Phillips' TD throws help Signal win 61-0

photo Sequatchie County's Blake Cates runs the ball during a game against Signal Mountain Friday at Signal Mountain High School.

The win streak is now at six, and if that wasn't enough momentum with which to head into the postseason, Signal Mountain turned in its most complete football game of the season Friday and shut out overmatched Sequatchie County 61-0.

The Eagles, putting the final touches on a District 7-AA championship, went up 42-0 in the first two quarters and very few starters played in the running-clock second half.

"We have been on a roller coaster all year," Sequatchie coach Chad Barger said. "We gave them some room early, and they hit us early and often. They're a good football team."

Eagles quarterback Reese Phillips threw for 280 yards, completing 14 of 18 passes including three for touchdowns. His only second-half playing time was to field Sequatchie's first punt of the third quarter.

"I got emotional on Wednesday at practice, and I cried three times tonight," the Kentucky commitment said. "There are a lot of memories. I can still remember running plays as an eighth-grader."

Phillips set a regular-season record, finishing with an even 2,000 yards in 10 games.

"I missed it last year, and while I'm not a huge stats guy, that's something of a benchmark," he said.

Two of his TD passes went to Madison Byrd, who went over 1,000 receiving yards for the season with a six catches for 131 yards. He entered the game with 67 catches for 981 yards.

Signal scored in numerous ways, including a Phillips TD throw to Caleb Menzel, short runs by James McClellan and Ben Philyaw and interception returns by Diamez Franklin and William Franklin.

When the second-teamers took over, sophomore Jack Teeters had a 28-yard TD pass to Adam Wolfe and Taylor Harvey scored on a 1-yard run.

"I don't know what else I could've done. We played just about everybody that was dressed," Eagles coach Bill Price said. "Our sophomore quarterback did a good job, and little Harvey did a good job.

"Now we have to go get ready for next week."

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