Knoxville (WVLT-TV/Prepxtra), Dress rehearsal time for East Tennessee's high school football teams Friday night. Jamboree action all across the region including the annual KOC Kickoff Classic at Neyland Stadium. Ten different match-up's featuring among other teams, the defending state champion Catholic Fighting Irish under new head coach Scott Meadows, the debut of new Fulton running back Steven Allen, Central High's female kicker Samantha Miller and a Halls team playing without injured Senior quarterback Zach Dowdy. Prepxtra's Jesse Smithey has the wrap up from Neyland Stadium:

When 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior Steven Allen transferred to Fulton High School in June, a football team looking to make a statement picked up an exclamation point.

And it didn't take Allen long to fit in.

"How long does it take to get from Camden?" joked Fulton coach Buck Coatney.

Allen, who attended Camden County High School in Georgia last season, also quickly proved his worth Friday night inside Neyland Stadium. In the Falcons' third series against Karns, he came in at quarterback and completed a 40-yard pass to Micah Pitchford to the Karns 5.

The next play, Allen weaved his way through for his first Fulton touchdown. It led to a 16-0 win in the Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic's Kick Off Classic.

More touchdowns from Allen are likely to follow, as he also will be used as a kick/punt returner, receiver and defensive back.

"For a lot of coaches, it's been hard for them to keep me at one position," he said. "But I don't complain. Whatever they want me to do, I'll do."

Said Coatney: "He's going to be a nice addition."

Last season, Fulton missed the playoffs for the first time since 1992. Moreover, it was the first time since the mid 1990s that it didn't have a 1,000-yard rusher.

Dametrius Thomas, a 185-pound junior, scored on a 43-yard run at the 7:23 mark Friday to offer further proof there won't be a repeat of that performance.

High School Football Jamborees. Previous 1 of 34NextPrevious 1 of 34Next.Thomas, along with Marco Golliday and Amir Chapman, comprise a backfield that must be taken seriously. It ditched its form from the 4-6 record from 2008.

"I feel like we have some good skill players," said Coatney. "We got some potential. We just have to get in shape. That was just one quarter."

Nevertheless, it was the most impressive session of the night.

"We got something to prove," said Coatney. "We said, '2009 starts tonight.' That was our approach."

Central Debuts Female Kicker: Central got touchdown runs of 70 and 16 yards from Jonny Saah and Marcus Stanford, respectively. Gibbs got touchdown receptions from Andy Hibbett (44 yards) and Justin Treadway (54).

But Central's female kicker Samantha Miller stole the show in the 14-14 tie with her PAT kick after Stanford's scamper.

"It was awesome (kicking inside Neyland Stadium)," said Miller, a senior. "I'm probably the first girl to have ever done that."

Webb 7, Farragut 7: Webb's freshman speedster Aaron Blance took a lateral pitch from receiver Clark Johnson on the opening play and raced in for final 60 yards in the 70-yard touchdown reception.

Farragut's Lee Van Dyne tied it on a goal-line sneak. Farragut senior quarterback Reese Browning did not play, as he nears the end of his comeback from a broken leg.

Bearden 7, South-Doyle 3: Junior tailback Trey Shuler scored on a 10-yard run early in the quarter for Bearden.

West 0, CAK 0: The Rebels threatened late but junior quarterback Christian Francis had a wide-open touchdown pass dropped, and then West's field-goal try fell short.

Halftime winners: Bearden kicker Cisco Carter won the kickoff contest with a 71-yard effort and then tied West punter Tanner Thompson for the punting crown with a 52-yard punt. ... Browning won the passing contest with a 59-yard toss. ... Bearden's Davis Tull won the lineman run. ... Austin-East's D.J. Oggs won the backs' race.