Baylor rallies from early deficit to beat Ensworth, win region title
The Baylor Red Raiders have bigger football games to play this season, and they will do so as the TSSAA Division II-AAA East Region champions.
Which was cause for celebration Friday night at Heywood Stadium following a 35-21 triumph over Ensworth.
"We can definitely enjoy this," Baylor senior receiver and Tennessee commitment Jamyan Theodore said after sizzling with four catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. "This is one we really took in. It's the second year in a row we've won the region outright, and we're very grateful.
"We know we still have a long way to go, but I think we're ready for the playoffs."
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Baylor, with a state ranking of No. 1 in DII-AAA, improved to 8-0 overall and 4-0 in region play, with the Red Raiders having won 11 straight regular-season games against East foes since a 34-31 loss at McCallie in 2023. They will not leave Chattanooga again this fall, hosting Knoxville Catholic next Friday to close the regular season and then remaining at home for as long as they advance in their quest for a fourth consecutive appearance in the BlueCross Bowl state championship game at Finley Stadium.
Third-ranked Ensworth dropped to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in the region.
"I think it's an accomplishment to be proud of," Baylor fourth-year coach Erik Kimrey said. "It's something you can look back on after the season and think back with positive thoughts."
Red Raiders senior quarterback Briggs Cherry completed 14 of 19 passes for 246 yards with three touchdowns, giving the Louisville commitment 21 aerial scores this season without an interception. Junior running back David Gabriel-Georges produced his third 200-yard game of the year, rushing 17 times for 205 yards and two scores.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday's Chattanooga-area prep football games)
The five-star prospect racked up 22 carries for 223 yards and four touchdowns in the 35-34 victory over Georgia's Rabun Gap on Aug. 29 and had 25 rushes for 280 yards and three scores in the 38-35 win at McCallie on Oct. 3. He has also sat out multiple games.
"We're just trying to be smart with how we use him," Kimrey said. "When he carries the load that he carries sometimes, you get a little dinged up, and we would rather err on the side of caution. We've got along season ahead, and we want to make sure that he's as healthy as can be as the season wears on."
The visiting Tigers stunned Baylor with a 58-yard touchdown drive, a successful onside kick, and a 46-yard touchdown drive to make it 14-0 seven minutes into the game. Junior running back EJ Gibson was stellar for Ensworth, pounding out 27 carries for 166 yards.
Baylor's first possession ended with Cherry finding Kaiden Dewey for a 47-yard scoring strike, and the Red Raiders took their first lead at 21-14 on a 3-yard run by Gabriel-Georges with 1:56 before halftime.
"I think we had seven possessions," Kimrey said. "We scored on five of them, punted once and ran the clock out, so I thought we were really efficient on offense and overcame a lot of penalties and mistakes.
"There are definitely some things we'll have to clean up if we're going to do what we want to do."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com.
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