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By C.Y. Peters

The Unaka Rangers celebrated a much-needed victory on Friday night as they traveled to Hancock and secured a 36-18 win, fueled by the impressive return of quarterback Brynin Repass. Repass, who had been sidelined for the past four weeks, made a triumphant comeback, contributing significantly to the Rangers’ offensive power.

From the outset, Repass set the tone for the night, connecting on a 13-yard pass to give the Rangers their first touchdown. The successful two-point conversion pushed Unaka ahead 8-0, giving the team an early confidence boost. Repass wasn’t finished yet, as he continued to display his playmaking abilities. On Unaka’s second scoring drive, Repass capped it off with a two-yard rushing touchdown, extending the Rangers’ lead to 14-0.

Hancock struggled to contain Unaka’s explosive offense, and their troubles worsened when a blocked punt gave the Rangers excellent field position. Seizing the opportunity, Conner McKinney powered through the Hancock defense for another touchdown before the first quarter ended, widening the lead to 22-0. Unaka’s defense also held strong, preventing Hancock from gaining any momentum in the early stages of the game.

Although Hancock managed to put points on the board later in the game, Repass and McKinney continued their dominance throughout. Both players were relentless, with McKinney adding another score to help secure the win. By the time the final whistle blew, Repass and McKinney had combined for all of Unaka’s 36 points, proving to be a dynamic duo for the Rangers’ offense.

Despite a late push from Hancock, the Unaka defense held firm, and O’Brien Bennett, the Rangers’ head coach, celebrated his first win of the season. It was a hard-fought and much-deserved victory for the Rangers, who had faced challenges with Repass out of the lineup in previous weeks.

With this momentum, Unaka looks ahead to their next challenge on Tuesday as they travel to Thomas Walker High School in Virginia. After such a commanding performance, the Rangers will be eager to build on their success and continue their winning ways.