(Smith County Insider Press) There has been a lot of hype building up for the Owls of Smith County this offseason, and last night onlookers were shown why that is the case.
In a pre-season scrimmage in Baxter, the Owls took on Jackson County in their final matchup before the regular season. Smith County dispensed with the pleasantries very early on in the match, starting off the evening with big opening runs from running backs Dusten Holder and Bryant Goolsby. Both backs are expected to contribute big things on the ground for the Owls this season. The passing game showed some bright moments as well, with quarterback Carson Hackett delivering a crucial 3rd and 6 strike to senior Bailey Kemp. The opening drive was eventually stalled out, due to an untimely penalty. This led to a miscommunication between the quarterback and center on the following play, and then a 4th and long. The Owls were unable to convert.
Fortunately for Smith County, the defense came to play in this early matchup. They forced a 3-and-out and a punt on their initial series. This defensive stop led to yet another huge run by the senior Holder. He was assisted greatly throughout the night with excellent blocking from his offensive line. However, it seemed that the red zone would again cause problems for the Owls, as a Bryant Goolsby touchdown run was negated by a holding call.
The offense responded positively, however, with Carson Hackett throwing an excellent scrambling touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Shermar “Shimmy” King to give the Owls their first points of the game.
Jackson County would respond, however, gaining some offensive momentum of their own. The Blue Devils rolled deep into Smith County territory, until a fumble in the end zone was recovered by the Owls to end any offensive hopes Jackson County may have held.
Sophomore quarterback Carson Hackett, fresh off the passing success of the last drive, once again struck through the air, finding senior wide receiver Camron Huff for a big gain. This continued a strong Owl drive which saw senior Bailey Kemp stroll into the end zone to seal the deal for Smith County, ending this pre-season friendly 12-0.
This win should give SC supporters hope for the upcoming season, as the owls were dominant for most of the game. Save for a few penalties and one big play allowed by the defense, Smith County showed very bright signs for the future, with both veteran and young players stepping up on both sides of the ball. Coach Dickerson should look to carry a Smith County team into the regular season that could very well remind SC nation of the days of old, with a strong running game complimented by smart passing and a strong, aggressive defense. This combination should serve the Owls well, but it will be tested early with an August 21st matchup at Macon County.
Photos by Rich Martin
