Friday night is senior night at North Greene and playoff positioning is on the line as the Huskies take on Unaka.
North Greene’s senior class will be just the third senior class in school history to reach the playoffs four times, and with a win on Friday they can become tied for the winningest class in program history. A win would also mean six wins in a season for just the third time ever.
“We have a large senior class and they have been through a lot of ups and downs over the last four years,” North Greene coach Eric Tilson said. “But they can leave here tied as the winningest class in school history. They have a lot to be proud of. We are excited to celebrate them on Friday. It’s sad to see them go, but we know we have at least a couple more games with them.”
After last week’s 54-14 win over Sunbright the Huskies have guaranteed themselves a playoff, but seeding is very much up for grabs. With a win over Unaka North Greene will be at least the No.3 seed from Region 1-1A. Even though it may feel amoral or even sacrilegious to the Husky faithful, North Greene fans should be rooting for Hampton on Friday when it takes on Cloudland.
If North Greene wins on Friday and Hampton wins the Huskies would get a home playoff game in the first round as the No.2 seed.
Prognosticating potential opponents in the first round of the playoffs is even more difficult. Coalfield will most likely be the No.1 seed from Region 2-1A, but depending on Friday’s results Midway, Oliver Springs, Rockwood and Greenback could align in a variety of orders in the other three spots.
Unaka comes into Friday’s game 0-9 on the season and on a 14-game losing streak. In the past three seasons the Rangers have a combined three wins. This year they have allowed 40 or more points eight times and have been shut out five times. Unaka’s average margin of defeat is 50.9 points.
North Greene should expect to win on Friday, but Tilson is most concerned about how his team executes their assignments and playing at a high level before the postseason begins.
“It’s not about who we play, it’s about how we execute. That is what I’m most concerned about on Friday,” Tilson said. “Unaka plays really hard, but they have a young team and they have fallen on hard times. That can be the nature of small school football, they are on the small side right now in terms of numbers.”
A week ago Brayden Weems led North Greene’s offense with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Once again the Huskies will be looking to establish their three pronged rushing attack with Weems, Leon Johnson and quarterback Thomas Darnell.
Kickoff for Friday’s game is scheduled for 7 P.M. on the Tundra. The game will be broadcast live on WIKQ 103.1 FM.
