#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 …

Gatlinburg-Pittman

Loudon defeats Gatlinburg-Pittman behind Karig’s 6 touchdown passes

BY BRIAN HAMILTON LOUDON – Gatlinburg-Pittman hung tough with Class 3A No.3-ranked Loudon for most of the game, trailing by just one score late in the third quarter, but ultimately mistakes would cost the Highlanders in a 43-22 loss on Thursday Night Rivals. “The defense played extremely well all night long,” Gatlinburg-Pittman head coach Brad Waggoner said. “We got it into the fourth quarter (almost) at 22-14 and we knew we couldn’t give up big plays at the end. They’ve got explosive players and we knew that coming in.” Gatlinburg-Pittman took an early 7-0 lead on a 7-yard Levi Hill …

Jefferson County edges William Blount 17-14

BY BRIAN HAMILTON DANDRIDGE – In a battle between Class 6A Region 1 foes, Jefferson County upended William Blount by a score of 17-14. The Patriots got on the board first, driving 48 yards in four plays, capped by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Izaiah Hall to Taylor Stoltz for a 7-0 lead with 9:03 remaining in the first quarter. William Blount’s Eli Walker fumbled on the Governors’ first possession, which Jefferson County turned into six, as Omarion Mills ran for a 2-yard touchdown, putting the Patriots in front 14-0 with 7:47 left in the first. The Governors responded on …

Cocke County

Cocke County holds off Heritage 29-27

BY BRIAN HAMILTON NEWPORT – Cocke County picked up its first win of the season on Friday night, as the Fighting Cocks made a goal-line stand on a two-point conversion with just over a minute to go, preserving the 29-27 win. “We had Baylor (Baxter) and all the guys back that we hadn’t had the first couple of weeks we felt a little more comfortable with our game plan,” Cocke County head coach Scotty Dykes said. “Obviously, they’re a very good defensive team and we just felt like we had a couple looks we could take advantage of and the …

Northview

Alcoa continues dominance with 63-8 win over Northview Academy

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KODAK – Alcoa did what it has done each week during the 2021 season on Thursday night, which is jump out to a fast start and play reserves during the second half. The Tornadoes jumped out to a 49-0 halftime lead and came away with a 63-8 Class 3A Region 2 win over Northview Academy. “We were focused and we had them out-matched, but we never quit,” Alcoa head coach Gary Rankin said. “Our coaches get us prepared for the game better than anybody.” Alcoa has won its last 35 area matchups by at least 21 points …

Carter vs Sevier County

Carter wins Saturday night classic over Sevier County 42-35

BY BRIAN HAMILTON SEVIERVILLE – Sevier County took on the Carter Hornets on Saturday night in a game that was televised on Rivalry Thursday. The game was played and broadcast on Saturday to make up for Thursday’s lack of a game, since the University of Tennessee plays. The Smoky Bears were missing approximately seven starters for the game, including several key starters on defense, which meant there would be a good chance of a shootout. A shootout it was, as both teams went to the locker room for an hour early in the third quarter due to a lightning delay …

Jefferson County shuts out Cocke County 60-0 for first win since 2019

BY BRIAN HAMILTON NEWPORT – Jefferson County snapped an 18-game losing streak on Friday night by blowing out Cocke County 60-0. The Patriots last win was on September 5, 2019 against Morristown West, when Jefferson County defeated the Trojans to move to 3-0. The Patriots never won another game that season or in 2020. “It’s good for our kids and they feel good about themselves tonight,” Jefferson County head coach Spencer Riley said after the game. Cocke County received the opening kick and went three-and-out on their first drive, with Jefferson County taking over at the Fighting Cocks’ 34-yard line. …

South-Doyle

South-Doyle hangs on to beat Grace behind Gary’s 4 TDs

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – South-Doyle escaped with a 34-27 win against Grace Christian Friday night behind running back Shawn Gary’s 286 yards and four touchdowns. “He’s a player,” South-Doyle head coach Clark Duncan said of Gary. “He does a great job, but we’ve got some great guys up front doing some great things and pushing people around and giving him opportunities to find daylight, then when he finds daylight, he’s just dynamic.” South-Doyle got on the board at the end of the first quarter when Gary ran for a 13-yard touchdown to put the Cherokees ahead 7-0 after one …

Maryville

Maryville pulls away from Powell in second half 52-31

BY BRIAN HAMILTON MARYVILLE – Powell and top-ranked recruit Walter Nolan came into Maryville Stadium and gave the Rebels a scare early, as the teams traded leads throughout the first half, but Maryville outscored the Panthers 21-0 in the third quarter, en route to a 52-31 win. Powell took the opening kick and put together a drive that spanned over nine minutes and 19 plays, fueled by several third-down conversions. The Panthers were only able to get three points out of the drive, however, as a 32-yard Dyland Stooksbury field goal gave Powell a 3-0 lead. On the Rebels’ first …

Carter starts 1-0, opens with home win for first time since 2015

BY BRIAN HAMILTON STRAWBERRY PLAINS – Carter came from behind and stunned Webb 26-21 on Friday. The Hornets opened the season at 1-0 for the first time since a 46-34 win over Knoxville Halls in 2015. It was also the first time Carter has won a home opener since 2015. The Hornets trailed 7-0 after the first quarter and had three touchdowns called back in the period. Early in the second quarter, Webb would have a touchdown called back, before tossing an interception. Carter then proceeded to drive the ball all the way to the Webb 18-yard line, where it …