After a long offseason, the Admirals are making final preparations for their week 1 opponent, Bradley Central.  The Admirals scrimmaged three quality opponents in fall camp this year. The first opponent was Ooltewah, a rematch from the 2016 quarterfinal matchup, on July 28th at Farragut. The Admirals showed poise and attacked the Owl defense both in the air and on the ground. The Admiral defense enjoyed success by hemming in the Ooltewah offense and not giving up big plays. The second scrimmage was against Cookeville on August 3rd at Farragut. The Admirals offense started slow, but found its stride and got into a rhythm and found the end zone several times. Defensively, Farragut was able to bow their backs and help the offense through its slow period. The final scrimmage of fall camp was against Greeneville on August 8th at FHS. The Admirals came out quick on offense were able to find the end zone via the ground attack on several big runs. The Admiral defense came up with several turnovers in the red zone that kept the Greene Devil offense out of the end zone.

Farragut also participated in the KOC Kickoff Jamboree at West High School on August 11th. The Admirals faced off against the South Doyle Cherokees, a rematch of the 2016 semi-final playoff game. The defense forced a quick 3-and-out, the led to a 7-play, 53 yard drive, that was capped off by a 7 yard, Kyle Carter TD run. Farragut’s defense came right back out to forced another 3-and

-out, which setup the Admiral offense on their own 48 yard line. RB Isaiah Gibbs set the tone with  a first down, 39 yard run, but the Admirals would miss a 38 yard field goal.

Another defensive stop led to an 8-play, 58 yard drive, that ended wth a 4-yard, Josh Moses TD run. When the quarter ended, the Admirals found themselves victorious, 14-0 over South Doyle.

 

 

 

The Admirals turn their attention now to the Bears from Bradley Central. The Admirals open the 2017 season looking to defend the school’s first state title in history. Farragut and Bradley Central will play on Friday, August 18th at Bradley Central High School, kickoff is set for 7:30pm. Read more about this matchup by reading the matchup preview by clicking here.

Wednesday, at the first inaugural News Sentinel Sports Awards presented by Farm Bureau Health Plans, the Farragut Admirals were named Team of the Year.

Farragut, which returned just 10 starters from the 2015 season, embarked on a run that ended with it winning its first state football championship in program history. A double overtime victory over Ooltewah in the Class 5A quarterfinals paved the way for the Admirals to get to the championship game, where it had to rally from a 28-point deficit to beat Independence.

The storybook ending of Cooper Hardin’s high school football career is preserved on a DVD that he and his former Farragut High teammates still watch with wide-eyed wonder.

A 45-35 Class 5A victory over defending champion Independence still qualifies as must-see entertainment. Farragut erased a 28-point deficit and scored 38 consecutive points last December to win the school’s first state football championship. It was an amazing conclusion to Hardin’s senior season.

“It’s crazy to think that was just a few months ago,” said Hardin before the News Sentinel Sports Awards.

Hardin’s role in Farragut’s magical season came from crazy circumstances, namely a major knee injury suffered during his junior year. He bounced back to play a key role for the Admirals and earn the Leadership Award Wednesday night during the ceremony at the Tennessee Theatre.

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On Monday, May 15th, in the library at Farragut High School, Governor Bill Haslam and Knox County Schools Superintendent gathered to congratulate the 2016 Admirals football team for winning a Class 5A state championship.

State Rep. Jason Zachary [R-14th District that includes Farragut] joined Haslam to formally congratulate the football team, assembled alongside all coaches in the school’s library — doing so in the form of a proclamation, read by Zachary on behalf of “the state of Tennessee,” and in comments from both politicians.
“As a Knoxville boy who is living in Nashville because that’s where my job is, I get a little tired of hearing how good Middle Tennessee football is,” Haslam said. “And so you all, coming home with that gold ball [trophy] is kind of nice. Now I can say, ‘see, they play some serious football over there.’

“Secondly, I love not just that you won, but the way you did it,” Haslam added about FHS coming from 28 points behind twice to win during the playoffs. “… One thing that came out loud and clear was the character of this team. I’m not surprised knowing your coach [Eddie Courtney] and the other coaches.”

However, Haslam advised the student/athletes, “don’t let that be the highlight of your life. … Build on this, but don’t rest on it.”

“As a ’95 grad of Farragut, this is extra special for me to be here with you guys on behalf of Tennessee,” Zachary told the team before introducing Haslam.

“I think it was great,” FHS principal Ryan Siebe said about the visit. “The visit from the governor was obviously to highlight an incredible teacher, but he was also able to see the kind of well-rounded school we are as far as science and math and then athletics as well, so we’re really glad to have him.”

Special thanks to Alan Sloan and Carolyn Evans of the Farragut Press for covering this event.

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