The Admirals are moving back into class 6A football in 2017, a move that was finalized with the latest re-classification by the TSSAA for football.  Farragut is no stranger to top-level competition, as the Admirals have played every year, excluding the previous two seasons, in Tennessee’s highest classification for public schools.  With the move, the Admirals were slotted in Region 1-6A with Bearden, Dobyns-Bennett, Hardin Valley, Jefferson County, Morristown-West, and Science Hill.

While the schedule requires more travel for the Admirals, it does offer the opportunity to rekindle some old rivalries.  Morristown-West is the only program on the schedule that the Admirals have never played.  However, the Admirals and Trojans held an annual preseason scrimmage with each other for many years.  The non-region schedule will look familiar as the annual battles with Oak Ridge (5A) and West (5A) will continue, and the return of Bradley Central (6A) and McMinn County (6A) to open the season as team representing Region 2-6A.  The Admirals are excited to make the move up in competition as the reigning Class 5A State Champions, and know that much work is to be done to compete for championships again in 2017.

Week/Date:                         Opponent:                    Location:          2016 W/L:

Week 1, Aug. 18           Bradley Central                  Away                    (9-3)

Week 2, Aug. 25           McMinn County                Away                     (7-4)

Week 3, Sep. 1          * Morristown West              Home                   (10-3)

Week 4, Sep. 8                    Oak Ridge                        Home                    (8-3)

Week 5, Sep. 15       * Jefferson County                Away                    (3-8)

Week 6, Sep. 22                      West                              Home                    (4-6)

Week 7, Sep. 29              * Science Hill                     Home                    (8-4)

Week 8, Oct. 6           * Dobyns-Bennett                Away                    (6-6)

Week 9, Oct. 13                * Bearden                          Home                   (4-7)

Week 10, Oct. 20                      BYE

Week 11, Oct. 27         * Hardin Valley                   Away                    (9-4)

*Denotes Region Game

The Tennessee Sports Writers’ Association released the All-State teams for Class 5A for 2016 on Tuesday, December 27.  The teams are voted on by prep sports writers covering all areas of the state.  The 2016 State Champion Admirals were represented the most of any team in Class 5A, naming five players on the team.  Congratulations to these Admirals for being named All-State for Class 5A in 2016!

Adam Fulton – QB

Braden Collins – WR

Cooper Hardin – LB

Jack DeVault – DB

Joe Doyle – Punter

For a complete list of All-State selections for Classes 5A and 6A listed in the Tennesseean, click on the link: All-State teams

Adam Fulton completed 184 of 333 pass attempts for 3,223 yards with 41 touchdowns and only 6 INT’s.  His performance in 2016 broke single season records for completions, pass attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns.

Braden Collins finished 2016 with 68 receptions for 1,242 yards and 16 touchdowns.  He set single season records for receptions, yards, and touchdowns.  His 13 receptions and four TD’s versus Ooltewah are FHS records.

Cooper Hardin finished 2016 with 124.5 total hits on defense.  He led the team with 10.5 sacks and 21 minus-yard stops.  Cooper also led the Admirals in rushing with 1,454 yards and 19 TD’s on 196 carries.  He was named the Blue Cross Bowl Offensive MVP versus Independence.

Jack DeVault led the Admirals’ secondary with five interceptions in 2016 from his cornerback spot.  He finished fourth on the team with 26 catches for 506 yards and 4 TD’s as a wide receiver.  Jack was named Blue Cross Bowl Defensive MVP for his two interceptions to spark the Admirals’ comeback versus Independence.

Joe Doyle finished his Admiral career averaging 41.1 yards per punt for 2016.  In his first year as a place-kicker, Joe converted 69 extra points and made 8 of 14 field goals with a long of 49 yards versus West.

There was no shortage of excitement at Bill Clabo Field on Friday night as the Admirals played host to the South Doyle Cherokees in the semifinal round of the TSSAA Class 5A playoffs.  Junior Andrew Williams started the scoring early for the Admirals after a Trey Minix block of a Cherokees’ punt.  Following a quick three-and-out on South Doyle’s first possession, the Cherokees lined up to punt from their own 29-yard line.  Minix broke through the line of scrimmage and blocked the punt attempt that was recovered in the end zone by Williams.  With 10:52 left in the first quarter, it was 7-0 Admirals.

The Cherokees were able to march downfield on a 17-play, 62-yard drive that resulted in a missed field goal attempt from the left hash.  The Admirals’ offense took over from their own 20-yard line with just 3:54 left in the first quarter.  Leading 7-0, the Admirals were able to march on a 9-play, 80-yard drive capped off by a 22-yard TD pass from QB Adam Fulton to junior TE Jacob Warren.  With 17.8 seconds left in the first quarter, the Admirals led 14-0.

South Doyle began the second quarter with the ball at the 20 yard line after a Joe Doyle touchback. The Cherokees drove 80 yards on 4 plays, thanks to a 77-yard screen pass that saw Jack DeVault chase down the South Doyle WR at the 2 yard line. Two QB sneaks later, South Doyle made it a 14-7 with 10:57 left in the second quarter.

