Westview perseveres, reaches semifinals

Martin-Westview freshman quarterback Graham Simpson was 24-34 for 367 yards and threw four touchdowns as the host Chargers defeated visiting Covington 28-14 in the Class 3A state quarterfinals Friday night at UT-Martin.

The Chargers defeated Covington 59-54 three weeks earlier in the season finale to capture the Region 7-3A crown. Friday, Westview was locked into a more conventional battle with its guests. Defense in the second half made the difference in this engagement. The Chargers took a 21-14 lead at the half and turned away Covington in the second half.

With 9:58 to play in the fourth quarter, Simpson connected with junior receiver Donteze Joy on a bubble screen from the 10 where Joy dragged most of the Covington defense into the end zone with him. Jayce Cook booted the fourth of his four PATs and Westview took a 28-14 lead. That margin proved to be insurmountable, and the host Chargers punched their ticket for the semifinals.

Incidentally, Joy had 10 catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns.

For the first time in school history, the Chargers, 13-0, will host a state semifinal round. In three previous appearances, the Chargers have had to hit the road (Brentwood Academy 1989, McKenzie in 2001 and Riverside in 2022). This time the green turf of H.K. Grantham Field will welcome East Nashville for a shot at the Blue Cross Bowl in Chattanooga Dec. 7. East Nashville, 10-2, took care of White House-Heritage in their quarterfinal bout 42-7.

East Nashville has been to the finals for three straight years, losing all three times to 3A powerhouse Alcoa. The Tornados, 11-1, subdued nearby rival Gatlinburg-Pittman 52-7 in their quarterfinal tilt.

Things started off well for Covington. Skylin Smith raced 72 yards to the Westview 1 and scored a play later with 8:39 remaining in the first. With 7:22 to play, Westview knotted the score. Joy hauled in an 11-yard TD pass. Cook’s boot deadlocked the score.

The tug-of-war ensued. With 6:32 to play in the first half, Simpson hooked up with Joy on a 9-yard scoring completion. Westview edged in front 14-7. With 3:11 remaining, Covington’s Smith darted in from the 10 to tie the score at 14. That wasn’t all. Simpson found CD Damron for a 30-yard scoring completion with 1:43 to play. The Chargers took a 21-14 lead into the locker room.

When the second half began, it seemed that the two teams were locked into a defensive stalemate. The Chargers took advantage of two fumbles and a defensive stop to achieve the winning edge when Simpson located Joy for the insurance score.

With 4:22 to play, Westview stopped Covington on downs deep in Westview territory. That was that. The Chargers ran out the clock and prepared to unroll the welcome mat for East Nashville.

Covington collected 319 yards on the ground, 335 total yards for the game. Smith carried 21 times for 221 yards to lead the Covington attack. The visiting Chargers were hamstrung by 10 penalties for 98 yards. Walker Davis led Covington on the ground with 26 yards rushing.

Covington ends its season with an 11-2 mark, its only two losses to Westview.