South Greene powers past Cloudland, 41-22
Published 1:10 am Saturday, August 31, 2019
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cloudland's Connor Birchfield (9) gets a lead block from teammate Hunter Blair.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Tristain Lacey of Cloudland is chased by a pair of Rebel defenders.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders Cloudland's Tristain Lacey looks for running room in the Highlanders showdown with South Greene.
BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ROAN MOUNTAIN – The South Greene Rebels were a power to be reckoned with last season going deep in the playoffs and by all indications the Greeneville team has aspirations of doing the same this year as head coach Scotty Verran and his team pulled out of Roan Mountain with a 41-22 win over the host Cloudland Highlanders.
After forcing the Highlanders into a quick four and out to open the game, the Rebels quickly found the end zone on their first drive as Luke Myers bolted over the goal line from 18 yards out to give South Greene the 7-0 lead after Neal Parkins split the uprights on the point after attempt.
Cloudland had the same result on the ensuing possession punting after unsuccessfully picking up a first down. The Rebels made the ‘Landers pay dearly in only three plays quarterback Levi Myers found Justin Sutherland for a 15-yard scoring toss to make the score 13-0 South Greene after the PAT failed.
Needing to get their offense going, Cloudland picked up steam at the end of the first quarter and heading into the second as Hunter Shell connected with Tristain Lacey on a beautiful 12-yard scoring pass with 9:13 left in the first half.
Connor Birchfield converted the two-point conversion and the scoreboard read 13-8 Rebels.
Just like any good team is supposed to do, the Rebels answered the ‘Landers score with one of their own. Myers scampered in from eight yards out and completed the two-point conversion to extend the visitors lead to 21-8.
Cloudland showed to be up to the challenge as the dynamite duo of Shell and Lacey shaved the lead to 21-16 on a 44-yard touchdown toss and a Birchfield two-point conversion.
It looked like the ‘Landers might take the lead just before the half as two straight pass attempts fell incomplete on third and fourth down at the South Greene 14-yard line as the two teams went to the locker room at 21-16 in favor of the Rebels.
South Greene got the ball to start the second half and didn’t let the grass grow under the feet as the Rebels punched the ball in from eight yards thanks to Mark Crum. Myers converted the two-point conversion and the Rebels led 29-16 just into the third quarter.
Cloudland looked primed to score after the kick but the long drive had the brakes thrown on at the one-yard line as Birchfield was stopped just shy of the goal line.
The Rebels for all intents and purposes put the game away after taking over at their own one-yard line and capped their drive off with a 26-yard rushing touchdown from Myers who had a big night for his team.
Parkins PAT was blocked and the scoreboard read 35-16 with 7:39 remaining to play in the contest.
Coach Glenn White’s team continued to battle as they continued to battle with Hunter Blair, who seemed to pick his team up and put them on his shoulders, scoring from one yard out to make the score 35-22 after the conversion failed.
After getting good field position after a failed onside kick, Luke Myers closed the scoring out with a 26-yard run for the Rebels to give the final 41-22 score.
“They were so huge and looked like they had about two deep at every position,” stated White after the game. “We have 25 kids and I am proud of those 25 kids. We got down there at the end of the first half and should have gotten in.
“We got down there again early in the fourth. I was really pleased with our offensive play. Our defense held some but they are so big they got on our linebackers and there is only so much you can do. That’s a very good football team and we had fight in us and we are going to win some football games this year.”
