Powell picks up where it left off when Matt Lowe left

Al Lesar
For USA TODAY Network - Tennessee
Powell junior Bailor Walker (3) attempts to leap over Halls Senior Justin Peters (26) during the Powell versus Halls football game at Powell High School Friday, Aug. 17, 2018.

It didn’t take long for the clock to get turned back on the Powell football program.

Before Friday night’s 35-0 season-opening victory over Halls, the last time Panther  coach Matt Lowe had paced the Powell sidelines was the state championship game in 2011.

Things have changed. And yet, they haven’t.

Scoreboard:Tennessee high school football results from Week 1

New era?

“I hope these are the old days for Powell football,” Lowe said after his second debut at his alma mater. “We played fast and we were hungry. That’s who we want to be.”

The Panthers were that and more. They scored on four of their first five possessions and finally got the clock running for the mercy rule with 10:23 left in the game.

“Winning a game like this against a rival is great,” Lowe said. “You couldn’t write a better script. These guys play travel ball together, they go to church together. They know each other well.”

Powell’s defense limited the Red Devils to 22 yards of total offense in the first half and set the stage for the Panther offense to lead, 28-0, at intermission.

Powell sophomore Fernando Frances (1) is tackled by Halls sophomore Jake Parris (8) during the Powell versus Halls football game at Powell High School Friday, Aug. 17, 2018.

Walker Trusley and Deuce Shreve shared the quarterback position for Powell. Shreve threw touchdown passes to Bailor Walker (17 yards) and Carson Cole (8). Trusley hit Riley Bryant for a 17-yard score and Eli Owens ran for a pair of TDs.

Trusley hit 8 of 12 passes for 108 yards with an interception.

“Walker’s a heck of a competitor with a live arm,” Lowe said. “He’s a playmaker. That’s the kind of guy we need at quarterback.”

“There’s been a lot of excitement in the hallways that we haven’t had before,” said Trusley, a junior. “There’s a lot of talk in the school about our team. The intensity in our program has gone up a ton.”

Trusley still just shook his head over a couple attempts.

“I can’t miss the open man,” he said. “Our (offensive) line gave us plenty of opportunities. We have to take advantage of it.”

Jeremy Bosken was frustrated about his debut as the Halls coach.

“Their defense gave us a lot of trouble,” said Bosken, whose offense didn’t cross midfield until the second half, when the outcome was decided. “There are a lot of things we have to get fixed. The old adage is that a team makes its most improvement between Week One and Week Two. I’m looking forward to that.”