With his team up four points with just under seven minutes to play, Farragut coach Eddie Courtney elected to keep the field-goal unit on the sideline and go for a touchdown with the ball on Rhea County’s 2-yard line.

His aggressiveness paid off.

The touchdown by Cooper Hardin stretched the Admirals’ lead to 11 before the host Eagles knocked it down to a 33-30 final score. The win advanced Farragut to the quarterfinals of the Class 5A state playoffs and a visit from Ooltewah next week.

“We felt like we needed to be aggressive there because we didn’t want to kickoff to them with it being a seven-point game,” Courtney said.

“We felt comfortable with our line getting the push, because they were in my ear wanting to go for it.”

“That was the biggest play of the year and probably my career,” Hardin said about his 2-yard touchdown run. “Plays like that are all about execution, and we did it perfectly.”

Both teams’ play reflected their records and the playoff atmosphere in a first half that included four lead changes. The Eagles (9-3) had the grasp on the lead at the break, but the Admirals (11-1) struck first out of it.

Six quick plays netted Farragut a four-point lead after an Adam Fulton pass to Jack Devault. That lead held until the fourth quarter, when the teams took turns trading the advantage once again.

First, it was Rhea County and running back Mason Stephenson who took the lead early in the fourth on a 12-yard run to the outside.

Minutes later, Farragut quarterback Fulton found sophomore Jaden Gibbs downfield for a 46-yard reception that led to a scoring run by Hardin a play later.

After turning the Eagles over on downs for the third time, Farragut marched down to score on the 2-yard fourth-down play that essentially sealed the win.

“I told Coach (Mark) Pemberton that this truly should’ve been a game played in the semifinals,” Courtney said.

“I’m excited for our guys: We came down to a real tough and great place to play where everybody loves football and earned a big win.”

There was a penalty called on nearly every drive of the game, with most of them being on the Eagles — many stalling key drives.

“I guess this was a night where we made too many mistakes to win,” Pemberton said. “I’ll have to go and look at the film on whether some of the penalties were the right call, but that’s honestly not the reason we lost. We lost because we didn’t play well enough.

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John Mitchell, Chattanooga Times Free Press
Contact John Mitchell at sports@timesfreepress.com

A special thanks to Carlos Reveiz of CRFOTO for the action shots from the game. Be sure to checkout CRFOTO.com every week for a full photo gallery from Friday’s game. See a photo you like? They are also available for purchase directly from his website. Click here for this week’s photos.

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Chris Thomas , Knoxville News Sentinel

A pair of fast starts extended Farragut High School’s football season on Friday at Bill Clabo Field.

The Admirals scored the game’s first 14 points and then the final 20 to spoil McMinn County’s postseason return, 40-21, in the first round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

Farragut (10-1) will travel to play Rhea County (9-2) in the second round for the second consecutive season. The Admirals fell to the Golden Eagles 40-34 last year.

“It’s going to be a good game,” Farragut running back/linebacker Cooper Hardin said. “We’re going to get it back for our seniors. I don’t think we should have lost that game.”

Farragut quarterback Adam Fulton completed 10 of 23 passes for 257 yards and three first-half touchdowns against McMinn County. He also threw an interception.

 

He threw first-quarter touchdown passes to Jack DeVault (25 yards) and Braden Collins (73) in the first quarter, giving the Admirals a 14-0 lead.

McMinn County responded with 21 unanswered points and led 21-20 at halftime after Donell Armour’s 57-yard scamper, Xavier Abernathy’s 1-yard dive and quarterback Bradley Hayes’ 57-yard reception from receiver Chris Knowles.

But it was all Farragut from there.

Fulton connected with tight end Jacob Warren on a 34-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, and Hardin shifted momentum in Farragut’s favor by recovering a Zane Byas fumble on the opening possession of the second half.

Hardin’s 4-yard TD run two plays later gave Farragut the lead for good at 26-20. The Admirals stopped McMinn County on downs on the ensuing possession, before pushing their lead to 34-21 on Amon Johnson’s 1-yard run with 3:56 left in the quarter.

Johnson added a 4-yard TD rush in the fourth. Farragut outgained McMinn County 396-260.

“We talked to our defense at halftime, about responding,” Farragut coach Eddie Courtney said. “We knew we could score, but we had to go in there and shut this thing down. And we did.”

 

Farragut played Friday without star punter/kicker Joe Doyle, an Under Armour All-American. Doyle suffered a mild hamstring injury when he slipped and fell in the hours leading into the game.

