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By Ron Marvel

Star Correspondent

Friday night’s game between the two top teams in Region 1-2A saw a heated contest between two teams unwilling to give up an inch. In the end, South Greene capitalized on its few offensive opportunities, while the Warriors couldn’t find their footing until the game was, for all purposes, decided. Happy Valley Head Coach Jason Jarrett acknowledged his team missed an opportunity, saying, “Not our best performance. They were the more aggressive and physical team tonight; their play kept us on our heels throughout the game.” The loss dropped Happy Valley to 4-1 and ended their 11-game regular-season winning streak.

The first half saw both teams flex their defensive muscles, forcing punts on their opening series. South Greene got their first big opportunity as the first quarter ended, advancing the ball to the Warriors’ two-yard line, but the Warriors’ defense held firm, turning the Rebels away. Riding that momentum, the Warriors pushed deep into Rebels’ territory, but South Greene returned the favor by stopping the drive. With a few minutes left in the half, South Greene began driving again, but Gabe McDougald intercepted a Rebels pass, sending both teams into the break scoreless. “Missed opportunities and penalties put us in a bad spot and often behind the chains in that first half, but you have to give credit to South Greene as well,” Coach Jarrett said.

The second half started with the Warriors driving into Rebels territory, but they came up short on a fourth-down attempt. South Greene responded by driving to the Warriors’ 23-yard line, but a fumble gave the ball back to Happy Valley. With 3:17 left in the third quarter, South Greene finally broke the scoreless tie as Tripp Neas ran off-tackle for a four-yard touchdown, putting the Rebels up 7-0. The final quarter saw Neas add two more touchdown runs, extending the Rebels’ lead to 21-0. With time running out, Ron Paul Parker returned a kickoff deep into Rebels’ territory, setting up McDougald for a one-yard touchdown run with 1:19 left in the game, making it 21-6. After a failed onside kick, the Rebels drained the remaining time off the clock. Jamie Esterline finished with 106 yards on nine carries, while McDougald added 41 yards on 16 carries.

The Warriors will now turn their attention to Cumberland Gap, a team that has not won a game this season. However, Coach Jarrett emphasized that records won’t influence his team’s preparation. “They have explosive ability and are athletic, and they have also been putting some points on the board. They will get our full attention,” Jarrett stated. With a home playoff game still within reach, the Warriors have plenty to play for, while South Greene faces a challenging conference schedule. Friday night’s game will also serve as both Homecoming and Senior Night for Happy Valley, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.