farragutpress

Indians in control at FHS

October 15, 2020 by Ken Lay, Correspondent

On a night when the Farragut High School football team welcomed its head coach back to the sideline, it had no trouble scoring points.

But the defense had its issues all night.

Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett gashed the Admirals, amassing 537 yards of total offense in a 56-35 Region 1-6A victory Friday night, Oct. 9, at FHS’s Bill Clabo Field.

The Indians scored early and often against Farragut, tallying points on their first four drives en route to a crucial road regional victory.

Using a balanced attack featuring a powerful running attack, KDB (7-0 overall, 4-0 in region) darted to an early 21-0 lead and never looked back.

Farragut (4-3, 2-1) got on the board when Dawson Moore connected with Matt White on an 11-yard scoring strike. Simeon Sharp’s first of five extra points pulled FHS to within 21-7. Moore’s 8-yard touchdown pass to Mason Collins late in the second stanza kept Farragut within 28-14.

“We didn’t show our real selves tonight,” said Collins, who had two TD receptions.

“They have 10 seniors starting on offense and nine on defense, and they’re a good team. We just weren’t physical enough,” Admirals skipper Eddie Courtney said.

Moore went 18-for-30 through the air for 279 yards and five TDs — also to White, Trace Corum and Zach Keasling — and one interception. He also was the Ads’ leading rusher (71 yards on 14 carries).

But all that wasn’t enough to overcome Dobyns-Bennett’s ground attack, which was boosted by Phillip Armitage, who scored twice after halftime and Tesnear, who rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns on 21 carries.

Collins had two touchdowns. But he wasn’t happy after the game.

“I don’t feel like we played like we should have,” said Collins, who three catches for 55 yards and two touchdowns.

Next up for the Admirals is the annual showdown with Kingston Pike rival Bearden. That will be on the road. The Bulldogs (2-4. 2-1) have won two consecutive games and Courtney said his team must be prepared.

“That will be a big game for us,” he said. “That’s a big game for us every year.”