Coalfield vs Cloudland Preview – November 9

By Greg Addington

Coalfield meets a familiar opponent in an unfamiliar locale Friday night as the Yellow Jackets battle Cloudland in the second round for the third straight postseason.  This year’s game is being held at Happy Valley High School in Elizabethton as John Orr Field at Cloudland High School is not in game shape.  This is the first neutral site game since 1967 for Coach Keith Henry’s Yellow Jackets.

Coalfield advanced past the first round last week with a victory over Jellico 56-14.  Peyton McKinney threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third and Landon Lowe ran for a touchdown and returned a Blue Devil punt 23-yards for another score. Running back Anthony Foster gained 97 yards on five carries and was one of five CHS runners to reach the end zone (Lowe, Jacob Bunch, Jonathon Woodward and Luke Adkisson also scored rushing touchdowns).

Cloudland defeated Midway last week on John Orr Field in Roan Mountain 36-22.  The Highlanders offensively were led by senior running back Jordan Coffey, who ran for 273 yards on 39 carries and scored every Cloudland touchdown. Coach Jared Henry’s defense will face the typical Cloudland offense with good size up front and an affinity to run the football.  Coach Mike Lunsford’s offense likes to run out of the power I formation with two tight ends and Coffey runs very effectively from that formation.  Senior quarterback Malachi Benfield can throw when necessary and Josh Blair is also an effective running threat.  Defensively, the Highlanders typically line up in a 4-3 with Blair and Dillon Johnson leading the defensive charge from their linebacker positions.

The winner of Friday night’s battle at Elizabethton will face the winner of Oliver Springs at Greenback next week in the quarterfinal round.  Kickoff at Happy Valley High School is at 7pm.