‘Geoff County’ blues for Pats; Ads make it three straight W’s
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Zain Kureshi-Smith, Farragut junior defensive back (12), leaps for a game-clinching interception late in the fourth quarter at Jefferson County Friday night, Oct. 18. - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
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Connor Parris, FHS junior linebacker, takes a Patriots runner off the ground as he makes the stop. - Photos courtesy of Carlos Reveiz/crfoto.com
DANDRIDGE — How do you allow 360 yards rushing, from one running back no less, while giving your homesteading opponent a defensive touchdown — and still win the game?
Farragut’s two long touchdown passes, far superior special teams play and a defense that, despite Skylar Thomas’ dream night running the football, held Jefferson County without a third-down conversion in the second half is how the Ads won their third straight game — all on the road — after slipping past the Patriots 24-23 at JCHS Friday night, Oct. 18.
The kicking and punting of junior Ryan McCue — still perfect on the season in extra points and field goals after nailing a 31-yard three-pointer in the second quarter — also included one punt for 48 net yards along with a handful of others pinning the Patriots (4-4-4) inside their own 15-yard line.
Back for his second game after missing three games due to injury, sophomore Ethan Farhat returned a kickoff for a touchdown for a second straight game, this time answering a Jefferson County TD with an 80-yard return to put the Ads back ahead, with McCue’s conversion, 17-16 at the 10:58 mark of the third quarter.
Two blocked kicks by the visitors further punctuated the FHS edge in special teams: an extra point blocked by senior defensive back Henry Dee after a JCHS field goal was swatted away by senior defensive back Kent Carbaugh.
“Special teams was the difference. ... Ryan did a great job punting the ball, kicking the ball all night,” Admirals skipper Geoff Courtney said. “We were able to flip the field and keep them pinned back, or at least starting most of their drives backed up, which gave our defense a chance to settle in and get a couple of stops.”
Though giving up the lead late in the third quarter on an ill-advised pass that was picked off and returned for a touchdown, Farragut sophomore quarterback Corbin Hobson shook off the mistake and made a huge play.
His 69-yard touchdown strike to senior wideout Robbie Jacobs, with McCue’s conversion, gave the Ads a lead they wouldn’t relinquish, 24-23, with 4:01 to play in the third frame.
Despite bending severely thanks to Thomas’ running success, the Ads’ defense pitched a shutout during the game’s final 16 minutes.
An interception late in the game by Zain Kureshi-Smith, an FHS junior defensive back, helped secure the big victory.
Jefferson County reached midfield in the game’s final seconds, but time ran out for the home team.
“... We gave up some explosive plays, but our defense made stops when they had to,” Courtney said. “I think they were only four-of-12 on third down (conversions for the game), and I know they went 0-for-1 on fourth down.”
About his team’s three-game winning streak, “Things tend to go a little bit better for you when you’ve got a confident football team,” Courtney said. “At least one thing is, the last three weeks we’ve been able to grow in that area.”
Hobson found senior receiver Landon Collins on a 32-yard scoring pass less than three minutes into the game to put the Ads up 7-0 quickly.
Touchdown runs of 31 and 63 yards by Thomas put the Patriots up 16-10 less than one minute into the third quarter, with his longer TD jaunt erasing a 10-9 Ads halftime lead.