Freshman Aidan Barrett took over as placekicker, missing two point-after-attempts. Fulton punted admirably in Doyle’s place, including a 47-yarder out of his own end zone.

“We expect Joe to be back,” Courtney said. “But at that stage, we didn’t have time to wrap it. It happened about 5:30 today on our way down here.”

Armour rushed for 161 yards and the touchdown on 24 carries to lead McMinn County, making its first playoff appearance since 2012. The Cherokees mustered just 72 yards in the second half.

“We had a pretty good game plan,” McMinn County coach Bo Cagle said. “A lot of times those guys made good plays on catches. Our defensive backs were getting better the whole game, but our offense didn’t hold up long enough to give us a chance.”

Contact Chris Thomas at chris.thomas@knoxnews.com. Follow him at twitter.com/christhomaskns

A special thanks to Carlos Reveiz of CRFOTO for the action shots from the game. Be sure to checkout CRFOTO.com every week for a full photo gallery from Friday’s game. See a photo you like? They are also available for purchase directly from his website. Click here for this week’s photos.

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By Mike Blackerby of the Knoxville News Sentinel

Farragut High School heads into the Class 5A state playoffs riding a wave of momentum, thanks in large part to its record-setting quarterback, Adam Fulton.

The 6-foot-2, 212-pound senior broke the school single-season record for touchdown passes in the Admirals’ 49-21 win over visiting Clinton on Friday night at Bill Clabo Field.

Fulton connected on 10 of 17 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns – all in the first half.

Fulton’s 5-yard scoring toss to Braden Collins with 1:06 to play in the first half gave him 25 touchdown passes, breaking the mark of Reese Browning.

Now an assistant coach for the Admirals, Browning presented Fulton with the game ball in the post-game celebration.

“He (Browning) basically has taught me everything I know,” said Fulton, who has thrown only two interceptions all season.

“And my line has done a great job all season.”

 

Farragut (9-1, 4-1 Region 3-5A) heads into its home playoff opener next week against McMinn County (7-3) on the crest of a seven-game winning streak.

The Admirals, the second-seed out of Region 3-5A, haven’t lost since falling to region champion Oak Ridge on Sept. 2.

“After we lost by five points to Oak Ridge, these guys just stayed together,” Farragut coach Eddie Courtney said.

Fulton also had touchdown passes of 38 yards to Collins and 30 yards to Isaiah Gibbs as the Admirals bolted to a 35-7 halftime lead against the Dragons (1-9, 1-4).

Amon Johnson added a 9-yard touchdown run and Cooper Hardin tacked on an 11-yard dash in the first half for the Admirals.

Hardin, who also scored on a 1-yard run in the third quarter, led Farragut in rushing with 121 yards on 10 carries.

The Admirals capped their scoring with a 58-yard pass from Jake Evans to Wyatt Lucas in the fourth quarter.

 

 

Clinton quarterback Luke Harrison threw three touchdown passes, and also had two interceptions.
Harrison connected with J’Quan Thomas on scores of 14 and 12 yards late in the fourth quarter, and also hit S.J. Powers with a 6-yard touchdown pass.

Mike Blackerby is a freelance contributor.

A special thanks to Carlos Reveiz of CRFOTO for the action shots from the game. Be sure to checkout CRFOTO.com every week for a full photo gallery from Friday’s game. See a photo you like? They are also available for purchase directly from his website. Click here for this week’s photos.

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Farragut made the short trip to Lenoir City on Friday, October 14th, to take on the Panthers in a Region 3-5A showdown.  The Admirals made the most of their opportunities during the first half, featuring a 34-point outburst in the second quarter to take a 48-0 lead into the break.

The Panthers moved the ball well behind the legs and arm of sophomore quarterback, Gabe Williams, but were stymied by six costly turnovers.  In return, the Admirals’ offense scored touchdowns on all seven first-half possessions.  The Admirals were led offensively by quarterbacks Adam Fulton and Jake Evans.  The duo combined to pass for 371 yards and five touchdowns on 14-of-20 passing.

Lenoir City received the opening kickoff and moved the ball into the Farragut red zone, but the Admirals’ senior DE Will Everett stripped the ball away from RB Zane Bowen to end the threat.

The Admirals began their first possession at their own 12-yard line and marched 88 yards in eight plays to take an early 7-0 lead.  The drive was capped by a 37-yard TD strike from Fulton to WR Braden Collins.  Collins finished the night with four receptions for 68 yards and the one TD.

