Blue Devils beat Northview Academy in home opener

The Unicoi County football team bounced back from a disappointing season-opening loss at David Crockett in resounding fashion. Gunner Peterson passed for four touchdowns and fellow senior Avery Hatcher caught three of those in the Blue Devils' 35-20 victory against Northview Academy in their home opener Friday at Gentry Stadium. "I'm beyond proud of how we responded after Week One," Unicoi County coach Drew Rice said. "We flashed at times and showed the team we can be." Hatcher finished with nine receptions for 184 yards (unofficially). Peterson passed for 329 yards. He also connected with senior Aidyn Evely on a 10-yard touchdown for the game's opening score. "Avery is a special talent," Rice said. "He may be the best route runner I've ever had. Aidyn had a tremendous game and is always just exactly where he's supposed to be in any moment. "Both of those guys and Gunner have a great connection, and I know he trusts those guys, as well as Alex Laningham and Tanner White." Peterson had big shoes to fill in taking over for Kolby Jones, but seemingly everyone in the program was confident he would be able to do it. "He's come in and kind of just gotten comfortable with the job and his responsibilities," Hatcher said. "He's always been able to throw it and he's always understood what to do. He understands the game of football really well. I think he's doing a great job so far." The same could be said about Hatcher, who credits assistant coach Nathan Arnold with helping him have a productive offseason. "Coach Arnold has helped me a lot," Hatcher said. "We've worked a good amount on getting more separation and working on timing and being a better leader and things of that nature." A deep receiving corps, Peterson says, has made for a relatively smooth transition. "Having a receiving corps like the one we have is definitely something most teams do not," Peterson said. "The four guys we have out there on the field are tremendous athletes, and are far more than capable of playing the receiver position. Last week, I think the 329 yards passing was almost split evenly between the four of them. So, I think that says a lot of that group of guys." Peterson also benefitted from a better running game against Northview than the Devils were able to generate at Crockett. The Blue Devils got a 4-yard touchdown run from Isaac Acevedo, which along with the ensuing PAT kick from Benny Acevedo, gave Unicoi a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. "Isaac Acevedo played tremendous in the first half defensively and ran hard as well," Rice said. Senior running back Blaze Rice, who rushed for more than 1,500 yards in 2025, has played while dealing with an injury during the first two games. "Blaze is still nursing a groin injury, but played through it and still made some plays when we needed him," Rice said. "When he gets back to one-hundred percent, I think our offense is really going to take off." Senior lineman Carter Simmons had an impactful performance on both sides of scrimmage. "I thought Carter Simmons took the game over on both sides of the ball," Rice said, "and played how we've all known he could since he was a sophomore." The Blue Devils got a 4-yard touchdown run from Isaac Acevedo, which along with the ensuing PAT kick from Benny Acevedo, gave Unicoi a 14-0 lead in the second quarter. "Isaac Acevedo played tremendous in the first half defensively and ran hard as well," Rice said. Unicoi County's ground game appeared to be decidedly improved from Week One to Week Two. "Offensively, we played great all around," Peterson said. "I had two fumbles inside the red zone that I wish I could have back, and that probably could have put the game away earlier. But from a QB standpoint, the O-line played a great game. We were definitely better this week at running the ball, which allowed the pass game to take off, allowing those four touchdowns. "Acevedo is a great kid, and definitely could be a starter for any team. He's all around a great football player, either on offense or defense." Now, Unicoi County (1-1) must turn its attention to defending District 1-3A champion Gatlinburg-Pittman (1-1) in each team's district opener. The Blue Devils momentarily seemed to have won against Pittman last year at Gentry Stadium. But Evely's diving attempt for a reception on a Kolby Jones pass in the end zone was ruled incomplete on a fourth-and-eight from the Pittman 26-yard line with 56.8 seconds left, and the Highlanders escaped with a 21-20 victory. "Pittman is the team to beat in our region, and in some years, the entire state," Rice said. "All these guys remember how that game ended last year and the path it led them on by being the number one seed. We are excited for the opportunity and I believe our guys will be ready." There probably isn't a person in the Unicoi program that thinks Evely didn't make that catch. But it's water under the bridge. "That was a rough game," Hatcher said, "but we've just gotta focus on this week coming up, and just go out and execute what the coaches have for us to do." Pittman defeated Cocke County, 35-0, in its home opener last week after losing 48-14 at Seymour during Week One. Seymour appears to be stout, as it won 42-8 last week at Pigeon Forge. Gatlinburg-Pittman lost a talented running back when Brayden Maples transferred to Sevier County in the offseason. The Highlanders still have an exceptional skill player in senior receiver Jackson Savarese, who has 13 receptions for 212 yards and three TDs in two games. "The Savarese kid is very dynamic with the ball in his hands," Rice said. "We have to find him at all times." Linebacker Nehemiah Campbell has bolstered the Blue Devils defense. He missed almost the entire season last year, including the Pittman game, due to an injury. "Nemo (Campbell) is obviously a good anchor to have in the middle of the defense," Hatcher said. "Will Smith (defensive end/receiver) has come on a lot this year. He just makes plays every time he's in. "Colt Hensley (nose guard) has done good on the defensive line. He's holding down the middle well. And Jack Swinehart has done a good job at defensive end." Pittman beat Unicoi County for the district title last year. The teams shared a district title with Johnson County in 2024. "Pittman is always a good game for us," Peterson said. "I know the last couple years, there has been a chip on our shoulders going into this game, but we always do everything we can to prepare. I know the guys around me, along with the coaching staff, want to get that chip off our shoulders. So, this week is a preparation week like no other."