TRI-COUNTY ROLLS TO SIXTH STRAIGHT WIN, DEFEATS CANTON ACADEMY 40-0
Victory Flags and More
Tri County Academy
Turf Resources
By Robert Wilson
Photos by Hays Collins
Tri-County Academy hasn’t won a MAIS state football championship since 2012. The way the Rebels played Friday night, they might get one this season.
Tri-County scored 33 points in the first half and cruised to a 40-0 victory over Canton Academy Friday night at Canton.
Tri-County improved to 6-0 while Canton Academy dropped to 4-2.
Tri-County has been to the state championship game four times in the past six seasons and finished 7-4 last year.
Tri-County was dominating Friday night. The Rebels gained 408 yards rushing, with the majority of those coming in the first half. Trace Dearman gained 184 yards and scored four TDs on 18 carries and Zac Clark added 140 yards and scored two TDs on 14 carries. The offensive linemen who opened the holes were center Nathan Selph, right guard Zachary Parks, right tackle Christian Howell, left guard Aiden Barker and left tackle Connor Hillman. The Rebels has scored 40 points or more in every game this season.
Middle linebacker Brayden Presley, defensive end Tanner Lee and defensive tackle Hayden Walker led the Tri-County defense, which registered its third shutout this season.
“I’m proud of my guys,” said third-year Tri-County coach Philip Wasson, who won two state titles in 2011 and 2015 at Washington School. “Our lineman had a crowded defense box but was still able to get the job done. Trace Dearman had a monster night running the ball. Our defense played very aggressive and flew to the ball. I was proud of the shutout.”
“Tri County was a very good football team. Very physical and well coached from top to bottom,” first-year Canton Academy coach Gage Posey said. “We got a lot of things to fix and we will be better because of this game.”
