All eyes were on Heywood Stadium in Chattanooga on Thursday night as the top two teams in Tennessee went to battle. Baylor School opened a high-profile campaign with a 38-20 victory over Brentwood Academy in a rematch of last year’s Class 3A, Division II state championship.
To no surprise, the Red Raiders’ workhorse in the backfield stole the show. Three fourth-quarter touchdowns for senior running back David Gabriel Georges propelled Baylor (1-0) to victory over the Eagles once again. The Five-Star Plus+ prospect and Tennessee commit dropped the jaws of everyone in attendance from the opening drive onward.
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Senior linebacker Khori Faulkner had an interception and a rushing touchdown in the win. Senior four-star quarterback and Ole Miss commit Keegan Croucher, who transferred in during the offseason, opened the scoring with a 39-yard touchdown to junior receiver Antwaun “Cornbread” Adams.
Baylor entered as No. 1 team in Tennessee and No. 18 team nationally, per the Rivals Composite Rankings. Brentwood checked in at No. 2 in the state and No. 28 in the nation. Nearly 20 ranked prospects were on the field in total.
In a losing effort, Brentwood (0-1) senior three-star QB Crews Jenkins, also an Ole Miss pledge, threw a pair of touchdown passes, including one to senior four-star Tennessee commit Kesean Bowman, which went 80 yards to the house.
‘DGG’ leads the way for BaylorGabriel Georges’ first touch of the night showcased his unbelievable athleticism. After bulldozing into Brentwood defenders, he was upended but managed to plant a hand on the turf mid-flip, landing on his feet and keeping the run alive for a mean 8 yards.
How does he stay on his feet
Five-Star Plus+ RB David Gabriel Georges somehow refuses to go down after a wild move.
(via ESPN)https://t.co/9xL536hfZopic.twitter.com/gWis5WYkBX
That run helped kickstart a drive that led to Croucher’s dot to Adams for the opening score of the game. Gabriel Georges showed flashes in the first half, but as the game grew, the Brentwood defense had no answer for the staunch 5-foot-11, 220-pounder.
Brentwood players did just about everything they could to take Gabriel Georges down, but despite his helmet popping off multiple times and defenders attacking him from all angles, the senior just kept chugging down the field. He finished with 172 rushing yards and 78 receiving yards.
His first touchdown of the season capped off a lengthy drive that transitioned from the third quarter to the fourth. All three of his touchdown runs were short, but he was largely responsible for getting his offense inside the red zone in the first place. Gabriel Georges is as advertised on all fronts and truly looks SEC-ready right now.
UNREAL
Tennessee Five-Star Plus+ RB commit David Gabriel Georges is taking over this game.
(via ESPN)https://t.co/9xL536hfZopic.twitter.com/WDaZpigZhX
The Red Raiders immediately got the ball right back after scoring first courtesy of Faulkner’s interception. The Eagles defense mustered up a few stops and got off the field to stymie some momentum, however.
Penalties quickly brought the game to a crawl. Long gains were brought back and pre-snap mishaps had both offenses frequently behind the chains in the first quarter. On the ensuing Baylor drive, Croucher rolled to his right and fired another TD strike to Adams, but an ineligible receiver downfield wiped it away.
Sam Shutters’ 42-yard field goal attempt rattled in off the right upright to give Baylor a 10-0 lead after a long first quarter. There were 15-plus accepted penalties in the first half alone.
Brentwood junior kicker Owen Davies, a Notre Dame commit, got his team on the board with a 49-yard make that had plenty of leg. The Eagles put together a long drive that was buoyed by senior RB Larry Sanders II, who broke off multiple long runs and also looked the part on Thursday.
Once again trudging through a drive riddled with flags, Croucher — along with a quick cameo from freshman QB Marshall Manning — and Gabriel Georges got Baylor into the red zone. Faulkner then made his presence felt on the offensive side of the ball, bouncing out to the right on 3rd-and-goal for a rushing touchdown.
Down two scores with a minute left in the half and in need of a spark, Brentwood got just that as Jenkins scoped downfield and found Lex Baskin, who beat two defenders and sprinted up the middle of the field for a huge 67-yard score to make Baylor’s lead 17-10 at halftime.
Brentwood’s defense faded lateThe action picked up in the second half as both teams continued to search for any kind of rhythm. The Brentwood defense struggled to finish at times on Thursday, but it did put pressure on Croucher and that led to an interception on the opening drive of the third quarter. Croucher heaved one downfield and it found Brentwood linebacker Roman Jennings for a big turnover that eventually led to another field goal for the Eagles.
But as the clock ticked and Baylor continued to feed Gabriel Georges, it became apparent that the Eagles were in trouble. To Brentwood’s credit, it responded quickly to DGG’s first score as Jenkins connected with Bowman, who quickly worked himself free past a busted coverage to make it 24-20:
WATCH: Tennessee 4-star WR commit Kesean Bowman takes it to the house for an 80 yard TD
(via ESPN)https://t.co/7RcC46m5BWpic.twitter.com/kXCWmur6rT
Two more scores for Gabriel Georges, the No. 8 overall prospect in the 2027 cycle sealed the deal for the Red Raiders. The game was called with over a minute remaining in the fourth quarter following a lightning delay.
Next up for Baylor is Loudoun Sports Academy (Va.), the No. 26 team in Virginia, at home next Friday, Aug. 28. Brentwood Academy now prepares for its home-opener vs. Brentwood, then a massive out-of-state matchup vs. St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.) on Sept. 4.
How to Follow Tennessee High School FootballFor Tennessee high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Volunteer State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Tennessee.
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