'Toppers searching for consistency ahead of showdown with Bearden

Science Hill's football team is entering this week's showdown against Bearden with a 3-0 record and an offense that is averaging 39 points per game. And yet, the Hilltoppers are fighting a battle against inconsistency that seems all-consuming at the moment. "I would like to say we're worried about Bearden right now, but we're worried about us," said Science Hill coach Stacy Carter. Last week's home win against Tennessee High served as a microcosm of Science Hill's season to this point. The Hilltoppers won 43-33, but the final score masked how close they were to losing by double-digits on their home field. Science Hill committed 11 penalties and the offense seemed hopelessly bogged down in the third quarter while Tennessee High turned a 14-6 halftime deficit into a 27-14 lead. It took a 94-yard kick return and an 80-yard TD run from Kiantai Harris to bring the Hilltoppers back from the brink. With the passing game grounded against the Vikings, Carter is well-aware that the quarterback position is a topic of conversation among the fanbase. "As far as quarterback, that's the elephant in the room," he said. "We're probably the best we can be right now. "We have a lot of times people are running the wrong route. There's things like that that people don't see. Those things happen a lot." On the bright side, Carter said the offensive line continues to improve each week, and they showcased that during a punishing second-quarter drive when the Hilltoppers came out in a wildcat formation with Harris taking the snaps. "It was a surge," he said. "They're getting better, which is a really, really good thing for us. Anytime you can go two tight ends and two wings, there are some holes in there that opened up the way they were supposed to. Then you've got a guy who can take it the distance when he gets it, which makes it even better." Carter also believes the defense took another step in the right direction last Friday. Jack Staggs and Carter Larson got a shot at some playing time in the secondary and both made the most of the opportunity. With Harris being used so heavily on offense, Carter said the goal is to limit his snaps at cornerback to cut down on his workload. The Hilltoppers will have another shot to smooth the rough edges when Bearden pays a visit to Kermit Tipton Stadium on Friday. The Bulldogs are 0-3, but have played one of the toughest schedules in the state after beginning the season against Knox West, Alcoa and Maryville. Science Hill on Offense The Hilltoppers will be facing another 3-4 front this week, but unlike Tennessee High, Carter doesn't expect Bearden to blitz nearly as much as the Vikings did last week. "It's hard to believe I'm saying Tennessee High blitzed, because they hardly ever blitzed (in past seasons), but they were bringing it," he said. After watching his offense struggle to execute the game plan last week, particularly in the passing game, Carter said the Hilltoppers are "going back to the drawing board." Up to this point, practices have included a balance of fundamental work and running through plays. He is also aiming to solidify the lineup in order to ensure the starters are in place and getting the bulk of the reps. "We've got to run plays all practice just learning what to do," Carter said. "If you don't get to that point, it doesn't matter what your fundamentals are." Science Hill on Defense The Hilltoppers will line up against a spread offense for the second time this season. Science Hill struggled to bottle up Morristown West's running quarterbacks, so that will be a high priority this week. The same goes for a variety of jailbreak screens, tunnel screens, hitch routes and bubble screens designed to push Science Hill's defense to the breaking point on the edges. Bearden has no doubt seen film of the Morristown West game, so Carter said he expects the Bulldogs to try to exploit weaknesses exposed by the Trojans. "You can't hide that," Carter said. "You've got to be able to stop those because they're going to do that." SCIENCE HILL VS. BEARDEN Series record: Tied, 8-8At Johnson City: Tied, 4-4At Knoxville: Tied, 4-4 First meeting: 1971 (SH, 20-16)Current streak: SH 1 (2025)Longest SH streak: 3 (2016-18)Longest Bearden streak: 5 (2005-08 & 2015) Most points: 72 in 2004 (SH, 49-23)Fewest points: 16 in 2003 (SH, 13-3); 2005 (Bearden, 9-7)Biggest win: 35 points in 2025 (SH, 35-0)Closest win: 1 point in 2002 (Bearden, 10-9); 2015 (Bearden, 22-21) Last time they played: Sept. 12, 2025Lane Clement threw for 188 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Hilltoppers won 35-0 in west Knoxville. Branson Newberry (6 yards), Haiden Cox (3 yards) and Marcus Jones (33 yards) caught the TD passes. Nalique Anderson (81 yards) scored on a 1-yard run, and Kiantai Harris added a 6-yard TD. The Hilltopper defense held Bearden to 57 total yards.