After a 32-yard Isaiah Gibbs kickoff return, the Admirals would take over at the 44 yard line, but were unable to capitalize and punted back to the Cherokees.  South Doyle picked up one first down, but the Cherokees’ offense would stall and punt the ball back to the Admirals.  Jack DeVault’s four-yard punt return would set the Farragut offense up at their own 37-yard line.  A 28-yard Braden Collins catch would move the ball to the South Doyle 35-yard line, and after picking up 14 more yards,  the Admirals faced fourth down.  Joe Doyle was called in to kick a 38-yard field goal that split the uprights, and gave Farragut a 17-7 lead with 5:28 left in the first half.

South Doyle took over at their own 22-yard line and would drive the the Farragut 29, but after a big Cooper Hardin 14-yard sack, the Cherokees were forced to punt the ball back to the Admirals with 1:17 left to go before halftime.  After an 8-yard sack put the Admirals behind the chains, they would punt it away to South Doyle with just under 9 seconds left in the half, and send the teams into halftime with the Admirals leading the Cherokees 17-7.

A spirited halftime speech by Coach Eddie Courtney, one in which he reminded his team that 24 minutes stood between them and Cookeville, would rally the troops as the Admirals were to receive the ball after half.

The Cherokees opened the second half with a high, pooch kick to the 26-yard line where Max Travis would call for the fair catch and the Admiral offense would take over with a 17-7 lead.  The Admirals used a 7-play, 76 yard touchdown drive lasting just 1:58 on the clock.  Cooper Hardin rushed for 64 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown run that gave the Admirals a 24-7 lead with 10:02 left in the third quarter.

A Joe Doyle kick would be fielded by South Doyle at the 3 and returned to the 10-yard line.  South Doyle only needed 6 plays to cover 90 yards, capped by a screen pass that would go for 47 yards and the Cherokee touchdown.  This made it a 24-14 game with 7:27 left in the third quarter.

From this point forward, it was all Farragut.  After another pooch kick, the Admirals started at the 29-yard line.  Farragut would pick up three first downs after an Amon Johnson 17-yard run, a 18-yard Adam Fulton to Jaden Gibbs pass, and then a 10-yard Cooper Hardin run.  On the next play, Adam Fulton would find WR Jack DeVault for the 26-yard touchdown. Farragut now found themselves leading South Doyle 31-14 with 5:55 left in the third.

After a touchback by Joe Doyle followed by a quick three-and-out, the Admirals would get the ball back on the South Doyle 42-yard line. On the first play of the drive, the Admirals would go for another strike as Adam Fulton found Braden Collins, who then broke two tackles and scampered in for the 42-yard score.  Adam would finish the game 11-of-19 passing for 200 yards and 3 TDs.  Collins once again led the team in receptions with 5 catches, 112 yards, and a TD.  This last score put the Admirals ahead of South Doyle 38-14 with 4:32 left to play in the third quarter.

The Cherokees would take over at their own 32, but would punt the ball away after six plays and pin the Admirals down at their own 10 yard line.  Running back Amon Johnson would hear his number called on first down where he picked up 5 yards.  Cooper Hardin then was stopped on two, short carries to end the third quarter.  Hardin, who finished the night with 145 yards rushing and a TD on 15 carries would give way to RB’s Amon Johnson and Kyle Carter in the final frame.

Joe Doyle would boom a 51-yard punt to begin the fourth quarter, and set the Cherokees’ offense up at their own 34-yard line.  The next play, South Doyle would attempt a halfback pass to create some momentum, but instead would find the waiting hands of Griffen Swicegood to give the Admirals’ defense their first interception of the game.  Farragut would begin possession at their own 39-yard line.

An 8-play Farragut drive saw Hardin rush four times for 44 yards, Johnson once for five yards, and capped off by Kyle Carter’ s six-yard TD run.  Carter, who got his first varsity action Friday after sitting out the majority of the season as a transfer, took his first varsity carry as an Admiral into the end zone to extend the Farragut lead to 45-14 with 9:14 left in the game.

The ensuing kickoff was returned out to the 32-yard line of South Doyle.  Max Travis’ interception and 31-yard return would end a 10-play,  43-yard drive, and give the Admirals the ball back with 4:37 left between them and a trip to play for a state title.  The Admirals would rush 7 times and run out the remainder of the clock to begin the celebration at Bill Clabo Field.   The Admirals will play next week in the school’s first trip to a state championship game since it began playing football in 1947.

The Admirals will play Independence next Friday night at 8:00 EST/ 7:00 local time at Tucker Stadium on the campus of Tennessee Tech University.  The Eagles are the defending Class 5A champions and carry a 29-game win streak into the game.  Independence narrowly defeated the Brentwood Bruins 27-24 on Friday at Brentwood.  The Eagles also escaped with a 49-46 win over Cane Ridge in the quarterfinals.  The Admiral Nation is expected to invade Cookeville next Friday night to cheer on the Admirals as they continue their quest for the school’s first football state championship.

 

Coach Courtney gets the Gatorade bath! @FarragutFB going to state for first time ever.
HIGHLIGHTS/REACTION: https://t.co/rH34KTzIuG pic.twitter.com/vZrtvfuwNU

— WBIR Sports (@WBIRSports) November 26, 2016

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.

 

OFFICIAL GAME STATS

**Click to Enlarge**

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.

OFFICIAL GAME STATS 

** Click to Enlarge**