Brian Kamer, Sports Contributor
This article was written and submitted by Brian Kamer, Sports Contributor.
In the end, Rhea County stayed fairly local with the hiring of Taylor Harvey as its next Head Football Coach. Harvey, a 2010 graduate of Sequatchie County High School and former lineman for the Indians, comes to the Eagles after serving as the defensive coordinator at Walker Valley High School. Eagle fans are more than familiar with the Mustangs, as they have squared off on the gridiron for 19 straight seasons, the longest current streak for any opponent, and should be familiar with Coach Harvey’s work.
Last season, Harvey’s Mustang defense held opponents to an average of 15 points per game, had a +20 turnover ratio, and had nine games in 2023 where they held their opponent to under 250 yards allowed. The Eagles were on the receiving end of one of these stellar defensive performances as they were held to 12 points, 262 total yards, and lost two turnovers to a stifling attack from Harvey’s unit. It was the largest score differential in the series between the rival schools, and it was particularly impressive that the Mustangs held an Eagle ground game that eventually averaged nearly 250 yards per game on the season to 126 yards with 6 TFLs. The leading rusher for the Eagles was Mason Ford who finished the game with 59 yards on 13 carries and no touchdowns. It was the lowest total for any leading rusher in the regular season.
The Mustangs had their best season in program history, advancing to the semifinal round of the Class 5A playoffs before falling to eventual state champion Knox-West. On the way, they posted three shutouts, held nine opponents to 14 points or less, and captured the Region 4-5A title with their first ever program win against the McMinn County Cherokees and second win in a row over Rhea County.
Coach Harvey brings a great pedigree of success to the Eagles job, even if it is his first stop as a head coach. One thing that Eagle fans can be assured of is this: Coach Harvey will bring a hard-hitting defense that will be able to stand firm against various offenses, as they stopped everything from the I-formation that Rhea County ran to the wide open spread offenses that are prevalent in high school football.
It is an exciting time in Eagle Country as Coach Harvey begins his tenure, bringing in his style and some new faces to the coaching staff along the way, and we will be along for the ride! Welcome, Coach! We wish you so much success as you take the reins in Evensville!
This article was written and submitted by Sports Contributor Brian Kamer.
