These 2024 Smoky Bears are different from the Bears of recent years. after several years of building a system to restore the winning culture of the Sevier County Bear dominance, a blend of youth and veterans has blended into a well-oiled machine under an amazing coaching staff led by Head Coach Todd Loveday. These Bears haven't tasted a championship game on the varsity level since 2015, when they lost in the state championship to Independence. But things began to change in 2020, beginning at the middle school level, where the young middle school Bears rarely ever lost, building a squad of winners in both football and basketball. With that, something special was already brewing in Sevier County. These kids only knew a winning mentality. Their leader, QB Cooper Newman, has developed into one of the top QBs in the state and bought himself a spot among the Mr. Football finalists for Class 5A and has thrown for 2759yrds (36TDs-1INT) on 193/257 pass attempts ( QB rating 147.4)and rushed for 81yrds and 2TDs. This young phenom with a rocket arm established himself early as a freshman and elevated his game even more this season with zero INTs coming into game 12. Parker Newman is a versatile two-way stud, adding 191 receiving yards (1TD) and 90 tlks (58 solo, 3 sacks). Bryson Headrick had 44 catches for 765 yards for 7TDs. Joey Galatzin added 142tkls(98 solo, 12 tfl, 1 for, 1 bl punt and 2-2pt conversions). Wyatt Maples added 8 catches for 108 yards, 48tkls, 5INTs, 1fbr). Roman Gibbons added 9 carries for 43 yards, 30 catches for 338yrds and 3TDs. Zack Banks added 22 carries for 2759 yards and 2TDs. Nick Patterson added 46 catches for 249 yards and 3TDs.
Now, on the varsity level, they combined with their leader, Jude Costner, Mr. Blue-Collar Stud, an athlete who literally does it all on both sides of the ball. Jude delivered 44 catches for 655yrds for 13TDs, 19 carries for 105yrds for 7TDs, 55tkls(37 solo, 3sacks). The defensive leader, the bulldog, Tyler Mann, had 105 tackles (61 solo, 9 tackles for a loss- in 10 games due to injury). The dynamic RB, Pac-Man, Tegan Avera, added 528yrds on 70 carries and 8TDs in 6 games due to injury. Haydon Akers added 30 catches for 427 yards and 6TDs, and Christian Osorio added 328 yards on 72 catches with 2TDs.
Collectively, this mixture presented an explosive team that walked down every opponent they faced in the regular season in dominant blow-out fashion. These Bears should have called the "Fast and Furious ". Yet somehow, as dominant as they were, the respect level was lacking except in Sevier County and that locker room where these young men formed a tight brotherhood and the community was 100% supporting them like one big family on and off the field. The bonds are strong, and they play for one another every time they take the field. Facing adversity with injuries to key players, the team mentally was next man up, and they never skilled a beat, with every man ready to do their part and hungry to make this run special. And boy did they ever ending the regular season 10-0. And rolled through the opening round of the playoffs blasting 35-12, improving to 11-0.
This is where things really got interesting for the Bears. Up next was Powell HS, the team that ended their season in the playoffs in 23, and they were the underdog for only the second time this year. All week, the chatter of another playoff loss to Powell was inevitable except in the hearts and minds of the Bears and their community of fans who stood with them all years. Though it was a home game, the Bear's Den received no love or respect for their incredible work all season. But Coach Loveday kept his team locked in, and they worked hard all week and lived in the film room, determined this time against Powell, things would be different. These Bears are hungry for that chip, and Powell stood between them and their goal. And my question is, what happens if you poke a bear? Especially in its den, that Bear will attack and get whatever invades its territory. So, these focused and determined Bears were unwilling to lie down in their den despite the doubters and the noise. Being the fightiest and most resilient team I saw all year, I expected no less. There were high hopes for the return of the senior RB, Pac-Man. The excitement was he'd bring another level of magic to this game.
Following through with a well-devised game plan, these Bears hit Powell quickly, taking the early 7-point lead, pushing Powell hard to pull even in the second, and making the entire first half a defensive slugfest. From the player's perspective, the mentality all season is to bend but not break. The defense came in determined to give as few big plays as possible, but even if one happened, they would not break. They held firm and succeeded in that area. But their dynamic RB couldn't continue, and Pac-Man Tegan Avera informed the coaches that he couldn't go on. But Tegan didn't get down on himself but dropped to one knee and prayed, God, what can I do to help? My team now? He said I trust you and know this is your will. I don't play and don't want to know why, but I still want to help my team. So every time he felt led to speak to and motivate his brothers, he did, and they would need him more than he knew.
