The fourth-ranked Forrest Rockets turned in a solid effort in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs, coming away with a relatively easy 37-7 win over the Hickman County Bulldogs on a frigid Friday night at the Murrey E. Holton Memorial Field in Chapel Hill.

“We came out focused and ready to play,” Forrest coach Eli Stephenson said. “Our offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage and that allowed us to control the pace of the game.”

The undefeated and top-seeded Rockets (11-0) move on the second round, looking to set a school record for wins in a season when they host longtime rival Eagleville (8-3) this week.

“Eagleville has a great football team, it will be a tough matchup,” Stephenson said. “They are a sound and fundamental team and we will have to play smart and fundamental football to win.”

The Eagles came up with a gutty effort at Houston County (9-2) in round one, leaving with a tough 8-7 win to knock out the second-seeded Irish from Region 6-AA.

In the other looming bracket, both Region 6-AA teams won as Decatur County Riverside eked out a 14-9 win at Lewis County and Waverly held their home field with a 39-22 win over Summertown.

The two bracket winners this week will meet in the quarterfinals on Friday, November 22 with the Rockets holding the home field advantage if they can get by a tough Eagleville squad.

Forrest won 28-7 at Eagleville in Week 3 and the Rockets are 10-7 versus the Eagles since 2003, but just 3-4 at Chapel Hill in that same time period.

Both teams were forced to punt after their first offensive series and Hickman County’s second series was ruined by a Spencer McCown interception with 1:07 remaining in the first quarter.

On a third-and-one play from the Bulldogs’ 45-line yard, 2019 Tennessee Titans Class 2A Mr. Football semifinalist Nick McClendon took a handoff from Max Kirby and busted through the line, racing all the way to the end zone to open the scoring with 12 seconds left in the first quarter.

“Spencer McCown set us up with great field position with an interception on defense,” Stephenson said. “That gave us the momentum and McClendon had a great run with some great blocking from the offensive line.”

“That first score always boosts your confidence.”

McClendon had another huge game, rushing the rock 13 times for 193 yards and two touchdowns.

“Coaching Nick is an honor,” Stephenson said. “He comes to work every day with a great attitude and that rubs off on everybody around him.”

Zoe Long’s extra point boot was true.

The Forrest defense responded by forcing a Hickman County punt and then drove 63 yards for another score on just six plays with Cole Villazon running left and in to the end zone from four yards out.

Villazon also had a monster night with 88 yards on just nine carries and pair of rushing touchdowns, plus an electrifying punt return for second half score.

“Villazon contributed in every phase of the game….special teams, defense, and offense,” Stephenson said. “Villazon has been doing a great job all year.”

Long kicked the extra point through the uprights, making it 14-0 with 7:03 remaining in the first half.

The Bulldogs went three-and-out after the Forrest touchdown with the big defensive play coming on a Sammy Williams second down sack and the Rockets got the ball back.

Three snaps later, McClendon found pay dirt from 48 yards out and the Rockets had a comfortable 20-0 halftime lead after a blocked extra point.

The Bulldogs surprised Forrest to begin the second half, recovering an onside kick at the Rockets’ 48-yard line.

10 running plays later, senior Bulldog running back Ro’kezus Collins scored from the Wildcat formation from five yards out and Jon-Paul Middleton kicked the extra point to make it 20-7 with 5:47 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs tried another onside kicked, but touched the ball before it travelled the required 10 yards and the Forrest took over at the Hickman County 48-yard line.

“They got the momentum coming out of half and were able to put a drive together,” Stephenson said. “So, we just made some adjustments and had to finish the game.”

The offense responded with three points as they drove in to the Hickman County red zone, but had to settle for a Cody Sisk 23-yard field goal for a 23-7 lead with 1:19 remaining in the third quarter.

“We had a good drive going, but we stalled out,” Stephenson said. “We needed to get the momentum back, so we called Sisk’s number and he came in and drilled the field goal.”

The Forrest defense came up huge, putting the Bulldogs behind the chains and they punted the ball away three plays in to fourth quarter.

“The defense has been doing a great job all year,” Stephenson said. “They played a great game, swarming to the ball and playing fundamental football.”

Villazon fielded a bouncing ball and broke to the home sideline where he picked up several crucial down field blocks on his way to a 61-yard punt return for a touchdown to give Chapel Hill a 30-7 lead, putting the game away with 11:29 reaming in the contest.

Forrest held again with Noah Hill coming up with a big sack and the Bulldogs punted again, but the Rockets touched the ball and Hickman County recovered at the 46-yard line.

The Rockets’ defense would have none of it, stopping the Bulldogs on four straight runs to take over and five plays later, Villazon scored from 38 yards out and Long booted the PAT to make it 37-7 with 3:32 left in the contest.

Hickman County ran out the rest of the time in the game and failed to score as the Rockets advanced to the second round for the first time since 2016.

Hickman County 0 0 7 0-7

Forrest 7 13 3 14-37

Scoring Plays

First Quarter

Forrest-Nick McClendon 45-yard run, Zoe Long PAT, 0:12.

Second Quarter

Forrest-Cole Villazon 4-yard run, Zoe Long PAT, 7:03.

Forrest-Nick McClendon 48-yard run, PAT blocked 2:58.

Third Quarter

Hickman County-Ro'kezus Collins 5-yard run, Jon-Paul Middleton PAT, 5:47.

Forrest-Cody Sisk 23-yard field goal, 1:19.

Fourth Quarter

Forrest-Cole Villazon 61-yard punt return, Zoe Long PAT, 11:29.

Forrest-Cole Villazon 38-yard run, Zoe Long Pat, 3:32.

Total Yards: Hickman County 199, Forrest 321.

Rushing: Hickman County 134, Forrest 307.

Passing: Hickman County 14, Forrest 14.

First Downs: Hickman County 12, Forrest 20.

Penalties: Hickman County 8-75, Forrest 7-65.

Turnovers: Hickman County 1, Forrest 1.

Forrest Offense

Rushing: Nick McClendon 13-193-2TD, Cole Villazon 9-88-2TD, Joseph Whitaker 2-20, Blaize Sweeney 2-12, Max Kirby 4-(-6).

Passing: Max Kirby 2-6-14-0-0.

Receiving: Spencer McCown 1-11, Joel Burton 1-3.

Defense

Tackles: Cole Villazon 9, Sammy Williams 8 (2 SACKS), Noah Hill 8, Blaize Sweeney 7 (SACK), Spencer McCown 6 (INT), Kody Patin 6, Max Kirby 5, Tate Garvin 4, McCalister Wilson 1 (SACK).