Warriors host ‘Horns in non-conference clash
Published 12:32 am Friday, October 11, 2019
- File photo/Larry N. Souders Happy Valley quarterback Eli Ayers will be counted on heavily to help his Warriors get back on track after a bye week.
BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Happy Valley’s bye week is over and the Warriors resume the task of taking on the biggest game, which as head coach Jason Jarrett says is, “always the next one. The next game is always the most important one.”
In their last two games of action, the Warriors (5-1) put on a rushing clinic in the second half of their game at Cosby for a 40-7 Mountain East Conference win and the following week crushed Unaka 41-0.
In the game against Cosby, HV rushed for 273 yards and ran for three touchdowns. Senior tailback Jordan Campbell rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown and added a two-point conversion run while junior Matthew Bahn rushed for 149 yards including a scintillating 60-yard touchdown gallop.
The Warriors got healthy offensively against the Eagles with junior quarterback Eli Ayers connecting on 8-for-12 passing for 96 yards and two touchdown passes and sophomore Blake Garmon was one-for-two for 15 yards and a touchdown.
The Warriors also had a solid game offensively against the Rangers scoring on special teams, the run, and the pass.
Johnson County (3-3) has earned two one-point victories this season – 14-13 over Sullivan East and 22-21 over West Greene – not exactly powerhouses there but a win is a win.
The Longhorns come off a convincing 33-7 conference victory over Claiborne to give them some momentum coming into this contest.
Johnson County has won the last two games in this series, winning 28-7 last season and the ‘Horns took a 14-7 victory in 2017.
You have to go back to the 2013 season for the last HV win, which was a 6-0 victory.
Junior quarterback Stacy Greer has both hands on the wheel of the offense with junior RB Sam Mann – who Longhorns head coach Don Kerley expected big things from this season – as well as senior Jared Kimble who also performs the kicking duties.
“We have Sam Mann, who I think will have a breakout year,” Kerley said in a preseason interview. “We have Greer who can run the ball really well. Jared Kimble, Jisaiah Webster, and Curtis Lowe – we have several that I think can run.”
The ‘Horns are averaging 15.6 points per game – an average that was boosted considerably with the 33 point effort against Claiborne – but that number will probably not win the night on Friday with the HV defense holding opponents to just 10.3 points per game.
That number includes surrendering 35 points to Unicoi County in its only loss of the season.
After Johnson County, the Warriors face conference road games against Sullivan North and South Greene with a home clash against Trinity Academy in between.
Game time for Johnson County is 7:30 pm on Warrior Hill.
