Hendersonville beat Beech for the 2nd time this season by coming away with a hard fought 34-14 victory in Memorial Stadium in the quarterfinal round of the TSSAA class 6A playoffs. The COMMANDOS won the regular season matchup 28-10, and were coming off their 2nd meeting of the year with Gallatin in the 2nd round.
The Buccaneers would get the ball to start the contest and after picking up a first down through the air and getting the ball into HHS territory, the COMMANDO defense would come up with a stop on a 4th down attempt. A bad snap on Hendersonville’s first play would lead to a punt after 3 plays. BHS would pick up a 1st down by pass followed with a 1st down run before taking a 0-7 lead with a 25 yard touchdown run. Following the kickoff, #10 Ellis Ellis would get a handoff on the 1st snap and race 71 yards to tie the game at 7. Pass breakups by Ellis and #4 Cooper Dean would help force a 3 & out by HHS, and Hendersonville would go on a drive to take a lead that they would not give up. 1st down runs by #25 Torin Baker and #32 Noah Carmean would highlight the drive followed with a catch by Ellis that set up 1st and goal. Ellis would score again, this time with a 5 yard TD run as Hendersonville went up 14-7. A tackle for loss by #26 Stevin Mack and a sack by #13 Jack Brown and #88 Jack Busey would force another Buccaneer punt, but HHS would return the ball after 3 plays. After a 1st down run and a 1st down by penalty, BHS would move into HHS territory, but pass breakups by #48 Anthony Christian and Ellis would set a 4th down where #1 Jameson Wharton would break up a pass attempt to end the drive. Hendersonville would again get moving with a catch by Ellis, but after back to back penalties, the COMMANDOS would punt. The teams would break for halftime with HHS leading 14-7.
The teams would trade punts to start the 2nd half before HHS got moving with 1st down receptions by Wharton and #3 Brice Howden before Ellis busted loose for a 40 yard TD run making the score 21-7. The Black & Gold defense would get another 4thdown stop and Torin Baker would put the COMMANDOS up 27-7 with an 85 yard run. After a big play by #61 Donnell Brown would force another punt by the Buccaneers, Hendersonville would be poised to run the clock, but a fumble in their own territory would set Beech up with great field position. BHS would score with a 38 yard pass to cut into the lead making it 27-14. An onside attempt would be fielded by #7 Luke Guthier. Mack would pick up a 1st down on 4th down, and Ellis would score his 4th rushing touchdown of the night with a 29 yard run for the final points of the game. Ellis would then get the ball back for Hendersonville by coming up with an interception, and Torin Baker would end the game by picking up a first down to allow HHS to run the clock out and get the 34-14 victory.
Hendersonville will host a TSSAA class 6A Semifinal game on Black Friday. The COMMANDOS (10-3) will take on the Summit Spartans (13-0) at Memorial Stadium next Friday night. Kickoff for the semifinal game is set for 7:00. The winner will secure a spot in the class 6A State Championship Game in Chattanooga.
