Fall campaigns fuel momentum
County programs build success across football, volleyball and beyond
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Anderson County’s Reese Russell breaks up a pass during the Mavericks’ home showdown with perennial power Alcoa. The Mavericks snapped Alcoa’s 71-game region winning streak — dating to 2011 — with a 31-30 victory.
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Anderson County senior Ava Moody won her second- consecutive TSSAA Class A/AA state championship completing the 5,000-meter course at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis in 18 minutes 20.45 seconds.
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Clinton senior and Carson-Newman University signee Josie Moody and the Lady Dragons guided the Clinton volleyball program to its third-consecutive 20-win season.
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Clinton’s Ryker Armes (30) fends off South-Doyle defender Silas Johnson (14) with a stiff arm as he fights for extra yards during the Oct. 17 road game. Armes rushed 11 times for 52 yards, helping power the Dragons to a 24-0 shutout.
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Anderson County’s Maddox Tackett studies the green at Sevierville Golf Course during the TSSAA state championship. The Mavericks sent four individual golfers to compete in the championship round.
As the calendar turns to 2026, it’s time for one final look back at 2025 and some of the top sports stories across the county. This installment revisits the fall sports season.
Football
At the high school level, Anderson County overcame injuries and adversity to post another memorable campaign. Although its eight-year Region 2-4A winning streak ended with a loss to Gibbs, the Mavericks still captured a ninth- consecutive league title and reached the state quarterfinals before falling to longtime nemesis Greeneville.
Anderson County finished 9-3 and clinched the region championship with a dramatic 31-30 comeback win over Alcoa in the regular-season finale at home.
The Tornadoes, a longtime Class 3A power entering the year with 10 consecutive state titles, went on to win the Class 4A championship with a 47-27 victory over Pearl-Cohn — the same team the Mavericks defeated for the 2022 state title.
Clinton faced a challenging transition year under new head coach Jake Dawson, the program’s third coach in three seasons.
Competing in a loaded Region 2-5A, the Dragons went 2-7 and missed the playoffs.
Highlights included Bryson Maddox being named Region 2-5A Wide Receiver of the Year. Clinton’s wins included a 53-15 rout of Campbell County for its lone league victory, and a 24-0 shutout of South-Doyle.
At Oak Ridge, the Wildcats made the jump from Class 5A to Class 6A and opened the season in dominant fashion, winning their first nine games.
That streak earned Oak Ridge a Region 2-6A championship showdown at Maryville during Halloween week.
But the Rebels ended the Wildcats’ title hopes with a 34-0 win. Oak Ridge still hosted a first-round playoff game at Blankenship Field, but Science Hill rallied for a 35-31 victory to end the Wildcats’ season.
In middle school football, Norris captured a conference championship as the No. 3 seed, while Jefferson posted a winning season and qualified for postseason play.
Volleyball
On the volleyball court, Anderson County and Clinton renewed their district rivalry after the Lady Mavericks moved to District 3-AAA.
Despite a slow league start and a No. 5 seed in the district tournament, Anderson County surged to win the tournament championship, defeating Clinton.
Oak Ridge, under first-year Coach Meghan Ellis, finished fourth in District 3-AAA and swept Anderson County during the regular season.
The Lady Mavericks answered in the district tournament, eliminating Oak Ridge in the opening round.
Clinton advanced to the Region 2-AAA Tournament for the third consecutive season after another 20-win campaign under coach Lorri Johnson.
Golf
In boys golf, Anderson County claimed the district tournament title and tied for the Region 2-A championship before losing in a playoff.
Maddox Tackett won the individual region title, while Max Stanfill placed second. Clinton junior Grant Hannah captured the individual district championship, and Oak Ridge senior Hunter Hinton qualified for the Region 2-AA tournament.
On the girls’ side, Anderson County tied for the district championship but did not advance to region play as a team.
Sydney May, however, earned low medalist honors at the region tournament. Clinton made the for the Region 2-A tournament.
Cross country
Girls cross country produced another banner season for Anderson County as senior Ava Moody won her second-consecutive state championship. She covered the 5,000-meter course in 18 minutes, 20.45 seconds, leading the Lady Mavericks to a ninth-place finish at the Class AA state championships.
Clinton freshman Lilian West qualified for the state meet and finished 95th in 17:48.82.
Oak Ridge’s girls placed 17th at the Class AAA state meet, led by Amajiah Bishop’s 45th-place finish in 19:54.21.
In boys cross country, Oak Ridge senior Mason Greenhalgh placed 29th at the Class AAA state championships with a time of 16:31.15.
Anderson County’s boys finished 10th at the Class AA meet, led by J.J. Cutler’s 14th-place run in 16:48.63.
Clinton had two state qualifiers. Cooper Bostrom made his second-consecutive appearance and finished 45th in 17:48.82. Freshman Baylor Cool placed 109th in 19:13.80.
Girls Soccer
In girls soccer, Anderson County dominated District 4-AA play, sweeping the regular-season schedule to claim the league title.
The Lady Mavericks added the district tournament championship and the Region 2-AA crown before their postseason run ended in the state sectionals.