Siegel’s Lelan Wilhoite was spectacular in defeat, gaining 319 yards from scrimmage and scoring three times, as the Stars fell 48-30 to Cookeville on Thursday night.
Wilhoite ran 25 times for 214 yards and caught five balls for 105 more, as part of Siegel’s 471-yard effort.
But Siegel’s defense had issues stopping the run, yielding 286 yards on 28 carries.
The Stars, playing without starter Brendan Crowell for the second half, went to Tucker Sears, who threw two touchdowns, but also four interceptions.
The Stars fell behind 14-0 early, but rallied to lead 22-21 at half.
But Cookeville scored 20 straight points to start the second half and take control.
Siegel didn’t get on the board again until Wilhoite caught a 64-yard score from Sears with 7:23 left in the game. Sears then hit Wilhoite with a pass for the 2-point conversion.
Wilhoite had a first-half touchdown runs of 2 and 5 yards. Sears hit Caleb Bull for another score, and Connor Ott also kicked a 30-yard field goal, before half.
Bull caught three passes for 50 yards. Sears was 11-of-17 for 183 yards, and ran seven times for 37.
Offensive lineman Maxwell Iyama, a South Carolina commitment, and Crowell both suffered first-half injuries. Iyama returned, but Crowell did not.
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