Hendersonville Standard
HENDERSONVILLE WEATHER

Bucs lock up 2 seed in Region 5-6A with convincing victory over Gallatin





Patrick Hill walks into the end zone untouched.{/pJOSHUA HICKS

Patrick Hill walks into the end zone untouched.{/pJOSHUA HICKS

SHACKLE ISLAND — Beech locked up at least the two seed for the upcoming Region 5-6A playoff Friday night with a convincing 49-17 victory over Gallatin High School.

The win for Beech is their 10th in-a-row over Gallatin and their 11th win in the last 12 meetings.

Running back Patrick Hill finished with a healthy 237 rushing yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns.

“My teammates have been amazing at opening the holes, which allow me to slip through for a big breakout game again, so I want to thank them,” Hill said after the win.

The senior’s 200-yard performance is his second in-a-row after rushing for 200+ at Springfield in Week 8 action, all while dealing with a shoulder injury.

“He is a tough competitor, has a banged-up shoulder, but he knows there is not much he can do with it at this point,” Beech head coach Anthony Crabtree said. “When he decides he wants to be tough and stick it up in there and run the ball like he is, he is an excellent running back — our best guy. It makes us better when he did what he did tonight.”

{p class=”p1”}{span class=”Apple-converted-space”} {/span}Andrew Paige making a leaping catch in the back of the end zone.{/p}

{p class=”p1”}{span class=”Apple-converted-space”} {/span}Andrew Paige making a leaping catch in the back of the end zone.{/p}

In the end, Beech tallied over 400 yards of offense, including 176 passing yards to several different receivers — Andrew Paige (3 catches, 62 yards), Jackson Long (2 catches, 32 yards), Errin Jolley (3 catches, 73 yards), JP Courtney (1 catch, 6 yards).

Beech deployed four different quarterbacks against Gallatin, including starter Jackson Ford, JP Courtney, Trent Sheely, and Brian Rager.

“They all have different strengths, so we want to play them in situations based on what they can do and how they help us the most, and that is what you saw tonight,” Crabtree said. “We feel like we found our niche a little bit on offense, so we want to continue getting better each week.”

Of the four quarterbacks to play, Trent Sheely has come on strong since action at Hendersonville. The older of the quarterbacks brings confidence, according to Crabtree.

“He has a little moxie in him and understands the game, has confidence in himself, and he brings that to the huddle, and the guys respond,” he said.

Nick Krall kicking the extra point.

Nick Krall kicking the extra point.

As for the game between the white lines, Gallatin opened the contest up striking first and striking fast, taking a 95-yard kickoff return to the paint for the 7-0 lead. Kicker Ashton Kelley finished a perfect 2-for-2 on extra points and 1-1 on field goals.

However, the rest of the game belonged to Beech.

After forcing a punt on their first defensive series, Beech marched 49 yards before a Patrick Hill touchdown from a few yards out tied the contest at 7-7. Nik Krall connected on all of his estate point attempts.

Hill pushed the Bucs in front for good, 14-7, with 2:35 left in the first quarter on a one-yard plunge into the paint. A 31-yard pitch-and-catch set up the play from Ford to Paige.

The Bucs scored 14 consecutive points for a 28-7 halftime lead, thanks to scores from Paige and Jackson Long.

Starting the second half on their own-22, Beech marched to the Gallatin 32 yard line before Hill busted through the middle for the long run and score 35-7.

Jackson Ford throwing down the field on the run to Andrew Paige.

Jackson Ford throwing down the field on the run to Andrew Paige.

Junior Luke Cook came on for Gallatin in the third quarter after quarterback Dee Sullivan left the game with bruised ribs. No. 11 played well for the Green Wave, scoring from 45 yards out with 5:37 left in the game to trim the Beech lead to 35-14.

He also had two more scores called back for holding penalties.

Gallatin knocked home their final score of the night with 5:01 left in the fourth quarter when Kelley kicked home a 47-yard field goal to cut the Beech lead, 42-17.

Cornerback Isaac Talbot put the game on ice with a pick-six with less than one minute to play, using the Bucs to 6-2 on the season and 3-1 in league play.

The loss drops Gallatin to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in region action. Both teams have locked up a playoff spot, but the Green Wave will be playing for the three-seed in two weeks when they host Clarksville.

Patrick Hill jogging into the end zone while a defender dives at his feet.

Patrick Hill jogging into the end zone while a defender dives at his feet.

“They did an excellent job of running the football on us — they had a great game plan,” Gallatin coach Chad Watson said. “Luke does an outstanding job for us in the second half at quarterback. He earned the right to play moving forward — we want Dee healthy moving forward.”

With the playoffs on the horizon, Watson says the Green Wave will continue to be the best version we can be.

“We want to win a playoff game,” Watson said. “I thought our kids competed hard tonight, fought the entire game — I’m proud of them for that.”

Beech will travel to Brentwood next week while Gallatin hits the road for Lebanon.

Errin Jolley catching a long pass over midfield.

Errin Jolley catching a long pass over midfield.

Andrew Paige giving a stiff arm to a defender.

Andrew Paige giving a stiff arm to a defender.

JP Courtney jumping over a pile of linemen to pick up a first down.

JP Courtney jumping over a pile of linemen to pick up a first down.

Jaheim Merriweather returning a kickoff.

Jaheim Merriweather returning a kickoff.

Dee Sullivan running up the center picking up a first down.

Dee Sullivan running up the center picking up a first down.

Cash Boone trying to get around defenders on the outside.

Cash Boone trying to get around defenders on the outside.

Luke Cook sprinting towards the end zone.

Luke Cook sprinting towards the end zone.

Ladanian McMurray receiving the kick off.

Ladanian McMurray receiving the kick off.

Luke Cook jogging into the end zone.

Luke Cook jogging into the end zone.

Jaheim Merriweather breaking a tackle.

Jaheim Merriweather breaking a tackle.

Luke Cook diving into the end zone.

Luke Cook diving into the end zone.

BHSvsGHS-13.jpgCalliHumePhotoqraphy

BHSvsGHS-13.jpgCalliHumePhotoqraphy

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BHSvsGHS-3.jpgCalliHumePhotoqraphy

Bubba Carter runs as Luke Cook (11) picks up the block. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

Bubba Carter runs as Luke Cook (11) picks up the block. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

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BHSvsGHS-5.jpgCalliHumePhotoqraphy

Patrick Hill gets into the end zone. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

Patrick Hill gets into the end zone. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

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BHSvsGHS-7.jpgCalliHumePhotoqraphy

A host of Gallatin defenders bring down Jackson Long. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

A host of Gallatin defenders bring down Jackson Long. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

Under the lights at Shackle Island Stadium Beech battles Gallatin. 

Under the lights at Shackle Island Stadium Beech battles Gallatin. 

Markelos Owens is brought down for the Green Wave. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

Markelos Owens is brought down for the Green Wave. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

BHSvsGHS-11.jpgCalliHumePhotoqraphy

BHSvsGHS-11.jpgCalliHumePhotoqraphy

Dee Sullivan escapes the sack just before the second quarter ends. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

Dee Sullivan escapes the sack just before the second quarter ends. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

Errin Jolley makes the catch and races toward the end zone before being brought down. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

Errin Jolley makes the catch and races toward the end zone before being brought down. CalliHumePhotoqraphy

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