NEW TAZEWELL – Rain showers were not enough to dampen the white-hot start Chuckey-Doak got off to on Friday night as they spoiled homecoming at Claiborne High School.
The Black Knights scored twice in the first six minutes before the weather slowed down the rest of the night. Still Chuckey-Doak returned home with a 27-8 win and is another step closer to advancing to the playoffs.
“Starting fast was huge. All week we challenged them to start fast after last week. We finished fast last week, we started fast this week, now we have to put it all together.” Kaylor said. “Defensively I thought we played really well. We had a big first half offensively, but once the rain started we put the ball on the ground a few times. But overall, it’s a good win on the road.”
The win improves Chuckey-Doak’s record to 5-2 on the year and 2-1 in Region 1-3A play. The Black Knights currently sit in a tie for second place in the region with Gatlinburg-Pittman and they are behind 3-0 Unicoi County. In the six-team league they now have a leg up on both Johnson County and Claiborne in the battle for four playoff spots.
“It’s huge to get a region win. We started 0-1 in the region, but these last two wins give us a chance to determine our own destiny,” Kaylor said. “That’s big for these guys, it’s big for our program, and I’m very proud of them.”
Friday’s action started with winless Claiborne failing to kick an onside kick the 10 yards necessary for a legal recovery. That allowed Chuckey-Doak to start its opening drive with a short field and just 49 yards away from the goal line.
The Knights did get backed up on a fourth and 10, but Kiptyn Ball dropped back and a lobbed a pass to the left pylon where a wide open Skylar Davis ran under it for a 32-yard touchdown.
Claiborne’s first possession resulted in a four and out. It was the first of five fourth-down stops Chuckey-Doak’s defense came up with on Friday.
One-play later Ball threw a screen to Davis on the right the side and he sprinted the width of the field while avoiding the Bulldogs’ defense. Davis finished the 40-yard reception back at the left pylon again and gave Chuckey-Doak a 14-0 lead with 6:01 still to play in the first quarter.
When Claiborne got the ball back the steady rain settled in and stayed the rest of the night. The Black Knights got the ball back quickly once again this time Skylar Nelson stood up running back Jason Dyer and Marcus Britt took the ball out of the runner’s hands before racing 41 yards down to the eight-yard line.
Chuckey-Doak’s defensive front played lights out on Friday as they routinely pushed back the line scrimmage and stifled the Bulldogs rushing attack. Nelson, Antony Johnson, Colt Schul and Lance Turner-Armstrong were so effective early that they forced Claiborne to change its offensive strategy, moving from a two-tight end and, two fullback formations to spread looks late in the game.
“I thought we commanded the line of scrimmage,” Kaylor said. “For the most part the front seven played really well and I’m really proud of those guys. Those guys on the defensive line have improved week after week after week. Those four guys have been a big help to our football team.”
After starting the drive at the four-yard line it took three attempts, but Brayden Greene put Chuckey-Doak in front 21-0 when he cruised into the endzone untouched.
On the first play of the second quarter Claiborne hopped on a bad Black Knights’ snap and its offense found some life for the first time.
On third and long Noah Burke found Adrian Brown going up the seam for a 16-yard gain. Bruke then covered 15-yards over the next three plays to get the Bulldogs on the board. Colton Brewer ran in the two-point try to close the gap to 21-8.
The Bulldogs followed by recovering an onside kick and had a chance to make it a one-score game before halftime, but the Black Knights made a stand on fourth and goal with Nelson pressuring Burke out of the pocket and into an incomplete pass.
Chuckey-Doak’s defense continued to play tough into the second half, stopping the Bulldogs on fourth-down thrice with Mason Henderson picking off a pass as well.
With 5:50 left in the fourth quarter Chuckey-Doak put the game out of reach when Greene covered 11-yards up the middle for a 27-8 lead.
The Black Knights started with a short field for most of the night and only produced 116 yards of total offense. Ball was 5-of-9 passing for 84 yards, Davis gained 72 yards on his two catches while scoring twice.
Chuckey-Doak’s defense held Claiborne to 207 yards. The Bulldogs ran the ball 45 times for 159 yards, with 21 of those rushes being stopped for two yards or less. Burke was 5-of-20 passing for 48 yards.
