Grainger came to Burley Stadium on Tuesday with only nine players available for its District 2-AA semifinal contest with Greeneville after some late-season exits from the roster.
The game went on in nine versus nine fashion, and the Greene Devils collected a quick 9-0 win over their overmatched opponents.
“The past couple of weeks we’ve been working on moving the ball around and our movement off the ball. It’s unfortunate that we played 9 v 9 today, but I felt like we still got to work on those things. Our captains provided great leadership. We stayed composed and waited on passing lanes to open up, and we are going to have to do the same thing on Thursday night. I’m proud of what we saw tonight.”
Greeneville advances to Thursday’s district championship game where it will host Volunteer.
The Devils wasted little time on Tuesday and in the first five minute Sam Gourley twice dribbled straight at the keeper and scored from inside the six-yard box.
In the 10th minute Greeneville scored twice on a pair of second-chance shots. First Emerson Hensley headed in a rebound, and then Gabriel Oakley booted a spill back in the frame from 15 yards for a 4-0 lead.
Gourley wrapped up his hat trick by the 17th minute when he finished a pass from Griffin Gricunas. One minute later Gricunas scored from the top of the box.
Aiden Inscore and Kevin Moreno also found the back of the net and Oakley’s second goal put Greeneville on top 9-0 in the 33rd minute.
The game ended at halftime.
Greeneville’s defense did not allow a shot attempt on Tuesday, while the Greene Devils took a total of 25 shots.
