The Daily Times

The opportunity for William Blount to make an appearance in the 2012 TSSAA football playoffs is out the window, but the chance for the Govs seniors to go out a winner rest on Friday night’s home contest against Farragut.

As 13 WB seniors take the field for the final time Friday night, the Governors can still finish in a tie for fifth in District 4-AAA with a win in the finale.

While the Governors enter the game with a 2-7 record, that doesn’t mean big plays haven’t been a part of the arsenal all season. Plenty of those plays have come from the seniors who will play their final game against a Farragut team that knocked off WB in a low-scoring, rain-soaked affair last season.

This is the first group of seniors that played all four years for WB coach David Gregory. One of the playmakers that played all four seasons is running back/linebacker Lane Bloom.

“He’s going to fight you until you kill him or he kills you, and that’s what you hope for,” Gregory said of Bloom last week.

“He’s special. He’s everything football is about.”

This season, Bloom has rushed for over 400 yards and accumulated more than 100 yards receiving. He also leads the team in tackles this season.

“Whatever accolades he gets, he deserves,” Gregory added. “He’s as special as I’ve coached.

“He’s just so football smart. He doesn’t have a quitting bone in his body. He’s good.”

Earlier this year, Bloom ran for 119 yards, included a 93-yard touchdown run, in WB’s 13-2 victory against rival Heritage.

“It’s our last game,” Bloom told The Daily Times this week. “It’s the last time I will get to dress up and be a part of a Governor team. Just that alone means a lot to me.”

As the Governors prepare for Farragut, Bloom feels that the seniors will be even more focused for this week.

“I definitely think there is going to be a little more to it,” Bloom said. “Go a little harder. Be a little more excited, a little more ambitious. It’s something you don’t really realize until you are a senior then it kind of hits you. Then it hits you harder than it did when you were younger, and you don’t see why people are thinking what they do until it’s your turn.”

Finding a role

Coming into this season, William Blount (2-7, 1-5 District 4-AAA) needed a quarterback and Gregory turned to senior Tim Green, who has played all four seasons, to take over the role.

Green received attention early in his senior season as he threw for 175 yards in the 30-20 comeback victory against Knox Central in just his second game at quarterback. He passed for two touchdowns and ran for another in the Governors first win of the season.

“It’s going to be an emotional night,” Green said of his upcoming senior night. “It’s going to be my last high school football game, and I’m going to have to show out for the team and so are the rest of the seniors. It’s going to be our last football game ever.”

Paving the way

Although offensive lineman rarely receive much attention, William Blount offensive tackle Landon Clark helped pave the way for several long runs throughout the season.

But what he will be most remembered for is his 25-yard interception return for a touchdown to clinch the win against Central this year.

Clark has one game left to make a statement in his high school career.

“I will be ready to go,” Clark said. “I can’t wait. I have got one more game left, and most of us aren’t going to play at the college level of football so for most of us, Friday night will be our last game.”

All over the field

Running back Vinnie Hasenstaub has also contributed plenty this season for the Governors along with linebacker Joel Robinson, kicker and punter Ryan Hodgson and defensive standout Trace Fuller.

In nine games, Hasenstaub has at least one touchdown rushing, receiving and via kick return.

Robinson and Fuller each recorded over 60 tackles combined for the Governors defense through the first nine games, and Hodgson has made five field goals on the season with a long of 50 yards as he also handled punting duties for the Govs.

Going to the playoffs is out of the equation for WB now, but Gregory says his seniors still bring it every day.

“They have been a big part of this program,” Gregory said. “I hate it for them that it has gone like this, but they have continued to fight and that’s what we have asked them to do and they have responded.”

The Governors host Farragut (3-6, 2-4) Friday at 7:30 p.m.