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By DAN FLESER

The Fulton High Falcons didn’t let three losses to start their season get them down.

They bounced back in a big way against Austin-East, parlaying 20 third-quarter points into a 37-7 home victory.

“I don’t think they were down; I think they were disappointed,” Fulton coach Rob Black said of his players. “I talked to them about trusting the process.

“I think they were pretty battle-tested.”

The Falcons probably were a little battle weary as well after opening with road losses to South-Doyle, Central and Powell.

They got off to fast start against A-E (0-4) with a defensive stop on their first series, which afforded the offense a short field.

Quarterback Tommy Sweat capped a 25-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.

Sweat connected with Jayden Jenkins on a 16-yard pass for Fulton’s second score.

Marcellus Jackson provided the game’s biggest scoring play, returning the second-half kickoff 89 yards.

Jerrison Gibson and Mac McCovery had the Falcons’ other touchdowns on runs of 2 and 5 yards. Joseph Mojica completed the scoring with a 30-yard field goal.

A-E’s Keon Smith turned a quarterback keeper into an 81-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

“I think this team really needed a win just to make sure we kept plugging,” Black said.

Keenan Vaughn led Fulton defensively with 14 tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss.

West 42, Jefferson Co. 0: Baker Dance threw three touchdown pass and ran for another score for the Rebels.

Dance’s biggest scoring pass covered 50 yards to Altin Perry.

Gibbs 39, Morristown East 14: Colton Qualls connected with Bryson Shown on two touchdown passes for the Eagles.

Qualls also ran for a touchdown, part of Gibbs’ 315 rushing yards.

Carter 48, Lenoir City 28: Chandler Wilson threw three touchdown passes to three different receivers for the Green Hornets.

Carter scored 24 consecutive points to start the second half to break open a 21-all tie.

Oneida 21, Greenback 7: Kolby Morgan scored all three of Oneida’s touchdowns. He had scoring runs of 36 and 35 yards in the fourth quarter.

Central 53, HVA 21: Liam Fortner ran nine times for 169 yards and four TDs while also hauling in eight catches for 70 yards and a touchdown.

5STAR PHOTOS – Austin-East at Fulton