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.
Senior QB 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.
Coach Reese Browning celebrates Adam Fulton breaking his single season TD passing record after a big win against Clinton on 10/28.
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.
Drew Butler tackles the Clinton WR for a loss on 10/28. PHOTO CREDIT: Ashley Wathen, CRFOTO.com
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.
Isaiah Gibbs catches a long TD pass against Clinton on 10/28. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
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.
Wyatt Lucas catches a tough TD pass against Clinton on 10/28. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
The Admirals capped their scoring with a 58-yard pass from Jake Evans to Wyatt Lucas in the fourth quarter.
Alex Williams intercepts the Clinton pass on 10/28. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
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.
Farragut High School’s offense is clicking at the right time.
Senior quarterback Adam Fulton threw for 276 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a score as the Admirals beat visiting South-Doyle 63-26 in a non-region game Friday night.
Farragut beat Lenoir City 69-7 last Friday.
“We’ve been putting up big points,” Fulton said. “We always can. We can throw it deep, we can run on you, so it’s pretty good.”
Farragut (8-1) had 517 total yards against South-Doyle (4-5).
Adam Fulton bulldozes his way for an Admiral TD against South Doyle on 10/21. PHOTO CREDIT: Ashley Wathen, CRFOTO.com
Fulton, who completed 14 of 22 passes for the game, threw two touchdown passes and scored on a 1-yard run in the first half as Farragut took a 28-19 lead.
Grayson Utterback catches a 65 yard TD pass against South Doyle on 10/21. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
Fulton had scoring passes of 65 yards to Grayson Utterback and 6 yards to Braden Collins before halftime.
Braden Collins returns an interception all the way for an Admiral TD against South Doyle on 10/21. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
Collins scored on a 31-yard interception return of a Caleb Wender pass for Farragut’s other first-half touchdown.
After the interception, Wender completed his last nine passes of the half for 157 yards and three touchdowns.
Wender had scoring passes of 42 yards to Seandre Scott, a 63-yarder to Jake Harper, and an 11-yarder to Gus McAnally with 46 seconds left in the half that cut the deficit to nine.
Jaden Gibbs catches a long TD pass against South Doyle on 10/21. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
Fulton threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Jaden Gibbs as Farragut took a 35-19 lead with 8:04 left in the third.
South-Doyle gained two first downs and punted.
Cooper Hardin rushes 55 yards for the Farragut TD on 10/21 against South Doyle. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
Two plays later, the Admirals’ Cooper Hardin ran for a 55-yard touchdown and 42-19 lead.
South-Doyle’s A.J. Nunn threw an incomplete pass on a fake punt, and the Admirals started at the Cherokees’ 36.
On second down, Fulton threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jacob Warren for a 49-19 lead.
“Our offense was clicking all night long,” Farragut coach Eddie Courtney said. “Defensively we just made some mistakes early.
Alex Williams makes a diving tackle against South Doyle on 10/21. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
The second half we came out and played better like we’re capable of playing.”
South-Doyle’s Kent-Ta Tanner rushed for 142 yards on 26 carries, and Wender threw for 259 yards.
Dave Link is a freelance contributor.
The Admirals will host Clinton in the regular season finale at Bill Clabo Field next week. The Admirals will be paying close attention to the Campbell County vs. Oak Ridge game on Thursday night, as the Admirals need some help from the Cougars and to then beat Clinton on Friday, to repeat as region 3-5A champions. The Dragons are 1-8 and are coming off a big loss at Heritage 35-0 and their only win of the season coming against Karns 29-26. Kickoff is set for 7:30 at Bill Clabo Field on the 28th. Get to the stadium early as the seniors will be honored for Senior Night. To read more on this upcoming matchup CLICK HERE.
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.
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.
Cade Burkey and Brandon Guidish tackle a Lenoir City running back on 10/14. PHOTO CREDIT: Ashley Wathen, CRFOTO.com
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.
Jaden Gibbs catches a long TD pass against Lenoir City on 10/14. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
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 breaks a run against the Lenoir City defense on 10/14. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
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.
A gang of Admirals tackle a Lenoir City returner on 10/14. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
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.
Grayson Utterback races to the end-zone for a TD against Lenoir City on 10/14. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
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.
There were no heroic individual performances for Farragut High School on Friday night. There was no need. The visiting Admirals (6-1) turned in an unselfish effort in all phases in a 20-0 win over West at Bill Wilson Field.
