As Athens coach Cody Gross watched his seniors take the traditional walk of the field following the Golden Eagles’ 50-0 win over Lee-Huntsville Friday night, he couldn’t help but get a little emotional.

After all, this senior class were freshmen when Gross took over the Athens program in 2016 and have been there every step of the building process from a 3-7 season Gross’ first year to having a combined 15-5 record the past two years and three consecutive playoff appearances.

“I’m getting some chills right now just watching it (the senior walk) because it’s a special group,” Gross said. “There’s been a lot of special groups go through here, but this one came in and bought in to what we were doing. They grew up in this. It’s been tough on them, but man, what an awesome job. The day they walk off this field for the last time, I’m going to cry like a baby.”

Athens celebrated senior night on a rainy Friday, as is tradition for the last regular-season home game, but it won’t be the last time the Golden Eagles seniors play at Athens Stadium. Due to their second-place finish in the region, they earned a home playoff game in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs, and will face Buckhorn in two weeks.

“This senior group has done a lot to turn this program around, in every way,” Gross said. “A lot of them had to play as freshmen, and we were 3-7. Then so many started as sophomores on a 5-6 team that got in the playoffs. They were very instrumental in last year’s playoff team and then, their senior year they are getting to host a first-round playoff game. I told them after the game, you’re going to get to walk the field tonight, because that’s a tradition here, but it won’t be the last time you play here. Hopefully, we’ll keep playing for a while.”

Friday’s senior night was celebrated in style, as Athens got out to a quick start and dominated Lee from the opening kickoff. They stormed out to a 43-0 halftime lead before coasting to victory in the second half.

The Athens defense set up the offense in good field position multiple times in the first half thanks to forcing four Lee turnovers, and the Golden Eagles’ offense didn’t waste any time scoring, as they scored three touchdowns in both the first and second quarter.

Athens (7-2) finished with 318 rushing yards and 366 total yards in the game.

After losing a fumble on their opening possession, Athens got into a groove the second time it had the ball. The Golden Eagles drove 55 yards in five plays, all of them runs by senior Jaelen Cates. A 22-yard run put Athens at the goal line and Cates finished the drive off on the next play by plunging in from the 1. Jordan Scott then found Keenan Hambrick for the 2-point conversion to put Athens up 8-0.

Lee (1-8) fumbled on its next possession, which set Athens up at the 45. Cates had a 25-yard run on the first play of the drive, and the drive was capped off three plays later when Scott hooked up with Hambrick for an 8-yard scoring toss. Kevin Jurado added the first of his five extra points to give Athens a 15-0 lead.

Athens scored again late in the first quarter after another Lee turnover put Athens inside the 20. Scott scored on an 8-yard run to give Athens a 22-0 lead after one quarter.

Scott added his second touchdown run of the night early in the second quarter when he scampered down the sideline for a 39-yard score.

Tokey Porter intercepted a Lee pass two plays later and returned it to the 8-yard line, and Scott threw a touchdown pass to Myles Fewell on the very next play to put Athens up 36-0.

Lee’s fourth turnover of the half led to Athens’ final score, as a fumbled snap set the Golden Eagles up at the General’s 27-yard line. Scott’s 22-yard pass to Braden Gross put the Eagles at the 5, and Jaylen Gilbert scored on the next play for a 43-0 lead Athens would carry into halftime.

Scott finished the game with 70 passing yards, 54 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Cates had 89 rushing yards and a score.

The game was played with a running clock in the second half, as Athens played its backups for the remainder of the game.

The only score in the second half came on a 29-yard touchdown run by A’vonte’ Thompson midway through the third quarter.

Gross was appreciative of the fans who came out to watch the game, which was played in a steady rain for much of the game. He was also thankful for the artificial turf that was installed over the summer and gave the players good footing despite the wet conditions.

“If we didn’t have this turf down, this field wouldn’t be dry until summer because of all the drainage problems we had with it,” Gross said. “Being able to play on this turf was awesome.”