BY BRIAN HAMILTON
ALCOA – It was the 97th edition of the Battle of Pistol Creek. Like many of the previous editions, everyone in attendance knew what you could expect, a close game with several climactic, pivotal moments. Friday’s rendition of the bitter rivals proved to be just that.
For the second consecutive year, Alcoa came away with a crucial stop in the red zone to hold on a late lead and come away with a close victory, winning 28-21. The Tornadoes seniors will go out 3-1 against Maryville, a team that it had only beaten once between 2011 and 2021.
“When we won this game here (at Alcoa) the first time, I think I had been here five years, now I’ve been here 22 years now,” Alcoa head coach Brian Nix said. “The last time we won here, we didn’t throw a pass. We ran for like 400-something yards. We had a running clock, so it was probably the most poignant win we’ve had, but the win on this field, for these seniors, to end with a winning record and have a 3-1 record against Maryville, I think they’re the second class to leave, in the history of Alcoa, with a winning record against Maryville.”
Maryville took the opening kickoff and drove 80 yards in eight plays to take a 7-0 lead when Ty Tomberlin found paydirt from six yards out with 4:49 left in the first quarter.
Maryville’s Will Jones (5) lets go of the ball as the Alcoa defense applies pressure. Jones was 14-for-17 passing on the night. Photo by Brian Hamilton
Alcoa then gnawed up tons of clock on a 15-play drive that drained the rest of the first quarter clock. Micah Jones would go into the end zone for a 1-yard score on the first play of the second quarter to tie the score at 7-7 with 10:49 left in the half.
A 39-yard pass from Will Jones to Colton Foust would put Maryville back in front 14-7 with 3:37 left until halftime. Alcoa began to drive as the first half began to wind down and it looked as it the Tornadoes might be looking to go to the locker room with a field goal. Former Rebel quarterback Thomas Manu had other plans, however, as the junior lofted a 34-yard touchdown to JaColby Cooper to tie the game at 14-14 with seven seconds remaining in the half.
The two rivals would head to intermission knotted at 14-14, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
“I heard the guys at halftime saying, ‘I can’t believe we gave up a touchdown,’ but I said, ‘who cares, it’s 14-14, zero-to-zero.’ This is right where we want to be,” said Nix.
Manu tossed his second touchdown of the night on a 25-yard heave to Jamir Dean, giving the Tornadoes a 21-14 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the third period.
Maryville drove 80 yards in 10 plays late in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 21-21 on an 11-yard pass from Will Jones to Colton Babelay with 2:52 remaining.
On an overcast night, with thunderstorms threatening, you could feel it in the air. You could feel it in Bill Bailey Stadium. Maryville left too much time on the clock.
Alcoa Head Coach Brian Nix instructs his team during the 97th Battle of Pistol Creek. Nix is now 3-1 against Maryville as a head coach. Photo by Brian Hamilton
Alcoa proceeded to piece together a 7-play, 77-yard drive, which was capped by a 7-yard touchdown run by Micah Jones, his second of the evening.
The Rebels strung together a few plays to get into range for a pair of heaves to the end zone, but Condis Cherry batted away Will Jones’ final pass to the end zone, giving Alcoa a 28-21 win, it’s second straight and third in four years.
Friday night marked the first time either team has won on their home field in the rivalry since 2020. It is also the first time Alcoa won back-to-back wins in the rivalry in 15 years.
Thomas Manu finished the game 15-of-19 for 183 yards and two touchdowns in his first game against his former school.
“I just think the poise of his first start, against the school that he was at, to come out here and play with that kind of poise, that says a lot about his character,” Nix said of the junior quarterback. “He is a high character individual. Great grades, great off the field, and that works. That makes you better at everything you do. Not many people can live on both sides of the track. I’ve had a few, but not many. For most people, it’s how you live day-to-day and you couldn’t be happier for the success that he’s had.”
Alcoa (1-0) will host Bearden on Thursday night. The Bulldogs had their season-opener canceled on Saturday night due to inclement weather. Maryville (0-1) will host West, who was supposed to face Bearden in the ‘no contest’ Saturday.