Greeneville routs East
GREENEVILLE — There were some who felt Sullivan East’s 10-2 joyride of a 2004 football season was a once-in-a-generation occurance, that the program would go years before it even saw the light of a November playoff game again.
That was proven wrong Friday night when the Patriots returned to the Class 4A postseason party. And although their stay was shortened by Greeneville’s 49-12 rout, sixth-year coach Ralph Nelson took pride in his team’s final 7-4 record amid a wave of early-season injuries.
"We’re in it for the long haul," he said. "The best is yet to come."
East’s best might not have been close to enough against the Greene Devils (9-2), which scored on their first six possessions and rolled up 400 total yards in the first half as they advanced to a second round game next week against Volunteer.
Quarterback Jordan Greenway led an all-out assault for Greeneville, throwing for 196 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 72 yards and two scores – all in the first half.
It was a triumphant return to the playoffs for the Greene Devils, a traditional Five Rivers Conference power which had uncharacteristically missed the last two postseasons.
"It was a different feeling," Greenway said. "We hadn’t had this feeling before. Everyone that’s here hadn’t had that feeling yet."
Running a spread-option attack to perfection against a slower opponent, Greeneville only had to convert one third down situation in the first half. It rolled up 16 first downs in 27 plays and never had the ball longer than 2 minutes, 10 seconds on any possession.
"East did a lot of blitzing, and our offensive line did a great job of picking it up," Greenway said.
Perhaps more impressive than their offense was their compassion. The Greene Devils had a chance to make it 49-0 at halftime when they took over at the Pats’ 12-yard line in the last half-minute.
But first-year coach Steve McCurry had his team take a knee instead of tacking on another touchdown.
"Greeneville showed a lot of class," Nelson said.
East quarterback Tyler Gaby got his team on the board late in the third quarter, capping an 80-yard drive with a three-yard option keeper as rain lashed the Burley Stadium field in sheets.
Gaby tacked on a 23-yard TD run with 1:32 remaining and finished with 163 total yards, including 96 yards through the air.
"It was a great season overall," he said. "Greeneville was the better team tonight."
Minutes after doling out goodbye hugs to his team’s 11 seniors, Nelson paid one final tribute to his team’s grit.
"This is as fun a class as I’ve coached," he said. "This [the playoffs] has to be our goal every year. We’ll be back."
Spoken like a man who’s in it for the long haul.
Sullivan East 0 0 6 6—12
Greeneville 21 21 7 0—49
Scoring Summary
Gre—Moneymaker 38 pass from Greenway (Castainca kick) Gre—Jaynes 74 pass from Greenway (Castainca kick) Gre—Barner 1 run (Castainca kick) Gre—Moneymaker 20 pass from Greenway (Castainca kick) Gre—Greenway 12 run (Castainca kick) Gre—Greenway 10 run (Castainca kick) Gre—Spradlin 3 run (Castainca kick) SE—Gaby 3 run (run failed) SE—Gaby 23 run (run failed) Team Stats First Downs: SE 11, Gre 17; Rushes-Yards: SE 33-125, Gre 28-216; Passing
Yards: SE 96, Gre 261; Comp-Att-Int: SE 7-17-3; Gre 7-11-0;
Fumbles-Lost: SE 0-0, Gre 0-0; Penalties-Yards: SE 4-38, Gre 4-35;
Punts-Average: SE 5-33.8, Gre 2-37.
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