Week ending Nov. 2

Tyson reprises BlueCross Bowl epic in defeat of Irish

Alcoa’s Jaquez Tyson hurdles a teammate during last season’s record-setting state championship game. Photo by Hobe Brunson

It wasn’t the superhuman effort of last year’s state championship game, but it was close.

Alcoa High School senior Jaquez Tyson, the Barley’s/Blount Press Row Player of the Week, carried 44 times for 193 yards and three touchdowns during the Tornadoes 21-14 win over Catholic last Friday to claim the District 4AA championship.

Alcoa (9-1) hosts Johnson County in the opening round of the Class 3A playoffs on Friday.

Tyson’s bruising display against the Irish fell just short of his performance in last season’s BlueCross Bowl. In setting a new championship game record – and likely a new Alcoa school record as well – the Tornado tailback carried into the Christ Presbyterian Academy line 49 times, finishing with 278 yards and three touchdowns in a 25-7 Alcoa win.

Making the feat all the more remarkable were some of the worst playing conditions ever seen at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium for a championship game. Bitterly cold temperatures, torrential rains and cutting winds were only the start. Lightning twice delayed kickoff. Alcoa finished the night with 382 yards rushing and attempted and completed only a single pass.