BY BRIAN HAMILTON
CLINTON – Seymour saw its season come to an end on Friday night at Anderson County. The Eagles held a 21-14 lead midway through the third quarter, but was unable to score in the second half, as the Mavericks scored 25 unanswered to win 39-21.
Anderson County received the opening kick and drove 65 yards to paydirt, as Cody Miller found Walker Martinez for a 28-yard touchdown with seven minutes left in the first quarter.
Seymour finally put together a successful drive late in the first quarter, going 75 yards and capping the drive with an 18-yard touchdown run by Brendon Harris, tying the game at 7-7 with 2:19 left in the quarter.
The Eagles put together another scoring drive early in the second quarter, as Eli Funck hit Brooks Crowder, who stiff-armed a defender on his way to a 21-yard touchdown run. Seymour led 14-7 with 7:19 left in the second quarter.
The Mavericks responded immediately, as Gavin Noe ran for 66 yards to set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Nick Moog, tying the game at 14-14 with 5:40 left in the first half.
After Josh Nevins intercepted a Cody Miller pass at its own 48, Seymour capitalized, driving 52 yards for a touchdown on a Funck touchdown pass to Ryan Lodari, giving the Eagles a 21-14 lead with 20 seconds left before halftime.
Seymour took a 21-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
Anderson County used a bruising scoring to open the second half, running the ball 11 times for 52 yards and resulting in a 2-yard Noe touchdown. The Eagles blocked the extra-point attempt, however, leaving Seymour clinging to a 21-20 lead with 6:20 left in the third quarter.
The Mavericks scored again later in the third, as Noe ran for his second score of the night. The two-point conversion attempt failed, as Seymour now trailed 26-21 with 1:38 left in the third.
Anderson County began to pull away in the fourth quarter, as Nick Moog ran for a 1-yard touchdown on 4th-and-goal to put the Mavericks ahead 33-21 with 3:47 left in the game.
Funck was picked off by Garrison Terry, who took it to the house for a 31-yard pick-six, giving the Anderson County a 39-21 win.
“This senior group has seen some good times and has seen some bad times,” Seymour head coach Scott Branton said. “They came back with a new focus and dedication starting last November.”
Brendon Harris ran for 112 yards and a touchdown on the night, while Funck threw for 155 yards.
Anderson County only threw for 103 yards, but made up for it on the ground, rushing for 240 yards, while Seymour only rushed for 115 yards.
Seymour’s season ends at 6-5, but the Eagles made great strides in 2021, improving on 2020’s 0-10 season.
The Mavericks (6-5) will host Elizabethton Friday night in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. The Fighting Cyclones defeated Anderson County 27-7 back in September.