2017 TSSAA Football Class 5A Semifinals Brighton @ Beech

Описание: Beats By Chad Blunt
HENDERSONVILLE — The 27 seniors on the 2017 Brighton Cardinals roster were vital to the team's historic playoff run.
And maybe the heart and soul of that class are quarterback Malik Jackson and running back Lance West. The duo was crucial in the previous week's upset 34-31 win at Henry County in the Quarterfinals. The victory allowed the Cardinals to advance to the school's first State Semifinals.
Friday night Brighton made the journey to Hendersonville for the Class 5A Semifinals against the unbeaten Beech Buccaneers. The tough defense of the Bucs set the tempo early and sent Brighton's backfield of West and Jackson to the sideline.
West had a noticeable limp and running was labored. Jackson suffered a huge hit knocking his helmet off in the first quarter. Despite the setbacks the Cardinals pushed Beech, but the Bucs were able to secure a 21-3 victory and trip to this week's Class 5A State championship game in Cookeville to play Knoxville Catholic.
“It had to stop soon or later,” Brighton Head Coach Robin Jacobs said. “Oh man, there defense is outstanding. Everywhere we went, they had a guy. They played really well. You can't say anything bad about them. They earned this game.
“We had opportunities a couple of times and they turned us back,” he continued. “Toward the goal line on fourth and one down there, we thought we could get that and we didn't get that either. We did all we could to try to get in. They're really good on defense. They're rock solid. Congratulations to Beech.”