Jr. ‘Landers spoil homecoming for Jr. Rangers, 14-12
Published 1:28 am Saturday, October 5, 2019
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Star Photo/C.Y. Peters Hayley Taylor was crowned Unaka Middle Homecoming Queen during Thursday's game between Unaka and Cloudland Middle at Unaka High School.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters A Jr. 'Lander running back looks to pick up more yardage after breaking a tackle against Unaka Middle.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters A Jr. Ranger has the football just out of reach of his hands.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters A Unaka Jr. Ranger runner tries to get free of a Cloudland Middle tackler.
Star Photo/C.Y. Peters It was a battle for the football between a Cloudland Highlander and a Unaka Ranger in Thursday's action from Goddard Field.
BY C.Y. PETERS
STAR CORRESPONDENT
The Chairmen of the Board made a song called “Give Me Just A Little More Time” famous in the 1970’s and last night on Stoney Creek, Coach Potter and Coach Birchfield was saying give me the ball just one more time.
Leading 14-12, the Highlanders defense buckled down, locked arms, and held Unaka on four straight downs when it was first and goal.
Just when it looked like the Rangers would win on homecoming night, Birchfield and company had other ideas.
Cloudland took over with 2:43 left to play and needed one first down to end the game. Unaka played good defense but on fourth and one Austin Caraway powered his way up the middle for the first down and secured the win for the Landers.
Unaka took the opening kick-off and in just over one minute put points on the scoreboard with Isiah White crossing the goal line. The point-after attempt failed but the Rangers led 6-0.
Cloudland tied the score on their next series when quarterback Hayden Arnett dove into the endzone with 3:03 to play from the one-yard line.
The Rangers would take a 12-6 lead when T.J. Thomas broke loose on a 58-yard dash down the sidelines for a touchdown. Once again the PAT failed.
Kyle Birchfield tied the score on a three-yard run and Landon Hughes added the knockout punch with the two-point conversion for a 14-12 lead and eventually the final score of the game.
Unaka would have two good opportunities, the first coming after a fourth-down fake punt for a 38-yard pass and a first down and another late in the game when they were held without a score inside the ten with four times to score.
It was the ‘Landers fourth straight win.
Hayley Taylor was named 2019 Homecoming Queen at the halftime break.
