Science Hill escaped a late scare and finished ahead 62-35 in a 6-A matchup at Ooltewah's James Monroe Stadium on Friday night.
The Owls had fought back from a big deficit to move within one score at 42-35 before a late Hilltopper flurry.
Ooltewah marched down the field on the opening drive, hitting pay dirt in seven plays going 63 yards to lead 7-0. Kyrell Sanford connected on a third down pass to get it to the Science Hill 43. A run through a big hole in the middle got it to the 25, then Sanford scampered to the three yard line. Sincere Quinn went up the middle to score.
The visitors quickly answered, with quarterback Jaylan Adams scrambling 22 yards down the left sideline to the Owl 45. Adams took it to the 20, then the 10 before Drew Morrison went along the left sideline for the score. It was 7-7 with the drive going 70 yards on nine plays.
The Hilltoppers used back to back sacks to get the ball back. A Kendle Williams pass reception went 22 yards. Ahmik Watterson and Morrison had sizable gains before Malik "Bang Bang" Bowman got his first varsity TD to make it 14-7.
Science Hill quickly got the ball back with a pooch that bounced off an Owl player and into the hands of Nicholas Copenhaver. Shane Austin had a 27-yard reception before Watterson ran it in to put Science Hill up 21-7.
The two teams traded punts, then Quinn had two nice gains along with Tahj Cargle. Quinn took it near the 10, then the Owls picked up a first down just short of the goal line. Tylan Cargle then went in untouched. The extra point was blocked, leaving the score at 21-13.
In the waning moments of the first half, Science Hill went 82 yards on four plays. Andre Butler had a 53-yard catch and run, getting the ball into the Red Zone. Watterson broke several tackles to score. It was 28-13 at intermission.
Ooltewah scored early in the second half with Cam Chamber gathering in a pass on a play that went 48 yards. Chambers ran a post route across the middle. The Owls tried to go for two, but the pass was broken up to keep the score at 28-19.
The Owls got the ball back with a chance to get closer, but could not advance. Science Hill blocked a punt and wound up just inside Ooltewah territory. Adams then had a long run to move it to 35-19.
The Hilltoppers began to pull away late in the third quarter as Jaylan Adams had a long strike that was dropped, then hit T.J. Patton on a 79-yard scoring pass play. Science Hill led 42-19.
Science Hill threatened again after an Ooltewah fumble on a punt within the 10-yard line. But the Owls got the ball back on the two after a fumble by a Science Hill sophomore.
The Owls then drove 98 yards and got a two-point conversion to keep it interesting at 42-27. Quinn scored the TD.
Ooltewah tried an on-side kick that bounced around before Science Hill came up with it. But the Owl defense held and came up with a blocked punt to put the offense in business on the Science Hill 44 with 4:38 on the clock.
Ooltewah scored in half a minute and made another two-point conversion. The score then stood 42-35.
However, Science Hill went down the field in four plays to move back ahead by two scores. Watterson ran up the middle untouched for 31 yards to cap a drive that also featured a pass play to Shane Austin. With a bobbled snap on the extra point, it was 48-35.
Science Hill cornerback Benjamin Gregg got his third pick of the season after a long Ooltewah gain was negated by a blocking penalty. The Hilltoppers scored on the next play to move it to 55-35.
The Hilltoppers scored once more after another fumble recovery to go ahead 62-35.