Cloudland overwhelms North Greene on Senior Night

Published 11:46 pm Friday, October 28, 2022

By Allen LaMountain

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Senior RB Gage McKinney eclipsed the 2,000-yard barrier on Friday night by rushing for 289 yards and seven touchdowns as Cloudland beat North Greene 54-22 on Friday night at Orr Field which was also Senior Night.
“My line was really dedicated tonight,” McKinney said. “We made some adjustments at halftime and were able to put it away. We have had some injuries and if we get some of those guys back, we’ll keep working to our goal of getting to state.”
McKinney got the ‘Landers off to a fast start with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Elijah Holsclaw and McKinney passed for the two-point conversion for an 8-0 Cloudland lead. North Greene wasted no time tying the game as junior QB Grayson Collins took off around the right end on a 71-yard touchdown run. Yeshua Vaught runs in the deuce to make it an 8-8 game.
McKinney capped an 11-play, 49-yard drive with a seven-yard run for six. The point after pass was incomplete as the ‘Landers now led 14-8.
Cloudland (5-5 overall, 3-0 conference) recovered a Huskies fumble and McKinney made good on a 31-yard touchdown run for a 20-8 ‘Landers advantage after the point-after pass failed. In the second quarter it was McKinney once again as he scored on a four-yard run to cap an eight-play drive and make it a 26-8 contest.
The Huskies (1-9 overall, 1-2 conference) went on a long 18-play 60-yard drive with Vaught scoring on a nine-yard run. The two-point run was no good and the score stood 26-14.McKinney ended the first half with a 30-yard scoring run and finished the half with 138 yards on 12 carries and made the score 32-14.
McKinney opened the third period with a 14-yard scoring run but the ‘Landers had trouble making the two-pointer on this night and led 38-14. After forcing a North Greene punt, McKinney scored once again on a nine-yard scamper and this time the two-point conversion worked and the ‘Landers took a 46-14 advantage.
“We are very proud of Gage,” ‘Landers head coach Zac Benfield said. “Gage’s hard work and determination, especially his patience is starting to pay off. He has always been a good athlete, and he has always had good players in front of him, but he stayed patient, stayed with the process and now he is able to really blossom.”
North Greene showed a lot of fight and determination themselves as Collins scored on a 12-yard run and Vaught completed the conversion run. Vaught rushed for 138 yards and Collins added 125 yards rushing for North Greene.
Cloudland 54-22
North Greene 8 6 0 8 – 22
Cloudland 20 12 14 8 – 54
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
C – Holscalw 31 pass from McKinney (McKinney run) 11:41
N – Collins 71 run (Vaught run) 10:53
C – McKinney 9 run (pass failed) 5:55
C – McKinney 31 run (pass failed) 4:56
Second Quarter
C – McKinney 4 run (pass failed) 10:29
N – Vaught 9 run (run failed) 1:44
C – McKinney 30 run (pass failed) :34
Third Quarter
C – McKinney 14 run (pass failed) 10:22
C – McKinney 9 run (B. Birchfield pass to McKinney) 6:18
Fourth Quarter
N – Collins 12 run (Vaught run) 8:07
C – McKinney 55 run (K. Birchfield run) 7:16

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