CHATTANOOGA ― Macon County athletics director Beverly Shoulders walked onto the field just before kickoff of the TSSAA Class 4A state championship game and was speechless. She grabbed her husband’s arm. The scene was surreal.
It looked as though the entire Lafayette community crammed itself inside Finley Stadium to watch teenagers they’ve known since those players were toddlers compete in the biggest game of their young lives.
But that’s the core of Lafayette ― a population of just over 5,500 people pouring into 72 kids, celebrating just as hard as the players who validated that love with a 45-14 rout of Memphis Melrose on Saturday for the school’s first football state championship in its first BlueCross Bowl appearance.
“It was absolutely wonderful to see,” Shoulders said of the fans packed into the stadium. “I want to say it was a surprise to see so many come out, but it’s not. That’s what this town is about. And it showed.”
The town’s business leaders did the fundraising. The money they generated was distributed equally among the football team, cheerleaders and the school’s band. It was a collective town effort to pay for hotels, food and transportation to Chattanooga.
And the fans populated the city’s restaurants and hotels on Friday night. By Saturday morning, they were pacing outside Finley Stadium wanting access inside two hours before the game’s morning kickoff.
“There’s about 950 students at our school,” Shoulders added. “And it’s like a village here. They follow us wherever we go. So I knew we’d have a huge crowd here. It’s not just parents and grandparents here. It’s the community.”
Macon County coach Kyle Shoulders hugged everybody he could. His players sprinted out on the field as the final seconds fell away. His family was right behind him. Kyle Shoulders’ grandfather is the brother of the grandfather of Rick Shoulders, Beverly’s husband. Rick Shoulders is the Macon County property assessor. Beverly and Rick shook as many hands as Kyle after the game.
“That’s how high school football is supposed to work,” Kyle said. “It’s not supposed to be about a bunch of transfers here or there, or bouncing around because things aren’t going well where you’re at, or you’re looking for another place. Listen, this is a community that is bought in to a bunch of guys and that’s a very special thing.”
Nineteen times in the school’s history, Macon County returned to Lafayette from a TSSAA football playoff run that ended in disappointment. Last week fans celebrated the school’s first state title berth by ripping off the uprights of the football stadium’s west end goalpost. Saturday, the players darted to the wall at Finley Stadium that separates and stands from the field. Players held the championship trophy in front of the “Macon Mob”, the school’s student section.
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“It doesn’t get better than what those fans showed us,” said championship game MVP Zach Borders who rushed 25 times for 249 yards and four touchdowns. “They talk about players winning championships, or one player who did this or one player who did that. But this is a team win. This was a community win. We aren’t here without everyone who was involved.”
Memories can fade with time, but Macon County’s 20th trip to the playoffs won’t be forgotten in Lafayette.
“This’ll be remembered forever,” said Macon County running back Gabe Borders who ran for 117 yards. “Nobody’s forgetting this … ever.”
Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.
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