TOP 10 GAMES OF THE 2000'S COUNTDOWN

#10

11/04/2005

TUSCOLA- 17

TC ROBERSON- 7

The Tuscola Mountaineers upset the TC Roberson Rams on November 4, 2005 to secure their place in the playoffs, and build momentum going in.  The team would go on to lose by only one touchdown to the eventual State Champion Charlotte Catholic Cougars in the second round.

#9

08/28/2009

TUSCOLA- 14

ASHEVILLE- 14

Coming off an upset loss to Polk County in week 1, with the "best in the west" Asheville Cougars next on the schedule, things were looking rough.  The 2009 team, however did not lose heart- and tied the Cougars on August 28, sparking controversy throughout the mountains.  Those questioning the effect on morale were soon quieted as the Mountaineers would not lose again until the State Semi-Finals, where they played the eventual State Champion closer than the Cougars could.

#8

10/10/2003

TUSCOLA- 24

TC ROBERSON- 20

On October 10, 2003- for the third time the Mountaineers were on the brink of suffering their first defeat of the season, when yet again the Comeback Kids shocked the crowd with a mouth dropping comeback rally.

#7

08/31/2007

TUSCOLA- 22

PISGAH- 6

On August 31, 2007 the Tuscola Mountaineers shocked the Pisgah Bears with a 22-6 upset victory, the first of a 3 win streak to close out the decade.  This win came off the previous year's 56-10 defeat- the worst in the rivalry's history.  This win set the tone for what was to come in the near future for Tuscola Football.

#6

11/03/2006

TUSCOLA- 13

TC ROBERSON- 10

The 2006 Tuscola Mountaineers were on the verge of finishing 1-10 when a young quarterback named Tyler Brosius took the field in the first quarter for the first time.  Tuscola came together as a team to pull off a major upset over the TC Roberson Rams, preventing the first 10 loss season in school history.  Leo Gamez kicked the game winning field goal, and as they say... the rest is history.  Over the next 3 years, THS would win 3 straight county titles, 2 conference titles, & make it to the Western Regional Championship game.

#5

09/19/2008

TUSCOLA- 17

AC REYNOLDS- 14

"This was a game that defines the program" said Tuscola head football coach Donnie Kiefer.  Tuscola had gotten off to a 3-0 start, but were the Mounties legit? THS had lost to AC Reynolds 53-7 the year before... could they beat the "team to beat" in the Mountains? Tuscola answered YES with a game winning touchdown pass from Tyler Brosius to Lane Hambrick with 1:22 remaining to give Tuscola a stunning 17-14 victory. The Mountaineers would go on to earn thier first conference title in over a decade.

#4

10/13/2000

TUSCOLA- 23

PISGAH- 21

It was Friday the 13th of October 2000, & the Mountaineers were calling for a "Nightmare on Pisgah Street".  For the Bears, that's exactly what it was.  The Mountaineers took the victory by 2 points in the closest Tuscola-Pisgah game of the decade.  Tuscola would go on to earn a 6-4 record against the Black Bears in the 2000's.

#3

08/25/2000

TUSCOLA- 27

AC REYNOLDS- 26

The 2000 Tuscola Mountaineers had a daunting task ahead of them.  Coming off a 27-7 loss to McDowell in Week 1, Tuscola had to face the defending State Champion A.C. Reynolds Rockets in Week 2.  The Mountaineers were down 20-7 at the half, and down 26-13 at the start of the 4th quarter- but Tuscola kept fighting.  Shane Simpson ran in for two 4th quarter TD's and the Mountaineers shocked the defending State Champs 27-26.  Reynolds went on to win the MAC title.

#2

09/23/03

TUSCOLA- 39

SMOKY MTN- 29

On September 26, 2003 the Tuscola Mountaineers were down 29-17 to the Smoky Mountain Mustangs at the end of the third quarter.  Led by Coach Travis Noland,  and players like Jonathan Crompton, Ryan Teague, and Brian Heath; the Mountaineers scored 22 fourth quarter points to ruin Smoky Mountain's homecoming game 39-29 and improve to 5-0. When asked in an interview with the Asheville Citizen-Times about a 4th quarter touchdown pass to Ryan Teague, QB Jonathan Crompton said "I knew he was going to score, I could feel it." 

#1

11/27/2009

TUSCOLA- 28

HIBRITEN- 27

On November 27, 2009 the Tuscola Mountaineers had made it to the third round for the first time since 1992- the same year many of the seniors were born.  They found themselves down 27-14 in the fourth quarter, but never gave up.  The Mountaineers went on to score 14 fouth quarter points.  The Mountaineers tied up the Panthers with a touchdown pass from Tyler Brosius to Josh Adams, then the PAT from Michael Garrison gave the Mounties the 1 point needed to advance to the Western Regional Championship Game.