Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR SPORTS EDITOR
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com
When the Unaka Rangers board the bus on Friday for a lengthy road trip to Jellico, there will be one thing and one thing only on the minds of the Rangers and that is to win their showdown to keep their hopes alive of hosting a post-season game as stay in the running for a Region 1-A championship should the front runners stumble.

Unaka also wants to put last week’s contest against Twin Springs, VA as far in the rearview mirror as they possibly can after coughing up a 24-6 halftime lead as the Titans from across the border rebounded for a 28-24 victory that spoiled Homecoming 2021 or the Rangers.

Now, the focus is back to conference foe Jellico that comes into the game on a two-game winning streak after losing their first game of the season to Cloudland.

The Rangers and Blue Devils come into the game with almost identical numbers from the offensive and defensive side of the football as Unaka has scored 64 points on the season while giving up 54 while the Blue Devils have scored 68 and given up 44 points in their four contests.

After last week’s game, Unaka head coach O’Brien Bennett said that his team needed to be able to execute better when the Rangers have the football in their hands.

He further added that in a one-score game, any one play from the first snap to the final one before the horn could be the play that helps to determine the outcome of the contest.
The Rangers have been led on the season by the brother tandem of Ranger quarterback Landon Ramsey and wide receiver Devin Ramsey who continues to build off his huge 2020 season as Devin has already accounted for over 400 yards receiving and seven scores on the young season.
Takoda Freeman has been another target that Landon has looked to for scoring opportunities in the passing game.
Jamol Blamo continues to leg out the tough yards on the ground when Bennett decides to turn to the ground game.
The outcome of the game will come down always to which team can be diligent and disciplined in their game plan and make adjustments as needed to offset what is transpiring as the game progresses.
With the first whistle scheduled for a 7:30 pm kickoff, the Rangers are hoping to return with a win and regain their footing in Region 1 1-A.