When the population boom that saw Spring Hill rise from 1A powerhouse in the same region as Forrest to a 5A school in the same region as Nashville area squads in the span of a decade finally slowed down with the Raiders moving back to 4A in 2003, the Maury County school and Marshall County locked horns annually as region foes.

Far from a rivalry, Marshall County has dominated the series ever since, with a 17-1 overall record beginning in 2003, including two Tiger playoff wins over the Raiders.

Coming into the 2019 matchup, the Tigers held an 11-game winning streak over the Raiders with Spring Hill last winning a 42-25 contest during the Tigers unmemorable 2009 one-win campaign.

The annual contest hit its peak with Spring Hill pulling together a 13-12 record during the 2016-17 seasons with a collection of talent that saw quarterback Tylin Oden sign and play big minutes as a freshman at Rutgers, running back Dontae Smith sign with Georgia Tech and is currently ranked fourth on the team in all-purpose yards and number one receiver Justin Oden collect offers from multiple power five schools before signing with Tennessee Tech because of grades.

Hard times befell the Raiders after the once in a lifetime amount of talent graduated and Spring Hill struggled through a 1-9 2018 campaign and limped into Lewisburg Friday winless at (0-8, 0-4).

The game could not have come at a better time for the Tigers after losing just its second game of the year in a controversial 14-10 loss to longtime nemesis Giles County the previous week.

Marshall County's 10 points was its lowest scoring output since a 49-7 loss at Brentwood during the 2017 season.

The Tigers were dealt another blow before the Spring Hill contest when Javarria Rucker was lost for the season and Devon Wilson and Kel Greer were lost for the game for apparent disciplinary reasons.

The three playmakers had accounted for 2650 all-purpose yards and 25 total touchdowns combined with Greer and Rucker amassing 1419 rushing yards and 20 scores on the ground while scoring every rushing touchdown on the season, but for two Demari Braden scores.

Thankfully, the Tigers were more than ready for the challenge as quarterback Bryson Hammons threw for a career-high three touchdowns, back-up running back Connor Hilton rushed for a career-high 118 yards on the ground and Deontae Davis caught a career-high 101 receiving yards on five catches for two scores and an interception on defense as the Tigers (7-2, 4-0) won easily 45-13 to set up a winner-take-all contest with unbeaten Nolensville (8-0) for the region title in two weeks.

"We definitely have a next man up philosophy," Tiger head coach Thomas Osteen pointed out. "Those guys have been working hard all year to be ready for the opportunity that they got Friday. I was very happy with how they all took the challenge head on."

Before the Spring Hill game Hilton had produced just 28 yards on the ground on five attempts before the 118 yard, one touchdown on just 13 carries explosion against the Raiders.

Also a leader on defense, the Tiger defensive back added a team-high six tackles with a tackle for a loss for a complete game on both sides of the field.

"Connor is one of the best all-around football players in our area," Osteen said. "He has a great skill set of speed, power and toughness."

"He has been working in our running back rotation all year long in practice and has done good things to prove that he was ready for the role."

Along with Hilton and Davis, junior receiver A'Ky Howard added a season high four catches to go along with a blocked punt returned for a score in the first quarter and another long touchdown catch that was called back on a penalty.

Lamarion Pierce also seized the opportunity by producing 35 yards on five carries and two receptions for 15 yards.

Iyasen Buggers and Braden also combined for five carries and Hunter Rolof caught his second pass of the season and subsequent second touchdown on the year with a 25-yard second half snag for a 38-7 third quarter lead.

Hammons upped his touchdown total to 13 on the season to just three interceptions after going 13-for-17 for 151 yards on the night and the sophomore signal caller scored his first rushing touchdown on the year with a one-yard sneak for the first score of the night.

Defensively, Chandler Davis had a monster night with six tackles, one tackle for a loss, and a half sack.

Logan McKnight added three tackles with two for a loss and Tez Allen dominated the Raider offensive line, at one point in the third quarter blowing through the line and tackling both the running back and quarterback at the same time.

Kicker Jon Estes continues his dream season by adding a 30-yard field goal to up his season total to 11 made out of 12 attempts while also going six for six on extra points.

The game started with a bang as the Tigers forced the Raiders to punt after three plays, but the punt was blocked and Howard raced 56 yards to the house for the 7-0 lead.

Davis intercepted a Raider pass on the next series, leading to a seven-play drive, culminating with the Hammons sneak into the end zone for the 14-0 advantage.

Spring Hill closed the gap on the ensuing kickoff when Ramone Kelly took the kick 97 yards for the score and the lead was trimmed to seven.

The rest of the game belonged to the Tigers with a Davis touchdown catch, followed by an Estes field goal, followed by a Hilton touchdown run for 66 yards before the Raiders fourth punt in a row led to a 25-yard Rolof score in the air to put the game out of reach.

