Smith County: 17
Gordonsville: 0
(Smith County Insider Press) Gordonsville, Tenn. – Friday night’s rivalry between the Smith County Owls and the Gordonsville Tigers took center stage in front of a standing room only crowd in Gordonsville. The game got underway with a Tiger kickoff to the visiting Owls. Unable to get a first down, the Owls went 4 and out and were forced to punt. The Tigers were not able to put together much on their initial drive either. It also ended with a 4 and out.
The Owls 2nd drive fed the Tiger defense a steady diet of hard running from a familiar Dusten Holder along with key pass completions from Hackett to Jon Neal Vance and Bailey Kemp. The black and gold put their first points on the board with a touchdown pass from Hackett to Kemp, with 2:33 remaining. Following an extra point from Bryant Goolsby, the Owls went on top, 7-0. The Tigers 2nd offensive outing again ended with a 4 and out as a solid Owl defense was able to contain the Tiger running game. The Owls offense took the field once again at the tail end of the first quarter, but ended with a punt after just 3 plays despite starting with good field position.
The third drive from the Tigers was again stifled by a stingy Owl defense resulting in a 4 and out by Gordonsville. Smith County took over with 8:35 remaining in the half, netting 2 first downs after solid running again for Holder. Following a costly penalty and a Hackett sack, the Owls were forced to punt the ball to Gordonsville. The Tigers final drive of the half showed promise comprised of solid running from Vaden and Givens. Gordonsville got their first of their 2 first half first downs on the drive, and were able to convert on 4th down. However the drive ended with an interception by Bailey Kemp. The Owls closed out the half with a field goal putting them up 10-0 at the break. Holder ran the ball 14 times for 58 yards to lead the Smith County running attack.
Following the Smith County kickoff from Ethan Elliot, the Tigers went to work and moved the ball down the field with more solid running from Vaden and Givens. The Tigers were able to convert another 4th down and were able to get 4 first downs on the drive. As Gordonsville was threatening to score, the Owls defense tightened the reigns, forcing a turnover on downs at the Owl 7 yard line, preventing the Tigers from getting on the scoreboard. Operating deep from their own territory, the Owls offense stalled and was forced to punt the ball after only 3 plays.
The ensuing drive from Gordonsville to end the 3rd quarter yielded 2 first downs, but again ended with a turnover on downs thanks to a stingy black and gold defense. Smith County marched down the field on their first possession of the final quarter with more solid running from Holder, and 2 key pass completions from Hackett to Holder and King respectively. After getting 3 first downs during the drive, the Owls earned their 2nd score of the game with a touchdown run from Hackett. Following the point after by Goolsby, the score was Owls 17, Tigers 0 with over 5 minutes remaining in the game.
Gordonsville, desperate to put some points on the scoreboard, started what turned out to be their final drive with 5:34 left on the clock. The Tigers were able to net a first down, thanks to a pass interference call, but were unable to capitalize. Their drive came to an end after a huge sack of Damien Davis by Matthew Rutherford.
Following the punt, the Owls were able to maintain possession and run the clock to all zeros.
The win puts the Owls at 2-0 overall and 0-0 in district play.
