Coalfield-Greenback Game Preview
By Greg Addington
We’ve reached the week that is circled on many calendars and that two communities look toward each season. It’s a litmus test and a measuring stick and it can springboard a good season into a memorable one. It’s Greenback week. Friday night is the 45thmeeting between the two schools in a series that began 40 years ago in September, 1979. This week’s game, like it does most years, will send the victor into the inside track for a region championship.
Last week, Coalfield defeated Midway by a final score of 34-12 and with Harriman’s loss to Oliver Springs, CHS clinched the school’s 16th consecutive playoff berth and 32nd trip to the TSSAA postseason party overall. Only two schools have longer postseason streaks in Class A in the state of Tennessee, South Pittsburg and Wayne County. Last week against the Green Wave, Seth Lowe caught two touchdown passes from Peyton McKinney and scored a third via the ground. For the night, McKinney threw for 171 yards and defensively, Coalfield enjoyed a double-digit tackle night from Daniel Schaar (19), Austyn Hensley (17), Lowe (14) and Isaac Vanwitzenburg (14).
Greenback had a bye week last week, but defeated Lenoir City on the road two weeks ago, 51-7. Senior quarterback Braden Carnes threw for five touchdown passes, four of which were to senior wideout Holden Willis. Duke Stinnett also caught a touchdown pass from Carnes, who had 329 yards passing and is at over 1,800 yards passing for the season. Willis caught five passes for 206 yards and Stinnett added 94 yards in receiving. The Cherokees line up mostly in the spread option, but look to the arm of Carnes to provide most of Greenback’s offense. He throws to a stable of capable receivers led by Willis and Stinnett. When they do run the football, senior Wyatt Rutgerson usually gets the call, however he is also a weapon in the passing game coming out of the backfield. Their line is anchored by senior Derrell Bailey, Jr, who has committed to play at Virginia Tech. The Cherokees defensively line up in a base 4-3 with Josiah Millsaps as the leading tackler from his linebacker position. Greenback will look to exploit their height advantage at wide receiver and expect Carnes to drop back to pass often in Friday’s game.
Coalfield clashes with Greenback Friday night on Rochelle Field with the kickoff scheduled for 7:30pm.