The ninth-ranked Tigers will now use a bye week to rest up and get ready for its biggest game of the year against Nolensville.

The Knights are led by Liberty signee Tim Coutras, who leads the state with seven interceptions.

Nolensville faces 6A Franklin this Friday, looking to keep an undefeated record intact coming into the final regular season game.

The record might be a little deceptive, however, as it's non-region opponents overall combined records is just 12-21 with wins over 0-8 Antioch and 0-9 Glencliff while seven of the 12 wins came against 7-1 Watertown, a 2A school.

"I'm very happy the kids put themselves in this position, completely controlling their own destiny with one game in the season to go," Osteen stated. "Nolensville is a great team that is coached well. They are great defensively and sound in every phase of the game."

"We must take advantage of the extra week we have to prepare to put us in the best position possible for next Friday," Osteen continued. "We need a huge home crowd to give us that advantage. I know Nolensville will travel well as they are excited about their school's first ever opportunity to play in a regular season game this big."

Spring Hill 7 0 0 6-13

Marshall County 14 10 21 0-45

Scoring Plays

First Quarter

Marshall County-Bryson Hammons 1-yard run, Jon Estes PAT, 7:26.

Marshall County-A’Ky Howard 56-yard blocked punt return, Jon Estes PAT, 3:19.

Spring Hill-Remone Kelley 97-yard kickoff return, Brett Hughes PAT, 2:57.

Second Quarter

Marshall County-Devonte Davis 56-yard pass from Bryson Hammons, Jon Estes PAT, 4:29.

Marshall County-Jon Estes 30-yard field goal, 0:26.

Third Quarter

Marshall County-Connor Hilton 66-yard run, Jon Estes PAT, 11:20.

Marshall County-Hunter Rolof 25-yard pass from Bryson Hammons, Jon Estes PAT, 6:23.

Marshall County-Devonte Davis 13-yard pass from Bryson Hammons, Jon Estes PAT, 0:15.

Fourth Quarter

Spring Hill-Joel Herring 55-yard pass from Jarrett Rainey, kick failed, 0.10.

Total Yards: Spring Hill 151, Marshall County 314.

Rushing: Spring Hill 52, Marshall County 163.

Passing: Spring Hill 99, Marshall County 151.

First downs: Spring Hill 5, Marshall County 8.

Penalties: Spring Hill 11-71, Marshall County 6-45.

Turnovers: Spring Hill 3, Marshall County 1.

Spring Hill Offense

Rushing: Luka Boylan 6-(-10), Dante Prowell 1-0, Landen Secrest 12-21, Remone Kelley 2-17, Mac Richie 6-21, Scott Carter 1-3, Jarrett Rainey 1-0.

Passing: Luka Boylan 6-13-1, 44, Scott Carter 1-1-0, 0, Jarrett Rainey 1-1-0.

Receiving: Remone Kelley 4-26, Sean Waters 1-5, Jayse Rearick 1-9, Landen Secrest 1-4, Joel Herring 1-55.

Marshall County Offense

Rushing: Connor Hilton 13-118, Bryson Hammons 2-7, Lamarion Pierce 5-35, Demari Braden 4-3, Iyasen Biggers 1-1, Trey Warner 1-(-1).

Passing: Bryson Hammons 13-17-151-2TD-INT, Trey Warner 0-1-0.

Receiving: A’Ky Howard 4-8, Lamarion Pierce 2-15, Andrew Gold 1-2, Devonte Davis 5-101, Hunter Rolof 1-25.

Kicking

PAT: Jon Estes 6-6.

Field Goals: Jon Estes 1-30.

Kickoffs: Jon Estes 8-456-3TB.

Punts: Joseph Gold 1-37.

Returns

Kickoffs: A'ky Howard 1-17, Lamarion Pierce 2-2.

Punts: A'ky Howard 1-35, Lamarion Pierce 2-0.

Defense

Tackles: Connor Hilton 6, Chandler Davis 6 (.5 SACK, FUM REC), Devonte Davis 4 (INT), Kortez Ingram 4, Andrew Gold 4, Riqkyous Summers 3 (.5 SACK), Christian Stacey 3, Hayden Sheppard 3 (FUM REC), Logan McKnight 3, Joseph Gold 3, Kamron Dunnavant 3, Lamarion Pierce 2, Tez Allen 2, Kenneth Turner 1, Bradley Wright 1, Carlos Alvarez 1.

Region 4-4A Standings

Nolensville 8-0, 4-0

Marshall County 7-2, 4-0

Tullahoma 5-3, 2-2

Maplewood 3-6, 2-2

Lawrence County 3-5, 0-4

Spring Hill 0-8, 0-4