The Herald-News - News Story

    The Rhea County High School football team polished off an already impressive preseason with another victory Tuesday night against visiting Baylor School.
    The Golden Eagles squeaked out the 28-27 win to finish preseason play at 5-1.
    The electric combination of swift-footed receiver A.J. Brown and strong-armed quarterback Cameron Tallent helped secure the win.
    Tallent, a sophomore, completed 10 of 13 passes for 162 yards, two touchdowns and two two-point conversions in addition to throwing two interceptions.
Brown was on the receiving end for 92 of those aerial yards as well as both touchdowns.
    The senior speedster also turned in an impressive performance on special teams, returning two Baylor kickoffs for 99-yard touchdowns, though one was negated by a clipping penalty up field.
    “You win however you can. Today it was on kickoff and returns,” Rhea County Head Coach Jason Fitzgerald said. “I thought our offense played very well, and A.J.’s returns were very good. He hit the seam when he was supposed to and had several good blocks made for him.”
    Rounding out the receiving corps, senior Jacob Moffett had two catches for 59 yards and the game-winning two-point conversion, while classmate Jacob Swafford had one grab for two points and junior J.T. Stone caught two passes for 11 yards.
    “I thought Tallent settled down [after his interceptions] and threw well,” Fitzgerald said.
    Junior Justin Rice anchored the Eagles’ running game, powering 23 yards on five carries, including a 10-yard push into the end zone.
    Rhea County totaled 40 yards rushing on 12 carries on the day.
    The Eagles’ opening drive ended with an interception inside the Rhea County 30 yard-line, but a Baylor fumble, recovered by RCHS sophomore end Kenzie Goins, put the hometown boys back in the game.
    A 53-yard touchdown connection between Tallent and Brown lit up the scoreboard with barely three minutes ticked off the clock.
    A fake-PAT attempt went awry, leaving Rhea County up 6-0.
    Tallent’s next interception, also inside the Golden Eagle 30, proved more costly. A 20-yard touchdown run by Baylor two plays later knotted things up.
    Rhea County’s Brown scored on a nine-yard touchdown pass before the end of the quarter to retake the lead, but an 83-yard kickoff return by Baylor, followed by a 10-yard touchdown run and a successful PAT gave the Raiders a 13-12 advantage.
    Baylor extended its lead to 20-12 with 8:54 left in the second quarter.
    Rice rumbled in for the Eagles’ lone rushing touchdown on Rhea County’s next drive, and Swafford caught a two-yard conversion pass to tie the game at 20.
    Baylor made its final stand with a 10-play touchdown drive and a solid kick to take a 27-20 edge with 48.5 seconds of varsity playing time remaining.
    That was all the time Rhea County lightning bolt A.J. Brown need to sprint the 99 yards on the kickoff return to the end zone.
    The Eagles went for the win with a two-point conversion pass from Tallent to Moffett, which the latter reeled in for the victory.
    “We did some crazy things that we normally wouldn’t do to put the kids in situations they needed to see,” Fitzgerald said after the game.
    The Golden Eagles are slated to open their season this Friday at Cumberland County High School at 8 p.m.
    The game looks questionable, however, as Cumberland County schools still are not in session due to budget problems with the school board.
    Cathy Barnes can be contacted at cathy.barnes@rheaheraldnews.com