October 18, 2023 by Alan Sloan
A promising first 18 minutes for Farragut football, building a 14-3 lead against Region 1-6A champion Jefferson County — sparked by a successful fake punt — turned into Freaky Friday the 13th thanks to a pair of deflected passes-turned-interceptions near the line of scrimmage.
Those two turnovers set up the Patriots (7-1) for what turned out to be a pair of relatively easy touchdowns in an eventual 31-14 JCHS win in FHS’s Eddie Courtney Stadium on Bill Clabo Field Friday night, Oct. 13. The Admirals have now lost six straight and fall to 2-6.
“Everything did go against us after that … that’s football,” Admirals head coach Eddie Courtney said. “Our kids came back fighting, trying to make plays.”
Despite the losing streak, “This team still comes to practice and works hard, trying to win a ballgame,” the coach said. “We’ve just got to regroup and get ready for Hardin Valley.”
During Farragut’s first series, senior Brooks Burnette faked his punt attempt and took off running to the right, then cut down the sideline for a 30-yard gain to the Patriots 25.
Wayne Drummy, Ads senior running back, converted a fourth-and-2 at the JCHS 5, then scored from 2 yards out to give Farragut a 7-3 lead only 26 seconds into the second quarter.
After the Ads defense stiffened and forced a short punt, FHS went 50 yards for another TD. Drummy’s 15-yard scamper came before Cam Duncan 26-yard slant pass to fellow senior Landis Davila, landing the Ads at the Jeff County 1. Drummy scored on the next play and sophomore kicker Ryan McCue added his second extra point of the game, making it 14-3 with 6:45 left in the first half.
After forcing another Patriots punt, Farragut took over at its own 23. That’s when disaster struck and the momentum changed.
Duncan’s deflected pass at the line of scrimmage was intercepted by a JCHS lineman, who rumbled to the Ads 3. Jefferson County scored its first touchdown on the next play.
After a first-down reception by Burnette was wiped out due to a penalty, the Patriots went 65 yards to take the lead for good.
Two runs by Omarian Mills, the second covering four yards, put Jefferson County up 24-14 at the 9:47 mark of the third quarter. For the game, Mills rushed for 175 yards and two scores.
The Pats went 43 yards for their last points, ending with a 12-yard scoring run less than one minute into the fourth quarter, making it 31-14.
About his team’s sharp turnaround in 2023, Jefferson County head coach Spencer Riley said “Our kids have bought into our run culture … . We’re going to do what we do, which is run the football and throw deep.”
As for his team’s intangibles, “They’re a gritty group, they play for each other,” Riley said.
Jeff County’s victory marks the program’s longest winning streak, seven, since 2003.
Defensively for the Admirals, senior linebacker Jack Alley recorded 18 total stops (11 solo), with two tackles-for-loss and one forced fumble.
Bryce Thompson, junior linebacker, also had 18 tackles (11 solo), with four tackles for loss, one quarterback sack and a forced fumble.
Senior lineman Matt Purvis added eight stops (six solo) and one tackle-for-loss. Senior defensive back Landis Davila had seven total tackles (three solo), with two pass breakups.
Kent Carbaugh, junior defensive back, added seven tackles (three solo), while junior linebacker Harrison Kilpatrick had six (two solo).
Offensively, Drummy ended with 92 yards rushing on 25 carriers. Duncan completed 13-of-24 passes for 125 yards. Davila had five catches for 57 yards, and senior Robbie Jacobs added four for 19.