Weather fouls Powell/Anderson County contest
By Mark Nagi
The first game of the season is often an uneven and sloppy affair. And we certainly saw some of that in North Knoxville as Powell hosted Anderson County.
Mother Nature didn’t cooperate early, as things were delayed for 45 minutes due to lightning in the area. The Mavericks took the opening kickoff and marched 67 yards for the first score of the game. True freshman John David Gillum, in his first varsity start, threw a TD pass to Brayden Sharpe. The extra point was wide left, and AC led 6-0.
On Powell’s first possession, the Panthers took an early risk, going for it on 4th and 20 from their own 35-yard line. QB Deuce Rodgers threw it deep, but the ball fell incomplete.
Anderson County took advantage of a short field. They converted on 4th and 9 as Gillum hit Bearden transfer Jayzon Thompson for a 20-yard gain to the Powell 9. On the very next play, Gillum had his second TD pass of the night, this time a juggling catch by Deameion Leavell.
With 3:27 left in the first quarter, Anderson County was on top 12-0.
It looked like Powell was getting something going on their second possession, but the drive stalled inside the Mavericks’ 20. The Panthers tried a fake FG, but the pass was tipped, caught by Anderson County’s Gabe St. John, who raced untouched 85 yards for another touchdown. Now the Powell deficit was 18-0 at the end of the first quarter.
Powell’s Deuce Rodgers is one of the best QBs in the area. The senior signal caller was harassed by the Mavericks’ defense throughout the night. Rodgers marched his Panthers down to the AC 1-yard line, before having to leave the game with an injury. With Rodgers out of the game, the Mavericks stuffed Powell on two straight attempts on 3rd and 4th down.
That was a 20-play drive that took nearly 10 minutes off the clock but did not result in points for the Panthers.
A Brodie Hollowell interception gave Powell the football back late in the first half. Hollowell also serves as the Powell backup QB. He faked a handoff, broke a tackle, and scampered 21 yards for Powell’s first score of the season. At halftime, it was an 18-7 game.
Early in the third quarter, lightning once again was spotted within four miles of the stadium, prompting another lengthy delay, this time all the way until Saturday afternoon. However, the rescheduled game would be canceled.
On Saturday morning, Powell head coach Matt Lowe reported, “This week’s game versus Anderson County will not be resumed and will be considered a ‘no contest.’”
Powell will play at Farragut on Friday night.
