October 4, 2023 by Bill Howard, Correspondent
It was a game that had frequent lead changes, and probably twice as many momentum swings.
It can’t be said that Farragut High School’s football team didn’t have its opportunities Friday night, Sept. 29, at home against unbeaten Region 2-6A foe Bradley Central. The Admirals did, but simply couldn’t capitalize at crucial times.
The result was a 28-20 loss, Farragut’s fourth straight setback.
Late in the game, on consecutive drives that could have tied it, FHS faced a fourth and 2. Both times the pass fell incomplete.
Admirals head coach Eddie Courtney had no regrets about throwing the ball on fourth down.
“They packed the line,” he said. “We had to go with what they give. We came to play to win.”
After a scoreless first quarter, the Admirals took a 10-0 lead behind a 21-yard field goal by kicker Ryan McCue, and after David Broda’s fumble recovery, a 1-yard plunge by workhorse running back Wyatt Drummy.
But the Bears came back to lead 14-10 late in the half, first on a 12-yard scoring pass from quarterback Kaleb Martin to Jarrius Rogers.
After forcing an Admirals punt, Martin finished off a 56-yard drive on a 4-yard keeper.
“We challenged them,” Courtney said. “Keep the ball, use the clock, don’t let their big-play people make big plays.”
McCue’s 28-yard field goal at the halftime buzzer cut Bradley’s lead to 14-13.
Farragut retook the lead 20-14 early in the third when quarterback Cam Duncan found Jordan Sheppard wide open over the middle for a 67-yard touchdown. But two more touchdown passes by Martin put the Bears up 28-20 with 6:33 left in the game.
Between those two BCHS touchdowns, the Admirals let two opportunities get away. First, McCue missed a field goal, then a pick by Landon Collins, which put FHS on Bradley’s 42, was squandered when Duncan was picked off on the ensuing drive.
Farragut (2-4, 0-3) was then unable to convert on the two late fourth-down plays.
Drummy ran 27 times for 106 yards and a score. Duncan connected on 28 of 44 attempts for 301 yards and a TD. Linebacker Jack Alley had 13 tackles — seven solo — including a sack.
“We’ve lost the last four but we still play hard,” Collins said. “I don’t think any of us are really upset about it. I think we’ll continue to grow and stay good as a team.”