Maryville rolls to 41-14 win over Berry in season opener

Maryville racked up 387 yards on the ground and 481 total offensive yards en route to convincing a 41-14 win over Berry on Saturday at Honaker Field in Maryville, Tenn.

The win marked a strong start to the season for the Scots, projected to repeat as USA South champions. The loss leaves Berry, a second-year squad, still in search of the program’s first win against a varsity squad.

Deshjion Whitlock led the way for the Scots, picking up 142 yards on 16 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown run with 7:38 left in the second quarter. Maryville’s Evan Pittenger finished the afternoon competing 13 of 19 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown.

“As long as we can run the ball, play calling is going to be very easy,” MCScots.com quoted Scots Head Coach Mike Raider as saying. “You can just stay in rhythm with it.”

Berry’s Dale Jackson, making the second start of his career, completed 18 of 33 passes for 276 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but also tossed three interceptions. Jackson also led the Vikings’ ground attack, which struggled to find traction, rushing for 31 yards on nine carries.

Prior to the start of Saturday’s game, Maryville honored its 1946 team, which finished the season with a 9-0 record and is the only Scots team to finish the regular season with an undefeated record. That 1946 squad played in the inaugural Tangerine Bowl, later the Citrus Bowl, losing 31-6 to Catawba.