The Greeneville Greene Devils are one step closer to adding to their “Title Town” moniker after they came out on top of a heavyweight battle with the No.3 team in the state on Friday night.
The Greene Devils started the night with some fireworks and then turned in a truly gritty effort as they dehorned a dangerous Anderson County attack on the way to a 28-21 win in the quarterfinals of the Class 4A playoffs.
“We knew this was going to be a four-quarter battle. It’s a knock-down-drag-out fight every time we play them,” Greeneville coach Eddie Spradlen said. “I’m really proud of the way our guys fought back. I’m really proud of how hard we played tonight. It doesn’t matter who makes the plays, we just have to keep making the plays to keep moving on.”
Greeneville now moves on from one state-championship caliber clash to take on the most successful program Tennessee has seen this century. In next week’s state semifinals Alcoa will visit Burley Stadium. The Tornadoes have won 10 consecutive Class 3A state titles, but they chose to move up in classification in the offseason. Since 2000 Alcoa has won 19 state championships, and its 23 total football state championships are the most in Tennessee history.
“Tonight was a state championship game. You have three teams in East Tennessee that are good enough to be state champions,” Spradlen said. “You are going to have to play another state championship next week against a team that has won 10 straight state championships. We are going to enjoys this one right now and get back to work on Monday.”
A drizzle of rain of could not dampen the spirit of the crowd at Burley Stadium, and with its second offensive snap the Devils provided the spark that ignited the packed house into a frenzy that would never be quelled.
Caden Baugh dropped to pass and when he saw safety Reese Russell come up to stop the run there was no doubt about what was getting ready to unfold. Cole Franklin was streaking down the middle and quickly got behind the defense. Once Baugh’s deep ball fell into his hands Franklin turned on the jets and gave the Devils a 7-0 lead.
“They stopped the run on first down, so it was either going to be me or (Zaydyn Anderson) on second down,” Franklin said. “Caden threw the ball up and I knew what I wanted. When the safety came up I knew I had it. I caught it and scored, and got the night started with a big play.”
From that point, untimely penalties and great defensive efforts kept the score at 7-0 into halftime. To Greeneville’s credit they bottled up star running back Jayzon Thompson. Thompson came into Friday’s action averaging 11-yards per carry, but in Friday’s first two quarters he was held to 34 yards on eight carries. He ended the night with 92 yards on 17 carries, and he scored two touchdowns.
“For us to not allow (Thompson) to run the way he has all year was huge tonight,” Spradlen said. “These guys were running to the football all night, and we knocked him into the bleachers on one of those. We were not going to let him beat us tonight. My hat is off to that defense, dang they played hard.”
Anderson’s County’s defense came to play as well, and kept Baugh from completing another pass the rest of the first half. Over the final 20:41 of the first half the Devils were held to 96 yards and forced to punt twice while also being stopped on a fake field goal.
Once the second half arrived Greeneville found its footing on the ground and Tegen Begely began to make his presence known. He ran the ball on the first three plays of the third quarter while gaining 27 yards. Next Jude Dyer came in and took a handoff to the right. Once he got through the gap Dyer found some space to maneuver and he raced 38 yards to the endzone for a 14-0 lead.
Anderson County quarterback JD Gillum struggled with accuracy at times on Friday and misfired 21 times in the contest, but on the Maverick’s first play of the second half he threw a strike and Deameion Leavell ran under it for a 64-yard gain. Thompson covered the final yard on the next play to get the Mavericks on the board.
Greeneville got the ball back undeterred and Baugh and Begley methodically marched 88 yards to the endzone. Baugh covered the final 17 yards and gave Greeneville a 21-7 lead with 5:26 left in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter the Mavericks spread out in a five-wide formation and found the matchup they were looking for. Gillum found Brayden Sharpe going deep on seam route with a linebacker chasing. Sharpe crossed the goal line with 8:20 remaining for a 43-yard touchdown that closed the gap to 21-14.
The Mavericks then came up with their most important stop of the night, forcing Greeneville into a three-and-out that gave Anderson County 5:51 to tie the game.
Sharpe picked up a huge 10 yards on fourth down, and Thompson tied the game at 21-21 with 2:18 left to play when he went off tackle for a seven-yard touchdown.
Taren Claridy made sure Greeneville was going to have a chance to win in regulation when slipped off defenders and followed his blocks for a 42-yard kickoff return that pushed the Devils across midfield.
Baugh went up the middle and his offensive line pushed the pile to an 18-yard gain. On the next snap, from the 26-yard line, he handed off to Begley and the 6’3”, 205 lb. bruiser looked light on his feet as he brushed away Mavericks before high-stepping across the goal line for what proved to be the game-winning score.
“Tegen wanted the football in the second half and he was hard to handle tonight. There was a little something different about him tonight. He ran the ball hard, and we rolled with him,” Spradlen said.
Begley finished Friday with 21 carries for 114 yards and a touchdown. Baugh ran for 141 yards and threw for 118 yards. Franklin had three catches for 116 yards.
As a team Greeneville produced 440 yards of offense with 327 yards on the ground.
For Anderson County Gillum was 23-of-44 for 351 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The Mavericks finished with 427 yards of offense.
Greeneville Head Coach Eddie Spradlen expressed his thoughts and emotions after Greeneville’s exciting win over Anderson County in Friday night’s showdown. pic.twitter.com/DsaDPF20Ie
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
Caden Baugh (@cadenbaugh) led Greeneville to a thrilling victory over bitter rival Anderson County last night to advance to next Friday’s Class 4A Semifinals vs. Alcoa. Hear how the Devils got it done and what to look forward to. pic.twitter.com/7ig8aw6ZUr
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
Tegan Begley (@begley_tegan) rushed for 114 yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown with 1:05 left to help Greeneville send rival Anderson County back to Clinton with a 28-21 loss. Hear what Begley’s thoughts were post game. pic.twitter.com/il0JZx4wc8
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
Greeneville WR Cole Franklin (@Cole_Franklin0) hauled in a massive 79-yard touchdown to give the Greene Devils a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Hear how the play developed and what his thoughts were on advancing to next week’s semifinals. pic.twitter.com/swRSuvORBV
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
ABSOLUTE CINEMA
Greeneville gets redemption from last year's playoff exit, besting bitter foe Anderson County, 28-21. #FirstHorizon pic.twitter.com/iKu8CIHFxx
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
With 1:05 left in the 4th quarter, Tegan Begley powered his way in for the final score. #FirstHorizon pic.twitter.com/nFeUqG0GFk
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
Halftime! The Devils lead 7-0 over the Mavericks in a gritty, smash-mouth style game so far. #FirstHorizon pic.twitter.com/dpF8NjbioH
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
TAREN CLARIDY SEALS IT WITH THE PICK.
GREENEVILLE WINS 28-21 OVER ANDERSON COUNTY#FirstHorizon pic.twitter.com/LUxR7RrxXy
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
@claridy_taren Called Game pic.twitter.com/6LX1ouf6TU
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
POV: Cole Franklin blows the lid off of Burley Stadium with an 80-yard TD pass from Caden Baugh#FirstHorizon pic.twitter.com/lt54bfXIGk
— GreeneSportsZone (@GSportsZone) November 22, 2025
