Powell rallies to beat Farragut, 26-21
By Mark Nagi
The Powell Panthers were hopeful that their injured star quarterback, senior Deuce Rodgers, would be ready to go for their Week 2 game against Farragut. Instead, it was backup Brodie Hollowell leading the charge, throwing for 241 yards and three touchdown passes in Powell’s 26-21 victory.
“He (Hollowell) is a ball player,” said Powell head coach Matt Lowe. “He is as gifted on the baseball diamond as he is on the football field. That kid is gonna find a way to win. He’s just one of those types of kids.”
Both teams traded punts after minimal offensive gains on their first drives.
On Powell’s second drive, the Panthers took advantage of a Farragut secondary bust, as DeZion Jackson found himself all alone down the sideline. Hollowell lobbed a deep ball to Jackson, who galloped 70 yards untouched for the score. Midway through the first quarter, Powell led 7-0.
The Panthers’ defense got the football back to their offense a few moments later, as Luke Lindsay made a leaping interception of a pass thrown by Corbin Hobson. He returned it 11 yards to the Farragut 24.
Three plays later, Hollowell threw a pretty screen pass to Johonauan Moore. He raced 24 yards to the end zone, and it was 14-0 Powell.
Farragut’s Brenton Haag made a nice return off a short Panthers kickoff, bringing it back 25 yards to the Powell 43. The Ads marched down the field, mostly on the ground. The drive ended with the Farragut offensive line pushing the Panthers’ defense backwards, allowing a 2-yard TD run by Hobson. Early in the second quarter, Farragut was back in the game, down 14-7.
Late in the first half, Farragut (0-2) moved down the field for what could have been the game-tying score. But Hobson was pressured and made an ill-advised pass into the middle of the field. The throw was tipped, and junior Cooper Wheeler made a diving interception at their own 30-yard line to halt that drive.
The half ended with Powell in front by 7.
On their first drive of the third quarter, the Admirals got to the Powell 36 before having to punt the football away. The Panthers converted on a huge third down when Moore broke multiple tackles and rushed 25 yards to the Farragut 45. Then, on 4th and 1 from the Farragut 11, a direct snap to Caleb Acres netted just enough yards to move the chains. On 4th and goal from the 4, Holloway avoided the pressure and passed it to Moore for a touchdown. It was a 15-play drive that took over seven minutes off the clock. The extra point was blocked, but at the end of the third quarter, Powell led 20-7.
Farragut needed something to go their way. They took a chance on 4th and 9 from their own 40. Senior Noah Haag, who was the Ads’ backup QB a year ago, threw deep to Abram Shelton on a fake punt, who raced to the Powell 10. That 50-yard play led to another 2-yard TD run by Hobson, and with 9:42 remaining, Farragut trailed 20-14.
Then things got wacky. The Ads blocked a Powell punt, which was picked up by the Panthers and carried over the line to gain, but a big hit forced a fumble, which Farragut recovered. The Ads mashed the Powell defense on four straight runs, with Noah Haag, now playing H back on offense, powering it in from four yards away. With 6:40 to go, Farragut was on top 21-20.
But Powell responded with an 11-play, 80-yard TD run, capped by a one-yard TD run by Acres. With 2:20 left, Powell was back in the lead 26-21. Farragut drove inside the Powell 35 but turned the ball over on downs, basically ending the game.
“I think we have a good football team,” said Farragut head coach Geoff Courtney. “We’ve got some fight. We’ve got great leadership. We just have to learn to make winning plays at the end of the game. Sometimes that’s harder to learn how to do and doesn’t come as quick, but we’ll get there.”
“Just so impressed with the fight and the resiliency with this group of kids,” said Lowe. “They show up to work every day. It’s a fun group to coach. They enjoy showing up and working for each other. Tonight, there were some ups and downs, some mistakes, and some unbelievably great moments. I’m blessed to be able to do what I do.”
On Thursday night, Powell will host rival Halls while Farragut looks for their first victory of the season at Upperman.
