Baylor Takes Big Road Win Over Ensworth
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Muscles were flexed in West Nashville on Friday night as the Baylor Red Raiders came into Ensworth for a battle and walked away as the clear better team in a 35-17 defeat over the Tigers. This game was billed as…
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Continue ReadingMuscles were flexed in West Nashville on Friday night as the Baylor Red Raiders came into Ensworth for a battle and walked away as the clear better team in a 35-17 defeat over the Tigers.
This game was billed as one of the top games for the entire state during Week Two and it did not disappoint, well at least for two quarters before the Red Raiders took command in the second half and cruised their way to victory.
It was a physical contest from both squads, especially in the trenches where you had multiple college prospects going toe to toe, including a pair of future Power Five players in Baylor offensive tackle Brycen Sanders Brycen Sanders 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor School | 2023 State TN and Tigers sophomore D-lineman Ethan Utley Ethan Utley 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Ensworth | 2025 State TN .
Both teams had to feel their way through the game early but by the end of the 1st quarter, points started being put on the board. Baylor was the first score by way of physical running back Caleb Hampton Caleb Hampton 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB Baylor | 2023 State TN , who produced multiple touchdowns on the evening.
Ensworth quickly answered with a Martez Cooksey one yard touchdown run to tie things up but the Red Raiders wouldn’t let that stand as they marched right back down the field and scored this time by the air.
Junior quarterback Whit Muschamp Whit Muschamp 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Baylor | 2024 State TN found under the radar senior tight Dalton Restelli Dalton Restelli 6'4" | 245 lbs | TE Baylor | 2023 State TN open down the seams, putting the Red Raiders back on top 14-7. Baylor would add on the points but the Tigers would continue to fight and remain in the game as things went to halftime with the road team on top, 21-17.
The game was in balance as we started the second half and both teams felt almost even but I and the crowd had no idea that Baylor would dominate and keep Ensworth off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
It was an impressive second half performance from the Red Raiders as they ball controlled the game on offense with some passes thrown in the mix but also shut down the Tigers offense defensively as well with stellar play from the defensive line and ball chasing aggression from senior linebacker Noah Gravel Noah Gravel 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Baylor | 2023 State TN .
The rushing attack from Hampton and the Red Raiders offensive line proved to be the difference in the road team controlling the second half, eventually picking up the win. The Ensworth defense could not gain a push up front nor tackle Hampton, so by the 4th quarter, the Tigers were gassed and showing leaks everywhere.
After another touchdown pass from Muschamp to Restelli, the Red Raiders had full command of the game and were basically just waiting for the clock to run out.
This was a statement win for Baylor as they had to go on the road against one of the best teams from the D2-Class AAA ranks and find a way to come out with a win and they did just that!
We still have a long ways to go with the season but Baylor looks like a formidable team that has the talent and overall pieces to play their way to Chattanooga by season’s end.
Hidden Gem Tight End
Underrated prospects always pop up come season time and this year is no different as Baylor senior tight end Dalton Restelli Dalton Restelli 6'4" | 245 lbs | TE Baylor | 2023 State TN looks to be one of those guys and a talent that can play his way into D1 status by the end of the year. Last night against the Tigers, Restelli was almost unstoppable and the key go-to guy for Muschamp that came up with clutch catches throughout the game.
Restelli is an athletic guy with nice size and a frame that can take on more weight. He is also versatile to where he can line up with his hand in the dirt or split out wide. The Red Raiders tight end provides a lot of traits to an offense that can be utilized well on the next level and develop into a potent offensive threat.
Many around the recruiting scene may not know too much about Restelli at the moment as he had to rehab a season ending injury from last year that kept him out of the offseason mix but trust me when I tell you this guy can play!
Look for Restelli to become a more highly recruited guy over the coming months as more college coaches catch wind of this tight end and place him high on their boards.
Baylor Has Tons of College Talent
Going into the 2022 football season, Baylor was seen as a top contender due to how much talent was returning and on Friday evening, the Red Raiders bountiful roster of stars stood out and helped propel this Chattanooga based program to a big road win over Ensworth.
Everything starts up front with current Ole Miss commit Brycen Sanders Brycen Sanders 6'6" | 285 lbs | OL Baylor School | 2023 State TN . The 6’6 offensive tackle has NFL potential written all over him but of course he must continue developing at the proper rate. His imposing presence up front sets the tone for the offensive line but also as well as the rest of the offense too. Sanders is one of the best prospects in this state but he isn’t the only future college prospect on the Baylor roster.
Several guys from Friday night stood out, including Restelli, Muschamp, Gravel, Hampton, Princeton commit and athletic defensive back Evan Haynie Evan Haynie 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Baylor School | 2023 State TN , future underclassmen stars in Joshua Hampton Joshua Hampton 6'2" | 175 lbs | DB Baylor | 2024 State TN , Max LeBlanc, Amari Jefferson Amari Jefferson 6'2" | 195 lbs | ATH Baylor | 2024 State TN and Cameron Sparks Cameron Sparks 6'4" | 210 lbs | TE Baylor | 2025 State TN .
Haynie and Sparks in particular were major contributors in the Red Raiders win over Ensworth. Both guys displayed tremendous athleticism as well as playmaking abilities that gave the home Tigers fits throughout the night.
Senior D-lineman and current Duke commit, Anthony Boggs Anthony Boggs 6'5" | 265 lbs | DL Baylor | 2023 State TN had flashes of brilliance as well. He is playing both ways currently but translates best to the next level on defense and he has yet to reach his maximum capabilities.
These Red Raiders are loaded with talent and have all the pieces to make a deep playoff run and come out as D2-Class AAA state champs this year. They still have a tough road to pave through but the senior leadership and talent is there to do something special this season.
State Title Still in Play For Ensworth
Head coach Roc Batten and his Tigers team didn’t receive the results they were looking for on Friday night but they shouldn’t stress or worry themselves about it as they still have a talented roster and strong senior leadership that can bounce back from this loss to Baylor and still work towards a possible state championship.
The Tigers have a strong senior class to lean on with stars like Shemar Porter, Caleb Dorris Caleb Dorris 6'6" | 265 lbs | OL Ensworth | 2023 State TN , Levi Moore Levi Moore 5'10" | 185 lbs | QB Ensworth | 2023 State TN , Martez Cooksey, Jr, Mark Smith Mark Smith 5'6" | 155 lbs | RB Ensworth | 2023 TN and others leading the way while sporting a talented group of underclassmen in Mason Curtis Mason Curtis 6'3" | 195 lbs | LB Ensworth | 2024 State TN , Ethan Utley Ethan Utley 6'4" | 265 lbs | DL Ensworth | 2025 State TN and Sam Haley Sam Haley 6'4" | 215 lbs | LB Ensworth | 2025 State TN that can contend with the best of the best from the D2-Class AAA ranks.
The loss to Baylor should be a nice wakeup call for the Tigers as they were right there with the Red Raiders for a half and competing hard but just didn’t have enough firepower to keep up.
The effort was there, the fight in the trenches was there but the endurance wasn’t. It also didn’t help that the Tigers star quarterback in Moore went out of the game injured early in the 1st quarter but it didn’t seem to phase the home team until they ran out of gas in the second half.
Football can go in waves, meaning Ensworth can easily bounce back from this loss and right the ship as their championship aspirations are still in sight but they must learn from the defeat and correct their mistakes going forward.