Alcoa tops Maryville 27-14 for first win in rivalry since 2018

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MARYVILLE – Brian Nix became the first Alcoa head coach to win the Battle of Pistol Creek in his first try since Scott Meadows did it in 2000, as the Tornadoes went into Maryville and came away with a 27-14 win Friday night. The Rebels had an opportunity to win the game late, but Jordan Harris came away with an interception return for a touchdown, as Maryville was driving deep into Alcoa territory. “I’m so proud, once again just with their character,” Nix said after the game. “They’re just good kids. I was telling somebody the other …

Morristown East picks up big win over Halls 34-28

CHRISTOPHER MALONEY Correspondent MORRISTOWN – Former Morristown East High principal J.T. Williams said before tonight’s home against Halls that East would treat the Red Devils like herded cattle. One of the East coaches during the game told the players, when they were behind, that they had been working hard and might not get their payday. Turns out, the Hurricanes did get paid with a 34-28 win that ended a 0-for-5 skid against Halls all-time and kept 2021 from repeating. In 2021, East lost to the Trojans and ended up going 0-6 before getting their first win. When East visits Dobyns-Bennett …

Frias

Morristown West uses early lead to take down East 24-7

CHRISTOPHER MALONEY Correspondent In the annual area high school “kickoff” game of the season, the 2022 version of the Kickoff Classic saw Morristown West come storming out of the gate and then cause problems with interceptions and stifling defense to beat Morristown East 24-7. Morristown East coach Caleb Slover also brought up their Achilles heel in 2021 continued, which was the inability to finish drives including in the final quarter when turnovers killed the Hurricanes’ chances to score. Morristown West coach Alvin Sanders, on the other hand, was very pleased with how his team played. It wasn’t perfect and there …

Carter

Carter falls to Webb in opener 46-21

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – Carter did not start the season the way Coach Justin Pressley had hoped after a solid showing in last week’s jamboree at Knox Central. The Hornets kept pace with Webb early, trailing just 19-14 at the half, but a 27-point second half by the Spartans sent Carter home with a 46-21 loss. Pressley was unable to coach the game however, as he served a suspension for being ejected during last season’s first round playoff loss to Elizabethton, as Carter assistant Dustin Dudley served as head coach for the game. “We’ve got a lot of stuff …

Grainger Grizzlies jog onto the field.

Grainger Wins Season Opener on Road at Cumberland Gap

BY DANIEL SPARKMAN CUMBERLAND GAP – Despite some big plays by Cumberland Gap, Grainger’s hard-nosed ground game wins the night with a 42-32 victory over the Panthers. Friday night started with an explosive play from Cumberland Gap’s sophomore running back Brayden Painter as he took the opening kickoff 80 yards to start the game with a six point lead. Panthers sophomore tight end Allen Brooks followed up with the two-point conversion to improve the score to 8-0. Grainger’s first drive of the game ended with a two-yard run into the end zone, the PAT was no good. Panthers keep the …

Jefferson County

Sevier County wins defensive battle 7-6 over Jefferson County

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEVIERVILLE – If you like a lot of scoring and offensive firepower, then Thursday night’s game between rivals Sevier County and Jefferson County was not for you. It was a defensive slugfest, especially in the second half, as Sevier County scored on its first drive and Jefferson County scored in the second quarter, with the only difference being a blocked extra-point that gave the Smoky Bears a 7-6 season-opening win. “I’ve never heard of an ugly win,” Sevier County head coach Todd Loveday said. “I’ll never apologize to win any kind of game. Jefferson County is a …

Maryville Football

Clemmer shines in first start for Maryville, as Rebels defeat Heritage 45-7

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MARYVILLE – Both teams came into the game with some fresh faces, as Heritage head coach and former Vols assistant coach Joe Osovet was coaching in his first game with the Mountaineers and Maryville was showcasing new quarterback Matthew Clemmer for the first time in its offense. Clemmer, a senior transfer from William Blount, finally got his first start for the Rebels and didn’t take him long to throw his first touchdown pass, as he found Noah Vaughn for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. The former Governor threw for 259 yards and four touchdowns …

Two-A-Days: Jefferson County looks to build off successes of 2021

BY CHRISTOPHER MALONEY Correspondent Jefferson County only had one scrimmage this summer due to weather and it was against David Crockett last Wednesday. The Patriots won 18-0. Head coach Spencer Riley said that his team still has questions on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The Crockett game was approximately one week before the start of their season at Sevier County on Thursday, August 18. “We are going to win with our O- and D-line. I we can continue to improve in those areas, we will be fine,” Riley said. Jefferson County returns junior quarterback Izaiah Hall and …

Thad Wells

Two-A-Days: New Lakeway Christian Coach Thad Wells views Lions as ‘sleeping giant’

BY BRIAN HAMILTON Lakeway Christian enters its third season as a football program looking to find its footing in Division II Class A. The Lions made big strides in 2021, finishing 4-7 (thanks to a pair of COVID-19 wins) and the school’s first ever playoff berth before losing to Nashville Christian 41-7. While the 2021 campaign doesn’t seem like strides for some teams, it certainly was after Lakeway did not win a game on the field in its inaugural season, as its only win — against Lee (VA) — came in the season opener, which was a COVID-19 forfeit. The …

Two-A-Days: Cosby looking for first playoff berth since 2011

BY BRIAN HAMILTON Cosby is coming off a disappointing season, which saw the Eagles finish 1-8 and having to defeat Hancock County in the season finale for their lone win of the season. The Eagles’ last trip to the playoffs was in 2011 — head coach Kevin Hall’s first season — which was a 45-6 loss at Oneida. Hall, however, is optimistic about the 2022 season, partly because Cosby returns key playmakers in quarterback Tyler Turner and receiver Hayden Green. “Tyler throws a really good deep ball and Hayden is going to be really explosive with the ball in his …