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Jamboree and Scrimmages Over, Game Week is Here

After three weeks filled with practices, scrimmages, and a jamboree, fall camp is over and game week is officially here.

Fall camp officially began on July 23rd with the first day of practice, also the first two-a-day practice of the year. After six practices, the Admirals  traveled 85 miles south to take on the Owls from Ooltewah in the first scrimmage of fall camp.

Gavin Wilkinson throws the ball at Farragut High School during the first day of football practice with pads Monday, July 23, 2018. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

The Admirals and the Owls are familiar foes, both former members of the old Region 2-AAAAA TVAC, having met 13 times on the gridiron. After an hour and a half scrimmage, both teams got great work and came out injury-free.

 

The second week of fall camp was preempted by the annual Kickoff picnic and began with the final two-a-day practice of camp.  After that, practice returned to a more familiar, after school, time slot.  Thursday of that week saw the Admirals again return to the road, but this time they headed west to Cookeville.

Defensive line coach Tom Doucette talks to players at Farragut High School during the first day of football practice with pads Monday, July 23, 2018. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

Although they have never met on the gridiron, the two teams have become familiar with each other through annual preseason scrimmages since 2014. Much like the Ooltewah scrimmage, both teams were evenly matched and were able to get quality reps against a different color jersey.

The final week of fall camp was jammed packed with action, one scrimmage, three practices, school starting back, and a jamboree to cap it off.

Players practice at Farragut High School during the first day of football practice with pads Monday, July 23, 2018. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

Monday and Tuesday were work days for the Ads on the practice field to tune up and build on the previous week’s action.  Wednesday was the final scrimmage of 2018 Fall Camp, as the Admirals headed north to face the Greene Devils from Greeneville. Weather forced the scrimmage indoors to the Tusculum University Indoor Practice Facility.  The hour and a half scrimmage that ensued,  proved to be the most physical of camp.  A day of on-field practice was planned for Thursday, but the weather had other plans and turned it into a day of film and meetings.

Fall camp was capped off with the annual KOC Kickoff Jamboree, a one quarter exhibition of all Knox County teams plus three others. This year marked the first time since 2013 that the jamboree was held at Neyland Stadium.

A fleet of Admirals stop the Gibbs RB for a loss. PHOTO CREDIT: 5 Star Preps,5starpreps.com

Farragut played in the sixth of eight quarters planned for the evening against the Gibbs Eagles. A 12-yard TD run by Gabe Hensley, a 37 yard Daniel Bethel field goal, and three stout defensive series gave the Admirals a 10-0 victory over Gibbs.

Now that fall camp is over, the Admirals turn their attention to the Bradley Central Bears.

Isaiah Gibbs runs with the ball at Farragut High School during the first day of football practice with pads Monday, July 23, 2018. Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel

A team that used to be a region opponent when both were in Region 2-AAAAA. Farragut boasts a 11-1 record vs Bradley Central all-time. The teams played each other every year from 2001-2008 as region opponents, and again during the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Last season’s game was a thriller that was decided in overtime after the Admirals intercepted a pass that stopped what would have been the Bears winning TD drive with under a minute to play. The Admirals scored in OT to win the game 27-21. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30pm at Bill Clabo Field, for more outlook on the opening game, you can CLICK HERE.