STEVE HEATH
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After a 49-0 loss in a regular-season meeting with Riverdale, Smyrna coach Philip Shadowens used the words “humiliating” and “embarrassing” to describe the Bulldogs’ performance.

When his team pulled off the state’s biggest upset Friday against those same Warriors, he spoke of the two simple words that made up his pregame speech, “I believe.”

For the first time in school history, in the 18th meeting between the two Rutherford County schools, Smyrna defeated Riverdale 9-7 in a TSSAA Class 5A State Football Playoffs quarterfinal game at Tomahawk Stadium.

The Bulldogs (11-2) will play host to unbeaten Ooltewah (13-0), a 42-14 winner over Knoxville Farragut Friday, Nov. 24 at Robert L. Raikes Stadium.

“We got a second chance at them,” said Smyrna junior quarterback Sonny Gray, who beat a fierce Riverdale pass rush to get off a 60-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Josh Crouch to give the Bulldogs a 9-7 lead with just 20 seconds remaining in the third quarter. “We came in the first time (against Riverdale) thinking we were going to drill them and they drilled us. Coach said before the game it’s simple we just have to believe.

“He just said two words, ‘I believe.’”

Gray and Crouch combined for the big play on offense, but it was the Smyrna defense that finished the job.

Deep in Smyrna territory, the Bulldogs forced a fumble from Riverdale fullback Monty Newsom and junior defensive back Jonah Hendricks recovered at the 11. It was his second fumble recovery of the game.

The Warriors got the ball back when Scott Thomas intercepted a Gray pass at the Smyrna 36. Riverdale got to the 17, but on fourth down at the 17, kicker Jasper Driskill’s 34-yard field goal attempt went wide right with just 2:30 left in the game.

“I had 80 kids and a whole bunch of coaches on our sidelines that believed,” said Shadowens, reiterating his “two word” pregame. “It came down to that belief that we were good and that belief that we could be physical and that belief that we could make a play when the game was on the line.”

Michael Hosford gave Smyrna a 3-0 lead with a 23-yard field goal. He had missed a field goal from the same distance on the previous series.

Smyrna had the ball in Riverdale territory in each of its three first-quarter possessions, but came away with only three points.

Riverdale took a 7-3 lead with 10:22 left until halftime. Quarterback Thomas finished a 10-play, 80-yard drive with a 7-yard touchdown run.

The Warriors also failed on a prime first-half scoring opportunity. With Thomas sitting out with an injury, the Warriors elected to go for a touchdown instead of a field goal on a fourth down at the Smyrna 3. Backup quarterback Paul Boykin was stopped two yards shy of the goal line.

“We kind of plodded along all night. We had our chances and just didn’t capitalize,” said Riverdale coach Ron Aydelott. “My hats off to (Smyrna). They had a great game plan and did a great job.”

— Steve Heath, 278-5169