Ravenwood looks to continue turnaround with Jennings, Blaze

Ravenwood Raptors Football

*Ravenwood (Tenn.) at Blackman (Tenn.) will be the Falcons Friday Game of the Week on CSS at 7:30 pm

Charlie Davidson filled in as Blackman’s starting running back during the Blaze’s first-round matchup with Smyrna (Tenn.) and had a career day with 148 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The teams went scoreless in the opening quarter before the Blaze erupted for a 28-point second quarter, including 21 points in the final two minutes of the first half. Quarterback Jauan Jennings found Quen Hardy for a 77-yard touchdown in the third quarter and backup quarterback Jamie Kent capped the scoring with a 47-yard touchdown. Blackman’s defense stifled Smyrna, holding the Bulldogs to just 99 total yards of offense.

 

Turnovers have been the one thing slowing down this 9-2 Blackman team this season, but Jennings and the Blaze showed what a focused Blackman team is capable of and completed a 42-0 drubbing of Smyrna. Jennings has flourished as the Blaze’s junior signal caller this season, and the 6-foot-4 dual-threat passer is currently listed as the No. 3 Class of 2015 prospect in Tennessee by 247sports.

 

Defensively, nine different Blackman players have hauled in interceptions this season, including Jennings who can cover the safety position at an all-state level. Senior Antonio Allen leads the team in tackling and at 6-foot-2, 220 pounds has collected offers from Appalachian State, Middle Tennessee State and UAB.

 

Ravenwood finished 3-7 last year and has had a memorable turnaround season. Its only loss during this 10-1 start came to Overton (Tenn.) 34-33. The Raptors come off a 49-26 win over Cane Ridge (Tenn.) in the first round of the playoffs and after sitting at home in November in recent years Ravenwood looks to have plenty of life left in its season. Running back Nick Faqua has been the workhorse and spark on offense and has tallied 1,764 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns this season. Junior wideout Van Jefferson could be the most talented athlete taking the field. At 6-foot-3, Jefferson’s ability has him ranked as the top Class of 2015 receiver in state by 247sports. Jefferson holds offers from Ohio State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Clemson and Auburn.

 

Austin Burt can produce game-changing plays for Ravenwood and returned a kickoff 77 yards for a touchdown last Friday. Linebacker Robert Pomeroy and defensive lineman Jeffery Yoshihara will be the Raptors’ key line of defense, hoping to slow down Jennings and the Blaze.

 

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