Tackle By Basler

Last-play, goal-line stop caps an all-timer

Braden Bird’s eye-popping one-hander set off a night of big plays on both side in one of the great games in William Blount/Heritage history.

By Stefan Cooper
Editor
Blount Press Row

Years from now, when talk turns to the best games Blount County high school football has ever seen, this one makes the list.

The hitting, that crazy Braden Bird one-handed touchdown catch, the Jaxon Dabrowski sprinting, twisting, eye-popping scoring run, Thomas Bowers’ second-half heroics to rally his team, Ayden Kline’s charge in the closing minutes to put his side ahead to stay.

William Blount at Heritage 2025 had it all in a 34-27 win for the Governors, including a hero whose name few knew prior to the contest.

On a goal-line stand for the ages, William Blount defensive back Nate Basler brought down Bowers at the 1 as time expired, setting off a wild celebration on the Governors’ sideline.

The passion, the way both sides gave the full measure, in a perfect world all football games are this good. Until then, we’ll always have, “Tackle by Basler.”