JOHNSON CITY — New quarterbacks, same expectations for the Dobyns-Bennett and Science Hill football teams.
If Tuesday was any indication, the teams fully expect to be on another collision course this fall for a Region 1-6A championship.
Pitted against each other in the quarterfinal round of bracket play during the Will Healy Football Camps 7-on-7 tournament at ETSU, D-B got the best of the Hilltoppers 21-11. Two victories later, the Indians had won the tournament to wrap up competition prior to the TSSAA dead period, a 29-20 victory over Knoxville’s Grace Christian Academy sealing the title.
Junior signal caller Levi Chappell fired three touchdown passes against Science Hill in a 21-11 quarterfinal triumph, before doing likewise against Bluefield (W.Va.) in a 21-12 decision.
Against Grace, Chappell found the end zone four times. After a quick out to Jaylen Thomas and a 20-yard slant pattern to Corde Moore, D-B held a 16-14 lead when he took the field a third time. Tyree Thomas grabbed Chappell’s lob pass over a Grace defender in the back of the end zone for D-B’s third score.
Aiden Villa secured the final touchdown to wrap up the title, a deep fade route down the left sideline with a defender in his face.
“Just grateful for the opportunity,†Chappell said. “I’d like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for all my blessings, and I’d like to thank these coaches and this team for putting all the hard work this summer. Way to end the summer on a great note going into dead period.â€
Chappell wasn’t the only Tribe quarterback who saw action. D-B also brought a B-team to the tournament and allowed sophomore Tate Wernke to throw against opposing varsity competition.
“Our quarterbacks have done well, both of them,†said D-B coach Joey Christian, who praised ETSU coach Will Healy for his efforts in organizing a 16-team 7-on-7 event. “When he first got the job, he came around and said he was going to get this 7-on-7 up, so I got to help him with the local coaches. We like good competition. We went to UT-Knoxville two weeks ago. We only get two of these in June, so we try to make the best of them when we get them.â€
Zabian Goodwin, Tegan Begley and Tyree Thomas both caught deep fade routes for touchdowns against Science Hill and Bluefield.
LANE LOCKS IN
Science Hill senior transfer Lane Clement showed his arm strength quickly against D-B, going deep to Branson Newberry for a 40-yard touchdown on the Hilltoppers’ second drive.
Tuesday’s reps were equally important for Clement’s receiving corps, as Science Hill’s starting lineup at wideout will feature several new faces this fall. Among Clement’s top targets Tuesday were Jabriel Fain, playing football for the first time since his freshman year, along with Ian Mathes, Aiden Perry and Newberry.“Lane is learning the system but as you can see, he’s got all the potential in the world,†Science Hill coach Stacy Carter said. “He’s got the height, he’s got the arm strength, very accurate, great kid, very coachable and a good person. Been fun to have him. To get a kid like that with a good family, come in and really mesh well with our kids, you become one of us really quick.â€
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Cherokee senior quarterback Landon Jeffers, a two-time 1,000-yard passer, went the entire day without throwing any interceptions. And that accounted for five round-robin scrimmages before the Chiefs fell to Nation Ford (S.C.) in the quarterfinals.
The Chiefs were scheduled to turn around quickly and host a 7-on-7 event in Big Red Valley on Wednesday morning.
