Tazewell’s football team is primed for a Homecoming matchup with the John Battle Trojans. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET Friday at Bulldog Stadium.
The game can be heard on the Bulldog Radio Network with Chase Collins and Jimi Watson on the radio call. Fans can also watch the game on the NFHS Network. Tickets are $6.
The Bulldogs and Trojans met last season in the rare Tuesday evening football game. The Bulldogs won 41-18. Tazewell has won the last ten games against John Battle and lead the series 20-2, including a 9-1 advantage in games at Bulldog Stadium.
After opening the season with a win over Virginia High, Tazewell will look to avoid their third straight loss of the season. The Bulldogs are only averaging 7 points per game during their two game losing streak.
Last week, John Battle snapped a 14-game losing streak with a 19-6 win over Holston. Quarterback Noah Stills was 11-for-18 for 189 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
THE SERIES
Record vs. Battle: 20-2
First Meeting: 1969 (Tazewell won 26-6)
Last Meeting: 11/2/21 (Tazewell won 41-18)
Streak: Tazewell 10 games
Record at Tazewell: 9-1
Record at John Battle: 11-1
GAME NOTES
John Battle’s last win in the series was on October 3rd, 1980 (7-6 at Bulldog Stadium)
Linebacker Kaizon Taylor leads the team with 17 ½ tackles on the season. Taylor also leads the team with two sacks and six tackles for loss. Taylor is second on the team in rushing with 35 carries for 131 yards and three touchdowns. He also leads the team with 105 receiving yards on five receptions.
Through three games, Cassius Harris leads the Bulldogs in receptions (6), rushing yards (314), touchdowns (5), and total offense (412 yards). He is also second on the team in tackles (14).
The Bulldogs will once again be without QB Carter Creasy. In last season’s matchup with John Battle, Creasy threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns.
QB Finn Moss becomes the third Freshman quarterback to start during Coach J’me Harris tenure. Here is a look at how the other two Freshman quarterbacks fared in their first starts:
Jamir Blevins 12-24-161-0-0 (Tazewell lost to Virginia High 35-0)
Carter Creasy 26-38-307-2-0 (Tazewell lost to Virginia High 35-14)
*In those two games, Tazewell rushed for a total of -26 yards on 43 attempts.
Tazewell’s defense has 15 tackles for loss and five sacks in three games.
During Tazewell’s two game losing streak, the Bulldogs have turned the ball over four times and forced zero turnovers.
Since rushing for 342 yards against Virginia High, Tazewell has managed just 134 yards on 61 attempts (2.2 yards per carry) over the last two games.
