InTucker Magazine

Tucker Football Back on the State Stage

Faced with a 17-point halftime deficit on the biggest stage of the season against their toughest opponent of the season, the Tucker High School football team could have easily quit. They had a great year, highlighted by a 13-game win streak that carried them all the way to the AAAAAA state championship game. They were up against a very tough Valdosta team that, on account of its 23 previous state titles, is considered by many to be one of the best high school football programs in the nation.

But coming out of the locker room and onto the field at the Georgia Dome for that second half, it was apparent the Tigers had no intention of going down without a fight. Tucker outplayed the Wildcats over the final two quarters, yet ultimately fell short in a 17-7 defeat.

Tigers senior running back Chris Broadwater kept a stout Valdosta defense on its heels in the second half, rushing for 74 of his team-high 109 yards and the lone Tucker touchdown. Senior quarterback Xavier Shephard was 9-of-19 for 105 yards, but completed some key passes to move the chains as the Tigers tried to stay in the game late.

Tucker (13-2) finishes the season as the state runner-up for the second time in the past four years. The Tigers captured the AAAA state championship in 2008 and 2011.