Bearden football travels to Farragut on Friday looking for its first winning streak over the Admirals since the Bulldogs won three straight from 1999-2001.
Jayzon Thompson scored all three touchdowns in Bearden’s 21-14 win a year ago, but fellow running back Torrian Riggins played a big role in the Bulldogs’ dominant rushing performance against their fierce rivals.
Coach Josh Jones has called on the senior Riggins again in 2024 with Thompson missing the past two games due to injury, and he has answered that call.
Riggins leads the Bulldogs in both rushing yards (249) and touchdowns (six) so far this season.
“Torrian has definitely taken advantage of the reps with Jayzon being out,” Coach Jones said. “He’s had two really good games against Anderson County and Hardin Valley. It’s good for him because he wants to play college football, and those coaches all go off what film shows, so it’s a really good opportunity for him.”
Riggins’s teammates have seen him as a leader on the field.
“He’s always picking people up when they’re down,” senior center Jaxson Davis said, “and making sure everybody does the right stuff, picking up the O-line whenever we’re not doing that great, picking up the quarterback when he’s not doing great, and just keeping his head up all the time.”
Riggins rushed for two first half touchdowns as Bearden ran out to a big halftime lead in a 35-7 win over Hardin Valley last week.
“I took it as me being the step-up guy and playing my role that I’m supposed to,” Riggins said. “And going out there with the expectation to win and doing what I got to do.”
It helps that Riggins knows he has the coaching staff backing him.
“My coaches trusting me with getting the ball, that’s the most encouraging thing right now,” he said.