Two advance, two fall
With the unpredictability of the postseason, any given Friday can mark the end of a team’s season or the start of a playoff run to remember.
That appeared the case for multiple teams across west Knoxville as scores rolled in Friday, Nov. 6.
Christian Academy of Knoxville and Concord Christian both came out on top, as CAK beat Pope John Paul II 37-7 with CCS taking down Fayette Academy 49-21. Isaac Kannah did it all for the Warriors Friday, taking 15 carries for 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns with one pass for 29 yards and a score along with 24 kick return yards for 168 all-purpose yards. Seaton Moffett went 9-for-12 through the air for 111 yards and two scores, and Baker Sterchi, Masyn Apalategui and Sawyer Anderson hauled in one touchdown catch apiece.
Concord Christan saw similar effort from Dasani Moulden, Dylan Brown and Maurice Smith, though more details can be found in the corresponding story about the Lions’ historic win.
With their best record since 2020, the Warriors (10-1) will welcome Evangelical Christian Friday, Nov. 13, in the Division II-AA state quarterfinals while CCS will take on Friendship Christian in the next round for Division II-A.
For Webb School of Knoxville, the first year under George Quarles saw the Spartans’ first postseason berth since they went 5-5 in 2024. But Webb proved unable to move past Battle Ground Academy in a 49-14 loss in the Division II-AA first round. QB Garrett King went 7-for-19 through the air for 80 yards, an interception and a touchdown to Antwan Hill, who scored one of the Spartans’ three touchdowns. Gibby Tomberlin found the end zone on a catch from King while Matthew Rogers tossed a passing touchdown as well.
Hardin Valley Academy experienced a similarly tough result, losing 27-24 against Science Hill in the first round of the 6A playoffs.
HVA fumbled the opening kickoff, and Science Hill cashed in with a field goal before the Hawks found the end zone on a 22-yard run from Cruize Furman.
The Hilltoppers answered with 10 straight points before a Logan Holbrook field goal whittled the deficit to 13-10, but Science Hill extended its lead 20-10. That’s when the Hawks rallied, taking a 24-20 lead on two touchdown scampers from Matz.
“It was a bitter way for it to end, but I told the kids I was proud of them, and we set out to accomplish some goals and were able to knock some of those off the chart. We’re disappointed but not displeased. We have got a very resilient group and that’s a core value we established this thing on.
“I’m proud of the way they fought through things. Our kids stayed the course and had an opportunity to win and we just weren’t ready,” he continued. “That’s on me. I think you’ve got to celebrate the success of achieving what we did, but now, that creates a new standard of where we want to be moving forward.”
