Halls football tops Sevier County in final minute, can win region next week

Finally, there’s some clarity atop the topsy-turvy Region 2-5A football standings.

With first place in the region at stake, Halls took firm control of the playoff pecking order Friday with a hard-fought 20-13 win over visiting Sevier County.

Sophomore quarterback Caden Tollett scored on a determined 1-yard run with 36.4 seconds to play to give the Red Devils (4-5, 4-1 Region 2-5A) the key victory.

Tollett, who drove Halls 84 yards in seven plays on the game-winning drive, broke two tackles after being hit in the backfield at the 4. He then shrugged off another tackler at the 1 before finding the end zone.

He totaled 200 yards rushing on 32 carries.

“The kid is a warrior,” said Halls coach J.D. Overton.

“He’s just tough as nails. He’s a kid that wants the ball in these situations. He’s just a natural leader, especially for a sophomore.”

The Red Devils can nail down the region crown outright in next week’s regular-season finale with a win over Seymour.

Sevier County (4-5, 3-2) wraps up next week against Carter.

“This region is all jumbled, but we’ve got to win next week,” said Sevier County coach Tony Linginfelter.

Halls dominated play for most of the night as the Red Devils ran 80 plays to Sevier County’s 46.

Senior running back Cooper Cook added 151 yards rushing on 23 carries for the Red Devils.

Halls finished with 394 yards on the ground.

The Red Devils jumped to a 9-0 lead in the second quarter after registering a safety and getting a 12-yard touchdown run from T.J. Holmes.

Sevier County answered on Nick Caudill’s 3-yard TD run midway through the second quarter that cut the gap to 9-7.

Briggs Marcantel booted a 35-yard field goal in the third quarter to increase Halls’ lead to 12-7.

Sevier County shocked the Red Devils midway through the fourth quarter when wide receiver Colin Russell scampered 80 yards after catching an inside hitch from quarterback Cam Burden.

“He (Russell) made a big play when it mattered,” said Linginfelter.

That set the stage for Tollett to rally the Red Devils.

Cook jump-started the drive as he rambled 53 yards on first down to the Sevier County 31.

Tollett carried the ball on four of the next six plays as he wouldn’t be denied.

“The plays he (Tollett) made kept them in the game,” said Linginfelter.

Mike Blackerby is a freelance contributor