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Scores and Photos: Friday Night High School Football - Aug. 28
Ooltewah inflicted the pain and the clock ran with mercy.
Ooltewah punished Signal Mountain 46-3 on the Eagles' home field Friday night.
The Owls (1-1) played offense at a frenetic pace, continually snapping the ball within five seconds of it being placed ready for play. They also spread the ball around to various players with 10 having either a catch or a carry in the first half.
They played defense with bruising authority and delivered vicious hits to ball carriers all night. They limited the Eagles to 84 yards and six first downs before a fourth-quarter drive netted a 40-yard Signal Mountain field goal by Ben Brown.
"That field goal hurt," said Ooltewah senior linebacker Jeremiah Jackson, who scored a defensive touchdown. "We pride ourselves on shutouts. To give up a first down, a yard, an inch gets to us."
The Owls defense has allowed a total of 10 points in its first two games, including a 9-5 loss to Riverdale.
"I know Jeremiah made a lot of plays, " Ooltewah coach Mac Bryan said. "I know (linebacker) Tyler Reid was all over the field, I thought Rashaun (Freeman) played well and I'm sure other people did, too."
The Eagles, who dressed only 29 players due to injuries, had only two plays gain double-digit 10 yards - an 11-yard pass and a 10-yard pass. They were dropped for a loss or no gain on 10 of their 52 snaps. Junior fullback Collin Weigert led the Eagles (0-2) with 12 carries for 63 yards.
"My kids played hard and finished the ballgame," Signal Mountain coach Ty Wise said. "Ooltewah has a tremendous football team."
Ooltewah junior Cameron Turner turned a simple screen into a 31-yard touchdown on a flip from Landon Elrod.
Jackson scooped up a fumble late in the first quarter and cruised 36 yards to give Ooltewah a 13-0 lead.
"I know A.J. Diggs was in on the tackle, and then I saw somebody come in and the ball was on the ground," Jackson said. "I followed my instincts and scooped and scored."
Freeman, who plays safety and running back, added to the scoring with a 6-yard run. Turner scored from 5 yards out, and Freeman scored from 2 yards, all in the second quarter.
The Owls defense forced three punts and the turnover and twice held the Eagles on fourth down in their own territory. It held the Eagles to an average of 2.1 yards per snap before the bands took the field with Ooltewah leading 33-0.
Alek Toser booted two field goals and Joseph Norwood caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Collin Thurman to close the Owls' scoring.
"It was nice to come out and play like we should, except for some penalties," Bryan said. "We have good coaches and good players."
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP