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As soon as the clock struck zero on Friday night’s Class 5A championship games, I knew what the comments were going to say on any Page content I posted to social media.
“They’re the Buffalo Bills of Tennessee high school football!”
“They’re cursed! They’ll never get over the hump!”
Social media is a toxic place and individuals who either never once played a down of football or peaked during high school will take any opportunity they can to down kids they don’t even know. It was bound to come this time around than in games past.
Four straight championship game appearances. Four straight silver balls.
A lot was made out of that fact and it’s understandable why. But as someone who spent a lot of time with this program over the last four years, and in the last two weeks in particular, that doesn’t explain the full story.
Competing for a state championship is something every high school player dreams of. Winning it is just the cherry on top of a dream that most will never know.
Even if they didn’t win one, making four straight championship games put the Patriots in uncharted waters that only a few programs like Baylor, McCallie, Oakland and Alcoa continually reach year in and year out.
They were able to reach this level because of the group of seniors that have built the program into what it is today.
Before guys like Eric Hazzard, Brenden Anes and William Wiebush became the cornerstone of this program, Page was a team that was good enough to make the postseason, but only good enough to maybe make it to the quarters.
That all changed in 2021 when Jake McNamara led them on an incredible postseason run that nearly saw a comeback for the ages against Powell. The next year they made it back but ultimately lost to one of the best teams in the state in Knox West.
The last two seasons have just been heartbreak.
Last season’s loss to West felt like the real turning point for the program. They showed that throughout the regular season posting six straight shut outs to start the season and only allowing 13 points as a whole.
People will comment on the fact that they didn’t play a good enough schedule to get them to a true championship caliber. However, they couldn’t control the fact that teams like Giles County and Independence were down this year.
Those same teams pushed them last season and Indy even handed them one of their rare losses.
Once the postseason came around, they did what they needed to take care of business. Columbia gave them a game as did Shelbyville and an up-start Springfield squad.
Friday night was just one of those nights where one unbeaten team made mistakes, the other didn’t. One had the breaks go their way, the other didn’t.
That’s football and as heartbreaking as the night may have been, that group of kids have nothing to hang their heads about.
Looking ahead and reminiscing
What becomes of Page now with this group of seniors leaving is a mystery. Many think they’ll fall off but that was also the thought following the 2021 championship loss.
Anyone expecting that may be misinformed.
Players like Knight Wilson, Mitchell Grandjean, Cayden Auckerman, Jacob Rathbone, Colt Brown and Isaac Otey could have this team back in Chattanooga next year. And of course if that happens, the jokes will come.
It’ll be their turn to finally change that narrative.
As for the seniors, they did what they could to change this program. In the last four years I don’t think I’ve covered a team more than the Patriots.
I remember watching Hazzard as a freshman thinking to myself that he was going to be something special. Turns out I was right and Louisville is getting a monster.
Anes is a kid that Tennessee fans will love. A hard-hitting linebacker, I’m happy to see him stay home and dawn the Tennessee orange and white at the next level.
Wiebush’s breakout game against Hillsboro last season is something I’ll never forget. One of the most well-spoken players I’ve ever covered, Wake Forest is getting a special talent and even better person.
Gavin Rush is probably the best high school punter I’ve seen live. As a special teams guy myself, watching him absolutely destroy the ball on Friday night’s was something that I’ll miss and I can’t wait to see in Fayetteville.
As for the rest of the senior class, they’ll also go on to do big things post their high school careers whether it’s on or off of the field. That’s just the kind of group they are.
Internet trolls come and go. Just remember that they’ve either never stepped foot on a football field, maybe played but never actually saw the field or peaked early in life and now just have to troll to get any sort of enjoyment out of life.
.Words are words but actions speak louder and even with another championship loss, their actions on and off the field are nothing to hang their heads on.