As the second half took off, Powell earned a hard-fought 10 to take a 17-10 3rd quarter lead. These Bears were being pushed, but they remained true to their charter. In the fourth, Powell's team seemed to seize complete control behind the power of their QB, taking a 24-10 lead. Another leader, Joey, suffered a season-ending injury unknown at the time, and he was overwhelmed with emotion for not being able to fight with his brothers when they needed him the most. Their fans were rocking, and the team expressed a cocky overconfident swagger to the point of taunting as a player danced in celebration as the kickoff was happening. For the first time, some of the seniors felt their season and career might end with a little over 3 minutes remaining in the game, and they faced the mountain against time for a comeback. But those underclassmen who only know how to win rallied to the side of the vets and told them, believe in us; we will find a way and win this game. The fire fueled by the celebration and overconfident attitude fired up these young studs even more. On the very first play after that kickoff, Cooper hit Jude for a big gain to set up a quick TD. Soon after, another connection from Cooper to Costner to pull within a TD 24-17. With renewed life and a second wind, the fire was lit, and they now knew they were going win, and collectively, everyone knew exactly what they had to do to get it done.
The next thing that everyone knew had to come with around 2 minutes left was the onside kick. Still, Powell doubted these Bears could catch or beat them. But remember what happens when you poke a Bear, and this squad never gives up or quits. They were hungry and decided they would get that onside kick at all costs. Powell had no. idea how hard and typical it was for these Bears to practice just for this play at this moment, and they believed. Taylor Madison, I'm told, was born for moments like these and made the absolute perfect onside kick of all time for these Bears, and the freshman Zack Banks came up big yet again, tipping the ball into the air, giving the Bears a chance they knew they had to have and the Bears Bryson Headrick secured the ball. Sevier County crowd was rocking and electric with new life. The poised and calm Mr. Cooper Newman locked on knowing exactly what he had to do: get that team in that end zone and quickly. He launched another bomb to his boy Jude who knew this was the time he had to deliver as the senior leader and catch anything Cooper threw at him, and he delivered.
Within seconds, Cooper connected with another senior ready for the moment in Haydon Ayers; he got it done, hitting paydirt for the TD, bringing the score to 23-24. The silence was now on the Powell side while the frenzied crowd was at its peak with excitement. The team wanted to go for the win as their mindset was that we hadn't come this far to go for a tie, so we could see what Powell could do, but we wanted to win right now. Powell got an off-side penalty, giving the Bears almost certain success of a 2-point conversion. Coach Loveday called a timeout to prepare his guys to complete this circle comeback. Roman Gibbons's number was called, and he would not fail to get in that end zone for 2, no matter what. And he did just that, giving these Bears a 25-24 lead.
The defense now knew they had to make one last stand. Bringing one of the best in the state in any class, there were no words needed for them to know what they had to do. They believed in their offense to understand, having their back; now it was their turn to return that favor. A big run back; Nowickoff didn't do the defense any favors, but the bend but don't break was stronger than ever. In the first play, the big QB ran for nine yards, but the defense rallied for the stop. With 17 seconds left, these Bears knew they had to pass. No less than 10 yards was the only hope, and this defense was determined no more yards. The pass play was incomplete cause the defense did not have it. The next pass play would be Powell's last as Parker Newman made his first and only pick of the season at the moment his team had to have a stop. The entire stadium was waiting to hear the call and confirmation from officials and came. As the Powell team walked off the field with their heads down, the exuberant Bears had achieved the ultimate revenge in dramatic comeback fashion. Pulling to some was a huge upset. But Sevier County's fate for a team destined for greatness.
Cooper threw his first INT of the season but led his team with ice water in his veins. He had a clutch performance of 293 yards and 2 touchdowns and established himself as a prime-time leader on the biggest stage so far. Defensively, Tyler Mann proved why he is an anchor on that defense with 22tkls in a game they were told they couldn't win. Parker Newman added 15tkls and the game-sealing INT. In his own rite, Jude delivered 4 catches for 58 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 rushing touchdown, and 11tkls—Headrick 1fbr and 1INT and 5fivecatches for 105 yards. Akers 2 catches for 55 haven't, and 1TD. Gibbons 5 catches for 36 yards and a 2-point conversion. Jaxson Perry as the next man up with 11 tackles. And this team as pushed their record to 12-0.
What inspired me after the game and celebration of the moment was that two thoughts locked in, one immediately and one once the team learned Joey G was done for the season. Number one time to move past the celebration cause there is still work to be done; we haven't finished yet. Next week brings a new challenge; let's get to work. Number two, they feel they are playing for their brother; on, gotta win for their guy who gave everything he had all season and can be out there with them, and maybe Tegan too.
This is a dangerous team. You can say what you want, but never doubt the heart and will of these Bears. There is no quiet in them, and they play without fear. They play as a family, protecting their own. Don't poke the Bear; it likely won't end well in the next round.
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