Sports
Extra-motivated by Nesbitt injury, Farragut goes on 28-0 run to beat Bearden for 20th time in last 23
October 22, 2020 by Alan Sloan
KNOXVILLE — As if Farragut needed any extra motivation to beat rival Bearden, a serious, high school-career-ending ankle injury to senior Trey Nesbitt, standout defensive end, late in the first half fueled several key Admirals with even more intensity.
The result was erasing a 17-17 tie midway into the third quarter, using kickoff field position, three second-half interceptions and a balanced offense to go on a 28-0 run for a 45-17 Region 1-6A win at BHS’s Bill Young Field Friday night, Oct. 16.
“It really kind of pulled us together. ... When Trey went down, we knew how hard he works, we know what he stands for. It all kind of hit home for us: ‘we’ve really got to show up for him’,” said Eli Purcell, senior defensive leader at inside linebacker who had 10 total tackles, including four solo stops.
“We just tried to play the game for Trey,” said Dawson Moore, Farragut junior quarterback who went 11 of 16 passing for 185 and four touchdown tosses.
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October 22, 2020 by Ken Lay, Correspondent
HARDIN VALLEY — The 2020 football season has been a long one for Hardin Valley Academy, and when the Hawks hosted Jefferson County late last week, one team was going to come away with its first victory of the season.
And by the slimmest of margins, the Hawks found their way into the win column as they edged this Region 1-6A foe 14-13 Friday night at HVA.
The Hawks (1-7 overall, 1-3 in region) had to withstand a late rally from Jefferson County (0-9, 0-5), but that made the celebration even sweeter.
The game wasn’t decided until senior linebacker Sam Simpson forced a fumble from JCHS quarterback Connor Cawood, and the Hawks’ Isaac Wilhite recovered late in the fourth quarter. From there, Hardin Valley ran out the clock.
“I saw that quarterback coming in and there was no way I was going to let him get that first down,” Simpson said. “I was able to knock the ball loose.
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Frosh, N-Merit Semifinalist pace Lady Warriors to 4th
October 22, 2020 by Alan Sloan
MANCHESTER — Led by what head coach Donnie Cooper said “is one of the top three juniors in the state,” his No. 1 golfer Kaleb Wilson, Christian Academy of Knoxville’s boys golf team once again reigned supreme at Division II Class A State Tournament at WillowBrook Golf Club last week.
Winning state for the second consecutive season, this year behind Wilson’s medalist effort of 2-under par for 36 holes Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 12-13, the Warriors’ two-day, four-player total of 604 (+28) was 23 strokes better than runner-up Evangelical Christian School of metro Memphis (627, +51).
About keys to Wilson’s success, “He doesn’t let outside factors affect him,” Cooper said. “He doesn’t let his emotions dictate his next shot.”
While the greens at WillowBrook went from firm to much softer between CAK’s practice round there Friday, Oct. 9, and first round play Oct. 12 — thanks to abundant rain — Wilson “never uses anything as an excuse,” the Warriors coach added. “He’s mentally tough.”
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October 22, 2020 by Ken Lay, Correspondent
KNOXVILLE — Zneyah McLaughlin plays every soccer game like it may be her last.
“We didn’t know what this season was going to hold for us with (COVID-19) and everything going on in the world,” said McLaughlin, a senior forward for Bearden High School’s girls soccer team who scored a goal to help lift the Lady Bulldogs to a 2-0 victory over Knoxville West (11-5-2) in the District 2-AAA Tournament championship match Thursday, Oct. 15, at BHS’s Turner-Allender Field.
The goal by McLaughlin, who also plays basketball for the Lady Bulldogs, helped propel BHS (17-1-0) to its fourth consecutive District 2-AAA Tournament championship. Bearden has not lost a district regular-season or tournament match since joining the league in 2017.
However, “We don’t play to win district championships. The district championship is great and it’s nice. It’s part of the process. You want to win it because you want to have home field throughout the region playoffs,” Ryan Radcliffe, Lady Bulldogs head coach, said.
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