Powerful start allows football Ads to cruise past HVA
HARDIN VALLEY — Before last Friday night’s game against Hardin Valley Academy at Bill Clabo Field, Farragut High School’s football team had been on a roll, easily winning its last three games. After Friday, make it four.
On five first-half possessions, the Ads scored five touchdowns en route to a halftime — and final — score of 35-0. The Region 2-6A win improved FHS’s regional record to 2-1, 5-2 overall.
“We started off fast, that’s how we challenged our kids,” Admirals’ head coach Eddie Courtney said. “In the last two weeks we saw how much improvement Hardin Valley made. They’ve been getting better, so we knew we had to start strong.”
In the first half, Farragut started — and stayed — very strong. A six-play, 56-yard game-opening drive resulted in a 7-0 lead when running back Elijah Gibbs took it in from the Hawks 9.
A quick three-and-out by HVA put FHS back in business on its own 47. On the second play of the drive — second-and-1 from Hawks’ 44 — quarterback Luke Johnson hit receiver Landis Davila in the end zone for the touchdown and a 14-0 lead.
It would be 21-0 before the end of the first quarter when Johnson again connected with Davila, this time from the 10. For the game, Johnson was a perfect 13 for 13 for 180 yards and three scores. He didn’t play in the second half. Gibbs gained 116 yards and a TD (16 carries).
“My goal right now is just focus on the wins and not on the stats,” Johnson said.
Davila caught four balls for 67 yards and the two scores. Ashton Auker had five catches (63 yards) and a 13-yard touchdown grad in the second quarter.
Farragut’s defense was impenetrable. The Hawks’ total offense for the first half was a mere 14 yards.
Admirals’ linebacker Jay Smiley had 10 tackles, nine of them solo. Courtney substituted widely in the second half.
“Our chemistry’s great,” free safety Hudson Kraemer said. “Whenever anyone gets a big hit we cheer them on.”
“I’m proud of our kids,” first-year HVA head coach Jeff Miner said about his Hawks (0-6, 0-3). “They never quit; they keep fighting. Farragut’s got a great football team. ...”
In the second quarter, the Admirals also got an 8-yard touchdown run by backup running back Wyatt Drummy.
