OCTOBER 10, 2003

In a region 2-5AAAA clash that was billed as for second place, McMinn County Cherokees ran all over Soddy-Daisy. Led by Quarter back Derrick Vestal and running back Maurice Smith. Smith had three touchdowns, two on running plays and another on a pass from quarterback Vestal. McMinn had 318 total yards and 16 first downs. They where able to play ball control and kept the ball away from Soddy-Daisy’s multi-threat offense.

McMinn County went 4-for-4 on fourth down on drives for their first two touchdowns The 26-9 victory gave McMinn sole possession of second place in the Region 2-AAAAA football standings with three weeks remaining in the regular season and brought the Cherokees 5-2 overall and more importantly 3-1 in region 2-5A Soddy-Daisy had been locked in a three-way tie with McMinn and William Blount entering Friday night with all three teams at 2-1 in region play. Along with William Blount’s 16-14 loss at league-leading Oak Ridge, the McMinn victory broke the second-place tie.

The McMinn’s first touchdown came from Steven McBride on a fourth-down call, one of three the Cherokees converted on the time-consuming second possession 14-play drive. On the first play of the second quarter McBride to a pitch and a weep wide right for the score. Jared Price’s extra point kick gave McMinn a 7-0 lead. The Cherokee’s had the ball for twenty plays to the Trojans three. Neither time score again in the half, both having chances but came up short. Score at the half was McMinn County 7, Soddy-Daisy 0.

McMinn wasted no time in the third quarter scoring on it’s first possession in the third quarter on a Maurice Smith one yard plunge after moving the ball 80 yards. The field goal try went wide. Neither time scored again until Eric Tiner hit a 35-yard field goal with eight seconds left in the third period to bring Soddy-Daisy within ten. Score at the end of the third quarter McMinn County 13, Soddy-Daisy 3.

McMinn scored again on a 40-yard drive with Smith’s third touchdown, this time a eight-yard run. Soddy-Daisy picked up its only touchdown on a 13-yard pass thrown by backup quarterback Gary Orr to wide receiver Trae Jackson , but time ran out when Orr hit receiver Chris Gross on the one yard line.

McMinn’s defense used a five man front to hold Trojan quarterback Tyler Phelps to a 4-for-15 passing effort for only 26 yards. The two Trojan quarter backs, threw for 70 yards and rushed for 134 in their total offense of 204. Paul Campbell had 70 yards in nine carries to lead the Trojan running game. The Cherokees had 207 yards rushing, led by Diaz with 74 yards in 15 carries and Derrick Vestal with a season-high 51 yards in eight attempts. Vestal completed nine of 12 passes for 107 yards.