One good half for Ads
But West ground game takes control in 2nd half; Maryville next
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Griffin Mashburn, Farragut senior defensive back, left, breaks up a Knoxville West pass completion attempt during the Admirals’ annual tussle with the Runnin’ Rebels — this season at West’s Bill Wilson Field Friday, Aug. 26. - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
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Matthew Purvis, FHS junior defensive end, brings down a Runnin’ Rebels ball carrier. West overcame a 7-6 halftime deficit to win 40-21. - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
KNOXVILLE — In last week’s 31-28 season-opening win over Beech, the Farragut High School football team’s defense struggled against the run, as the Buccaneers rushed for well more than 300 yards. The Admirals’ late-game defense came through to preserve the win.
Friday evening, Aug. 26, on the road at Knoxville West High School, Farragut’s run defense in the first half was solid enough, holding standout running back Brayden Latham to 66 yards.
But then came the second half, and the Admirals struggled mightily to stop the Rebels’ ground game. On the first play of the half, Latham bolted 80 yards for a touchdown. Down 7-6 at the half, West pulled away for a 40-21 win.
For the game, West ran for 363 yards.
“Second half we didn’t play very well,” Admirals head coach Eddie Courtney said. “Give them credit. They got after us and we didn’t make things happen our way.”
“In the second half I thought our offensive line and backs came out and played really well,” Runnin’ Rebels head coach Lamar Brown said.
Farragut’s halftime lead came from a 73-yard touchdown hookup from quarterback Luke Johnson to wide receiver Ashton Auker on the first play of the second quarter. The Admirals held West to two Tyson Siebe field goals in the first half.
After Latham’s score to open the second half put West up 12-7, FHS answered right back to lead 14-12 with another Johnson-to-Auker scoring strike, this time for 24 yards with 8:39 left in the third quarter.
For the game, Johnson was 14-of-20 passing for 242 yards and three scores. He also threw an interception.
West again retook the lead, 19-14, on the ensuing possession when Latham, on first down from the Farragut 37, broke free for the score after appearing to be stopped.
Latham’s third touchdown of the game came on the next West drive — a 5-yard run with 3:25 left in the third — makiing it 26-14. Latham gained 249 yards on 24 carries on the night for the Runnin’ Rebels (2-0).
“They just got in a good running game and they kicked us off the line of scrimmage,” Courtney said. “They did a good job blocking, and we didn’t respond defensively like we should have.”
The Admirals managed a late score when Johnson hit Landis Davila for a 23-yard touchdown with 4:45 left in the game. Auker led Farragut’s receivers with four catches for 146 yards and two scores.
Farragut senior running back Elijah Gibbs, who ran for 180 yards against Beech, gained 87 yards on 16 carries.
“Elijah did well, played tough, ran the ball tough,” Admirals’ assistant coach Marcus Giles said. “When the momentum hits like that in football, it’s a crazy thing. We just gotta go back and regroup. It was just one of those things.”
“Our tempo was off in the second half,” Gibbs said. “I feel like we need to be more prepared for Maryville (2-0),” where FHS opens Region 2-6A play at MHS Friday, Sept. 2.
Senior linebacker Jay Smiley led the Ads with five stops.
