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Head coach Spencer Riley challenged his team’s physicality following their opening week loss to Oak Ridge, and on Friday night, Jefferson County responded.

They defeated Sevier County 41-21, in emphatic fashion, outrushing the Smoky Bears 426-15 and leading the game from front to back.

They set the tone early, forcing a punt on Sevier County’s first offensive drive, headed up by two physical tackles from Dallas Williamson.

After forcing the Smoky Bears to punt, Shawn Jackson took a screen pass from Mason Henderson 30 yards to the house to put the Patriots up 6-0 just three minutes into the first quarter.

Jeff County got a break in the following drive, as Sevier’s Knox Kremblas dropped a would-be touchdown.

Nic Moore made sure they wouldn’t have another good look at the end zone, as he came up with a huge tackle on fourth down to give the Patriots the ball back with 1:27 remaining in the first.

Jefferson County capitalized, stringing together an 11-play, 78-yard scoring drive. The drive was capped off by a 20-yard touchdown carry from Omarion Mills, but that doesn’t capture the full picture.

The Patriots drove the ball down the field using a varied attack, including two big third down conversions through the air; finally getting from their passing game what they missed at Oak Ridge in week one.

The Smoky Bears responded quickly, however, as Malachi Pate returned the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a Sevier County touchdown, bringing the score to 12-7.

Jefferson County didn’t lay down though. They chunked together another impressive scoring drive, this time seven plays for 65 yards, finished off by a six-yard score from Williamson. The game sat at 19-7 with 4:59 left in the half.

Coming out of the half, Sevier County tried to catch the Patriots off-guard with an onside kick, but an offsides penalty thwarted their chance, and the Patriots got the ball at their own 20.

Jackson only needed two plays to go 80 yards, capping it off with a 75-yard carry for them up 34-7 just 15 seconds into the half.

On the following drive, the Smoky Bears moved the football, but the Patriot defense stepped up. They stopped Sevier, turning them over on downs.

The Patriots couldn’t capitalize however, as an interception gave the Smoky Bears the ball back.

Sevier started the drive off with a 70-yard completion to senior receiver Tyson Franklin, and ended with a one-yard scoring carry from Mason Ellis.

Following the interception, coach Riley went back to where his bread is buttered: the running game.

They strung together an eight play, 44-yard scoring drive. First with Mills, then to Williamson, then finished off with Skylar Thomas’ 14-yard carry up the left hash for the Patriot touchdown. 41-14, 1:53 to go in the third.

Play was halted due to lightning in the area with 10:35 to play in the fourth.

Coming out of the delay, the Patriots were faced with fourth and goal, and were unable to convert.

The Smoky Bears were able to string together a few completions, but the drive ultimately ended with an interception from Mills.

A bad punt after the next Patriot drive gave Sevier the ball with good field position, and they were able to punch in their third touchdown, the final of the game, with 1:41 remaining, leaving the final score at 41-21 in favor of Jeff County.

The win ends a three-game losing streak against the Smoky Bears, and improves the Patriots’ record to 1-1.

Despite the third quarter interception, the Jefferson County passing game showed signs of life today. Henderson went 7-11 for 80 yards and two scores.

Beyond that, he was able to connect with Patriot receivers on multiple crucial third downs to convert. Jeff County’s inability to rely on the passing game in similar situations was an achilles heel for them against Oak Ridge.

Another area the Patriots were deficient in week one was converting on third down. They converted 6-10 today, to Sevier’s 6-15.

The ground game was really the story today, however. They rushed for 406 yards on 42 attempts, a staggering 9.7 yards per carry.

Mills led the way with 192 yards; Jackson rushed for 105 (to go with 30 receiving yards), Thomas went for 76 and Williamson 50.

They couldn’t have done it without the play they got from their offensive line, however, who responded to coach Riley’s challenge to them to be physical.

On the flip side, they managed to hold Sevier to just 17 yards on the ground on 21 attempts.

Each time the Smoky Bears attempted to turn the tides, the Patriots responded.

Similarly, with their backs against the wall, facing an 0-2 start before traveling to Science Hill next week, Jefferson County came ready to play today.

Kickoff against the Hilltoppers falls next Friday, at Kermit Tipton Stadium.