Sevier County falls to undefeated West 20-19

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – Sevier County traveled to West to face the Class 4A top-ranked Rebels on Friday night and fell in heartbreaking fashion 20-19. “I wouldn’t trade for any other team,” Sevier County head coach Todd Loveday said after the loss. “They keep practicing hard and playing hard. We don’t worry about who we’re playing.” The Smoky Bears took an early 7-0 lead when Garrett Hawkins ran for a 4-yard touchdown in the first quarter. A West fumble was recovered by Sevier’s Stephen Cain, giving the Smoky Bears good field position again. Sevier County capitalized on the turnover …

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 …

Austin-East snaps 15-game losing streak with win over Northview

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – Northview Academy was coming off their first on-field win of the season — a 35-0 shutout of Claiborne — but laid an egg on Friday night, allowing Austin-East to pick up their first win in 15 games, on homecoming, with a 42-8 romp over the Cougars. The Roadrunners got on the board first with a 1-yard touchdown run by Markeyis Billingsley for a 7-0 lead. Austin-East was leading 21-0 when Alex Cruz-Mendoza dodged several Roadrunners and scooted 86 yards for the score. Cruz-Mendoza connected with William Kirby on the two-point conversion attempt, cutting the lead …

Shawn Gary stretches into the end zone for a second quarter touchdown, giving South-Doyle a 14-7 lead. Photo by Brian Hamilton

Anderson County hands Cherokees first loss

BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – Anderson County came into its matchup with South-Doyle with a record of 1-3 and upset undefeated South-Doyle 31-28. The Cherokees fumbled on a quarterback to running back exchange on the first drive, setting Anderson County up with great field position. However, two plays later, JaMichael Ham intercepted the Mavericks’ Walker Martinez for a pick six and a 7-0 lead with 8:26 left in the first quarter. Martinez would respond on Anderson County’s next possession, as he tossed a long touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 3:11 left in the first quarter. Shawn Gary …

William Blount

William Blount wraps up 4-game road trip with loss to Science Hill

BY BRIAN HAMILTON JOHNSON CITY – William Blount faced the task of going on the road for four consecutive weeks, a stretch in which the Governors went 1-3 and ended with a 55-27 loss to Science Hill. In a game where both teams amassed over 900 total yards, William Blount got down early and was never able to catch up. “We played against a team that was better than us and more athletic than us, but I still didn’t feel that we fought hard enough in the first half,” William Blount head coach Philip Shadowens said after the game. “We’re …