The Admirals returned home Thursday night after a much-needed bye week following a disappointing night at West in Week 2. Thursday night was also senior night at Bill Clabo Field, usually reserved for the final home game of the year but moved up due to COVID concerns, as the 24 seniors were honored.
Farragut won the toss, elected to defer, and started the game on defense. The Wildcats wasted no time getting the ball moving, going on a seven play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by a 43-yard touchdown pass. That put Oak Ridge on the board first, leading 6-0 with 9:48 left in the 1st after a missed PAT. The Farragut offense took the field looking to answer, and they did just that.
A 73 yard, ten play drive ended as Eli Purcell gave the Admirals their first lead of the night at 7-6 on a 1 yard touchdown run with 6:50 left in the 1st. Oak Ridge took to the field and a 78 yard drive was capped off by a 36 yard touchdown pass. After another missed PAT, the Wildcats led 12-7 with 4:39 left in the 1st. The Admirals again looked to answer the Oak Ridge touchdown and were able to do so after Dawson Moore found Matt White in the end zone from 6 yards out, putting Farragut back in the lead 14-12 to close the 1st quarter.
The Wildcats would take over at their own 20 and march down the field to the Farragut 12-yard line but were unable to convert on a 4th and 3 as an incompletion ended the drive.
A 39-yard Dawson Moore to Matt White touchdown pass again capped off a drive this time 10 plays and 88 yards. The Admirals extended their lead to 21-12 with 3:30 left before halftime. A three and out was in store for the Wildcats on their next drive as they were forced to punt for the first time of the evening. 7 plays later, the Admirals were forced to bring their punter onto the field for their first punt of the night. With 1:24 left before half, Oak Ridge desperately needed points, as the Admirals were set to get the ball after halftime. They did just that, as an 8-play drive ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass that made the score 21-18 at half, after a failed 2 point try.
The Admirals opened the second half with the ball looking to extend their lead after giving up a touchdown with a few seconds left before the half.
Dawson Moore’s 1 yard touchdown run capped off a 10 play, 71 yard drive and gave the Admirals a 28-18 lead with 8:27 left in the 3rd. Oak Ridge answered the call yet again, as a 24 yard QB scramble pulled the Wildcats back to within three, as Farragut still lead 28-25 with 4:28 left in the 3rd. An eight-play drive would end as Dawson Moore connected with Matt White for the third time of the night on a 24-yard touchdown pass and give Farragut a 35-25 lead with 2:37 left in the 3rd.
The ensuing Wildcat drive ended with an incompletion on 4th and 12 and a turnover on downs. Unfortunately, the Admirals were unable to sustain a drive and punted away giving the Wildcats the ball back at their own 6.
On their next drive Oak Ridge was unable to convert on a 4th and 2, thus giving the ball back to the Admirals at the Wildcat 14. Farragut struggled to get anything going, but a Reese Keeney 32-yard field goal allowed the Admirals to make it a two-touchdown game, extending the lead to 38-25 with just 2:50 left to play.
The Admiral defense would again hold strong, forcing a turnover on downs after an incompletion on 4th and 5. The Admiral offense took over with 1:36 left looking to run the clock out. Junior Schumann Xie had other plans, as he would bust loose on the second play of the drive for a 46-yard touchdown. This put the final score at 45-25, as the Admirals now hold bragging rights in this storied rivalry until next year.
The Admirals improved to 2-1 on the season with the win over Oak Ridge. Region play will begin next week as Morristown-West will travel to Bill Clabo Field on Friday night.
A special thanks to Carlos Reveiz and Ashley Wathen 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.
