BY BRIAN HAMILTON ROGERSVILLE – Cocke County traveled to Rogersville on Friday night to face the Cherokee Chiefs in a non-district game. The Cocks gave up 550 yards of total offense in the contest, including 471 on the ground, as the Chiefs rolled to a 41-6 win. Brazen Stewart led the Cocks’ offense, finishing with 90 yards receiving and scoring the team’s only touchdown. Roman Stewart ran for 59 yards, while Tasean Simpson led Cocke County with 10 tackles. Simpson made all of his tackles in the first half, as an injury kept him out of the second half. The …
CAK drills Lions 33-6
BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – The King’s Academy Lions found themselves in choppy waters early against the Christian Academy of Knoxville Friday night. Despite having star running back Nakelin McAfee, the Lions offense could never get in a groove, as TKA lost 33-6. CAK successfully recovered an onside kick on the first play of the game and then scored a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage to lead 7-0. On TKA’s first possession, the Lions were forced to punt to CAK running back J.D. Dunn, who returned it to the TKA 38-yard line. A punt by the Warriors pinned …
Northview comes up short against Unicoi County
BY BRIAN HAMILTON KODAK – Northview Academy ran out of time against Unicoi County Friday night, as the Cougars fell 22-15. “They all played hard and I’m very pleased with them,” Northview head coach Heath Woods said. “We made mistakes and when you make mistakes you lose ballgames.” Quarterback Alex Cruz-Mendoza, a converted running back, put Northview on the board first with an 8-yard touchdown run, giving the Cougars an 8-0 lead. Unicoi then scored 22 unanswered points, taking a 15-8 halftime lead and later a 22-8 lead, as Nehemiah Edwards scored from two yards out midway through the third …
Pigeon Forge falls to Hampton 20-14, despite late rally
BY BRIAN HAMILTON HAMPTON – Pigeon Forge fell behind 14-0 in the first half against Hampton and were unable to recover, despite a late push by the Tigers. Hampton would score on the opening drive, as the Bulldogs put together a 10-play, 78-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by quarterback Conor Jones. Pigeon Forge then fell behind 14-0 when Jones found Johnathan Greenwell for a 24-yard score with three minutes left until halftime. Junior Ayden Littles returned the opening second half kick-off 71 yards for a touchdown, pulling the Tigers to within 14-7. A failed fourth down attempt …
Alcoa flexes offensive muscle with 41-13 win over Rhea County
BY BRIAN HAMILTON ALCOA – Alcoa returns Class 3A championship MVP quarterback Caden Buckles, who spearheaded a 41-point outburst in the first half, as the Tornadoes went on to a 41-13 win. Alcoa scored on five of its first six drives before calling off the dogs in the second half. “Forty points is never expected in the first half, but we just dominated,” Buckles said after the game. “That’s probably one of the best halves of football I’ve seen in a long time.” The six-time defending state champions got on the scoreboard quick, as running back Jordan Harris returned the …