EVENSVILLE, Tenn. - For the first time since 1986, the Rhea County High School football team is off to an 8-0 start.
The Eagles topped District 6-AAA foe Warren County 46-3 on Friday at Bill Horton Field.
Coach Mark Pemberton and the Eagles also have put together the first back-to-back eight-win regular seasons since the 1991-92 seasons. In Pemberton's first year last fall, Rhea finished 9-1 in the regular season and 10-2 overall, winning the 6-AAA title with a 5-0 mark.
"That's something huge here now, because there's been some great football teams here at Rhea County," Pemberton said of matching the 1986 team's 8-0 start. "I feel honored and humbled to be in that category, and I hope we can keep it going."
Friday's game included nearly 200 yards in penalties with over half going to the Rhea squad. Forty penalty yards came on one Warren County 65-yard drive before the Eagles halted the Pioneers at the 5-yard line.
On Rhea's opening possession, senior wingback Zach Daoust bolted 56 yards to the end zone to give the Eagles the early lead on the second play of the game. Daoust led all rushers in the game with 177 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries, and he had a receiving score from 46 yards out.
The visitors weren't swayed by the early momentum from the hosts, as the Pioneers chewed up over nine minutes of clock, marching 72 yards to the Rhea 8 before settling for a 30-yard field goal by Evan Reynolds. The Eagles led 7-3 with 1:33 left in the opening frame.
The Eagles were on the move again during their second possession but lost a fumble at the Pioneers' 17. Rhea recovered quickly, as junior quarterback Daniel Dotson sneaked in from 3 yards away to give Rhea a 13-3 advantage with 7:35 remaining in the second quarter. Daoust concluded the first-half scoring with his TD pass from Dotson. After the extra-point kick from Bodhi Buffenbarger, the Eagles were on top 20-3 at the break.
Rhea capitalized on a bad snap during a Warren County punt after its first drive of the second half stalled. The Eagles went to work from the Pioneers' 12-yard line. Daoust boosted the Eagles' lead with his 6-yard run.
The second leading rusher of the night was Rhea sophomore wingback Cody Bice, who scampered 70 yards for the Eagles' final score of the third period, lifting the lead to 33-3. Bice finished the game with 115 yards on six touches.
Senior fullback Jacob York broke through the Pioneers line and secondary for a score with 11:37 left in the final quarter. York tallied 70 yards on the ground on seven tries.
Rhea's final score was by fullback Mason Stephenson from 11 yards out. He gained 31 yards on two carries.