Unaka holds off winless Warriors
Published 12:23 am Saturday, September 25, 2021
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Happy Valley received the opening kick-off but the returner fumbled the ball. The Rangers Takoda Freeman (7) came out of the pile setting Unaka up with excellent field position for their first drive of the game.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Rangers Takoda Freeman (7) tries to escape Happy Valley’s Landon Babb (32) but is tackled for a loss in the first quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Unaka’s Caleb Lydick coughed up the ball after catching a long pass, it was recovered by the Warriors Blake Garmon (1) who returned it for about 10 yards before being tackled by the Rangers Drew Smith (66) in the first quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders Unaka’s Caleb Lydick (5) looks for running room after catching a pass only to have the ball striped away again, this time by the Warriors Drew Blevins (12) in the first quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders After the Rangers Caleb Lydick (5) has a pass ripped out of his hands while going down the Warriors Andrew Little (3) recovers the fumble just before falling out of bounds.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders A quick out pass to Devin Ramsey (3) nets the Rangers a first down as Drew Blevins (12) down from behind.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Warriors Landon Babb (32) burst through the line of scrimmage and throw Unaka quarterback Landon Ramsey for a big loss in the second quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders After gaining enough yardage for a first down the Warriors Blake Garmon (1) is finally tackled from behind by Unaka’s Caleb Lydick (5) mid-way through the second quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Warriors Andrew Little (3) takes the pitch on a jet sweep to the left and heads to the house for six and the lead mid-way through the second quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Rangers Kaleb Gonzalez (11) lowers his shoulders and drives through Happy Valley’s Jamie Esterline (5) breaking up a two point conversion attempt in the second quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Warriors Landon Babb (32) breaks up a sweep attempt by the Ranger and tackles Caleb Lydick (5) for a loss late in the second quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Warriors Andrew Little (3) blows up a jets sweep by taking Jamol Blamo’s (20) legs out from under him for a loss of four on the play late in the second quarter.
StarPhoto/Larry N. Souders The Rangers Caleb Lydick (5) is finally pulled down from behind by Happy Valley’s Jamie Esterline (5) after gaining first down yardage late in the second quarter.
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BY ALLEN LAMOUNTAIN
STAR CORRESPONDENT
For the first time since 1995 the Unaka Rangers earned a football victory over Happy Valley. Junior running back Jamol Blamo rushed for 104 yards on 16 carries with the big one coming on a second and 22 play.
Blamo took the pitch from quarterback Landon Ramsey bolted up the sideline for a 24-yard gain that took precious time off the clock and enabled the Rangers to come away with an 8-6 win on Friday night at Goddard Field.
“That was a huge play for us,” Rangers head coach O’Brien Bennett said. “When Jamol hits the hole he is hard to stop. It was a counter play for us and the line blocked well and he decided he was going to get the first down.”
The first quarter was a scoreless affair with Caleb Lydick catching deep passes for 42 and 47 yards but lost the ball on a fumble on each reception.
Junior quarterback Landon Ramsey completed 9-of-12 passes for 135 first-half yards but senior Devin Ramsey had just 31 yards receiving on three catches.
Happy Valley (0-5 overall) blocked a Rangers punt and took possession at the Unaka 39-yard line.
From there, they marched in for the score on seven plays with senior Andrew Little running in from four yards out. The pass for two was incomplete and the Warriors settled to a 6-0 lead.
That lead held through halftime but in the third period the Rangers took the second half kickoff at the 31-yard line and and marched 69 yards on seven plays with the big plays being a 28-yard pass from Ramsey to Devin Ramsey and a 23-yard scramble by Landon.
Landon Ramsey finished the drive with a five-yard keeper and Blamo ran in the deuce for all the points the Rangers needed on this night.
“We played our hearts out tonight,” Blamo said. “Our hearts out. We hadn’t had a win like this in forever, but we got it done tonight. I had to get the first down on that play because I messed up and set us back, so I had to protect my quarterback and my team.”
Ramsey had a great night passing for 222 yards on 15-of-23 completions with Lydick catching six passes for 129 yards.
With the Rangers clinging to their slim lead junior Takoda Freeman picked off freshman quarterback Drew Blevins to clinch the win.
“It’s plays like that which wins games,” Bennett said. “This was a one possession game the whole way and every single play determined the outcome.
“It was two good football teams wanting to win but only one can win and one has to lose. HV put Little over the top of Devin and it was good on good and Lydick is a kid who has worked hard in the weight room and to get better.
“HV has such a great tradition and we beat them in 1995 and the last time was 1966. We are just trying to earn a seat at the table of these great programs.”
Unaka wore purple uniforms this night to show their respect and love for Stacie Whitaker – a custodian at Unaka High School – who lost his wife and mother this week to illness.
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Unaka 8-6
Happy Valley 0 6 0 0 – 6
Unaka 0 0 8 0 – 8
Scoring Summary
Second Quarter
HV – Little 4 run (pass failed) 6:55
Third Quarter
U – L. Ramsey 5 run (Blamo run) 9:08
