Division II schools dominate Week 7
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The Christian Academy of Knoxville Warriors remain atop the How the West was Won standings after a gritty road win last week. - Jake Nichols
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Knoxville Catholic quarterback Mack Bartholomew (10) celebrated after the Irish picked up a key first down en route to their 20-14 win over Ensworth last Friday. - Jake Nichols
One team stayed undefeated, two others notched historic wins, a young quarterback had a big night and a veteran coach won the first game of a new era.
All that and plenty more happened for football teams across the Farragut and west Knoxville area last week, as the How the West was Won contest extends through Week 7.
The Christian Academy of Knoxville Warriors rolled over Chattanooga Christian, 27-10, becoming 7-0 as part of their best season since 2011.
Bennett Jelks returned an interception for a touchdown, and Elijah Krokowski had a strip-sack returned for another score as part of a massive day for the Warriors’ defense.
That output and Isaac Kannah’s game-opening kickoff return for a touchdown paced a CAK team that found just one score on the offensive side when Seaton Moffett found Kannah down the sideline.
“Just some grit,” CAK coach Chad Speck said of his team. “We didn’t play our best football, but it was a gritty performance in the second half against a physical team. Our defense really stepped up and turned them over several times.”
The same approach went for Knoxville Catholic at home, where the Irish defended Blaine Stadium with a pivotal 20-14 win over Ensworth in region play.
Contrary to previous weeks, Philip Shadowens’ Irish squad did not need a last-minute drive or Hail Mary heave to pull out the win.
KCHS, however, did need to recover an onside kick and pick up a crucial first down after the Tigers drew within a touchdown on a penalty-aided drive late in the fourth quarter.
Even so, the Irish emerged with just their second win over the Tigers since joining Division III-AAA six years ago.
Mack Bartholomew led the Irish with 9-for-12 passing for 104 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Braylen Gibbs and David Thomas.
Kruise Buntyn took the ball 13 times for 130 yards and another touchdown to open the scoring for Catholic.
“They played really hard the whole game,” Shadowens said afterward. “Had a couple mistakes throughout, but our kids played with composure and great heart. We had some penalties that last drive that kept it alive — nothing stupid, just things that happened in the course of the football game.
“Great hustle on a late hit on the quarterback, and I didn’t think that was a late hit. Then a face mask that was accidental, and that happens, but what an effort. I was really proud of them. We’re 6-1 right now with a big region win, and we’ve got Fall Break so our kids can heal.”
The same goes for Concord Christian after a 38-14 victory over Providence Academy last weekend.
“We had a tough gauntlet there with Halls, MTCS and Grace, three really good teams,” Lions head coach Steve Matthews said. “So to face Providence, a team more our size, that was big going into Fall Break.”
Freshman QB Dylan Brown put up impressive numbers, going 18-for-28 through the air for 278 yards and four touchdowns.
Dasani Moulden and Todd Lundy racked up more than 100 yards receiving each in the first half alone, and Amare McKenzie took the opening kickoff for a score to clinch early momentum for CCS.
“We did a lot of good things, and the defense played much better,” Matthews said. “And I’m a perfectionist when it comes to quarterbacks, but I feel like Dylan is growing. During games, I’ll harp on what he can do better but then look at the stat line and say, ‘Wow, he had a really good game.’
“He’s still making freshman mistakes from time to time, but we’re waiting for him to put together that complete game and I think that’s coming soon.”
At Webb, the Spartans clinched a long-awaited first victory in the George Quarles era, beating Notre Dame 34-14.
Garrett King led Webb with three touchdown runs on 13 carries for 49 yards. Matthew Rogers added 19 more carries for 169 yards and two more scores on the ground.
“It was really nice,” Quarles said. “Really happy for our kids. They’ve hung in, kept working and kept listening to us and kept believing.”
Hardin Valley experienced the same feeling against Farragut, beating the Admirals for the first time since 2019, while Bearden lost to Oak Ridge 41-10 with a kick returned for a touchdown by Major Dean.
