The playoffs start early for the Chuckey-Doak football team as they head to Pigeon Forge on Friday night.
If Chuckey-Doak wants to advance to the Class 3A playoffs they will have to win on Friday night, while a loss will take them out of the postseason hunt.
“This game is really big for our kids and big for our program. We have an opportunity to play in November, and that is big deal. We’re looking to build tradition, and that starts with making the playoffs every year,” Kaylor said.
For Pigeon Forge the stakes are less dire. A win on Friday would clinch a playoff spot, but a loss would not eliminate the Tigers. They would however have to beat Claiborne in week 11 and count on Johnson County losing to both Gatlinburg-Pittman and Unicoi County over its final two games.
Pigeon struggled to start the season and lost six consecutive games, but the Tigers have found new life of late. Over the past two weeks they have beaten Johnson County 46-20 and Cocke County 59-33.
Pigeon Forge will be led by Ayden Hood who they have used in a variety of ways this season. Last week against Cocke County he ran 26 times for 461 yards and six touchdowns.
“They have been hot the last two weeks, scoring 46 and 59 points and putting up almost 1,000 yards of offense. This is going to be a challenge, but one that matters a lot to us,” Kaylor said. “They are multiple on offense. They have mixed it up the last two weeks. (Hood) is a special player who has played running back, receiver and quarterback. He ran for over 400 yards and six touchdowns against Cocke County. With their proclivity to run the football we have to stop the run game and force them to throw it down field.”
The Black Knights come into Friday’s game with a 4-4 record and 1-2 in Region 1-3A. Chuckey-Doak was idle last week while recovering from a 70-0 loss to Volunteer.
The Knights have scored a combined 33 points in their last four contests and Kaylor is looking for consistency from his offense on Friday.
“We have to be consistent on offense,” Kaylor said. “That is something we have struggled with. There have been a lot of flashes, but being productive over and over and over is not something we have done a lot. We have to generate first downs and turn first downs into touchdowns.”
A year ago Pigeon Forge won 56-3 at Chuckey-Doak. The teams have met eight times in their histories, and the all-time series is tied at 4-4.
If you can’t make it to Sevier County on Friday the game will be broadcast live on WIKQ 103.1 FM.
