From crushing foes to cardiac finish, Farragut 8th-Graders’ stunning rally earns MAC title
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Cade Fugate hoists the MAC Varsity championship trophy earned by his Farragut 8th-Graders versus Austin-East Wednesday, Oct. 25. - Alan Sloan
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Led by head coach Roy Stone (far right in gray top), Farragut MAC varsity (8th-grade) footballers and coaches are joined by their cheerleaders to celebrate a MAC Varsity title. “It was great to see us come out and answer that dog fight,” Stone said. - Alan Sloan
There were a lot of bad things Farragut’s undefeated MAC varsity eighth-graders had to deal with fast — or else see an undefeated season end with a championship-game loss to a team these Mini Ads beat easily, in a shutout, during the regular season.
In the rare position of not only trailing an opponent in the fourth quarter, but trailing by nine points — two scores — with just 5:53 to play, Farragut turned to Mr. Rogers to help save the day at Farragut High School’s Eddie Courtney Stadium/Bill Clabo Field Wednesday night, Oct. 25.
Not even having been scored upon during its previous eight games, Farragut trailed Austin-East 15-6 more than two minutes into the fourth quarter before Matthew Rogers and the Mini Ads defense responded to pull this game out of the fire and hoist the MAC title trophy (10-0 record).
Matthew’s 65-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage after A-E’s kickoff cut the lead to 15-12 and still 5:38 left.
“I was trying to get touchdowns for my team, to help my team to make sure we could win,” Matthew said.
After Farragut’s defense held the Mini Roadrunners on downs at the FHS 45, Matthew’s 34-yard scoring run suddenly had the Mini Ads up 18-15 with 3:02 remaining.
Another defensive stop, ending with Braylon Gibbs’ breaking up a pass, gave Farragut the ball at the A-E 38 with 1:41 left, and and the Navy Blue and Gray ran the clock down to the final few seconds.
One Mini Roadrunners long pass from the FHS 43 on the game’s last play fell incomplete. Time to celebrate.
“My parents always told me, ‘when you’re down, be a leader. ... You’ve got to keep leading your team and telling them they’re going to win,” said quarterback Kyle Clark, one of four team captains.
About Matthew, “He’s a beast to bring down,” Kyle added.
“None of us gave up; we all knew there was still hope,” captain Anderson Glover said.
“Some great runs by Matthew, and our defense — as it’s been all year — just pounded them (late),” said Colt Brooker, a leading tackler. “... That’s the hardest team we’ve faced all year.”
“Matthew’s (65-yard) touchdown gave us momentum,” said Colton Liner, another key defender.”
