Hendersonville won their 2nd consecutive Region 4-6A Championship by going to Mt. Juliet and getting a 10 point victory. Despite limiting the Golden Bears to just 34 yards in the 1st half, the COMMANDOS would find themselves down 10-14 at halftime, but a strong 2nd highlighted with 2 touchdown runs by #10 Ellis Ellis would see HHS win the Region.
Hendersonville would start off with the ball, but be forced to punt after 3 snaps. The punt would be blocked and recovered by Mt. Juliet in the endzone to give MJHS an early lead 0-7. Hendersonville would respond with a drive after #3 Keion Stafford converted a 4th down with a tough run. The 4th down conversion would spark the COMMANDO offense as #8 Brent Rowe and #11 Luke Manning would pick up 1st downs on the ground as HHS moved the ball down the field. The drive would end with no points however as the COMMANDOS would throw an interception in the endzone. After a 1st down run, #9 Josh Ferguson would get Hendersonville the ball back with an interception. The COMMANDOS would not take advantage of the turnover as they would punt after a 1st down run by Rowe. Following the punt, Ellis would force a fumble that #34 Chase Honeycutt would recover to set Hendersonville up just 6 yards from the endzone. After three plays, HHS would lose a yard and call on #27 Andrew Martin to kick a 25 yard field goal that made the score 3-7. The Golden Bears would have another big special teams play as they returned the ensuing kickoff to the 15 yard line. After a 1st down run, Mt. Juliet would find the endzone with a 5 yard touchdown run to make the score 3-14. The COMMANDOS would answer with a nice drive as Manning connected with Stafford on a pass and then Rowe and #12 Ryan Oden would pick up 1st downs on the ground. The drive would end with Rowe going into the endzone from 1 yard out to cut into the lead. The Black & Gold defense would force a 3 & out giving the COMMANDOS a chance to score before halftime. After a 1st down run by Rowe, a pass to the endzone would fall incomplete as the teams broke for halftime with the score 10-14.
Mt. Juliet would get the ball to begin the 2nd half and move the ball on HHS picking up a 1st down on the ground, another by penalty, and then again on the ground. The drive would end as the HHS defense would come up with a stop on 4th down. After getting the ball, Rowe would gain a 1st down before Ellis scored his 1st TD of the 2nd half on a 64 yard run to give Hendersonville their first lead of the contest 17-14. The teams would then trade punts as the 3rd quarter ran out. MJHS would have a drive started in the 4th quarter before Rowe came up with an interception. HHS would return the interception after a nice run by #7 David Johnson was called back due to penalty. The Golden Bears would have a couple of 1st down runs before a tackle for loss by #61 Donnell Brown was followed up with another tackle for loss by #48 Anthony Christian. #88 Jack Busey, #56 Kyle Duvall, and Christian would combine on a 4th down stop. Ellis would strike again on this possession with a 48 yard touchdown run to put the COMMANDOS up 24-14. The COMMANDOS defense would be on the field as time ran out on the ensuing Mt. Juliet possession as Hendersonville claimed the Region for the 2nd straight year.
With the Region Championship, Hendersonville will enter the playoffs next week as the #1 seed and half home field advantage. The COMMANDOS will host Blackman next Friday night in the 1st round of the TSSAA class 6A playoffs. The Blaze ended Hendersonville’s season last season in the 2nd Round by coming to Memorial Stadium and defeating the COMMANDOS. Kickoff for the 1st round match up next Friday night is set for 7:00.
