Two years ago, Farragut and Ooltewah squared off in a Class 5A semifinal playoff showdown and the Admirals rallied twice from 28-point deficits to beat the Owls, 56-49.
Farragut went on to win a state championship.
The two teams clashed again Friday night in the Class 6A playoffs, but there was no nail-biting drama this time around.
Quarterback Gavin Wilkinson threw three touchdown passes and ran for one as Farragut shellacked the visiting Owls, 49-14.
The Owls ended their season at 9-3 while the Admirals (11-1) moves on to the quarterfinals where they’ll take on perennial title contender Maryville (11-1) on the Rebels’ home field Friday at 7 p.m. Farragut clobbered Cleveland, 49-24, in the first round.
“Just like the Maryville game, we started on defense and Farragut went right down and scored,” Ooltewah coach Scott Chandler said in a telephone interview. “We threw an interception, they scored again and that was all she wrote. It was one of those days.
“They have a good team and a good program. We’ve had success in the past, but we don’t have the kinds of program Maryville and Farragut have. To get to their level, you’ve got to have a really strong program.”
Maryville has won 16 state championships and that ties the Rebels with nearby neighbor Alcoa for most for any team in TSSAA history.
The Admirals hammered the Owls into quick submission with a 21-point first quarter flurry of touchdowns. Ooltewah trailed 35-7 at halftime.
“We told them we were up 42-14 at halftime when we played Farragut two years ago,” Chandler said. “And they came back to beat us. Last week we were up 35-14 (against Hardin Valley) and we had to hang on to win the game. It can be done. We needed some momentum and wanted to score on our first possession in the second half, but couldn’t get it done. But when you’re down 35-14, you pretty much have your tail between your legs a little bit.”
Wilkinson, who went 18 for 20 with 225 yards and no interceptions, threw first half TD passes to Isaiah Gibbs (12 yards), Jaden Gibbs (26) and Tanner Corum (8) in the first half. Kyle Carter, who rushed 13 times for 110 yards, had TD runs of 21 and 2 yards in the opening quarter.
Ooltewah quarterback Kyrell Sanford connected with Fisher Perry on a 5-yard touchdown strike in the second period.
Wilkinson ran 30 yards for a score midway through the third quarter and Isaiah Gibbs capped the Admirals’ scoring with a 1-yard run early in the fourth period.
Sanford ran 1 yard for the Owls’ other TD with 15 seconds remaining in the game. He finished the season with 1,478 passing yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 791 yards and 12 TDs in his senior season.
Running back Sincere Quinn led the Owls’ rushing attack with 931 yards and 16 touchdowns. Perry, a sophomore, was Ooltewah’s leading receiver with 329 yards and five touchdowns.
“I have never been more proud of a team than this year’s team,” Chandler said. “Nobody gave us a chance to win nine games, but that shows what kind of players and coaches we have. I give God all the glory and all the praise.”
Scoring Summary
Ooltewah 0 7 0 7 – 14
Farragut 21 14 7 7 – 49
First Quarter
FAR – Kyle Carter 21 run (kick good), 11:19
FAR – Isaiah Gibbs 12 pass from Gavin Wilkinson (kick good), 7:01
FAR – Carter 2 run (kick good), 3:17
Second Quarter
OOL – Fisher Perry 5 pass from Kyrell Sanford (Braden Haynes kick), 8:48
FAR – Jaden Gibbs 26 pass from Wilkinson (kick good), 5:36
FAR – Tanner Corum 8 pass from Wilkinson (kick good), 0:36
Third Quarter
FAR – Wilkinson 30 run (kick good), 6:24
Fourth Quarter
FAR – Gibbs 14 run (kick good), 10:53
OOL – Sanford 1 run (Haynes kick), 0:15
YARDSTICK
OOL FAR
First Downs 16 25
Rushes-Yds 33-134 23-185
Passing Yards 127 225
Comp-Att-Int 17-25-1 18-20-0
Plys-Total Yds 58-261 43-410
Fumbles-Lost 2-0 0-0
Punts-Avg 3-27 0-0
Penalties-Yds 8-47 4-27
INDIVIDUALS
RUSHING – Ooltewah: Kyrell Sanford 21-80, Sincere Quinn 8-31, Tylan Cargle 4-23; Farragut: Kyle Carter 13-110, Isaiah Gibbs 9-45, Gavin Wilkinson 1-30.
PASSING -- Ooltewah: Sanford 17-25-1-127; Farragut: Wilkinson 18-20-0-225.
RECEIVING – Ooltewah: Fisher Perry 6-53, Malachi Quinn 2-28, T.J. Taylor 2-17, Hunter Moss 1-14, Tahj Cargle 3-9, Quentin Ingram 1-4, Tylan Cargle 2-2; Farragut: Jaden Gibbs 5-66, Alec Keathley 2-37, Carter 1-33, Tanner Corum 4-32, Isaiah Gibbs 3-24, Wyatt Lucas 2-24, Jon Buell 1-9.
Contact Larry Fleming at larryfleming44@gmail.com and on Twitter @larryfleming44)