 attempts.

Jacob Huesman did it all for Baylor, scoring all 4 of the Red Raider's TDs, one was a 61 yarder. The defense could not stop Elder and got beat deep by Drew Parker on many occasions.

For Ensworth to win this game they have to get Corn Elder the ball my all means necessary. Once the Tigers establish a run game they should be able to air it out. Last time Baylor's secondary gave Ensworth's WRs too much room to work. On defense, Ensworth has to contain Jacob Huesman which is a lot easier said than done, he committed to UTC where his dad coaches and believe me, there are a lot more schools than UTC that this kid can play for.

Baylor has to keep Elder in check and so far, no team has been able to do so since Ensworth played BA in September. They also cannot allow Ensworth to beat them deep through the air like they did last time, getting pressure on Drew Parker is key to stopping the Tiger's passing attack.

Prediction: I don't really have one, I can see this going either way but I like Ensworth's chances.

State Bound! EHS 20 BA 19

Photos: Deena Graham

Backed up after a holding penalty, the Tigers were forced with 3rd and 37 from their own 8 yard line with 1:30 left in the game. Now press pause, what are the odds that an offense that has failed to convert in the red zone on two separate occasions can go 92 yards in 1:30? What are the odds of going deep on one of the states best DBs and making the play 40 yards down field? What are the odds that your TE comes up with 28 yard catch that has only had 1 catch all year? What are the odds that you score on one play after failing to get a TD on two earlier red zone attempts? Not good, but it happened.

BA took an early 16-0 lead in the 2nd quarter. Nathan Renfro hit a 35 FG. Ensworth punted.

Victor Caro scored on a 33 yard TD run, Ben Boatright missed the PAT. Ensworth punted.

Matt Hamby and company drove 84 yards downfield on a drive that was capped off by a 3 yard TD run by Hamby.

Ensworth answered with a 22 yard FG by Clayton McGlasson. BA was picked off by Rodney Edmiston.

Ensworth answered with a 26 yard FG by McGlasson. It was 16-6 BA at the half.

Ensworth had never been in this position in the past two seasons in the playoffs. They took leads into halftime in previous years against BA and MBA, they lost both of those games.

Ensworth's opening drive of the 2nd half went 80 yards and capped off with a 38 yard run by Elder. The score put Ensworth with in 3. Corn finished with 204 rushing yards and 1 TD.

BA answered later with a 42 yard FG by Renfro with 10:37 left.

After a punt by BA Ensworth found itself at their own 14 with 3:32 left. After a few plays Ensworth found itself at midfield, but after a sack and a holding penalty, all of the sudden it was 3rd and 37 from the 8 with 1:30. That was just the beginning of "The Drive".

On 3rd and 37 from the 8 Drew Parker found David Dingess for a 40 yard completion. Dingess made the catch over the BA player o the side lined and still managed to hold onto the ball and stay inbounds. With time ticking down Parkers next pass want to the TE Conor McDermott that put Ensworth in scoring position 28 yards later at the 13 yard line. Dingess caught a game high 6 balls for 127 yards. Parker passed for 189 yards and 1 TD. Parker was 13-23 on completions.

After settling for 2 FG previously from inside the 20 in took only one try and one amazing catch by Cory Batey on the sideline to put Ensworth ahead for good 20-19.

Ensworth will take on Baylor Thursday December 2nd in Cookeville for the TSSAA State Championship. Too bad Taylor isn't hype enough for it. ;)

TIGERS WIN 20-19!!!!

RD 3: EHS VS BA

Where: Ensworth

When: 7PM

Media: EnsworthLive.com, 560 AM

Records: EHS 8-2 (6-1) BA 9-2 (5-2)

Key Players

EHS: RB Corn Elder, DT Keenen Crenshaw, QB Drew Parker, LB /RB Nantambu Fentress

BA: QB Matt Hamby, RB Radir Anoor, DB Derek King, WR Weldon Garlington

The last time these two teams met, it was nothing short of a dog fight. BA shutdown Ensworth's star running back Corn Elder, holding him to 66 yards rushing. Ensworth won the turn over battle, intercepting BA QB Matt Hamby 4 times. The film has been watched, adjustments have been made, the question is, who can execute better this time around?

Prediction EHS 28 BA 21

Tigers Roll Big Red 35-14

AP: Tennessean

Since September 3rd Ensworth could not wait to get another shot at MBA. After Ensworth learned that the Big Red defeated Father Ryan they knew what had to be done, and they executed.

Ensworth set the pace early after receiving the opening kickoff. The Tigers marched down to the 11 yard line where Nantambu Fentress would take it in for the Tiger's first lead of the game.

The defense forced MBA to go 3 and out and it did not take long for the offense to get back into the end zone with a 3 play 66 yard drive. Corn Elder took off for a 56 yard run; however, this was not Elder's longest run of the night.

Ensworth recovered their own kickoff in MBA territory but it was picked off by Austin Blackwell on a flea-flicker pass by Drew Parker. MBA was picked off on the very next possession by LB Austin Prevost but the Tigers later turned the ball over on downs.

MBA answered before the half with a 22 yard TD pass from Aaron Simonis to Austin Blackwell. Ensworth would attempt a FG right before halftime but McGlasson's kick was partially blocked and wide. Ensworth would take a 14-7 lead into halftime.

On their first possesion of the 3rd quarter, MBA tied it up with a 12 play 67 yard drive that ended in a 6 yard TD by RB Tyler Franks. MBA ran the ball like it was going out of style, MBA ran for 116 yards on 38 attempts.

But yet again, Ensworth had an answer, Corn Elder. On the very next play Corn Elder ran 63 yards for the go ahead score. Ensworth would not look back, Aaron Simonis threw another interception, this time Rodney Edmiston came down with it.

That set up a 53 yard run by Elder on a delay handoff from Parker. Ensworth would take a 28-14 lead into the 4th quarter.

Aaron Simonis later came out of the game and was replaced by Dylan Hall. Hall was picked off by Quinn Hamilton and the Tigers put the game away with a 5 play 28 yard drive capped off with a 4 yard TD by The Cornelius Elder set up by a 27 yard pass to David Dingess. Elder finished the night with 304 rushing yards on 25 carries with 4 TDs. WR Cory Batey had a strong night as well, catching 6 passes for 85 yards.

Ensworth will play Brentwood Academy for the second time this season on Friday. Last time these two teams met in October, Ensworth prevailed 21-14. The game will be played at Ensworth.

Part II

When: 7PM

Where: Ensworth

Media: EnsworthLive.com (no video or WNSR, just me and Coach Shultz!)

Records: EHS 7-2 (6-1) MBA 8-2 (5-2)

For the second time this year two cross town rivals will go at it again. Ensworth will play host to MBA again, this time a trip to Cookeville is on the line.

After getting off to an 0-2 start Ensworth went on a 7 game hot streak. In that time the Tigers knocked off undefeated favorites Smynra, Brentwood Academy and Baylor. MBA is Ensworth's last loss. In their last meeting Ensworth out gained the Big Red in total yards and almost every statistical category, except turnovers and points.

Tyler Franks was key for MBA when both these teams met in September, scoring all 3 of MBA's TDs. Corn Elder was the work horse for Ensworth, rushing for a game high 134 yards with 1 TD.

MBA beat Father Ryan 7-3 in the first round, Ensworth is coming off a bye.

Prediction EHS 35 MBA 14