Lions roar to first-ever playoff win
Fueled by five first-quarter touchdowns and two early turnovers, the Lions roared past Fayette Academy 49-21 in the Division II-A playoffs to capture their first postseason win Friday, Nov. 6, at Farragut’s Eddie Courtney Stadium.
“We took care of business in the first half,” head coach Steve Matthews said. “That felt really good because you never know what to expect with these playoff games. Proud of the way the guys came out and performed. Dylan (Brown) had a really good night; Dasani (Moulden) was electric, and defensively, did enough in the first half. Got a little sloppy in the second half but happy with the way the guys came out.”
Wide receiver Dasani Moulden, a Mr. Football semifinalist, and tailback Maurice Smith punched in two touchdowns apiece in the first half, leading an offense featuring seven touchdowns from five different players in the first two quarters.
Brown’s night ended with a 14-for-16 clip for 332 yards, five touchdowns and a pick. Moulden reeled in six catches for 189 yards and two touchdowns, and Smith added four rushes for 114 yards, two scores and two receptions for 28 yards.
By game’s end, Matthews addressed his players to celebrate a win that would be eye-popping for any program — let alone one that played its first TSSAA schedule just last season.
“Last year, we felt like we had a good squad but a young one with a lot of young mistakes,” Matthews said. “So we made the schedule a little harder this year, and I think that prepared us for the back end of our schedule.”
So did the Lions’ 2025 campaign, which ended in a first-round loss to Jackson Christian that left players motivated for this season.
“It feels great,” Moulden said. “First playoff win in school history, and being a young team, it feels good to accomplish that so early. We took a bad loss last year in the first round, so we wanted to come out with a fast start and stomp on their neck early. We were hungry.”
That approach became clear from the jump last week, as QB Dylan Brown hit Moulden for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.
A fumble recovery by Oakley Helton gave the ball back to the Lions, and another Brown-Moulden connection set up Smith’s first touchdown run from 15 yards out.
He scored again five plays later for a 21-0 advantage,
but the teams traded possessions on turnovers shortly thereafter. Two plays into Concord’s next possession, Andrew Lumsdaine sprinted for a 28-0 lead, and a Dereon Bonner interception paved the way for Moulden’s
second score to put the Lions up 35-0.
He would have scored again on a long punt return if not for a holding call, but Todd Lundy and Amare McKenzie answered with scores of their own for a 49-0 advantage before Fayette put up three late touchdowns.
McKenzie totaled four receptions for 47 yards and a score, while Lundy caught one pass for a 16-yard touchdown to go with Lumsdaine’s 52-yard romp to the end zone.
Allistair Middlebrook finished off the offensive stats for CCS, rushing for 107 yards on eight carries.
This week, the Lions will look to continue their momentum as they welcome Friendship Christian to Farragut for the Division II-A quarterfinals.
But if Matthews’ postgame message of “three more!” was any indication, CCS has its eyes set on plenty more history this season.
“We want that state championship,” Moulden said plainly. “We know how good we are, and we’ve been working for it in the weight room. We need those three more games.”
“As a coach, you do the best you can to enjoy them,” Matthews added. “But at the same time, you see all the things you need to improve on. If we can get rid of some of the silly mistakes, we’ve got a chance to be really good.”
