RUTLEDGE – Taren Claridy’s assault on high school football continued Friday night as the senior standout scored six touchdowns to lead the Greeneville Greene Devils to a 56-7 win at Grainger.
All six times Claridy crossed the goal line were in the first half, tying a Tennessee hight school record for scores in a half that goes back to the 1994 season. He is now two TD’s away from tying the state record for touchdowns receptions in a season as he has 26. He finished the game with 202 yards on 7 receptions and he stamped his name in the record book as GHS’s single season yardage leader now with 1,467 yards.
Greeneville head coach Eddie Spradlen was singing Claridy’s praises after his monster night. “I’ve talked about him all year and I feel like he’s one of the best players in Tennessee. He is an under-recruited player because are you going to tell me that kid can’t play big time college football? It all goes back to the hard work he has put in. These guys come in on their own time and throw routes and it makes a difference.”
After watching film on the Grizzlies, Claridy said he thought he might have a big night and that was exactly what happened. “Grainger was cover zero across the board and we knew they wouldn’t have any safety help over the top and we would have to take some shots. My teammates and coaches just trust me to make plays for them.”
The Greene Devils scored three times in both the first and second quarters as Claridy was into the end zone on receptions of 36, 13 and 55 yards in the first quarter and 12, 43 and 36 yards in the second. Gannon Cogdill was true on all of his extra point attempts as the Devils rolled to a 42-0 halftime cushion.
Claridy’s six touchdown receptions establishes a new single-game school record, breaking the mark of four Zaydyn Anderson set last year against Volunteer.
Kase Spradlen came into the game for the second half in relief of starter Kaine Ricker and didn’t miss a beat. He went 7-for-7 for 66 yards and a score to compliment Ricker’s 10-for-13 for 230 total yards performance.
Spradlen called his own number on a six-yard run for a touchdown and then hit Amir Knight for a 14-yard score as the contest was 56-0 heading to the final frame.
Grainger produced the only points of the fourth when Colton Parrott threw a four-yard pass to Chayton Floyd and Axel Vences’ kick make the final tally 56-7.
The Greene Devils head man said he likes where his offensive squad is at this point of the season. “The offensive line is doing a really good job, the backs are running hard and Kaine is doing a really good job right now. He gives Taren an opportunity to get the football and he goes up and gets it. Kaine does a good job of putting him in a great position. I’m really proud of him.”
The Greene Devils wrap up the regular season next Friday against Elizabethton. “This is what high school football is about,’” coach Spradlen said. “Two schools and communities who really support their programs. We are going on the road to a tough place and we are going to have to play good football. We have played the schedule we have played to get ready for the Elizabethton game and we want to be playing the best football we have played all year.”
Claridy echoed the sentiment as he and his teammates attempt to complete a perfect regular season. “It’s going to be loud and rowdy up there so we just have to stay focused and stay ready and trust the coaches’ game plan.”
Elizabethton lost to Seymour on Friday leaving Greeneville as the only 6-0 team in Region 1-4A play. Elizabethton and Seymour are both 5-1 in league play. If Seymour beats Grainger next week Greeneville will be the Region 1-4A No.1 seed no matter what happens against Elizabethton. If Greeneville beats Elizabethton it will be the outright region champion.
