Week 2 Top 10

BY DANIEL SPARKMAN Our Top 3 stay the same after Week 2. A serious of losses changes the rest of the pack, we see Carter, Pigeon Forge and Grainger fall from the Top 10 and The King’s Academy rejoin with newcomers South-Doyle and Morristown East. South-Doyle finished the 2021 season at 6-5 after making it to the First Round of the Class 4A State Playoffs. They enter our Top 10 after a solid victory at Grace Christian – Knoxville. Morristown East finished last season at just 2-8, they enter our Top 10 after a win over Knoxville Halls and their …

Alcoa, Maryville Football Top Preseason Top 10

BY DANIEL SPARKMAN As we prepare for Week 1 of High School Football in Tennessee, we have placed the 19 football teams in our coverage area into a Top 10 list. These rankings are based on players that are returning to the team from last year, each team’s performance during the jamboree games, and a team’s previous records. With that said our preseason top 10: Alcoa Maryville Jefferson County Carter Sevier County Gatlinburg-Pittman TKA Pigeon Forge Morristown-West Seymour The Alcoa Tornadoes top the list as they are defending their Class 3A State Championship with a 2021 record of 14-1. Maryville …

TKA wins shootout over Grace Franklin 55-36

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – The King’s Academy survived a shootout with Grace Franklin on Friday night, winning 55-36 after seeing its lead trimmed to five points in the fourth quarter. “Our defense has been the backbone of this team all season,” TKA head coach Jonathan Sellers said after the game. “Grace scored a couple more points than we’re used to giving up usually, but those guys are going to get it fixed and they’re going to be ready to go next week.” TKA drew first blood on the first offensive possession when Elijah Williams-Smith found Marshaun Bowers for a …

TKA picks up big region win over Lakeway Christian 42-27

BY BRIAN HAMILTON WHITE PINE – TKA responded to a 35-20 loss to Middle Tennessee Christian that dashed the Lions’ region championship hopes with a solid 42-27 region win over Lakeway Christian Friday night. The King’s Academy jumped out to a quick 28-6 first quarter lead over Lakeside Christian behind four touchdowns by senior running back Nakelin McAfee. Leading 14-0, the Lions were able to recover a fumble on a strip sack, giving the offense a short field, which led to a McAfee touchdown to make the score 21-0. Lakeway Christian was finally able to get on the scoreboard when …

King’s Academy falls to Middle Tennessee Christian 35-20

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – The King’s Academy had won three games in a row, albeit the third being a COVID forfeit against Swain County in North Carolina, but two weeks ago, the Lions pulled off a huge feat, beating Friendship Christian 28-21 for their first ever win against the Commanders in eight tries. TKA came out flat after a week off on Friday, however, losing to Middle Tennessee Christian 35-20 in a crucial region game. “I said all week that they do a very good job in a very unique offense,” TKA head coach Jonathan Sellers said. “It’s disappointing …

TKA defeats Friendship Christian for first time in history

BY BRIAN HAMILTON LEBANON – The King’s Academy was able to take down Friendship Christian 28-21 on Friday night, a team the Lions were 0-8 against all-time coming into the contest. “This is huge for us,” The King’s Academy head coach Jonathan Sellers said of the win. “Friendship Christian has been a great program for a long time and still is. They’re well coached and have great football players.” The King’s Academy drew first blood in the contest, as sophomore quarterback Elijah Williams-Smith scored on an 11-yard touchdown run, capping a 9-play, 50-yard drive. The Lions led 7-0 after the …

TKA wins thriller over Grace Christian on Homecoming

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEYMOUR – The King’s Academy finally was able to play their first home game of the season on Friday night, which was homecoming, and defeated Grace Christian by a score of 22-20. “We needed some positive momentum,” TKA head coach Jonathan Sellers said. “We start region play next week. We’re excited and I think this is going to carry over to next week and show that these guys’ hard work is paying off.” The Lions were originally supposed to play their first home game on Week 2, but COVID-19 forced Meigs County to forfeit the game. Of …

TKA travels to Georgia, falls to Heritage 34-14

BY BRIAN HAMILTON RINGGOLD, Ga. – The King’s Academy was originally scheduled to travel to the Howard School in Chattanooga on Friday, but for the second consecutive week, the Lions had their game cancelled due to COVID-19. TKA rescheduled Heritage High School in Ringgold, Georgia on Friday night, but lost 34-14. “The positive is that we played so we can see what steps we need to continue taking,” King’s Academy head coach Jonathan Sellers said. “We have to get better with execution and that starts with me.” The game was scheduled less than 48 hours before kickoff, but things did …

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 …