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Summit couldn’t complete a late comeback, falling 21-16 to Beech in the quarterfinals of the TSSAA Class 5A playoffs on Friday.
Beech’s Kameron Dunlap scored three touchdowns for the 13-0 Buccaneers, who ended Summit’s season at 10-3. It’s the best finish in Spartan history.
Beech struck first on Dunlap’s 5-yard run, as the Bucs took a 7-0 lead with 6:49 left in the first quarter.
A George Odimego 11-yard scoring run cut the Beech lead to 14-7 with 6:03 left in the second quarter.
The Spartans added a field goal to trail by four at half.
Early on, Summit made a big stand forcing Beech to a fourth-and 28 from the 28. Beech went for it and Summit took over, stopping a near-score.
But on the first play of the next Summit drive, quarterback Ethan Cash’s pass was tipped and intercepted and Beech took over at the Summit 19.
A few plays later Dunlap scored again, this time from one yard out and Beech led 14-0 with 8:49 to go in the first half.
But the Spartans responded with Odimegwu’s scoring run.
Beech again went for it then, on fourth-and-3 at the Summit 29 and again, didn’t make it.
That led to a Summit Quinn Slaugenhoupt 35-yard field goal with 1:24 left in the first half.
It was 14-10 at half.
Beech fumbled the second half kick off, but Summit was unable to turn it into points after a couple penalties.
Beech took over on its own 44 and a few plays later it was Dunlap again. He scored his third touchdown on a 32-yard run for the Buccaneers. With 6:53 left in the third, Summit trailed 21-10.
Summit then missed a field goal with 11:03 left in the fourth.
But Beech punted, and with time getting short Summit took over at its 31 with 7:34 left in the game.
Slaugenhoupt went 41 yards and set up a 1-yard Payton Craig scoring run. The 2-point play was no good, but at 21-16 Summit was within one score with 3:49 to play.
Beech again punted, and Summit had one last chance at pulling off the comeback with 2:00 left on their own 25.
But Cash went 0-for-4 on the drive and Summit turned it over after going for it on 4th-and10.
Beech took over on the Summit 25 with 1:38 to go, and held on for the win.
