(UPDATED) Two time and defending state 5A champion Knoxville West and 2022 runner-up Page squared off once again to battle for the 2023 title Friday inside Finley Stadium.
When all was said and done, the West Rebels held off a late charge by the Page Patriots to earn their third state title and their second a row. The Patriots, looking to avenge last year's loss to West mounted a fierce comeback in the second half, but were unable to overtake the Rebels falling by a final score of 24-19.
West safety Syxx Hoard, who picked off three pages passes was named MVP of the championship game.
The Patriots drew first blood on their second possession after a Rebels punt. Pages, starting at the West 42-yard line after a punt, took just three plays to put the first points on the board after quarterback Jonathan Palmer found an open Knight Wilson for a 38-yard touchdown. Zane Cannon made it a 7-0 game with the extra point.
Palmer finished his night making good on 21 of 31 passes for 216 yards. West QB Hunter Dance ended with 110 yards completing 11 of 24 passes.
The Rebels, after holding Page on a Fourth-and-1 at their own 22, tied the score seven plays later on a Fourth-and-1 when Marshaun Bowers pushed his way into the end zone. Patrick Schmid tied the score at 7-7 with just under six minutes left in the half.
The Rebels added three point to the lead on a 31-yard Schmid field goal with 2:45 left in the first half.
West made good on one final shot after forcing a Patriots punt with 0:36 left I the second quarter. After gaining 10 yards on four tries, Dance dropped back and launched a 37-yard rocket to Connor Cummings as time ran out in the half. Schmid made goon on the PAT to give the Rebels a 17-7 halftime lead.
The Rebels wasted little time expanding their lead coming out of the half.
Beginning at their own 24-yard line the Rebs moved to the Page 25 where they found themselves looking at fourth-and-3. Unfazed by the situation, Dance fired a perfect shot to Cummings in the corner of the end zone for the fourth West score of the game. Schmid made it 24-7 with the kick.
After an interception by West the resulted in a punt back to Page, the Patriots took advantage of the opportunity to cut into the Rebels' lead. Page QB Jonathan Palmer kept the drive alive with a 31 yard run followed by and race arund right end to the West 11. From there William Weibush took the direct snap and scooted 11 yards around the left side of th Rebels' defense for the score. The point after attempt failed and the Patriots trailed 24-13 with 3:32 left in the third quarter.
The Page comeback continued on its first possession of the fourth quarter at the Patriots moved from their own 36 to the West 16 thanks to a 21-yard pitch and catch from Palmer to Presley Cozart. The conversion attempt failed and the Rebels clung to a 24-19 lead with 9:22 left in the game.
The fired up Patriots kept momentum squarely in their corner when a tipped Dance pass fell into the arms of Sean Cunningham at the West 20-yard line. Rushes by Caden Walker and Weibush pushed Page to the Rebels'1-yard line. Only a brilliant tackle by West's An'terius McAlister for a loss saved the touchdown setting the Patriots up with a fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line. On the next play Palmer's pass to the left corner of the end zone fell incomplete giving the ball back to the Rebels with 5:53 left in the championship game.
After forcing a West punt, the Patriots had one final chance at the win. Palmer found Calvin Kolarta for 15 and Presley Cozart for another 15 giving the Patriots a first-and-goal at the West 3-yard line with 58 ticks left on the clock. Walker pushed his way for a yard to the 2, but a loss on the next play put the ball back at the 5. With no time outs and time down to five seconds, a Wiebush desperation pass to the back of the end zone fell to the turf preserving the Rebels' win.
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PAGE
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7
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0
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6
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6
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-- 19
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KNOXVILLE WEST
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0
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17
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7
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0
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-- 24
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SCORING SUMMARY
PA Isaac Power 38 interception return (Zane Cannon kick) (4:25, 1st) 7-0
KW Marshaun Bowers 1 run (Patrick Schmid kick) (6:54, 2nd) 7-7
KW Schmid 31 field goal (2:45, 2nd) 7-10
KW Connor Cummings 37 pass from Hunter Dance (:00, 2nd) 7-17
KW Cummings 27 pass from Dance (8:16, 3rd) 7-24
PA William Wiebush 13 run (kick failed) (3:32, 3 rd) 13-24
PA Wesley Cozart 16 pass from Jonathan Palmer (pass failed) (9:22, 4th) 19-24
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STATS
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PA
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KW
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First Downs
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19
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8
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Rushes-Yards
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30-153
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30-73
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Passing Yards
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216
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110
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Total yards
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369
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183
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Passing (Comp-Att-Int)
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21-12-3
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11-24-3
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Penalties-Yards
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7-55
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0-0
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Fumbles-Lost
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1-1
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1-0
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Punts-Average
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2-33.5
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5-40.4
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Time of Possession
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23:57
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22:23
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INDIVIDUAL STATS
Page Rushing: Jonathan Palmer 9-75: Ethan Cunningham 11-45; William Wiebush 7-15, 1 TD; Caden Walker 2-14; Presley Cozart 1-4.
Knoxville West Rushing: : Marshaun Bowers 18-43, 1 TD; Hunter Dance 2-21; Devin Jamison 8-11; Syxx Hoard 2-(-2).
Page Passing: Jonathan Palmer 21-31-3 for 216 yards, 2 TDs; William Wiebush 0-1-0 for0 yards.
Knoxville West Passing: Hunter Dance 11-24-3 for 110 yards, 2 TDs.
Page Receiving: Calvin Kortarba 12-96; Presley Cozart 3-29, 1 TD; Isaac Power 2-43, 1 TD; E Cunningham 2-36; Mcclean Copeland 2-12.
Knoxville West Receiving: David Drata 3-17; Connor Cummings 2-64, 2 TDs; Syxx Hoard 2-0; Marshaun Bowers 1-10; Antwain Burdine 1-9; Dominic Davis 1-8; Thad Sterling 1-2.
Records: Page 13-2; Knoxville West 14-1
Most Valuable Player: Syxx Hoard, Knoxville West
Notable: Knoxville West defeats Page for second straight year to claim back-to-back titles.
(Contact Richard Roberts at richardvol55@yahoo.com)