Cameron Huckabey and the Meigs County Tigers took on the Peabody Golden Tide in the TSSAA Division I Class 2A state championship on Overall Field at Tucker Stadium in Cookeville, Tennessee, on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Photo by Danny Parker)
By MIKE BLACKERBY
COOKEVILLE — Meigs County coach Jason Fitzgerald thought his Tigers were up to the task, but Saturday’s Class 2A title rematch instead turned into a three-peat celebration for Peabody.
The Golden Tide (14-0) won their third state title in a row and ran their winning streak to 37 games with a 35-13 BlueCross Bowl win over the Tigers (13-1) on Saturday at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium.
Peabody hasn’t lost since dropping a 14-10 decision to Gibson County on Sept. 18, 2018.
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Meigs County fell 27-16 to Peabody in last year’s championship game.
Fitzgerald predicted the game would hinge on which team ran the ball better — and he was right.
The Golden Tide dominated line play in the first half on their way to building a 21-0 lead.
“Winning the line of scrimmage was going to be a key and they won it in the first half,” said Fitzgerald.
“It looked like they were beating us up front. We dug such a hole we couldn’t get out of it.”
Things got worse for Meigs County midway through the third quarter when Carson Vandiver intercepted a pass and returned it 22 yards to up Peabody’s advantage to 28-0.
The Tigers rallied behind the running of quarterback Logan Carroll (18 carries, 85 yards).
Will Meadows finally got Meigs County on the board with a 1-yard run with 1:21 to play in the third quarter.
The Tigers were back in business on the next series after Daquan Tatum tore the ball loose from Peabody’s Khalik Ganaway and Noah Powers recovered for Meigs County on the Golden Tide’s 41.
Nine plays later Carroll went over from the 1 to cut the lead to 28-13 with 10:53 to play, but Peabody added a late score to seal the win.
Digging a hole
The first half was a disaster for the Tigers.
Meigs County could get nothing going on offense and Peabody utilized the change-of-pace tandem of junior running backs Ganaway and Drequan Vaughn.
5STAR PHOTOS: Peabody 35, Meigs County 13 (Class 2A BlueCross Bowl)
Vaughn, a hard-to-tackle 6-foot, 215-pound senior, scored on runs of 11, 1 and 4 yard.
His final score of the half from 4 yards with eight seconds to play was a backbreaker.
Vaughn had 54 yards on nine carries in the first half.
He wound up with 90 yards on 17 carries and was named MVP of the game.
Ganaway, a 5-6, 165-pound junior and Mr. Football finalist, picked up 64 first-half yards on 12 attempts. He finished with 99 yards on 21 carries.
Meanwhile, the Tigers struggled to find their rhythm on offense.
Meigs County picked up two first downs and 36 total yards in the first half.
The Tigers had an apparent 52-yard touchdown pass from Carroll to Cody Cawood wiped off by a penalty late in the first quarter.
“They came out and punched us in the mouth,” said Carroll, who will return at quarterback next season for the Tigers.
“At halftime we wanted to prove that we weren’t going to just roll over, but Peabody is a great team. It was just a hard-fought game and the better team came out on top.”
Finale for Meadows
Meadows, a Mr. Football finalist, wrapped up his much-decorated career at Meigs County by rushing for 79 yards on 24 carries.
He was held to 13 yards on 10 attempts in the first half.
Meadows concluded his senior season with 1,859 yards rushing and 32 touchdowns.
The Tigers ran for 154 yards in the second half after picked up just 18 yards on the ground in the first half.
Coach Jason Fitzgerald, Will Meadows (34) and the Meigs County Tigers took on the Peabody Golden Tide in the TSSAA Division I Class 2A state championship on Overall Field at Tucker Stadium in Cookeville, Tennessee, on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Photo by Danny Parker)