Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

BY AUSTIN ALEXANDER
STAR CORRESPONDENT
ROAN MOUNTAIN- In what’s been the most unprecedented and unpredictable high school football season likely ever, the Cloudland Highlanders have found a way through the darkness.

With the division already clinched and a playoff spot secured, the last mission for the regular season is finishing strong with a home win against Sullivan North.

The Highlanders are winners in four of their past six, but are coming off a tough loss against Johnson County. The Landers are looking to roll past the setback and move on with a short term memory.

Even though Friday’s game doesn’t factor into the playoff picture, Cloudland Coach Scott Potter knows that he has to keep motivating his team.

“It’s tough down the stretch,” Potter said about trying to keep his team focused. “I know these guys want to win so we will just push a little harder in practice. Next week is playoffs so if we aren’t focused and ready then our season will be over.”

A surreal realization for high school teenagers, but Potter is right. The season is reaching the point where it’s do or die each and every week.

Coach Potter says that his team “definitely needs a win” on Friday stating that it will help the team move past last week’s game more easily if they can snatch a ‘W’.

As far as how the team has kept battling this season, well it’s been special. In a wacky and insane world, the team has fought and clawed to stay ready and prepared to play.

“I’m very proud of their work ethic,” Coach Potter added about how much he has been impressed with his team. “They worked on their own while we were out and when we returned they have worked very hard.”

Even though the kids are the ones on the field each week Potter said that the real MVPs of this season have been the spectacular parents as well as the fans of Highlander Nation.

Their support has been felt at every turn of this season.

The Highlanders will look to close out their season strong this week as they welcome in the Sullivan North Raiders to Roan Mountain.

Kickoff will be at 7:30 pm.