A Walker Valley record setting touchdown drive, Ooltewah defense flex’s its muscles and five shutout victories highlighted the second night of the 56th annual Chattanooga prep football jamboree.
Kudos: Thanks to jamboree organizers Todd Agne and Stump Martin for another great two nights of high school football at Finley Stadium. East Ridge football p.a. announcer Robert Floyd did an excellent job on the mic Saturday night giving needed information after each play.
"I think this year's jamboree was the smoothest running one I have been involved in," said Martin.
"We will look at how to improve the event next August with a possible expansion of teams involved."
Opening Night: The football teams suit up for real next week beginning with three games on Thursday; Hixson at Marion County, Baylor at Rhea County and Bradley Central at Walker Valley.
Walker Valley 14, East Ridge 0
The longest scoring drive in the 66-year history of the Jamboree as Walker Valley went from its half yard line for the first score in 5 plays capped by a 57 yard screen pass for a score from Kolten Gibson to Bryce Nunnelly ... Nunnelly slipped a tackle in the flat and raced down the sideline for the score … Andrew Hannah added the PAT … Gibson also connected with Tucker Mendenhall on a 37 scoring pitch and catch
Opening Games: Walker Valley hosts Bradley Central (Thurs.
Aug. 20) should be a packed house for early season Bradley County bragging rights … WV defeated the Bears for the first time in school history last season … BC leads the series 9-1 ... East Ridge at Polk Co. (Aug.21) … Pioneers have won the last two meetings.
Boyd Buchanan 7, Chattanooga Central 0
The Bucs took advantage of a mental mistake by the Central defense on a four and punting situation and later scored the winning touchdown … On Boyd’s first possession, the Bucs got new life after two penalties as several Central players rushed the punter and were flagged for a 15 yard penalty (there is no rushing the punter in jamboree games) … The Bucs then moved most of 47 yards on the arm of QB Cooper Hodge who had completions of 18 (to Isaiah Dillard) and 23 (Carter Broome) to the Central 1 … Kohl Henke found the end zone from the 1.
Opening Games (Aug.21): Boyd Buchanan hosts first year program Tennessee Christian … Central hosts Notre Dame
Ooltewah 20, Franklin Co. 0
The Owls out manned the Rebels as QB London Elrod passed and ran the Ools to the win …. The junior QB ran 14 yards for the first score and passed 12 yards to Ethan Walls to make it 14-0 … Cameron Turner electrified the crowd with an impressive 73 yard run to pay dirt after taking a short pass from Colin Thurman… Alex Toser as 3-3 on PATs …
The Owls defense had three interceptions - Kendall Robinson (2) and Jeremiah Jackson …
“High and Tight” … Jackson carried the ball like a loaf of bread on his INT … this reporter can here UTC receivers coach Will Healy screaming “High and Tight” (or you are running)…
Opening Games (Aug.21): Franklin Co is at Marshall Co. … Ooltewah hosts Riverdale
Rhea County 7, East Hamilton 0
The Golden Eagles offense uses the basic two tackles, two guards a center and just runs the ball at you … sophomore running back Christian Simon was the beneficiary of the strong O-Line play and gained most of the yards on a the 89-yard scoring drive … Nikki Wallis scored from four yards out for the 7-0 lead at the six minute mark
Rhea Co. hosts Baylor next Thursday (Aug. 20) and it should be a great game …
East Hamilton opens at Signal Mtn (Aug.21) (SM leads series 4-2)
Soddy Daisy 7 Signal Mtn 0
A Justin Cooke to Jacob Lemons for a 59 yard pass play accounted for the only score of the night’s final game … Chase Payne had a fumble recovery for the Trojans.
Opening Games (Aug.21): Signal Mtn. hosts East Hamilton (SM leads 4-2 but EH has won 2 of the last 3 in the new, entertaining rivalry) …Soddy Daisy hosts longtime rival Red Bank (SD has won 4 of the last 5 meetings)
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net