Pass-catch records set, but Ads 0-2; M’ville next
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Senior quarterback Dawson Moore, (384 yards passing) - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
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Senior receiver Trace Corum (234 yards receiving) assisted each other’s performances while setting Farragut High School single-game school records with these numbers, which were compiled against the Knoxville West defense — a defense that held Bearden’s offense scoreless less than one week before — Friday evening, Aug. 27. But for all of their success, the Ads fell to 0-2 after losing 41-38. - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
A pair of single-game offensive records were shattered for the Farragut High School football team. But the new marks didn’t quite translate into a victory for the Ads Friday evening, Aug. 27.
Senior quarterback Dawson Moore threw for school record 384 yards, while senior wideout Trace Corum amassed 234 yards receiving, also an Admirals record. But all that wasn’t enough, as FHS came up on the short end of a 41-38 decision against Knoxville West before a packed house at Bill Clabo Field.
The game featured nine lead changes, as the Runnin’ Rebels and Ads combined to generate 988 yards of total offense. Farragut (0-2)had a chance to force overtime, but a 52-yard field goal attempt went awry as time expired in a contest that seemed destined to go down to the wire on a hot night in West Knox County.
“For a while, it looked that way. It looked like the team that had the ball last would win,” said FHS head coach Eddie Courtney, in his 26th season as Admirals skipper.
“We were a better football team than we were last week,” Courtney added. “We were hurt by a few penalties, and you can’t shoot yourself in the foot.
“We made some mistakes and those mistakes are correctible. Our kids gave great effort. They always give great effort and they always play hard. We just have to correct those mistakes and get ready for the next game.”
Though improving to 2-0, West was without the services of wide receiver-defensive back-kick returner Shannon Blair, a Michigan State commitment who suffered a season-ending injury against Bearden in Week 1.
The Admirals, who host Maryville this week in the Region 2-6A opener for both schools, got on the board first when Reese Keeney kicked a 43-yard field goal, capping a drive that consumed more than five minutes.
The Rebels would answer and take the lead on a 28-yard scoring scamper by Trevon Barfield. Junior Tyson Siebe added the extra point to give the Rebels a 7-3 advantage with 5 minutes, 34 seconds remaining in the opening frame.
The Ads regained the lead when Moore connected with Landis Davila from 36 yards out to make it 10-7 with 3:49 to go in the first quarter.
The scoring fest continued as Rebel Brayden Latham had a 3-yard touchdown plunge to make it 14-10 with two minutes left in the opening frame.
The Rebels extended their advantage to 21-10 when quarterback Carson Jessie connected with Cayden Latham on a 17-yard scoring strike with 44.6 remaining before halftime.
But Farragut pulled to within 21-17 when Moore threw an 80-yard TD pass to Corum just before the break.
West took the third-quarter kickoff and promptly fumbled on its first offensive play. The Admirals recovered and cashed in a short time later on a 4-yard scoring run by Elijah Gibbs to put FHS back ahead 24-21.
After Bearden transfer John Carlevato scored for the Rebels to make it 27-24, FHS senior Schumann Xie’s 9-yard TD run gave his team a 31-27 lead with 1:15 left in the third quarter.
After West went ahead 34-31, Moore connected with Corum again, this time from 73 yards out, to put the Ads ahead 38-34 with 7:23 left in the game.
“We just have to flush this one,” Moore said. “We have to get on with the season and get on to our next game against Maryville.”
Barfield’s 57-yard scoring scamper midway through the fourth quarter would put the Rebels ahead for good.
“I think this aged me 10 years,” West head coach Lamar Brown said. “We couldn’t get off the field because Farragut had a great gameplan and they killed us.”
“Our kids are exhausted.”
Moore said that the Admirals can’t brood over their first two losses of the 2021 season.
