South Greene Middle School’s offense gave the ball away four times on Monday afternoon, but the defense stood strong enough time after time to start the season with a win, 14-8 over Chuckey-Doak at Camp Creek.
Monday’s contest started on Thursday but was suspended with 4:36 left in the first quarter due to sustained lightning.
The Rebels held a 6-0 lead over the weekend after Braevyn Myers took off around the right edge for a 60-yard touchdown run on the final play from scrimmage before Mother Nature took control. That touchdown proved to be the difference in the outcome.
When South Greene’s offense got back on the field on Monday it looked like their explosive running game was going to shine again. Jamie Devera took each of the first two carries of the game 15 yards, but on the second he collided with the referee downfield and lost the ball.
On the ensuing Chuckey-Doak possession the Rebels forced a turnover of their own. The ball popped out of the hands of receiver Elijah Rush and Jaxon Merriam jumped on it.
The Rebels defense forced two turnovers of its own and stopped Chuckey-Doak on eight consecutive drives. Their defensive line provided an overwhelming push and gave the Black Knight’s little room to maneuver.
South Greene created some breathing room with two minutes left in the third quarter. The defense forced a punt from the four-yard line, and with a short field Devera took off on a toss to the left. He ran around all of the Black Knights for a 26-yard touchdown. Myers ran in the two-point try for a 14-0 lead.
After its next drive failed on a fourth down conversion at the 16-yard line Chuckey-Doak forced its final turnover of the night and finally took advantage of the opportunity. Parker Derryberry jumped on a mishandled exchange in the backfield and set up the Knights on the 15-yard line.
The offense quickly went backward, but from the 30-yard line quarterback Julian Overstreet hit Derryberry on a slant that picked up 21 yards. On the next play Overstreet rolled to the right and hit Preston Baker with his feet on the sideline chalk in the end zone. A touchdown was awarded and Overstreet ran in the two-point try to close the gap to 14-8 with 2:53 left to play.
Chuckey-Doak’s last hope came on a fourth down with 1:11 left to play, but on a busted play Keaton Dyer took off around the corner to the left and picked up 32 yards. The scamper effectively sealed the game for the Rebels.
South Greene produced 254 yards of offense in the contest, 241 of those yards came on the ground.
Chuckey-Doak produced 91 yards of offense.
Chuckey-Doak will be back in action on August 20 at home against Cocke County. South Greene will be back on the field on August 13 at Cosby.
