By Zachary Harmuth
Independence made it to the playoffs after a two-game winning streak to end the season against district rivals Franklin and Brentwood.
The streak continued in the first round of the playoffs, as the underdog Eagles visited Rossview (9-3) and had fallen down by two at the half.
But a strong second half and two big, late touchdowns by Rashaan Gaulden save the season for Independence and cemented the 35-25 win.
The Eagles only ran for 65 yards, and allowed 333, but- with three players throwing for touchdowns- out-threw Rossview 296 yards to 82, which made the difference.
Down 23-21 in the fourth quarter things looks bleak for the Eagles; they had not been able to run and had not had a lot of success passing to that point, having thrown three interceptions and lost two fumbles so far into the game.
The Eagles got the ball with just under 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and handed it to Vic Wharton, who had 103 total yards on offense, for nine yards.
Then, boom, bam.
Gaulden, who finished with 190 yards on six catches and 2 TDs, out of no where was streaking down the field and 80-yards later Independence took the lead for the first time since the second quarter and would not give it up again.
The next possession, after a long fruitless Rossview drive, Vic Wharton got in on the action and capped it off with a 35-yard read-option pass to Gaulden, which fantastically put Independence up 35-23, with less than four minutes left in the game.
The other independence passers fared well: Caleb Hollis finished 8-12, 210 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT and Andrew Bunch finished 4-9, 51 yards , 1 TD, 2 INTs.
Independence will face N. Overton next Friday, which has not lost yet this year and won 30-0 Friday night.
Will the Eagles win one more time as the underdog?
