Irish test Baylor in semis
CHATTANOOGA — Last season, Knoxville Catholic High School’s football team won but three games.
This year, with co-head coach Steve Matthews back, KCHS improved to 7-5 with a pair of Division II-AAA playoff wins included. Then came a state semifinal rematch of a 42-0 Baylor rout of Catholic to close the regular season.
But the playoff Irish gave the Red Raiders (10-2) all they wanted Friday, Nov. 17. In the end, though, the home team was too strong, winning 49-35.
“Their offense was really, really good, best we played all year,” Matthews said. “Just too much for us. Their depth wore us down.”
Irish quarterback Jayden Neal had a huge night, completing 32 passes on 53 attempts for 342 yards and five touchdowns.
“Neal had a huge playoff,” Mathews said about his junior signal-caller. “He continued to get better through the year. I’m excited about his future.”
Neal’s top targets were Braylon Harmon (12 catches, 127 yards, one score), Tyreek King (six for 87, one score) and Quincy Pannell (four for 32, two scores).
Three times in the first half Catholic trailed by seven, but tied it all three times.
The Irish tied it yet again, at 28-28, when Neal connected with Harmon from 35 yards. The Red Raiders then scored twice more to make it 42-28 in the fourth. Pannell’s 10-yard TD pass from Neal came before Baylor’s last touchdown.
