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By C.Y. Peters

Unaka’s dreams of making the playoffs took a major hit Friday night at Goddard Field, as the Rangers fell to North Greene 44-6 in a game that saw the Huskies dominate after a strong first quarter.

The first quarter began with promise for Unaka, as their defense played tough, but disaster struck when North Greene’s Thomas Darnell put the first points on the board with 7:31 left, following a blocked punt. That touchdown was the only score in the opening quarter, with both teams battling hard.

By halftime, however, the tide had fully turned in favor of the Huskies. They built a 20-0 lead before Unaka had its lone highlight of the night. After back-to-back 15-yard penalties by North Greene, Unaka’s Conner McKinney punched in a 1-yard touchdown run, offering a brief moment of hope for the home crowd. Unfortunately, that was all Unaka could muster.

Making matters worse, the Rangers lost their starting quarterback, Brynin Repass, to an injury early in the second quarter. His absence was felt immediately, as the offense struggled to gain any momentum.

North Greene, now undefeated in conference play, continued their dominance after the half, piling on points while Unaka’s defense wore down. The Huskies cruised to a 44-6 victory, leaving Unaka’s playoff chances all but eliminated.

Unaka will look to regroup quickly, as they face a tough challenge Monday night, hosting Hampton at Unaka. While the playoff door hasn’t shut completely, the Rangers will need a remarkable turnaround to keep their hopes alive.