East Clips Falcons on Late Score in Region Opener (2024)

Sullivan East and Volunteer both face serious challenges when they play against some of Northeast Tennessee's baddest football programs throughout the year, so when they show up on one another's schedule the third week of the season, there's real optimism in each camp.

"Anytime you start off with your first conference game, you absolutely have to circle it," East head coach J.C. Simmons said, in his usual "next-up" fashion.

And in what will be one of the better-played games of 2024, East scored late Friday to snag a 24-21 win over the visiting Falcons, as the previously winless rivals began Region 1-4A play.

The game, featuring no turnovers and 17 first downs apiece, could have gone either way.

"Oh yeah -- in years past we found ways to lose games like this," Simmons said. "But tonight we stepped up against a coached-up Volunteer team that would not quit. And we didn't quit either, and we just found a way to win the game. Super proud of my guys."

The Patriots (1-2, 1-0) claimed their ultimate advantage when elusive quarterback Peyton Lingerfelt scooted 8 yards to the end zone with 3:05 remaining in the game, completing a 13-play, 82-yard drive to snatch the lead away from the Falcons (0-3, 0-1).

The poised Lingerfelt was satin-smooth throughout the game, completing 28 of 36 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns, all while running 21 times to keep Volunteer off balance. He ran it on designed keepers (like his go-ahead score, a quarterback draw), improvised keepers and run-for-your-life keepers.

The sophom*ore, sacked at least five times, gained just 39 net yards on 20 honest attempts -- his final carry, virtually backwards to melt the clock, was credited to the team as an 11-yard loss.

Lingerfelt was East's only ball carrier all night -- and while his ground production was statistically mild, his ability to run to daylight and buy time for himself was a key to victory for the Patriots.

"This is Game 3 -- his third varsity start," said Simmons, whose team was coming off a 36-3 loss to Tennessee High. "Sometimes he still has a few sophom*ore kinks that he's got to work out, but the progress he's had from Game 1 to Game 3 is tremendous.

"And the guys out there really ... I think he and the rest of the team have taken to heart what we've been trying to preach, and that's to play the next play and do everything with everything you've got. And I think that's why we were able to win this game tonight."

Volunteer had gained a 21-17 advantage on quarterback Jameson Mowell's second 1-yard touchdown keeper, this one culminating a 12-play, 64-yard drive with 8:09 left to play.

The Falcons then had enough time after Lingerfelt's TD to give the home crowd some anxious moments with three long throws downfield, but none were really close and East was able to get off the field in just four plays, giving the ball back to Lingerfelt to salt away the game's last 1:37.

Mowell had completed a 6-yard pass to Reid Scott to begin Volunteer's final possession with good field position at its own 45, but thereafter the sophom*ore signal-caller overthrew two receivers on 40-yard throws and then missed another on a 20-yard, fourth-down crossing route.

The strong-armed Mowell finished the game 8 of 23 for 147 yards and one touchdown, in addition to his two rushing scores on just three carries.

But Mowell was not able to get the ball to his playmaker, speedy running back Keelin Releford, out of the backfield on any of Volunteer's final three downs -- a direct order from Simmons.

"He ran right down the pipe and we spied him and luckily we hit him just enough to get him out of there (out of the pass pattern)," the East boss said. "That's why we called the timeout (on Volunteer's final series), to make sure we had number 0 (Releford) covered up."

A 5-foot-8, 175-pound junior, Releford was a handful for the Patriots with 87 yards rushing on 15 carries and three receptions for 61 yards, including a 39-yard pickup on a swing pass.

"We were trying to get him to the outside (on second down) and then we were trying to get him down the seam the last two plays," first-year Volunteer head coach Mike Castle said. "We thought they held him in the middle -- yeah, they were certainly aware of him.

"They were sure aware, and you had to be because he does a little bit of everything for us."

East had taken a 17-14 lead with 1:44 left in the third period on a 26-yard field goal by Jose Valencia, a sophom*ore who also drilled two kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

East had its way the entire first half except for the final snap, when a streaking Scott pulled in a 41-yard Mowell bomb through contact, a stunning play that left the Patriots up 14-7 at halftime.

"Cover 4 -- don't let anything get behind you," Simmons said. "We made a bonehead mistake, that's all it was, and they took advantage."

