The Ravenwood Raptors captured the Class 6A state title Saturday night with a 26-17 win over Maryville at Tennessee Tech University.

COOKEVILLE –The Ravenwood Raptors got their revenge.

Just one year after suffering an overtime loss to Maryville in the state championship, the Raptors returned the favor with a 26-17 win to capture the Class 6A title at Tucker Stadium Saturday night.

“This whole game was about avenging that loss from last year,” said slot receiver Chris Rowland. “It feels good to finally pull that monkey off our back. Maryville has been in the back of our minds this whole year, and that’s the only team we’ve talked about and wanted to see. I know we were the last team they wanted to see coming into this game.”

The victory gives Ravenwood (14-1) its second championship in program history, with the first coming in 2005. It also ends Maryville’s 44-game winning streak.

“You want to play the best and you want an opportunity to beat the best,” said Ravenwood head coach Will Hester. “After such a heartbreaker last year, the fact they were able to go toe-to-toe with these guys and come out with a victory is very special.”

Rowland provided a spark for the Raptors’ offense in a variety of ways, recording five receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown, 40 rushing yards and a 5-yard passing touchdown.

When RHS couldn’t find the end zone, it leaned on Mr. Football Kicker of the Year Crews Holt to put points on the board. The senior was named the game’s offensive MVP after he connected on field goals of 23, 27, 42 and 33 yards.

“All I wanted to do was help the team out,” said Holt. “Being able to win offensive MVP is awesome, but helping this team win tonight is an amazing way to cap off this season.”

Ravenwood’s defense held the Rebels to 99 yards of total offense and zero points in the second half.

Maryville quarterback Dylan Hopkins, who entered the game with just two interceptions on the year, was picked off three times and lost a fumble. He finished with 9-of-23 passes completed for 139 yards and two touchdowns.

“The takeaways were the difference in the ball game,” said Hester.

“Defense wins championships. [Defensive coordinator] Paul Derrick is the man. He came up with a phenomenal game plan and the coaches on his side of the football implemented that. They made the kids believe they can hold them to under 21 points. Our kids said all week, ‘Coach, just score 21 points and we’ll win.'”

Hopkins’ second interception of the night was the most costly. Trailing 23-17 midway through the third quarter, the sophomore drove his team down to the RHS 9-yard line before being picked off by safety Andrew Lutgens at the goal line. The Rebels were unable to reach the red zone for the remainder of the game after that.

“Coach Derrick schemed them up well,” said Lutgens. “They have a lot of plays that are designed to trick the secondary. You have to be very eye-disciplined. We drew up a few things before the game and had a few tricks up our sleeve. We just executed.”

Rowland took a screen pass 40 yards to set up a 24-yard field goal by Holt for a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

Maryville (14-1) responded on the ensuing drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass over the middle from Hopkins to Blake Watson for a 7-3 lead.

A 42-yard field goal by Matthew Cone extended Maryville’s advantage to 10-3 nine seconds into the second quarter.

Rowland tied the game at 10 just over a minute later when he took a swing pass 63 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown.

Hopkins found Brian Tillery down the seam for a 12-yard TD and seven-point advantage with 9:05 remaining in the frame.

Holt cut the deficit to 17-13 with a 27-yard field goal with 3:33 left in the second quarter.

Three plays after RHS outside linebacker Tahj Williams intercepted Hopkins, Rowland took a toss out of the stack I and threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Carter Nelson for a 20-17 lead with 1:02 left in the half.

“We set up trick plays all the time, and we usually never call the,” said Rowland. “Coach Hester called one in a critical moment and I was able to lob it up there. It wasn’t a great pass, but Carter Nelson was able to adjust and make a great catch to put us up in the game.”

Holt nailed a 42-yard field goal on the first drive of the second half for a 23-17 advantage, and he hit a 33-yard field goal with 5:29 left in the game for the final score.

Nate Stoner’s interception in the back of the end zone on Maryville’s final drive sealed the victory.

Ravenwood quarterback Andrew Rappe’ threw for 152 yards and a TD, and rushed for 54 yards. Running back Connor Jeffries rushed for 79 yards on 21 carries.

Sam McGaw is sports editor of Home Page Media Group. Email him at sam@brentwoodhomepage.com and follow him on Twitter@SamMcGawSports.