Big Blue makes rare early playoff exit, falls to talented third-seed Chattanooga Prep

By Shea Haile

Courier Sports

GORDONSVILLE — For the first time since the 2014 season, the Gordonsville High Tigers football team had a first round exit in the Class 1A playoffs last Friday night — following a 25-7 loss to the Chattanooga Prep Sentinels.

Big Blue saw their 2024 campaign come to an end at Turney Ford Field as the unit concluded a 6-5 campaign. 

Chattanooga Prep, the third-seed from Region 3-1A, improved to 8-3 with the victory and will make the trek to Marion Co. for a rematch against 3-1A champion South Pittsburg in the 1A second round. 

It was a historic victory for the Sentinels who captured their first ever playoff victory on the gridiron. The program is in its third year of existence. 

A key sequence in the contest came in the third frame as Chattanooga Prep overcame 55 yards of penalties and converted a third down and 32 to eventually take a two possession lead at 19-7 with 3:09 left in the third frame. 

Jaydan Parker would seal the Tigers’ fate with a 30 yard fourth quarter interception return to pay dirt.

The playoff defeat brought the Big Blue careers of 11 seniors to an end: Dalton Hancock, Spencer Pipes, Kaden Farrell, John Babcock, Bryson Grisham, Sean Benton, Mason Greer, J.T. Franklin, Brent Angel, Will George and Caden Bennett. 

“I thought they did a great job and we talked about it all the time — there is going to be adverse situations and there is going to be bad situations to happen on the football field and in life,” said Gordonsville High football coach Stephen Jackson about the 2024 GHS football senior class. “It is always about how you respond to it. I felt like our guys did a great job responding the right way. It was always next man up. They came to work every day and put the work in to give us a chance.”

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