Aaden Adams knew he had to get that touchdown back. For his team, his brother and himself.
With 30 seconds left, down by three points toFranklin Road Academy (5-3), Antioch senior quarterback and Colorado commit Andre Adamsconnected with sophomore wide receiver Treon Mcadoo for 36 yards for what looked like the game winning touchdown.
Seconds later, it was called back due to a holding call on Aaden.
The next play, Andre found Aaden in the corner of the endzone on a 15-yard touchdown to find those lost six points. The redemption grab by Aaden gave Antioch (8-0) just what they needed to edge past FRA, 34-31, on Oct. 8.
"I knew that one was on me," Aaden said on the holding call. " I had to make it up."
According to Antioch coach Arcentae Broome, it
was a year ago to the day at the same exact place that the world learned about Aaden, but on the other side of the ball. In a 62-64 Antioch victory over FRA on Oct. 9, 2025, it was Aaden that had the game winning interception.
"It was only fitting that he picked it last year and comes back with the touchdown this year," Broome said. "He's grown so much as a ball player."
Last season, Aaden had soundly settled in the WR2 role behind Brandon Goliday, who had 1,666 yards on 77 receptions and 18 touchdowns in his senior season. He was Andre's top target and told Aaden that it was his time to take over that role.
"He told me 'you've got to have a good year and do what I (Goliday) did' and I told him 'yes, sir,' Aaden said. "I look up to BJ. That's my dog."
In the summer before Goliday took off to play for Arkansas State, he not only worked out wit Aaden, but went over plays, watched film and did just about everything in order to prepare Aaden for the WR1 role.
Even now, deep into the high school and college football seasons, Goliday and Aaden talk regularly. Before the game against FRA, Goliday sent Aaden a text before kickoff that he held close: "Be a dog. You got it."
For Andre Adams, who was 23-for-33, throwing for 392 yards and three touchdowns against FRA, the first thing that came out of his mouth after the game was that he couldn't be prouder of his little brother.
"He's having a moment right now, but it's northing new to me," Andre said. "I've been playing with him since we were young and he's been doing the same stuff. I ain't even surprised."
It’s @Andre_Adams10 to Aaiden Adams. It’s a 15 yard touchdown for the Antioch lead. Two point is no good.
— Jack Williams (@jackgwilliams) October 9, 2026
34-31 Antioch. 24 seconds left pic.twitter.com/xYTyvMGzJw
Andre Adams, a 2025 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist, added 67 yards rushing and a touchdown on 13 attempts. He's thrown for 1,942 yards and 17 touchdowns with only one interception this season and is putting together the kind of season that could see a return trip to Nissan Stadium for the Mr. Football awards ceremony in December.
Senior wide receiver Matthew Coleman had two touchdowns through the air for the Bears while running back Thomas Davis had a 3-yard rush for a touchdown in the third quarter.
FRA kept pace throughout, powered by three touchdowns from senior running back Kwadir Fletcher.
Antioch's secondary showed up as senior defensive back Jermaoine Busby had the game winning interception at the buzzer and sophomore defensive back Micah Palmer had a interception and a massive pass breakup on fourth and 4 in the fourth quarter.
Antioch heads into fall break with at matchup against Clarksville on the horizon. Last year's meeting in Clarksvillewas Antioch's only loss of the regular season. Andre Adams remembers, but is not getting caught up in the emotions of the moment.
"I'm just trying to stay down and stay humble," Andre said.
Reach The Tennessean's high school writer, Jack Williams at jackwilliams@theleafchronicle.com and on the X platform @jackgwilliams.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: How Colorado football commit Andre Adams' engineered Antioch's win with belief in brother
