Tight-knit Page seniors one win away from elusive TSSAA football championship

FRANKLIN — Before giving his postgame speech, Page football coach Charles Rathbone directed the team's seniors to stand behind him.

Then Rathbone turned and embraced all of them, one at a time. Some hugs were longer than others. Running back James Pierre, who Rathbone's described as a "jokester," didn't seem like he'd ever let go, drawing laughs from parents and teammates.

The Patriots (13-0) beat Centennial 43-21 in the semifinals of the TSSAA football playoffs on Nov. 28, advancing to the Class 5A state championship game against Sevier County. A win over the Smoky Bears (13-1) in Chattanooga on Dec. 5 would be their 53rd in the last four years and make their seniors the winningest class to ever come through the program.

"It's really a testament to what the past senior classes have built," said linebacker Sean Cunningham. "Them leading the path and showing us the way, and we're just building off of that."

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The victory over the Cougars (7-6) was the final home game for the seniors, who finish their careers with a 31-1 record there. They've won three region titles and played in three, soon to be four, consecutive BlueCross Bowls.

But gaudy win-loss records and accolades don't fully describe what the class means to Rathbone. All but a handful have been with Page all four years of high school. Rathbone has been coaching many, including Cunningham, safety Knight Wilson and offensive lineman Jacob Rathbone (his son), since fourth-grade flag football.

"Man, they're special," Charles Rathbone said. "I love them with all my heart."

The close-knit nature of the Patriots' senior class made it impossible for Cayden Aukerman to leave. The wide receiver is the son of former Tennessee Titans special-teams coordinator Craig Aukerman, who was hired by the Miami Dolphins for that same position last winter.

Playing his senior season in Florida wouldn't have felt right, so when his parents asked him about him, Cayden decided to stay in Tennessee with his mom. Against Centennial, the Samford commit caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass which put Page up 36-14 and effectively iced the game. It hasn't yet sunk in for him that it was his final score on his home field.

"I don't know if it will be this week or right after state, but it doesn't feel real. It feels like just a normal game," Cayden said. "It's so emotional to be playing here for four years now, and just like that, that's our last game that we're ever gonna play on this field together. I love those boys."

Even the ones who haven't been at Page all four years feel that love. Pierre, who ran for 194 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, came to Page during the summer. A native of Canada, he played last year at Webb School - Bell Buckle before the Feet cancelled their 2025 season.

"It wasn't hard at all," he said. "I came here, they treated me like family."

There's only one thing missing for the seniors, and none of them need to be reminded of it. Last season's 27-20 loss to Sevier County was the Patriots' fourth straight runner-up finish.

"I really think this is a group that can get it done," Aukerman said. "On the field and off the field, we just click so much. We have a really good Sevier County team, but I'm really excited to see what we do on Friday."

Jacob Shames can be reached by email at [email protected] and on X/Twitter @Jacob_Shames.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Page seniors one win from first TSSAA football playoffs state title