August 30, 2023 by Peyton Waggoner, Correspondent

It was another Friday full of explosive offensive plays, but when the final buzzer sounded it was the Farragut Admirals coming out on top — doing so in almost the same dramatic way, featuring the same two Admirals, as the week before. 

Rallying from an early 14-0 deficit, but still trailing 21-20 late in the fourth quarter in FHS’s Eddie Courtney Stadium Aug. 25, Farragut got the ball with a minute-and-a-half left and tried to put together a last-second scoring drive. 

Marching down the field, little by little, the Admirals found themselves having to convert on a fourth-and-17 play with just 22 seconds left. 

Right off of a timeout, senior quarterback Cam Duncan connected with, who other than his favorite senior wide receiving target in a pinch? Landis Davila hauled in Duncan’s winning TD pass, a 32-yard slant in the end zone, to take a 26-21 lead with only 16 seconds showing. Troy Lockhart took the 2-point conversion handoff into the end zone to put the Admirals up 28-21.

Powell had time for two final plays after reaching the FHS 35, but after an incomplete pass the Panthers came up empty-handed. Senior linebacker Jack Alley stuffed a draw play to settle the issue, improving Farragut’s record 2-0 on the season. The Panthers record fell to 1-1.

“I can’t say enough about this team: it took our protection, it took our running game and our blocking,” FHS head coach Eddie Courtney said. “I’m super proud of these guys and their unselfishness.” 

Powell in control early

In the first quarter it was all Powell, jumping out to a quick 14-0 lead by scoring on its first two possessions. 

The first touchdown came with a minute-and-a-half off of the clock on a 74-yard run.

The second score was a 45-yard touchdown pass with less than three minutes to go in the opening quarter.

Ads rally twice

Though the Admirals found themselves with their backs against the wall, Farragut’s defense stepped up to stop the Panthers in the second quarter, while Farragut’s offense was able to march down the field utilizing their big linemen and ground game. With 1:25 left in the second quarter, Lockhart rushed into the endzone from 1-yard out. 

Admirals senior running back Wyatt Drummy made it 14-13 on a 45-yard scoring run with 9:42 left in the third quarter. Ryan McCue’s second extra point tied the game 14-14.

But Powell’s offense took the field and quickly responded thanks to a 50-yard touchdown run to go back ahead 21-14. Late in the third quarter, Lockhart ran 74 yards for his second touchdown of the night. 

However, the score stayed 21-20 after the Panthers blocked the all-important tying extra-point attempt.

A special thanks to Carlos Reveiz of CRFOTO for the action shots from the game. Check out CRFOTO.com weekly 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 Admiral’s offseason program is complete, now it is game week. The offseason was long but prosperous for the Farragut Admiral Football Team. The offseason program began last December with winter workouts which lead into spring practice. Then, spring practice gave way to summer workouts out and the 7v7 season. As 7v7 and summer workouts drew to a close, it was finally time for the pads to be put on and to begin fall camp. Fall camp for the Admirals consisted of three weeks of full-pad practice, 3 scrimmages(1 inter-squad and 2 against other teams), and the annual KOC Kickoff Jamboree.

The conclusion of the first week of fall camp saw the Admirals have an inter-squad scrimmage. During week two of fall camp, the Admirals traveled for their annual scrimmage against the Cavaliers of Cookeville. The final week of camp included the KOC Kickoff Jamboree, a one-quarter matchup with Knox-Central, and a game-simulated scrimmage with Walker Valley. Now that fall camp is over, game week awaits for the Admirals.

No adjustments were made to the Region 2-6A alignment by the TSSAA so the Admirals will continue to compete with Bearden, Bradley Central, Cleveland, Hardin Valley, and Maryville for a Region Championship for the next two years. The TSSAA did however schedule the region calendar in an effort to provide officials at each game every week. In 2023, Cleveland will visit Bill Clabo Field Sept. two 8th along with Bradley Central on Sept. 29th. The Admirals will travel to Bearden on Sept. 21st for Rivalry Thursday following an open date, and finish the regular season with two straight road games at Hardin Valley and Maryville on Oct. 20th and 27th.

 Farragut will open the season at home versus Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett on Aug. 18th and will host Powell on Aug. 25th. The Admirals last played Kingsport in 2020 in a Region 1-6A contest. Powell last visited Farragut during the 2016 State Championship season. The Admirals return to West on Sept. 1st to face the defending Class 5A champions before region play begins.  Oak Ridge and Jeff County will visit Farragut on Oct. 6th and 12th to close out non-region play. The Wildcats and Admirals have played every year since 1992, but this will be the first October matchup since the two programs were in Region 2-5A in 2008. Jeff County was a first-round opponent for the Admirals in 2022 and were region opponents in Region 1-6A from 2017-2020.

All told, the Admirals will host 6 home games in 2023 so don’t miss your chance to purchase season tickets from the Booster Club. Season tickets will be on sale at the school during lunch on Friday the 18th and outside the gate before the first home game. Please reach out to the Football Booster Club for more information at farragutfootball@gmail.com.