Dragons’ season opener shifts to Saturday Aug. 23
The 2025 high school football season hasn’t kicked off yet, but one local team already has a change in its schedule.
Clinton High School, originally slated to open its campaign at home against Heritage on Friday, Aug. 22, will now host the Mountaineers on Saturday, Aug. 23.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Dragon Stadium, where Jake Dawson will make his head coaching debut. At just 25, Dawson is believed to be one of the youngest head coaches in Tennessee.
“We probably could have played Friday, but it was pushing it because of the referee shortage,” Dawson said. “This just felt like the right thing to do at the right time.”
When Heritage visits, Dawson will face his former boss, Joe Osovet, now in his fourth season leading the Mountaineers.
Dawson previously served as an assistant at Powell, Heritage and Knoxville Catholic before becoming Clinton’s head coach in December, after a year as Catholic’s defensive coordinator.
“I’m excited and we’re excited,” Dawson said. “Ozz is a good one.”
The respect runs both ways. The pair first worked together at the University of Tennessee under Jeremy Pruitt, with Osovet coaching tight ends and Dawson serving as a student defensive assistant.
“I think they hit a home run hiring Jake,” Osovet said. “He’ll do a great job. He’s wise beyond his years.”
Clinton finished 3-8 last season and made the playoffs, while Heritage went 5-5 and missed the postseason.
All three Anderson County teams will open that same week.
Oak Ridge, which reached the Class 5A semifinals at 9-5, will host Knoxville Halls on Aug. 21 in a regionally televised game at Blankenship Field as the Wildcats step up to Class 6A.
Anderson County, an 11-2 Class 4A semifinalist last year, will kick off against Powell High School Aug. 22 at Searbro Stadium in Northwest Knox County.
