Bearden football makes the explosive plays, blows by Hardin Valley 42-3

Morgan Shinlever asked his players to focus on explosive plays. He hadn’t seen many of 30 yards or more from Bearden this season and wanted to against Hardin Valley on Friday.

They listened. In the opening five minutes, the Bulldogs scored on 47- and 76-yard plays. They tacked on a 34-yarder later, too.

“I think they shocked themselves right out of the gate,” Shinlever said after the 42-3 win. “I think our kids were a little surprised we exploded like we did early. But that was one of our keys to the game.”

Previously, Shinlever felt those plays were one step off. There was one more arm tackle to break, a ball to battle for, a block to hold, something the Bulldogs (5-4, 2-3) didn't quite get.

“That was something we put an emphasis on and evidently it happened,” Shinlever said.

London Stephney broke out for the first big play. He made a move to freeze the defender and knew “if I caught the ball, I’d get him off of me because I have pretty strong legs.” He exploded down the sideline, picking up about 35 yards after the catch on the 47-yard play to put the Bulldogs up 7-0.

“You just have to be a playmaker, be a player,” he said. “When you get the ball you have to know you’re taking it to the end zone.”

Hardin Valley (4-5, 2-3) responded to that one quickly. E.J. Caldwell returned the ensuing kickoff to the 8, giving the Hawks dream field position. But Bearden stood up running back Aaron Dykes and then forced an incomplete pass. Hardin Valley kicked a field goal and never got that close again.

“That woke our kids up and said, ‘Hey I think we have their number,’ ” Shinlever said. “They have a pretty good running back in that backfield, and our kids, to come away with only giving up three points was huge.”

On the next play, D.J. Cox turned a 15-yard pass into a 76-yard touchdown. Then Kahlil Abdullah returned a fumble 15 yards to score 20 seconds later, and the Bulldogs were sitting pretty with a 21-3 lead five minutes into the game.

Hardin Valley and Bearden are battling for the No. 4 and final spot from Region 1-6A to make the playoffs. Now, they are tied at 2-3 in the region and Bearden has the head-to-head advantage. The Bulldogs just need to beat Morristown West or for Farragut to beat the Hawks to be in. 

“We are lit,” Cox said. “We are so excited that we are going to the playoffs.”