August 24, 2022, by Bill Howard, Correspondent(Farragut Press Link)

After struggling to stop Hendersonville Beech High School’s rushing attack for more than three quarters, Farragut High School’s defense stopped the Buccaneers on consecutive drives late in the game.

The Admirals held on for a dramatic 31-28 season-opening win at FHS’ Bill Clabo Field Friday, Aug. 19.

Trailing 31-28 with 4:49 left in the game, Beech had a fourth-and-2 on the Admirals’ 5. Bronco Hanks was stopped a half-yard short, and Farragut had possession.

But the Admirals were unable to sustain a drive and punted back to Beech, which took over on its own 38 with 1:24 left. A last-second desperation pass near midfield fell incomplete. 

“We were able to make a play right here (on fourth down) and that helped us win the ballgame in the end,” Admirals head coach Eddie Courtney said. “We grew up tonight a lot. We just wanted to play our game. We have great respect for this team.”

“They’re a really good football team,” Buccaneers head coach Anthony Crabtree said. “We’re getting better. We just gotta get better all the way around.”

The Admirals jumped to a 14-0 lead after its first two possessions. On the second play of the game, workhorse senior running back Elijah Gibbs bolted 70 yards untouched through the left side for a 7-0 lead.

“I didn’t do much last year (in a loss at Beech) when we played them,” Gibbs said. “So I kinda had to get it back on them.”

Taking over after a punt, Farragut struck again. On second-and-6 from the FHS 49, senior quarterback Luke Johnson hit senior wide receiver Ashton Auker over the middle, and Auker took it 51 yards for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

Beech made it 14-7 when Caden Thieman’s 7-yard run capped an 80-yard march on the ensuing drive.

On the Bucs’ next possession early in the second from the Beech 36, Johnson’s pass to Troy Lockhart was deflected into the hands of linebacker Tyler Nix. Nix galloped 72 yards untouched up the left side — and just like that, the game was tied.

Johnson threw another pick, this one in the end zone, on the next drive, but Beech couldn’t take advantage. A 46-yard field goal by Reese Keeney with 12 seconds left in the half gave the Admirals a 17-14 lead at intermission.

“Been reppin’ all week,” Keeney said. “Good snap, good hold. Didn’t have to worry.“

After Beech took a 21-17 third-quarter lead on 19-yard run by Thieman, the Admirals answered with a nine-play 70-yard scoring drive, culminating with Johnson’s 35-yard strike to Landis Davila.

The Bucs led once again, 28-24, on a 7-yard run by JP Courtney early in the fourth. 

Once again Farragut responded immediately with a score that would hold to the end.

Johnson’s 63-yard completion to Davila set up Gibbs’ 7-yard run for his second touchdown with 9:57 left in the game.

For the game, Gibbs carried 24 times for 180 yards. Johnson was 12 for 22 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns and two picks. 

But Johnson said he wasn’t fazed by the two picks. “My team was still supporting me,” he said. “Just had to go out there in the second half and make sure we got the win.”

Aucker had five catches for 66 yards and a score. Davila caught four for 122 and a score. 

Beech ran for 349 yards on 43 attempts.

“They take pride in running the football,” Courtney coach. “They run outside, then they come back with the inside power game.”

A special thanks to Carlos Reveiz of CRFOTO for the action shots from the game. Be sure to check out 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 are days away from opening the 2022 season at home against Beech High School. The summer and preseason were packed full of football activities including 7v7s, fall camp, and three scrimmages.

Fall camp started in late July and the first week was capped off with a scrimmage against the Cookeville Cavaliers at home, and the annual fall scrimmage for the Admirals. The second week saw Farragut take on the defending state champion in the Powell Panthers at their place. The final scrimmage of fall camp took place at Walker Valley 8 days before the first game. The final dress rehearsal took place at the annual KOC High School Football Jamboree. In the jamboree, the Ads took on the Karns Beavers in a one-quarter battle, winning 7-0.

Now the time has come when the Ads will put to test their offseason and preseason work in Week One of the season. The Admirals will host to face the Beech Buccaneers, who they met for the first time in 2022. Beech is coming off a 9-4 season in 2021 and a quarterfinal run in the playoffs.

Week Two will see the Admirals travel for the first of a three-game roadshow. Farragut will travel to Knox West, a very familiar and perennial foe for the Admirals, with 2022 marking the 31st meeting of the two schools. The Rebels are coming off an 11-2 season last year that ended in the state semifinals.

The Admirals will travel to Maryville to take on the Rebels in Week Three. The Rebels, a perennially nationally-ranked program, will be the first region game for both schools in the 2022 Region 2-6A schedule. The Ads and the Rebels met in the quarterfinals in the 2021 playoffs where the Admirals fell short 28-21.

Week Four will find the Wildcats from Oak Ridge hosting Farragut. 2021 was a disappointing year for Oak Ridge, compiling a 3-8 record fresh off their 2020 state championship game appearance. Oak Ridge will be looking to avenge their 2021 loss to the Admirals. This will be the 48th meeting between these two storied programs.

The Admirals will return home to take on the Cleveland Raiders in Week Five, the first of a three-game homestand for the Admirals. Cleveland is coming off a 6-5 2021 campaign that saw them miss the 6A playoffs. While the two schools have met four times before, this will mark just the second regular-season meeting between them, and also the second time the two schools will meet as Region 2-6A foes.

In Week Six, the Admirals will host South Knoxville’s own, the South-Doyle Cherokees. The Cherokees are coming off a 6-5 2021 campaign that saw them lose in the first round of the playoffs. This will mark the 9th meeting between the two schools.

A Region 2-6A game will follow in Week Seven as the Admirals will again be at Bill Clabo field to host the Hardin Valley Hawks. Separated by merely 5.5 miles, this is a bitter rivalry game for both schools. The Admirals lead the all-time series 4-3.

The Admirals will have a deserved bye week in Week Eight, as they recover for the final three games of the 2022 season.

In Week Nine the Admirals will return to the road to take on the Bradley Central Bears in another Region 2-6A matchup. The Bears are coming off a 9-3 record in 2021 where they met Farragut twice, once in week nine and once in the second round of the TSSAA playoffs. While Bradley got the best of Farragut in the regular season, the Admirals avenged the loss in the playoffs ending the Bears’ season.

The final non-region game of the season will take place in Week Ten when the Fulton Falcons travel from Broadway to Bill Claob Field and take on the Admirals. The Falcons compiled an 8-4 record in 2021 and birth the second round of the 2022 TSSAA playoffs. Farragut and Fulton have met ten times, and the Admirals’ lone win in the series came in 1972.

Week Eleven will conclude the regular season for the Admirals as they travel to take on the Bearden Bulldogs in a Thursday night matchup. Bearden’s 4-6 record in 2021 was not enough to make the playoffs. The 64th meeting of these two perennial rivals promises to be another great one as the two schools will be looking to hurdle each other in the final Region 2-6A matchup of the season.

The 2022 season will mark the 76th season for the Admirals on the gridiron. You can see the entire 2022 schedule and plan to follow the Admirals in another exciting season this fall. One thing of note for the 2022 season, all games kick off at 7:00 pm. Season pass information can be found below. We look forward to seeing you on Friday nights!