Clinton senior quarterback Mason Eckerson scans the field for an open receiver during the Dragons’ preseason scrimmage against Grace Christian Academy. Eckerson and the Dragons will get one final tuneup before the regular season when they compete in the Roane County High School football jamboree at Kingston on Friday. - Tony Cox
Clinton High School’s football team made a trip to Rhea County late last week for its second scrimmage in preparation for the 2026 season.
The Dragons picked up valuable game action against host Rhea County, Bradley Central and Coahulla Creek.
Clinton second-year Coach Jake Dawson was upbeat following his squad’s second dress rehearsal for the new season.
“I thought we played well,” Dawson said. “We saw some great teams. We saw Rhea County and we saw Coahulla, and they’re a good team from Dalton, Georgia.
“We played hard, and I think things looked a little better than they did in our first scrimmage (against Knoxville’s Grace Christian Academy on Friday, July 31).
In a matchup featuring the past two Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference football champions, Norris Middle School found a way to come out on top.
But it wasn’t easy.
The Senators had to rally from behind to defeat Robertsville 30-26 Thursday night at Anderson County High School.
The Rams, playing their first game under new Coach Sean Miller, led for much of the contest, only to see Norris mount a comeback and notch a victory in the 2026 season opener for both teams.
It’s early, but Norris has already been forced to battle adversity in the form of injuries.
“We’re an injured football team right now,” Norris Coach Richie Noe said. “We’re playing a lot of sixth- and seventh-graders right now, and we usually play one or two sixth-graders every year.
Clinton and Lake City middle schools will kick off their 2026 football seasons this week, and both the Hawks and Lakers will face stiff tests to open the new campaign.
Clinton will head to Cherokee to face a team that hasn’t lost a game in seven years.
Kickoff between the Yellow Jackets and Hawks is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday in Kingston.
The Lakers, meanwhile, will open the season in Maynardville, where they will collide with the Red Devils. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday.
The other three area middle schools kicked off their seasons Thursday as Norris came from behind to edge Robertsville 30-26. Jefferson, meanwhile, dropped its season opener to Lenoir City 22-7.
The Senators return to action Thursday when they travel to Lenoir City for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Robertsville will host Fort Loudoun at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Blankenship Field.
The Eagles will hit the road for the first time Thursday night when they travel to Christian Academy of Knoxville.
Strong line play fuels productive night for Anderson County
by Ken Lay
Anderson County senior Elijah Johnson breaks into the open field with the ball during the Mavericks’ scrimmage against Webb School of Knoxville on Friday, Aug. 7, at David Meske Stadium. Johnson and the Mavericks are preparing for the start of the 2026 season. - Tony Cox
For the second-consecutive week, the Anderson County High School football team made a trip to Knoxville for a scrimmage.
The Mavericks, who opened the scrimmage season at Knoxville Halls on Friday, July 31, returned to the city Friday night to take on Webb School of Knoxville at David Meske Stadium.
Longtime Anderson County Coach Davey Gillum was pleased with his team’s performance against the Spartans.
“I thought we played well,” he said. “There are always things to clean up, but not bad overall.
“We still have a long way to go, but I like where we are at this point.”
Offensively, the Mavericks produced some big plays behind a strong performance from their offensive line, which gave quarterback J.D. Gillum time to find receivers downfield.
That also opened running lanes for Anderson County’s backs.
Clinton senior Parker McGhee makes her presence felt at the net for the Lady Dragons. McGhee brings experience and strength to Clinton’s front row as the Lady Dragons prepare to open the 2026 regular season next week. - Ellie Hatmaker
The 2026-27 school year has begun, and the volleyball and girls soccer seasons are right around the corner.
Area volleyball and girls soccer teams can begin their regular seasons Monday, Aug. 17.
On the court, all three area volleyball teams will get things rolling Monday as Anderson County hosts Lakeway Christian School at 6:30 p.m.
Oak Ridge, meanwhile, will open at Seymour with a pair of matches against the host Eagles and Kingston. Action begins at Seymour High School at 5:30 p.m.
Clinton will open at home in the confines of Don W. Lockard Gymnasium when it hosts Knoxville’s Hardin Valley Academy.
With its final scrimmage in the rearview mirror, the Oak Ridge High School football team has turned its attention to the season opener against Knoxville Halls.
The Wildcats, who won their first nine games in 2025 on their way to a 9-2 finish, will head to North Knox County to take on the Red Devils, who reached the Class 5A state semifinals last season.
“We don’t have a jamboree (this week), and we don’t have another scrimmage,” Oak Ridge Coach Derek Rang said. “So we’ll spend this week getting ready for Halls.
“We have two scrimmages, and we have a catalog of material that we can use to correct from and prepare, and we’re going to spend the week preparing for Halls and working on us.”
Oak Ridge High School’s golf team opened the home portion of its 2026 schedule Thursday.
The Wildcats finished third in a three-way match at Oak Ridge Country Club against Powell’s First Baptist Academy and Knoxville Central High School. The three schools played the front nine at ORCC.
The Eagles won the match with a team score of 144, followed by the Bobcats (154) and the Wildcats (158).
Oak Ridge picked up a solid effort from three freshmen as Britten Luttrell led the way for the Wildcats, finishing 1-over par with a 37. Fellow freshmen Jonah Wolfe and Titus Petrucci each carded a 39, while Kaleb Jackson rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats.
Coach Scott Hinton was pleased with the performances of his freshman trio in its first high school match on its home course.
The 2026 golf season continued for Clinton High School last week, and the Dragons notched their first win of the campaign as they defeated Campbell County and South-Doyle in a match at Deerfield Golf Course hosted by the Cougars on Monday, Aug. 3.
Clinton finished with a team score of 166, followed by Campbell County at 177 and South-Doyle at 200.
Making his season debut for the Dragons, senior Grant Hannah led the way with a 38 and claimed medalist honors. JP Robbins finished with a 43, while Finn Pridemore and Eric Newport each carded a 44. Aden Golden rounded out Clinton’s lineup with a 47.
Clinton Coach Matt Cain was pleased with his squad’s effort but noted that plenty of work still lies ahead.
“We’re heading in the right direction, but we’re not where I’d like us to be,” Cain said.
Reece Hollifield was the lone competitor for the Lady Dragons and shot a 57.
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, the Dragons played at Beaver Brook Country Club in a match hosted by Powell, and things didn’t go quite as well as Clinton finished third behind the host Panthers and Campbell County.
Powell won the match with a team score of 148, followed by the Cougars at 166 and the Dragons at 174.
Hannah again led the way for Clinton, firing a 37. Robbins and Pridemore each finished with a 45, while Newport and Golden each carded a 47.
Hollifield was again the lone competitor for the Lady Dragons and shot a 56.
The 2026 football season started on a losing note for Jefferson Middle School late last week as the Eagles came up on the short end of a 22-7 decision against Lenoir City.
The Eagles held a 7-6 halftime lead of their opener Thursday night at Blankenship Field.
But Lenoir City (1-0 overall, 1-0 in the Tennessee Valley Athletic Conference) scored 16 unanswered points after halftime against Jefferson (0-1, 0-1).
“We just didn’t play very well,” Eagles Coach Sean Jessie said. “We were banged up. We didn’t have three starters. We didn’t have our starting running back. We didn’t have a starting tight end and we didn’t have a starting wide receiver.
“We were ahead, 7-6, at halftime and we just didn’t play cleanly on either side of the ball. It was just a rough night all the way around.”
