For the second week in a row it will be rivalry week on Rebel Hill as Chuckey-Doak visits South Greene with bragging rights and potentially the County Cup on the line.
“There aren’t any playoff implications on the line, but I think the pride and community aspects of this type of game make it just as important,” Chuckey-Doak coach Billy Kaylor said. “I expect a phenomenal atmosphere. It’s going to be a good test for us. It’s two communities that really want a win. It’s two teams that are 3-1. It should be a really fun night of football. Hopefully we get a really physical, well-played football game.”
Both teams enter the game with 3-1 records and will be looking to take some positive momentum into region competition next week.
South Greene comes into the game after beating North Greene 56-7 last week. It was a night where the running back Tripp Neas and quarterback Nash Rader combined for over 300 rushing yards.
For Chuckey-Doak’s defense the goal on Friday will be slowing down the Rebels’ dynamic rushing attack.
“South Greene has a very explosive offense with Rader and Neas back there,” Kaylor said. “Both of those guys can flat out tote the football. They have weapons on the edge too. They have put up some huge rushing totals this year. We have to win at the line of scrimmage and we have to limit their explosive plays.”
A week ago Chuckey-Doak took its first loss of the season, 49-28 to Unicoi County. Now the Black Knights will be looking to bounce back against the Rebels.
Chuckey-Doak will be bringing a multifaceted offense to Rebel Hill that is averaging 30 points per game. Quarterback Kiptyn Ball pulls the strings while running backs Brayden Greene and Marcus Britt have been a potent one-two punch. On the perimeter Dom Atchison is the player the Rebels will be most concerned with and Chuckey-Doak will try to get him involved in a variety of ways.
“They have a couple guys that missed this game last year that are good players that we have to be ready for,” South Greene coach Shawn Jones said. “Atchison is a tremendous athlete, and their quarterback has another year of experience under his belt now.”
The County Cup is back in play this year and Chuckey-Doak could wrap up a clean sweep of its Greene County foes with a win on Friday. South Greene would have to beat Chuckey-Doak this week and West Greene next week to capture the county title.
“It’s a big game, it’s a cross-county game, it’s a community game. But we throw all that other stuff aside, and we have to approach it as the next game,” Jones said. “We have to come out and play a physical football game, we know Chuckey-Doak is going to come in here bringing their best. I’m looking forward to a good game on Friday night.”
South Greene won last year’s meeting 58-14, and has won six of the last seven meetings between the two programs. Chuckey-Doak’s last win was 34-6 in 2022. The two teams have met every year since 1975 and South Greene leads the all-time series 38-12.
Friday’s contest is the First Horizon Greene Sports Zone Game of the Week and will be streamed live on the Greene Sports Zone Facebook and YouTube pages. The game will also be live on WSMG 95.5 FM. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from South Greene.
