KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The regular season has come to a close for Tennessee high school football, and a pair of standouts helped their teams to victory and earned Player of the Week honors to cap off the campaign.
Grainger is not playoff-bound, but quarterback Ashton Taylor was all over the place to help the Grizzlies take down Volunteer in the season finale on the road.
Taylor was a triple-threat with a 7-of-14 passing performance for 136 yards and two passing touchdowns. He also ran the ball 19 times for 136 yards and a touchdown and even caught a 34-yard touchdown pass as well.
The senior said scoring three different ways in his final high school game is quite an accomplishment.
"I've never had that before. That was the first time ever, and last time ever sadly," Taylor said. "We tried it last year, but it was a failed attempt. This year, I'm glad it worked out. I was praying it would work."
On defense, Halls linebacker Halen Hunley posted eye-popping numbers in the Red Devils' victory against Central.
He recorded a whopping 26 tackles and two tackles for loss as Halls held the Bobcats to just three points in a 40-3 win heading into the playoffs. Hunley said the Player of the Week accolade has boosted his confidence ahead of the playoffs.
"This is nice to have at the end of the year, especially after senior night," Hunley said. "It's just a boost, letting myself know that I am doing the right things and to just keep doing what I am doing."
The Red Devils begin the 5A playoffs on the road against Morristown West on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m.