Alcoa Tornadoes sweep past CAK to remain unbeaten
By Ryan Callahanof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: October 31. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: October 31. 2009 1:05AM
KNOXVILLE -- Taharin Tyson led the Alcoa High School football team in a postgame cheer and shared countless celebratory handshakes with coaches, teammates, friends and family Friday night.
Most victories don't solicit such an enthusiastic response from the Tornadoes.
But it's not every day that a team -- even a bona fide powerhouse like five-time defending state champion Alcoa -- finishes the regular season undefeated.
"It's really special. That's why I'm still standing out here (on the field)," said Tyson, the Tornadoes' junior fullback.
"I've got to let this soak in."
The state's top-ranked team in Class 3A wrapped up its first perfect regular season since 2000 and claimed the District 4-AA championship with a 24-7 victory over fourth-ranked Christian Academy of Knoxville before a standing-room-only crowd at Warrior Stadium.
The Tornadoes (10-0, 5-0) scored 24 unanswered points in the second and third quarters to overcome a touchdown by the Warriors (9-1, 4-1) on the game's opening possession and turn a highly anticipated battle of unbeatens into a snoozer.
In the process, Alcoa clinched one of four No. 1 seeds in the Class 3A playoffs and home-field advantage for at least the first three rounds of the postseason.
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