The Panthers gained 35 yards on eight plays on their next possession.  The drive stalled when a third-down pass was broken up by CB Grayson Utterback.  Zane Bowen, who doubles as the Panthers’ punter, came in and booted a 39-yard punt to pin the Admirals deep in their own territory.

Starting from their own five yard-line, Farragut once again moved the ball behind the arm of Fulton and the running of RB Amon Johnson.  Johnson gained 14 yards on the first play to move the ball out to the 19.  Fulton hit Collins with an 11-yard pass to set up a 70-yard scoring strike to WR Jaden Gibbs.  The sophomore WR ended the night with 3 receptions for 153 yards and 2 TD’s.  The Admirals were ahead 14-0 after the first quarter.

Following another Lenoir City punt, the Admirals began their next drive from their own 36 yard-line.  The offense covered 64 yards in five plays, capped by Fulton’s third TD pass of the night.  This one covering 29 yards to fellow senior, Jack DeVault.  The Admirals featured RB Isaiah Gibbs on the drive, the sophomore rushed twice for 22 yards.

The Admirals intercepted Lenoir City on the next possession when OLB Alex Williams stepped in front of Landon Miller on first down.

Amon Johnson carried on the next play for 21 yards down to the 3-yard-line.  Amon capped the drive with a short TD run. The senior RB led the team in rushing with 98 yards on eight carries and two touchdowns.  The Admirals were up 28-0 with 9:48 left in the half.

The Panthers once again moved the ball into Farragut territory, but QB Williams’ pass fell incomplete on fourth-down to end the drive.  The Admirals took over at their own 29, and RB Cooper Hardin carried 11 yards for a first down to start the drive.  Fulton was 3-of-4 passing for 39 yards on the drive, while Hardin carried in a short TD run to build the FHS lead to 35-0 with 2:52 left to play.

The Panthers fumbled on the ensuing kickoff when LB Cade Burkey stripped the ball out of the hands of the returner.

Junior DB Andrew Williams jumped on top of the ball to set up the Admirals in great field position.  The Admirals needed just one play as Johnson took a hand-off and darted in from 25 yards out.

Lenoir City moved the ball to mid-field on their next possession before they were forced to punt.  The Admirals took over from their own 16-yard line with reserve QB Jake Evans behind center.  The sophomore found WR Wyatt Lucas on second-down for 19 yards to move the ball out near mid-field.

Evans found Grayson Utterback wide open over the middle on the next play, and the junior WR raced in from 57 yards to end the first-half scoring.

The Admirals continued to find big scoring plays in the second-half as Evans hit Jaden Gibbs in stride for a 71-yard TD pass in the third quarter.  The sophomore QB was 4-of-6 passing for 159 yards and two touchdowns.

The Admirals’ reserves on defense forced three more turnovers in the second-half to set up the offense with short scoring drives.  Junior DL Nolan Davis pounced on a Panther fumble, as did sophomore LB Josh Moses.  Moses later cashed in his own recovery with a 1-yard TD run.  RB Isaiah Gibbs was able to score from 14-yards out following the Davis fumble recovery.  Sophomore DB Jon Buell ended the game with an interception.  Freshman QB Gavin Wilkinson logged valuable playing time and led the offense on two scoring drives.

Overall, the Admirals out-gained the Panthers 582-to-236 in total offense, and gained a season-high 24 first downs.  Five Admirals combined to rush for 211 yards on 35 carries and five touchdowns.  Other highlights included Joe Doyle’s play in the kicking game.  The senior P/PK was perfect, 6-for-6, on PAT’s,  and sent seven of his 11 kickoffs in the end zone for touchbacks.  Doyle also punted once for 44 yards.

A special thanks to Carlos Reveiz of CRFOTO for the action shots from the game. Be sure to checkout CRFOTO.com every week for a full photo gallery from Friday’s game. See a photo you like? They are also available for purchase directly from his website. Click here for this week’s photos.

The Admirals must now turn their attention to the South-Doyle Cherokees as the Admirals return home to play for the first time since September 16th.  South-Doyle is 4-4 on the season with impressive wins over West, 22-10, and Carter, 50-36, and narrowly falling at Halls, 39-37, in a shootout.  Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm on the 21st at Bill Clabo Field. To read more on this upcoming matchup CLICK HERE.

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