Jr. Highlanders eke out tight one over Happy Valley, 12-6

Published 12:45 am Saturday, September 21, 2019

By Contributed Content

BY AUSTIN ALEXANDER 
STAR CORRESPONDENT 
It was a cool, breezy Thursday night matchup on Roan Mountain as the Happy Valley Jr. Warriors rolled into town to battle with the Jr. Highlanders of Cloudland.
Both teams came into the matchup searching for a win to get some late-season momentum but only one could emerge victoriously.
In what was mostly a defensive battle, Cloudland found themselves on top of the mountain with their second win of the season.
Cloudland would begin the game with a huge kick return from Elijah Holtsclaw that would set the Jr. Highlanders up with great field position.
The Jr. ‘Landers wasted little time getting the ball moving as they kept the ball on the ground with a stable of runners including Auston Caraway, Kyle Birchfield, and Landon Hughes.
The trio would gash the Jr. Warrior defense on a series of runs tallying 39 yards before an untimely fumble at the five-yard lone would give Happy Valley the ball.
With some newfound momentum, the Warriors offense went to work but were quickly met with a brisk Cloudland defense.
After a six-yard pickup from Waylon McKeehan, the Landers defense would push Happy Valley to a fourth down. The Warriors would surprisingly attempt the fourth down from their own five but the play lost two yards setting Cloudland up with the first and goal from the three-yard line.
Cloudland wasted little time as Caraway would immediately punch in the ball giving Cloudland the 6-0 lead.
After a failed onside kick, Happy Valley would take back over with good field position. The Warriors would feed McKeehan on four straight plays to end the first quarter.
Unfortunately, the Warriors first play of the second saw Tanner Blevins pick off a pass.
Picking back up on offense, Cloudland would turn to Caraway and the rest of the running game as they kept it on the ground running eight times before the drive was eventually stalled out by a stingy Warrior defense.
Happy Valley would pick up a first down on the second play of the ensuing drive but they were once again pushed to fourth down where they would punt.
Cloudland held the ball on a couple of run plays to take the game into the half up 6-0.
Out of the half, Happy Valley gave it up to McKeehan early and often as he would pick up seven carries and around 40 yards on the drive. Happy Valley would finally find the end zone when Drew Blevins found Linder Zatina for the touchdown and the game was tied.
Cloudland would run a four and out to turn the ball over on downs during the next possession and the fourth quarter began with the two teams knotted up.
The Jr. ‘Landers would return the favor forcing the Jr. Warriors to a four and out of their own and Cloudland would takeover.
A few runs would start the drive for Cloudland before Kyle Birchfield would wind up and find Elijah Holtsclaw who made a few guys miss on his way to a huge 52-yard touchdown to make the score 12-6.
Happy Valley would start their drive with a big pass that went for 24 yards giving them a legitimate chance to score with time running down.
The Cloudland defense had other plans as they would shut the Jr. Warrior offense down and the Jr. ‘Landers would take over with very little time left.
After a three and out from Cloudland, Happy Valley had one last-ditch effort to get a score and they got pretty close, but ultimately a Hayden Arnett interception would seal the game.
A tremendous effort from both teams should mean a strong finish to the season.

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