Unaka could not find an answer for Unicoi County Friday.
The Rangers were handed a 42-0 setback in a non-region contest against the Blue Devils.
Unaka went to 1-6 on the season, but had chances early. The Rangers had a drive end on a fumble then an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty put the home team further behind the chains.
“Against a team like Unicoi County you have to take advantage of opportunities. We moved the ball a little bit in the first half,” Unaka head coach O’Brien Bennett said. “We just couldn’t connect and finish drives.”
John Ramsey went 14-for-29 passing for just 90 yards. Logan Benway rushed for 31 yards as the Rangers totaled 14 yards on the ground as a team.
Meanwhile, Unicoi County quarterback Brock Thompson threw for four first-half touchdowns to four different teammates. He hit Peyton Whitson for 20 yards, Brett Strother for 27 yards, Gavin Keasling for 21 yards and Kody Lewis for 30 yards.
The first half total for Thompson was 10-for-13 for 198 yards and the four touchdowns.
Lewis started the scoring when he went up the creek for a 17-yard scamper.
Noah White added a third-quarter touchdown run as well. White had 75 yards on six carries. Lewis added 64 rushing yards on his six carries.
“Unicoi County, hats off to them. They’re a very good football team, they’re big, they’re strong, and they’re fast. When you play good teams like that and well-coached football teams, when you have an opportunity you have to connect,” Bennett added.
The Rangers welcome back a familiar foe for Homecoming next week. Unaka plays Hancock County for the second time this season. The two teams met in August as the Indians was a 16-14 winner over the Rangers. Last season Unaka won 48-44 against Hancock County.
“When you play them twice in a season it certainly develops a real good rivalry,” Bennett said about playing Hancock County a second time. “We have a lot of familiarity with them, and they have the same with us.”