“I asked them not to be selfish,” said Farragut coach Eddie Courtney. “It doesn’t matter who gets the credit.”
“That’s why you win as a football team. I’m proud of them for that.”
The Admirals’ defense bent early but never broke.
A fleet of Admirals tackle the West running back on 10/7. PHOTO CREDIT: Ashley Wathen, CRFOTO.com
West (4-3) drove 67 yards in 16 plays on it’s opening possession but came up empty when Logan Bowers missed a 30-yard field goal.
“It’s a back-breaker,” said West coach Jeff Harig.
On the ensuing play, Cooper Hardin’s 75-yard run set up Joe Doyle’s 22-yard field goal with 11:15 remaining in the second quarter.
Alex Williams, Brandon Guidish, and Drew Butler tackle a West WR on 10/7. PHOTO CREDIT: Ashley Wathen, CRFOTO.com
That proved to be all the offense the Admirals would need. After the opening drive, Farragut yielded just 137 yards, forcing nine negative plays and two interceptions in the process.
“They had to be good tonight, because West is a good, athletic football team,” said Courtney of his defense.
Farragut led 3-0 at halftime.
Joe Doyle hits a career long 49 yard field goal against West on 10/7. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
After starting 2-for-9, Farragut quarterback Adam Fulton found his stride in the second half, tossing touchdown passes to Hardin (12 yards) and Jacob Warren (10 yards). Doyle added a career long 49-yard field goal.
Demarcus Nelson made his first career start at quarterback for West, passing for 47 yards and running for another 72. Nelson left in the third quarter with an undisclosed injury. He was replaced by Zach Harshey, who completed 9 of 15 passes for 47 yards and an interception.
“With our defense, it doesn’t take many (points),” said Harig. “We’re in search for three touchdowns. The search continues.”
Jacob Warrens catches a TD pass against West on 10/7. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
Farragut’s win snaps a four-game winning streak for West in the series and avenges the Admirals’ only regular season loss from last season.
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.
JACKSBORO — After losing star wide receiver Davis Simmons to an injury against Bearden, the Farragut High School football team needed a playmaker to emerge.
Enter Braden Collins.
Braden Collins catches a pass over the middle against Campbell County on 9/29. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
Collins caught three first half touchdown passes and Cooper Hardin ran for two second half scores as the visiting Admirals (5-1, 2-1 in Region 3-5A) knocked off Campbell County 38-28 in a pivotal Region 3-5A contest.
“Our coaches talked about it since he got hurt,” said Collins. “We had to step up and make bigger plays for our team.”
Collins’ touchdowns covered 6, 28, and 42 yards. Farragut quarterback Adam Fulton completed 11 of 26 passes for 209 yards, with 119 going to Collins.
Hardin rushed for 112 of his 113 yards after the intermission.
Cooper Hardin breaks a long run against Campbell County on 9/29. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
His two 7-yard touchdown runs turned a tie game at halftime into a 35-28 Farragut lead.
“I told them at halftime ‘You’ve got to be physical’,” said Farragut coach Eddie Courtney. “We’ve got to run the football to win games like this. That’s what we did.”
Joe Doyle’s 47-yard field goal with 9 minutes, 1 second left stretched the lead to 38-28.
“Our kicking coach Gerald Robinson gave me the yes that he could hit that one,” said Courtney.
“We just had confidence that he would.”
Quarterback Zach Rutherford, who was 27 of 41 for 382 yards, threw two touchdown passes for Campbell County (6-1, 2-1) and Elijah Phillips ran for two more. Max Farris hauled in 11 passes for 221 yards.
Jack DeVault intercepts a Campbell County pass on 9/29. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
However, five turnovers, including two interceptions in the final 4:51, doomed the Cougars.
“It came down to about 3-5 plays,” said Campbell County coach Justin Price.
“We turned the ball over a couple times, and they didn’t. That’s usually the difference in the game when you’ve got two really good teams going at it.”
A fleet of Admirals tackle the Campbell County running back for a loss on 9/29. PHOTO CREDIT: Carlos Reveiz, CRFOTO.com
The win was Farragut’s 15th in as many tries against Campbell County and keeps the Admirals’ hopes for a region championship alive.
“We have to do each week like we did tonight,” said Courtney. “In week 11, we’ll see where we’re at.”
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.
