Knoxville West's defense stands tall late in Class 5A title game win over Page

Knoxville West football is a repeat champion in Class 5A.

The Rebels defense had two goal line stands in the fourth quarter, including breaking up a potential go-ahead touchdown pass on the final play of the game, to win 24-19 over Page to earn the Class 5A state championship on Friday in Chattanooga.

Page quarterback William Wiebush's pass to a covered receiver was the last gasp for the Patriots as they attempted to come back from a 24-7 deficit.

West compiled the bulk of its lead in the "middle eight" minutes in the second and third quarter.

West, who led 10-7 late in the second quarter, took advantage at the end of the first half with a Connor Cummings touchdown catch on a heave on the final play of the half, then scored on another Cummings touchdown catch on fourth down to complete the opening drive of the third quarter to lead by 17.

Page scored on a Wiebush touchdown run late in the third quarter to cut into the lead, and Jonathan Palmer threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Presley Cozart to push within a score with 9:22 left. That set up the hectic final sequence.

West won this very matchup in the Class 5A state championship game last season, 47-13 over the Patriots. The 2023 version was much tighter, but with the same outcome. Page has lost three consecutive Class 5A state title games.

Recap the Class 5A state championship game below.

TSSAA football championship game live updates: Knoxville West vs. Page in Class 5A state championship game

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FINAL: West 24, Page 19

West 24, Page 19, 5:51 4Q: Page stopped on goal-to-go

After a Cunningham interception, Page is stopped on 4th and goal from the West 4-yard line. Jonathan Palmer's pass is high and incomplete in the corner of the end zone.

Plenty of time left to get the ball back, but not a lot of time left overall.

West 24, Page 19, 9:22 4Q: Page closes within a score

Page is within a score. Jonathan Palmer finds Presley Cozart for a 16-yard touchdown to cap another good drive for the offense.

Two-point attempt is no good. Setting up for a good finish.

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West 24, Page 13, 3:32 3Q: William Wiebush TD cuts into West's lead

Page's William Wiebush takes off to the right corner and wins the race to the pylon for an 12-yard touchdown.

PAT no good. Page really needed that score, though. West had scored 24 unanswered points.

Can Page create another turnover to continue to cut into the deficit?

West 24, Page 7, 8:16 3Q: Connor Cummings TD catch on 4th down

The Rebels are fully in control. On the opening drive of the second half, West scores a touchdown on 4th and 3 on a Connor Cummings 29-yard catch.

PAT good. When coaches talk about excelling in the "middle eight", or the last four minutes of the first half and the first four minutes of the second half, this is what it looks like. West has dominated the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half.

Rebels lead 24-7.

West 17, Page 7, :00 2Q: West scores on final play of first half

What a big play for West to end the half. Connor Cummings gets behind two Page defenders and catches a heave for a touchdown as time expired in the first half. PAT good. West's halftime lead is 17-7. 17 unanswered points for the Rebels.

The play prior, Antwain Burdine wrestled away a possible interception and converted for a first down. Without that effort, no chance at a final-play TD.

West 10, Page 7, 2:45 2Q: Turnovers to points

West's Syxx Hoard intercepted Jonathan Palmer for the second time in the first half. The turnover set up a Patrick Schmid 32-yard field goal attempt, which was good.

West leads 10-7, with all 10 points coming on short fields.

Page 7, West 7, 6:54 2Q: Marshaun Bowers scores on 4th and goal

Marshaun Bowers punches it in on 4th and goal from the Page 1-yard line to tie the game in the second quarter. PAT good.

West got a short field following an ill-advised 4th down attempt by Page's offense that was stuffed at the Page 21-yard line. If this game is tight late, remember this sequence. Very avoidable decision made by Page coach Charles Rathbone, and it turns into points.

Page 7, West 0, 4:25 1Q: Patriots on the board on long TD catch

Page is on the board. After Jonathan Palmer threw an interception in the end zone to end the Patriots' first drive, he connects with Issac Power for a 37-yard touchdown. PAT good.

Page has looked good so far, up 7-0. First touchdown allowed by West in the postseason.

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The championship games will be televised across the state on these stations (channel numbers over the air, cable channels can be found here):

Nashville: WUPX MyNetwork TV Channel 30

Memphis: WMC-TV+ Channel 5.5

Knoxville: WKNX Channel 7

Chattanooga: WFLI MyNetwork TV Channel 53.2

Jackson: Jackson Energy Authority E+ broadband Channel 6 (not OTA)

Tri-Cities: WCYB.2 CW Network Channel 5.2

Friday's TSSAA football championships schedule

Class 3A: Alcoa (12-1) vs. East Nashville (12-2), 11 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT

Class 1A: South Pittsburg (14-0) vs. McKenzie (13-1), 3 p.m./2 p.m. CT

Class 5A: Knoxville West (13-1) vs. Page (13-1), 7 p.m./6 p.m. CT

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TSSAA football scores: Knoxville West vs Page live updates