Farragut wins turnover margin, beats Bearden

A first down on the opponent's 8-yard-line can seem like an automatic score. Bearden took that position with about a minute left in the first quarter, and looked ready to run for those last eight yards the way they had most of the 80 before.

Farragut, however, dug in. The Admirals only gave up two yards on the series and then forced the Bulldogs to attempt a field goal.

"A momentum shift," Farragut coach Eddie Courtney said after the 31-14 win. "It really was, especially in a game like this. It built our confidence back up a bit (after ending a 19-game win streak last week)."

Linebacker Alex Williams felt that stop was what the Admirals (8-1, 5-1) needed to really get going in the game.

Farragut came up big again when Bearden (4-5, 1-4) threatened at the end of the half. The Bulldogs were just outside of the red zone but looking for the end zone and the lead as the final seconds ticked down. Wyatt Lucas jumped a route and intercepted Collin Ironside in the end zone.

It was Lucas's second interception. He came down with one in the first quarter, when Ironside and his receivers appeared to be running different plays. Lucas looked more like the intended receiver than a defender as he ran under the pass.

"He makes those plays," Courtney said. "You look at him and he's short (5-foot-3) but he plays big. He's a very good football player. He's a playmaker. He has great hands at receiver. He's behind Jaden (Gibbs) and Braden (Collins) but he'll get his chances."

Lucas also had a big punt return that turned into a 28-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.

He wasn't the only one making interceptions. Griffen Swicegood came down with one early in the third quarter and eventually set up a four-yard touchdown run for Neyland Harmon.

The Admirals, who put themselves in position to win 1-6A with a win over Hardin Valley, also batted down another four passes. Jacob Warren, a 6-foot-6 Tennessee commit, showed off his height to get to one. Nathan Chandler got his hand on another one in the end zone.

"When we forced them to throw it more, it gave us the chance to be patient," said Courtney, who was named the 2016-17 Tennessee high football coach of the year. "We knew we had to stay two scores up on them."

Recognizing Bearden's versatility, Farragut couldn't focus too much on the passing game in preparation, but they felt they'd have a good chance against it.

"The d-line really stepped up today," Williams said. "We've had people rotating in a whole lot since Nnamdi (McSwine) got hurt. When we needed them, they got it down. We had some amazing goal line stops. I'm really proud of them."