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The Wildcats travelled to Page Friday night and were unable to win the second round playoff game.

The loss ended Tullahoma’s season with an 8-4 record including postseason games. The ‘Cats lost their first game of the year, won two in a row, dropped the first region game then went on a five game win streak. They lost the last regular season game to Shelbyville (who was also eliminated this past Friday) then shutout Nolensville in the first round of the playoffs.

Tullahoma averaged scoring 26 points per game, only allowing 13 points per game during the regular season. They had two shutout performances before the post season. Their highest scoring game was against Lawrence County when they scored 41 points.

“This is an amazing group of young men and women, they all contributed in some way or another,” head coach Coy Sisk said. “That’s what makes a great football team. There are guys that you don’t know what their name is because it is not called over the loud speaker and there are guys that you don’t see on the field a lot that are a gigantic part of the group. It is a team sport, a team effort and this team made one another better every single week. I’m talking about we’re better this week than we were last week, we were just not good enough tonight to beat that group. Guys did a super job, making each other better and holding each other accountable week to week. That is what I am really proud of them for.”

This year was an improvement from the 4-6 record last season. The team gave up 189 points last season compared to the 133 during the regular season this year. They only scored 175 points in 2022 while improving that number to 261 in 2023.

“That was one of the goals of our team, to set a standard Monday through Thursday and then raise the standard on Friday. Raise the standard so our opponent can’t meet it. They have set a standard for what it is to be a Tullahoma football player. The standard has been there, but these guys have raised it a little bit from last year to this year. That is what you want every year, for that standard to continue to get raised and for it to get raised daily. I think these guys have set one that is going to be really tough for people to meet, but I think there is a group behind them that is anxious to try to get after that standard. I’m super proud of the group and how hard they’ve worked,” said Sisk.

The game at Page started with a Tullahoma three and out. The Patriots went on a 15 play, 66 yard drive to score the first touchdown after the Grant Chadwick punt. During the drive, Colby Tucker had 5.5 tackles on the drive, Jalen Hill made two. The ensuing kickoff was a kick in between the middle and back row of ‘Cats on the return team, and the Patriots were able to make it down field to recover the kick. They had the ball right back at the Tullahoma 17. Will Hyden made a tackle at the line of scrimmage on second down and Tucker forced a fourth and 2 with the quick tackle on third down. Bronson Bunch saved a TD with the tackle on fourth down, but the Patriots ran the ball three straight plays to get back into the end zone and go up 14-0 with five seconds left in the first quarter.

The Wildcats’ possession started at their own 38 after a kick return by Malik Grizzard. The drive ended with a Page interception at the 46. Tullahoma forced a three and out. Hill made a tackle for no gain on first down, the ‘Cats forced a loss of two on a screen and then Ethan Hargrove broke up the third down pass. Tullahoma took over at their own 17. The Wildcats went three and out again, but had trouble punting and it resulted in a safety. Patriots led 16-0 with 8:08 left in the second quarter. Page scored quickly after the safety kickoff on a 55-yard TD run. Down 23-0 facing a third and 7, Khani Johnson caught the quick pass from Mason Bratcher and then found his way into the end zone. Johnson slipped through a tackle and then outran the rest of the defense for the 77-yard TD to make it 23-7 with the Chadwick extra point. Tullahoma attempted an onside kick, but Page recovered at their own 42. An 11 play drive ended with another QB run for a score. The Patriots went up 30-7 with 3:22 left before halftime. The ‘Cats began their drive with a pass right to Grizzard for a gain of 3. On third and 7, Bratcher completed a pass to Bryson Steverson for a first down at the 43. A quick pass to Hargrove picked up 4. Then a quick screen to Johnson got the ball to the Page 48 for a third and 1. Marvancy Johnson ran for a short gain and the officials called for a measurement. Tullahoma was short of the line to gain, so they went for it and gave it to M. Johnson again but came up short. Patriots took over on a turnover on downs at their own 48. Three plays later Page scored a 44-yard TD, taking a 37-7 lead to halftime.

Tullahoma opened the third quarter with another onside kick attempt. It was recovered by Page at the Tullahoma 48. The first play was stopped for no gain by Liam Grider. The third down run came up short with the stop by Tucker. The punt was fair caught at the 11. A quick screen to K. Johnson gained 6, then the ‘Cats had two incomplete passes. After picking up a first down Page gained another 4 yards on a run, Hyden made a hard hit stopping the ball carrier in his tracks. The next play was a run for 2 that Steverson stopped with a strong tackle. Then a tunnel screen gained 8, Hargrove made a TD saving tackle. On second down the jet sweep touch pass was stopped for no gain by Jack Damron to end the quarter. 

Tucker made another tackle on a QB run for 6. The fourth and 4 pass was swatted down by Hyden. The quick screen to K. Johnson gained 9 yards. The next play was a pass to Grizzard for a gain of 5 to the 46. A couple plays later Tullahoma had a pass intercepted and returned to the Page 44. Ezra Myers and Hill made a tackle for a loss of 2. The next play lost another 2 after Robert Tatum blew up the run. The punt was fair caught at the Tullahoma 21. Lucas Reed came in and ran for 6 yards on the QB keeper. His pass to M. Johnson gained of 14. Then he completed a pass to Grizzard to get the ball to the Page 22, for a gain of 37. Another pass to M. Johnson picked up 5 more yards, then Page intercepted a pass to end the game with a final score of 37-7.