Staff Photo by Dan Henry Ooltewah's Eric Green, 4, tries to shake Farragut's Devin Ishak, 37, during the first half of play Friday evening.

In what many may have projected to be at least a quarterfinal matchup, Farragut defeated host Ooltewah 24-7 on Friday in a first-round game in the Class 6A high school football state playoffs.

Farragut (9-2) next will play Bearden, which defeated Sevier County.

Quarterback Reese Browning became Farragut's all-time passing leader in Friday's game, yet coach Eddie Courtney scrapped the Admirals' offensive game plan at halftime when Browning was 1-for-11 with two interceptions. Courtney turned to running back De'Andre Purty, who ended up with 23 carries for 159 yards.

With the game tied at 7, Purty returned the second-half kickoff 41 yards to nearly midfield. Farragut then used 12 consecutive running plays to set up Christian Ponce's 28-yard field goal.

"We said we had to do it," Courtney said. "We've got to run the football and eat some clock. This was two hard-nosed football teams."

Browning ended up 4-of-14, all the completions to Lee Van Dyne. He turned a reception on a down-and-out pattern into a 55-yard touchdown late in the third quarter when Ooltewah gambled on an interception and came up empty.

Defense ruled the first half when the teams combined for 10 punts. They swapped interceptions on consecutive plays in the second quarter with Farragut's Calvin Murray returning his 40 yards to the Owls' 41 before Korey Flanders brought his back to the Admirals' 43.

Farragut scored in the first quarter on a three-play drive. A 33-yard run by Purty preceded a catch by Van Dyne that covered 32 yards. From shotgun formation on the 6, Montre Hudson took a handoff from Browning and scored off right tackle.

Starting late in the first quarter, the Owls marched 57 yards for the tying touchdown. Brady Reed connected with Zach Zarzour on the right flank, and he was able to stretch the ball to the pylon.

Reed threw for 80 yards in the first quarter, but the Admirals changed some coverages and Ooltewah's effectiveness steadily declined. Coach Benny Monroe put Richard Manning in late but not much worked.

"They took some stuff away from us, but it was strictly a lack of execution on our part," Monroe said. "We had no offense whatsoever in the second half."

Ooltewah (9-2) played without Tennessee-bound defensive end and tight end Jacques Smith, who was suspended for fighting in practice.