West Greene could not keep up with a red-hot Unicoi County squad on Friday night and fell 47-18 in a non-conference clash with the still unbeaten Blue Devils.
West Greene coach Evan Monroe said after the game, “Hey, I’m super proud of my guys, we were down seven starters and we played a competitive game with the number six team in the state. But sometimes its a battle of attrition and as banged up as we are that’s a battle we lost tonight. You know when you can’t rotate guys in and out and guys have to plays both ways it’s tough, but again I’m proud of my guys. They fought their butts off, they played hard and that’s all I can ask from ‘them. Now we have to go get South Greene next week.”
The West Greene Buffaloes took the opening kickoff and marched inside the Unicoi County Blue Devil 10-yard line to get Friday’s action off to a promising start. The big play on the drive was an Austin Franklin 54 yard pass to Braden McCamey. With a first and goal the Buffaloes shot themselves in the foot with a run for a big loss and false start penalty. They had to settle for a Kendal Caldwell field goal attempt of 36 yards, the kick was inline but fell just short and the Buffs came away empty handed.
After the missed field goal the Blue Devils moved the ball out past midfield but the Buffs forced a fumble and Ethan White came out if the pile with the loose football to give West Greene hope once again.
Franklin went to air again this time to Mathew Harral for 34 yards. Franklin then called his own number racing for another 21 yards, with a horse collar tackle penalty tacked on the Buffs had another first and goal. The Buffs would not be denied this time as they wasted no time getting into the endzone on a six-yard run by Trystan Banks.
The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, but West Greene had the early lead at 6-0 on the No.6 ranked team in Class 3A at the 3:54 mark.
On Unicoi County’s ensuing drive Bransan Salts ran for 30 yards before Kolby Jones hit Koda Cutlip for a touchdown from 20 yards out. Jose Lopez’ kick was good and the Devils were on top 7-6 just 53 seconds later. The Blue Devils played in front for the rest of the night.
With a minute and a half gone in the second quarter Garrett Sellars intercepted a Franklin pass and went 63 yards for the pick-six. Lopez kicked the PAT and the Devils were quickly up 14-6.
After a West Greene punt the Blue Devils once again found the endzone on a 60-yard drive. Jones walked in the touchdown for a 21-6 lead after Lopez’ PAT. The Blue Devils opted for the surprise onsides kick and recovered it at the West Greene 40-yard line. Jones went on a 29-yard run to the 11 and Salts took it in from there for a 28-6 lead.
The Blue Devils tried the onsides kick again but the Buffaloes were ready this time and started with good field position at the 49-yard line with just under five minutes to go in the half. Skylar Shelton and Franklin each had 10 yard runs respectively. Back-to-back face mask penalties put the Buffs inside the five-yard line. Shelton carried the ball across the goal line with 39 seconds showing on the clock. The 2-point try was unsuccessful but the Buffs had cut into the lead and trailed 28-12 at the half.
West Greene went for an onsides kick of their own to open the second half and recovered, but it was unable to mount a drive and punted to Unicoi.
Unicoi’s Jones unleased a bomb to Sellars but Franklin came up with what looked like at the time a game changing interception, but somehow it was ruled that Sellars made the catch, a 41-yard reception.
Jones scored from six yards out just moments later, the PAT was no good but the Devils lead was now 22 points at 34-12.
The Devils once again recovered an onsides kick at the Buff 43 yard line. Jone hit on three consecutive passes, the final one to Avery Hatcher for 18 yards for a 40-12 lead.
On the next kickoff the Devils did not try the onsides kick instead kicking short to where no Buffaloes were and recovered the ball again. Salts added the final score for the Devils.
West Greene’s Franklin added a late score on a 34-yard run to bring the final score to 47-18.
Jones, the Blue Devils’ junior signal caller, had two touchdown passes on 222 yards through the air and added two more scores on the ground.
Franklin had 94 yards passing and 83 yards rushing and a score. Banks and Shelton also had a score each for the Buffs.
The West Greene baseball team that won their first district championship in 50 years was honored before the game.
