With the Cloudland Highlanders coming off a 41-38 heartbreaker to Northview and the Happy Valley Warriors looking to start off the season with a win, there will surely be a battle take place tonight on Orr Field.

For Cloudland, they will be facing another team with a big passing threat as Happy Valley senior QB Sage Haun steps under center for game one. Haun tossed for 1,650 yards, while connecting on 21 passing TDs last season. To keep the Warriors out of the sky, the Highlanders defensive line will have to put pressure on Haun to take some heat off the Highlander secondary, which had trouble against Northview’s air attack last week.

While Cloudland looks to stop Happy Valley’s passing game, the Highlanders will also have to keep their eyes on the ground, Cloudland head coach Mike Lunsford said.

“They have a good passing attack, but they have a good running attack too,” he said. “They have the (Austin) Hicks kid, who is a good runner. (Dylan) Street is a good runner. (Dustun) Sams is a good runner. They have a lot of skill.

“They also have a good line also,” Lunsford continued. “The (Landon) Morefield kid is a stud. They have great linebackers. They have a good ball team all the way around.”

Last week, the Highlanders gave the Northview defense about all it could handle, and for Happy Valley to be successful tonight, it will have to find away to stop the Highlanders’ running game. Against Northview, Cloudland running backs Jordan Coffey and Noah Arnett ran all over the Cougars. However, the Warriors defense, which will rely on a strong line and linebackers Dylan Townsend and Austin Hicks, cannot get too focused on Arnett and Coffey, because Cloudland QB Preston Benfield also proved last week that he can run the pigskin, while tossing it some too.

“It is going to be a challenge for sure,” Happy Valley head coach Jason Jarrett said. “We were able to watch them last week against Northview, a really good 3A school, and I left very impressed by Cloudland.

“We are going to have to exceed their physicality and toughness,” Jarret added.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 in Roan Mountain. Get there early because the place will surely be packed.