The South Greene football team hits the road on Friday night hoping to make history when it takes on Tellico Plains in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.
The Rebels have never won a playoff game on the road, but they head to Monroe County with confidence that they can pull off the upset.
“It’s exciting. We have a chance to be the first team in South Greene history to get a win on the road in the playoffs,” South Greene senior Angel Sanchez said. “It would be meaningful. I think we are the better ball club if we want to be. We have the skill, we have the desire, but we have to execute.”
Tellico Plains enters Friday’s game with a 7-3 record and as the No.1 seed from Region 2-2A. The Bears are on a six-game win streak and have not lost at home this season.
The only time the two teams have met previously was in the first round of the 2024 playoffs when the Bears won 30-28. That was Tellico Plains only playoff win since 2009.
South Greene is 3-7 on the year and the No.4 seed from the Region 1-2A. Last week the Rebels fell to Happy Valley 49-14 and have now lost five in a row.
Tellico Plains will bring a run heavy attack to the contest led by quarterback Caiden West who has rushed for 1,825 yards and 21 touchdowns this season. Running backs Jasper Hamilton and Gio Carter will compliment West in the ground attack that averages over 300 yards per game. Many of those rushes will follow 300-lb. H-Back Kobe Bradley.
Loading the box and stopping the run will be the focus for South Greene’s defense, but West does throw for 93 yards a game with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
The Rebels will lean on Trent Haynes to lead the offense on Friday. Haynes took over for an injured Trip Neas at running back midway through the year and has run for 477 yards. Last week when Dawson Ripley went down with injury Haynes took over at quarterback and he will likely be receiving snaps again on Friday.
Kickoff at Tellico Plains is set for 7 PM. The game will be broadcast live on WIKQ 103.1 FM.
