It’s the night that many Greeneville football fans have been looking forward to all year. The Greene Devils will travel north to take on archrival Elizabethton in the final game of the regular season.
“It’s going to be a dang battle. When these two teams play each other, it doesn’t matter what the records are, you know you are going to get their best,” Greeneville coach Eddie Spradlen said. “I don’t think either team has much love for the other, and every kid out there is going to play hard. This is what high school is about. You have two communities that really support their team, and a lot of winning tradition between them. If you aren’t ready for a dog fight you are going to come back with your tail between your legs and your feelings hurt.”
Greeneville has already secured a share of the Region 1-4A championship, but a win Friday would give the title to the Devils outright. With that Greeneville would guarantee itself the No.1 seed in the upcoming Class 4A playoffs. Greeneville can clinch the No.1 seed with a loss to Elizabethton if Seymour beats Grainger.
Elizabethton comes into the game with a 6-3 record and is coming off a 21-16 loss to Seymour last week. The Greene Devils are 9-0 and 6-0 in region play. Greeneville is looking to complete the ninth 10-0 regular season in the history of the program,
Last year Greeneville defeated the Cyclones 48-7. Greeneville has won the last four meetings in the series, but the Cyclones lead the all-time series 43-38.
The Devils will take one of the most dangerous offenses in the state to Carter County on Friday, and that starts with receiver Taren Claridy who has 1,467 receiving yards on the season with 26 touchdowns. He is averaging 25.7 yards per reception. Claridy needs three touchdown catches to break the state single-season record for touchdown receptions.
“Taren has had a breakout year, he is just making a ton of plays,” Spradlen said. “He made the most of his opportunities with seven catches for six touchdowns last week. And it doesn’t happen if the offensive line isn’t blocking and Kaine is making good throws. He would be the first to tell you it’s a team effort.”
Part of Clairdy’s success is due to the precision of quarterback Kiane Ricker who is completing 83 percent of his passes with no interceptions through nine games.
Spradlen expects Elizabethton’s defense to key on Claridy and that will mean other players will need to step up. On the outside that will come from Zy Neal, Braylen Kidwell and Cole Smith. Then the coach knows that it will be important to establish the run game with senior Jude Dyer to keep the defense honest
Elizabethton’s offense comes into the game averaging 29 points per game. Quarterback Peyton Lingerfelt leads the way with 1,012 passing yard and 412 rushing yards with 23 combined touchdowns. Elizabethton is averaging 167 yards per game on the ground and 115 yards per game through the air.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 PM on Friday, and the game will be live on your airwaves on 99.5 FM WGRV.
