Carter notches another comeback win at Coalfield

BY BRIAN HAMILTON COALFIELD – The Carter Hornets and the Coalfield Yellow Jackets scheduled a last minute game after Carter’s original opponent Scott cancelled due to COVID-19 and Coalfield’s original opponent Oakdale also cancelled. Instead of having a home game, the Hornets made the 47 mile trek to Coalfield just to get another game in. The game was a classic, as Carter notched a 34-30 comeback win after trailing 18-0 in the first half. The Yellow Jackets got on the board with 9:51 left in the first quarter, as Canaan Bowling ran for a 2-yard score, giving Coalfield a 6-0 …

Seymour runs away from Sullivan East 42-7

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – The Eagles looked a bit shaky early on, but began to pull away in the second quarter, en route to a 42-7 win over Sullivan-East. Josh Nevins recorded two pick sixes and the Seymour defense held the Patriots to just 116 yards of total offense. “The defense played fantastic,” Seymour head coach Scott Branton said. “They’re getting more aggressive each week and are playing with more and more confidence.” Seymour took an early 7-0 lead against Sullivan-East, but the Patriots would answer with a third down touchdown pass from Drake Fisher to Hunter Brown, tying …

Gatlinburg-Pittman pounds Union County 49-6

BY BRIAN HAMILTON GATLINBURG – Gatlinburg-Pittman had no trouble with Union County on Friday night, taking down the Patriots 49-6 to improve to 2-1 in region play. Gatlinburg rolled up 409 yards of total offense, averaging over 12 yards per play. “We have gotten better every single week,” Gatlinburg-Pittman head coach Brad Waggoner said. “I thought we took another step in the right direction this week.” The Highlanders scored two early touchdowns to go ahead 14-0 with 8:10 still remaining in the first quarter when quarterback Brady Hammonds tossed a touchdown to Whittman Whaley for the two score lead. Hammonds …

Sevier County shuts out Pigeon Forge in first ever meeting

BY BRIAN  HAMILTON SEVIERVILLE – Neighboring Class 5A Sevier County and Class 3A Pigeon Forge squared off for the first time in the schools’ history on Friday night and the Smoky Bears came away with a resounding 14-0 win. Sevier County had starting linebackers Garrett Hawkins and Stephen Cain back for the first time since the opener against Jefferson County and it helped, as the Smoky Bears used a stifling defense to hold the Tigers to just 112 total yards. All of Pigeon Forge’s yards were on the ground, as Sevier County held Tigers quarterback Tyson McFall to 0-of-6 passing …

South-Doyle improves to 4-0 with win over 6A Bearden

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – South-Doyle found a way to win a tough matchup with Class 6A Bearden on Friday night 26-7. The final score was a bit deceiving, however, as the Cherokees trailed 7-3 late in the third quarter before bouncing back and pulling away by three scores. Bearden jumped out to a 7-0 first quarter lead when Nicco Young scored on a 1-yard touchdown run following a blocked punt. The Bulldogs led 7-0 after one quarter of play. A spectacular one-handed catch by South-Doyle’s Shawn Gary put the Cherokees inside the 20-yard line, resulting in a field goal, …

William Blount picks up first win of season against rival Heritage

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MARYVILLE – Heritage and William Blount met on Friday night in a battle of winless cross-town rivals. The Governors came out strong and took an early 21-0 lead and rode that to a 38-19 win. William Blount scored on its opening drive, as quarterback Matthew Clemmer hit Ashton Aucker for a 58-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the first quarter. The Governors would force Heritage into a three-and-out and scored immediately when Clemmer found Brandon Keeble for a 14-0 lead with 8:58 left in the first. Not everything went well for William …

Carter falls to Walker Valley 42-14

BY BRIAN HAMILTON STRAWBERRY PLAINS – Carter faced its most daunting test of the season Friday night, as the Hornets hosted sixth-ranked Class 5A Walker Valley from Cleveland. Carter suffered its first setback of the season, falling to the Mustangs 42-14. Walker Valley got on the board with six minutes left in the first quarter when quarterback Ryan Lay found Tristen McCann for a 71-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead. With under a minute remaining in the opening quarter, Lay tossed another touchdown to give the Mustangs a 14-0 lead after one quarter. Lay tossed his third touchdown of the …

Red Boiling Springs boils Cosby 20-0

RED BOILING SPRINGS – Cosby traveled to Red Boiling Springs on Friday night to face the winless Bulldogs and came away with a 20-0 shut out loss. Corey Askew received the opening kickoff and set the Eagles up in prime real estate at the Bulldogs’ 35-yard line. Tyler Turner went into the end zone for a score, but it was called back for holding. Cosby was unable to capitalize on the opening field position. “After they called that one back it was hard for us to get our heads back in the game,” Cosby head coach Kevin Hall said. Red …

#2 Maryville takes down #3 Alcoa 30-27 in 93rd Battle of Pistol Creek

BY BRIAN HAMILTON ALCOA – It was the 93rd edition of the Battle of Pistol Creek and boy, was it a good one. Maryville jumped out to an early 17-0 lead, but had to hang on late, as Alcoa fought back in the second half, only to fall 30-27. “You’ve got to put yourself in positions like this to learn about your team,” Maryville head coach Derek Hunt said. “It’s really hard to get our guys up for big game after big game. When you play a team that is good enough to beat you every week and you’re not …

Northview Academy shuts down Claiborne 35-0

BY BRIAN HAMILTON NEW TAZEWELL – Northview Academy traveled to New Tazewell on Friday night to take on Claiborne in a non-region contest. After getting blown out by Alcoa last week, the Cougars responded with a dominant 35-0 win over the Bulldogs. “Cruz-Mendoza had some good runs and we moved the ball around — it wasn’t just one guy,” Northview Academy head coach Heath Woods said. “We are looking forward to building off this.” Northview jumped out to a 22-0 halftime lead, en route to a 35-0 win. Cougars quarterback Alex Cruz-Mendoza ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns on …