The Patriots had assumed their 14-0 edge behind the dazzling Lingerfelt, who first capped an 11-play, 65-yard drive with a 3-yard TD pass to Blue Proffitt halfway back across the field, and then delivered a 15-yard strike to Haden Jones, who broke a tackle or two and set sail to the end zone to complete a 65-yard scoring play with 11:47 left in the second quarter.

Lingerfelt's scoring pass to Proffitt was a thing of beauty, as the three-sport athlete rolled hard right on fourth down and while under the gun, threw effortlessly from near the right sideline at about the 10-yard line, halfway across the field to his open receiver in the back of the end zone.

"He shows it in practice every day," Simmons said.

And the 6-foot, 175-pound Lingerfelt shows no fear.

"I'm super proud of his toughness tonight because he took some shots," Simmons said. "And he waved me off, saying he was staying in after a couple of 'em. Proud as heck of that, too."

Just another day at the office for a cool-as-ice leader who just plays ball.

"Our offensive coordinator (Stan Bedwell) is one of the best offensive coordinators in the world," Lingerfelt said. "And then we've got the Godfather of the Air Raid (assistant Hal Mumme, former head coach at the University of Kentucky for four seasons) in the press box up there, calling plays and seeing what the other team's defense has going on.

"I mean, I just trust in my OC's and I just play. They are great play-callers."

Lingerfelt effectively ran a ball-control passing game, generally throwing on the money for short gains to any of a half-dozen receivers, going downfield only a few times.

Proffitt finished with nine catches for 81 yards and the one touchdown, and Jones grabbed six balls for 88 yards and his score. Gavin Malone had six receptions for 38 yards, Devan Bowman four for 37 yards and Gabe Johnson two for 10 yards.

Down 14-7 at halftime, Volunteer used Releford's 39-yard reception to take a bite out of a six-play, 80-yard scoring drive to open the third quarter, tying the game with Mowell's first TD.

Backing the efforts of Releford and Mowell, Scott finished with three pass receptions for 59 yards and the one touchdown, while short back Caden Lafollette ran 10 times for 51 yards.

The Falcons killed themselves in the first half with penalties, namely eight for 85 yards, including four of the 15-yard variety. They drew a dozen flags altogether for 119 yards.

"Can't have that," said Castle, whose club opened the season against Class 6A West Ridge, before it dropped a close one to Lakeway Christian. "Holding penalties, illegal procedure, personal fouls -- you just can't have those killers when you're trying to score."

The Falcons, who finished with 302 total yards to East's 282 yards, will look to bounce back next week when they entertain Northview Academy, while the Patriots enjoy an open date.

Both have conference games later with traditional 4A strongboys Greeneville and Elizabethton.

First Quarter
(4:21) SULLIVAN EAST -- Blue Proffitt 3 pass from Peyton Lingerfelt (Jose Valencia kick) 0-7

Second Quarter
(11:47) SULLIVAN EAST -- Haden Jones 65 pass from Peyton Lingerfelt (Jose Valencia kick) 0-14
(0:00) VOLUNTEER -- Reid Scott 41 pass from Jameson Mowell (Jackson McLain kick) 7-14

Third Quarter
(9:19) VOLUNTEER -- Jameson Mowell 1 run (Jackson McLain kick) 14-14
(1:44) SULLIVAN EAST -- FG Jose Valencia 26, 14-17

Fourth Quarter
(8:09) -- VOLUNTEER -- Jameson Mowell 1 run (Jackson McLain kick) 21-17
(3:05) -- SULLIVAN EAST -- Peyton Lingerfelt 8 run (Jose Valencia kick) 21-24

Individual Statistics

Rushing
Volunteer -- Keelin Releford 15-87, Caden Lafollette 10-51, Owen Fleenor 5-25, Jameson Mowell 3-(-8).
Sullivan East -- Peyton Lingerfelt 20-39, Team 1-(-11).

Passing
Volunteer -- Jameson Mowell 8-23-0-147.
Sullivan East -- Peyton Lingerfelt 28-36-0-254.

Receiving
Volunteer -- Keelin Releford 3-61, Reid Scott 3-59, Khristian Bailey 2-27.
Sullivan East -- Blue Proffitt 9-81, Haden Jones 6-88, Gavin Malone 6-38, Devan Bowman 4-37, Gabe Johnson 2-10, Kaden Hicks 1-0.