Coalfield vs Greenback Game Preview
By Greg Addington
Coach Benson Napier’s Yellow Jackets are on their annual regional collision course with Greenback, hosting the Cherokees for their 49th meeting Friday night. It will be the first time in the storied history of the rivalry where two new head coaches will be on both sidelines for Friday’s battle. Ethan Edmiston will make his first trip to Rochelle Field after assuming the head coach position upon Greg Ryan’s departure for Catholic. Coach Edmiston served as head coach at Union County and at Sweetwater and served as the Wildcat’s strength and conditioning coach before joining the Cherokees.
Last week Coalfield defeated Midway 41-34 in a shootout at Midway High School. Junior quarterback Cole Hines led the way for the Jackets, combining for 392 yards in passing and rushing and accounting for five touchdowns on the night (four via the arm and one via the legs). Rommel Conlon caught four passes for 115 yards and scored two touchdowns and Coalton Henry added a rushing touchdown and a highlight reel hit on Midway quarterback Emmett Hegland, causing a key second half turnover. Eli Roberts and Tucker West each caught a touchdown pass and on defense, Henry, Landon Lowe, Brock Jones and Isaiah Sheldon led the way with seven tackles apiece.
Greenback had their regularly scheduled open week last week after falling to Class 3A power Loudon 34-12 on Cooper Field two weeks ago. Greenback quarterback Micah Franklin hit Folsom Silver on a 10-yard touchdown pass and Kooper Williams ran for a score. Franklin ran for 95 yards on 20 carries and the Cherokee defensive line sacked Loudon quarterback Keaton Harig four times and chased him from the pocket, however Greenback lost two fumbles and could not convert on a fourth down conversion attempt at the Loudon 4-yard line. Greenback is young with only four seniors, two juniors and 15 sophomores and have played a tough early season schedule with losses to Boyd-Buchanan, Oneida and Loudon, each of which being in higher classifications.
The annual gridiron grudge match between Greenback and Coalfield will be at Rochelle Field on Friday night, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30pm.