Long rallies Knox Central to stunning comeback win at D-B

KINGSPORT — Returning a half-century later, Knox Central's football team left with a much more desirable result than its 1976 state quarterfinal loss at J. Fred Johnson Stadium. A 2025 Tennessee Titans Mr. Football finalist made sure it happened. Kaden Long rallied the Bobcats from a 29-15 deficit in the fourth quarter, capping the comeback with a 2-point conversion as Central left Kingsport with a 30-29 victory over Dobyns-Bennett on opening night Friday. Of course, far as Long is concerned, Friday's comeback was simply payback for D-B's win in Fountain City his junior season. Throwing for 341 yards and rushing for 119 while accounting for all four of his team's touchdowns, Long made a case for a return to the 5A Mr. Football conversation this fall — enough to where Dobyns-Bennett coach Joey Christian personally ran him down and congratulated him afterward. "You can't take this for granted," Long said. "It doesn't get any better than this." Long began the comeback on a 1-yard touchdown run with 4:12 left, moments after hitting Rondell North for 39 yards on third-and-30. Central (1-0) forced a three-and-out, and Long moved the Bobcats into scoring position again with his 27-yard keeper. On second-and-10, Long fired a deep post to JJ Sackie, who caught the touchdown with 27.4 seconds on the clock. Without hesitation, the Bobcats went for 2, and Long kept around the left side before the Bobcats broke up D-B's final desperation pass. "My coach told me if we score we're going for 2," Long said. "I knew if we were going for 2, I was going to get the ball. I knew I couldn't let anybody stop me, had to get my head down no matter what." Long ran the ball 21 times and finished 28-of-46 through the air, hitting North five times for 142 yards, Sackie eight times for 88 and Tnaj Taylor five times for 59. Emmitt Starnes led the Indians (0-1) with 86 yards rushing on eight carries, and his 37-yard touchdown run up the middle gave D-B a 22-15 lead to start the third quarter following his 2-point run. Levi Chappell went 11-of-21 for 157 yards passing while rushing for 27. Chappell kept right and scored on a 9-yard run with 1:44 in the third quarter, building a 29-15 lead for the home team. Tyree Thomas caught two of Chappell's passes for 54 yards. "A great football game, two good football teams … you'll hear from Central later on in the 5A playoffs for sure," Christian said after D-B's first opening loss at J. Fred Johnson Stadium since 2018. The Bobcats converted 3-of-7 on third down in the first half but moved the chains on all three of their fourth-down attempts. Long hit Lanier Badgett for a 10-yard gain to convert a fourth-and-1 at the Central 36, and Long found North on a deep fade for a 39-yard touchdown two plays later for a short-lived 12-7 lead. D-B's offense didn't get a chance to answer thanks to Kedrick Harris, who fielded the ensuing kickoff on the run and took it down the visitors sideline 88 yards for a 14-12 lead. Long converted two third downs and one fourth, connecting with North on a 33-yard fade with 1.5 seconds until the half. Owen McGaha's 23-yard field goal gave the Bobcats a 15-14 halftime advantage. Long drove Central 79 yards in 11 plays on its opening drive, keeping four times for 18 yards and capping it with a 2-yard run around the left side for a 6-0 lead. D-B responded in five plays, sparked by Starnes' 20-yard burst up the middle. Three plays later, on third-and-9, Chappell found Brayden Blakley in stride down the middle for a 39-yard touchdown and a 7-6 lead. "We made plays there at times, but we have to make plays when we need them. Not the way we wanted to start for sure, but we'll learn from it and get better. We'll have to," Christian said. "I think we had eight guys in our starting 22 that had never been on the field in a real game. We're super young. The growing process is painful. These kids hurt, I hurt … I thought our coaches did a great job tonight, had us ready. You've just got to learn from it." UP NEXT The Indians travel to Asheville looking for their first-ever win on North Carolina soil on Friday. Knox Central 30, D-B 29 Central&emsp;6&emsp;9&emsp;0&emsp;15&emsp;—&emsp;30 D-B&emsp;7&emsp;7&emsp;15&emsp;0&emsp;— 29 First quarter Central — Kaden Long 2-run (kick failed) D-B — Brayden Blakley 48-pass from Levi Chappell (Lofton Fuller kick) Second quarter Central — Rondell North 39-pass from Long (pass failed) D-B — Kedrick Harris 88-kickoff return (Fuller kick) Central — Owen McGaha 23-FG Third quarter D-B — Emmitt Starnes 37-run (Starnes run) D-B — Chappell 9-run (Fuller kick) Fourth quarter Central — Long 1-run (McGaha kick) Central — JJ Sackie 21-pass from Long (Long run)