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. ;)