Batten down the hatches
Anderson County welcomes defending state champs with a blowout win
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Gavin Noe upended Powell’s Johntay Dunn Friday night at 130 Maverick Circle as the Mavs opened the 2022 season with a 48-14 win over the 2021 5A state champions. - Ken Leinart
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Braden Miller hauled in six catches, one of which was an 18-yard score. - Ken Leinart
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Anderson County’s Gavin Noe took to the air for his first touchdown Friday night in the Mavs’ 48-14 win over Powell High School. - Ken Leinart
The 2022 Anderson County Maverick football team opened some eyes Friday night.
It wasn’t the fact the team beat the defending 5A state champion Powell Panthers 48-14 — it was how they did it.
The Devil, it’s said, is in the details.
“We wanted to slow the game down,” Anderson County High School Head Football Coach Davey Gillum said. “I didn’t want to score on a 60-yarder and they come back and score on a 60-yarder …
“I love throwing the ball, but you don’t win championships by not being tough up front.”
The Mavs ran the ball more than they threw — 35 rushing attempts to 25 passing — and it was not so much the number of rushing attempts, it was the nature of them.
The Mavs pounded the ball up the middle.
Nick Moog was the hoss. He carried 19 times for 124 yards. Gavin Noe carried the rock 14 times for 90 yards — three of those carries being touchdowns.
“Our O-line was dominating. Coach (Jon) Chadwell and Coach (Russ) Gillum love working with the O-line,” Davey Gillum said. “We just wore them down.”
Noe’s first score was the game’s first score at just over 5 minutes into the first period. He capped off a 17-play, 88-yard drive that ate time and set the game’s tone.
The Mav defense and special team play set up Anderson County’s next score. After holding the Panthers and forcing a fourth down — thanks to a jarring play from Matthew Clayton — senior Andrew Meier blocked the Panther kick and the Mavs were in business 23 yards away from the end zone.
Again, Gavin Noe did the honors. In a rarity, Chris Nelson missed the point after and the Mavs claimed a 13-0 lead going into the second quarter.
The next series saw Powell take a blow — senior quarterback Jordyn Potts was sidelined after taking a hit while delivering an intentional grounding violation — and ACHS again got the ball in good field position.
But the Panthers are state champions and state champions make plays. Powell got the ball back on an interception in the end zone and 55-yard return. Dylan Stooksbury then connected with Connor Wheeler for a score and the lead was trimmed to 13-7.
“They have superstars everywhere and we didn’t want to get into a track meet, or go one on one, or get into a lightning strike game,” Gillum said.
Anderson County was forced into its lone punt of the night and it looked like Powell had some mojo working with a first and 10 on the 21.
Daylen Cole had other plans. Cole intercepted a pass at the 39-yard line, picked up a couple of blocks, then danced, skated, and finally bulled his way into the end zone for a 39-yard pick six. Nelson returned to form and the point after made it 20-7 with just over five minutes to play in the first half.
The Mavs forced a turnover on downs and set up shop 54 yards from a score, which they received with just over two minutes in the half to make it 27-7 — Noe notched his third score on the night from nine yards out.
The second half saw the Mavs chew up clock with Moog handing out punishing runs.
Walker Martinez took advantage of the battered Powell defenders, finishing off three drives with touchdown tosses in the second half. He connected with Bryson Vowell for a 34-yard score with 5:40 left in the third — 34-7; another toss to Vowell for a five yard score to start the fourth quarter — 41-14 (both drives capped 74 yard and 52 yard drives respectively), then locked up the win with a 18 yard strike to Braden Miller with 2:15 to play in the game and the 48-14 final.
Powell scored in the third frame on a Stooksbury to Aiden Greene catch to make the score, at that juncture, 41-14.
“They’re a great team,” Gillum said of Powell. “They’ll probably win another state championship. I’m sure tonight they took a gut punch.”
The Mavs travel to Johnson City this Friday to take on Science Hill and the Mavs had best not rest on their laurels.
“I know the nature of kids. I know it’ll be a battle (to keep them focused),” Gillum said.
He said the coaches will work to keep the team focused.
“They’re (Science Hill) a big 6A team,” he said. “If we get into a lightning strike game like last year …”
The Hilltoppers beat Elizabethton 17-7 last Friday.
Game time is at 7:30 p.m.