Playing the program’s first game as the top-ranked Class 2A football team in Tennessee, the Signal Mountain Eagles did not disappoint.
With a diverse and dominant offense, the Eagles overwhelmed undermanned Lookout Valley 49-7 Friday night at Signal Mountain.
“You still have to execute, and we did that early,” Eagles coach Bill Price said. “We took care of the things we needed to, and all the kids got to play, and that’s good.”
Signal (3-0) scored on its first play – a 54-yard pass from Hogan Whitmire to Reese Phillips – and established an impressive, quick-strike trend in the first half.
Signal had four one-play touchdown drives in the first half on the way to a 49-0 lead midway through the second quarter. Among the one-and-done touchdowns was Donnie Garner’s 99-yard touchdown run. It was Garner’s only carry of the game, and he still amassed more total offense than the youthful Jackets (0-2) could generate against an aggressive Eagles defense.
“Our numbers are a little down this year, but the biggest thing for us is how young we are,” said Lookout Valley coach Tony Webb, whose team returned two starters on each side of the ball from last year’s playoff team. “Signal is very good, but I was proud of the way my kids stayed in there and fought and tried to get better.”
Gutsy Jackets sophomore quarterback Vann Scribner completed a swing pass to Terrance Marbury that became a 33-yard touchdown for the Lookout Valley score late in the third quarter.
Signal’s first-half highlight parade displayed its array of offensive options. Seven Eagles scored touchdowns – all of the scores came in their first 13 snaps – and they had another called back because of a penalty.
Whitmire threw four passes, completing three for 121 yards and two scores – the second on a 54-yard pass to Jon Patton.
Darian Hagans, Andrew Price, Caden Thomas joined Garner with long touchdown runs, and Zack Bowman scored on a 3-yard run.
“I think we’re building, and we’re getting there, to where we want to be with a couple of big games coming up,” said Signal senior safety Seth Wier, who helped a hard-charging first-team defense that limited Lookout Valley to 19 first-half yards. “Looking forward, everyone got some work in, and I think we’re going to be ready.”