BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN

CORRESPONDENT

ERWIN — A day of remembrance will be something remembered for something special for Happy Valley as head coach Jason Jarrett earned his first win.

Junior quarterback Sage Haun passed for 201 yards on 10-for- 16 completions as the Warriors surged past Unicoi County 34-19 on Friday night at Gentry Stadium.

“Coach was pretty upset at halftime,” Haun said. “We turned it around last week against North and we were determined to do it again. We came out in the second half to play for a win. I couldn’t have done it without my line. They all put in hard work and we had great blocking up front.”

For most of the first quarter both teams looked stuck in the mud as neither rush at- tack was working. At the 2:45 mark Unicoi County quarterback Hunter Hensley con- nected with Shaddon Peavyhouse on a 35 yard scoring pass to cap an eight play, 66 yard drive. The point after kick failed giving UC a 6-0 advantage that lasted just one play.

The play came on fourth and 16 from the 34 yard line and saw Hensley scramble to his left, wheel and fire to Peavyhouse in the end zone.

On first down at the 37-yard line Sage

Woodby said that the practices leading up to the game had the Cyclones defense fired up and ready to play.

“We have been practicing much better and with a lot of in- tensity this week. There wasn’t any bad blood, we just wanted to get pumped up for the game.

“On the sack, coach told me to short scoop and there wasn’t any- body there but the fullback, and I was able to clear him and get to the quarterback. We really stepped up and played better this week.”

Witten said he was proud of his team’s defensive effort after last week’s performance.

“The defense was tough, and we made them settle for just one score. This is just such a great football team.”

The Cyclones hit the road next week traveling to Unicoi County to take on the Blue Devils in a Region 1 3-A tilt.

The Highlanders, with the ball back after the kickoff, the ’Landers were able to extended their lead. During their touchdown drive, Cloudland’s Birchfield carried the momentum, tallying two consectu- tive long runs, the first for 12 and the second for 17, putting the ’Landers on Avery’s 18. In three more plays Cloudland got into the endzone with Birchfield pushing in from four out. The two-point conversion failed set- ting the score at 22-14 going into half time.

Haun found senior wideout Josh Hammonds on a 63-yard touchdown pass. Justin More- field’s PAT gave the Warriors a 7-6 lead.

In the second period Hensley hit his second touchdown throw, this to Eli Gillis from 34 yards out and the two point pass was incomplete which left the Blue Devils with a 12-7 advantage. Happy Valley drove to the two yard line before time ran out in the half.

“I challenged them at halftime like I had never challenged them before,” Jarrett said. “They responded with an all around effort. The line, the backs, the receivers all played great. Jose Burgos had that great catch and run and Hammonds had a great day.

“This game is always intense and we want to dedicate this game to coach Justin Bowling who is dealing with some family issues.”

Happy Valley fortunes took a turn for the better in the third period when Mookie Madi- son picked off a Hensley pass and returned it 30 yards to the UC 13 yard line. Four plays later Austin Hicks ran it in from the two yard line for a 14-12 Warriors lead.

Hicks rushed 18 times for 62 yards and three touchdowns.

Hammonds picked off Hensley on the Blue Devils next drive and returned it 27 yards to the HV 41 yard line. Haun finished off a six- play 51 yard drive with a 33 yard scoring strike to Jose Burgos for a 21-12 HV lead.

The mistakes continued to pile up for Unicoi as fullback Cameron Higgins fumbled and Skyler Hyatt recovered for HV at the 45 yard line.

As the fourth quarter got underway, Hicks scored his second touchdown from two yards out but Morefield’s kick was blocked and HV led 27-12. The defense stopped UC on the next drive and they tried a fake punt that Dustun Sams sniffed out and sacked the punter at the 33 yard line.

Hicks cashed in the turnover with his third touchdown run to give HV a 34-12 lead.

Junior QB Kendrick Williams got the devils into the end zone on a 15 yard pass to Brett Strother for the final tally of the game.

Hensley completed 6-of-16 for 120 yards and a touchdown but threw two crucial interceptions in the second half and in total Unicoi County had five turnovers in the game.

Madison rushed for 110 yards on 25 carries for HV and Hammonds caught six passes for 132 yards and had an interception on defense.

“The ball finally bounced our way,” Jarrett said. “These kids man are relentless and I couldn’t be more proud of our guys. We finally got that monkey off our backs and they responded in the second half. Our coaches and players left it all on the field.”