Cloudland was able to outlast Unaka on Friday night.
The ‘Landers captured a 36-20 victory over the Rangers on Stoney Creek on Friday night in the regular season finale.
Cloudland is set to open the Class A playoffs on Friday at Oliver Springs, while Unaka saw their season come to a close.
The ‘Landers struck quickly.
On the second play from scrimmage, Landon Barnette broke free for a 65-yard run. Braydon Hughes added the two-point conversion as CHS took an 8-0 lead 36 seconds into the game.
The teams swapped drives before Barnette added a six-yard touchdown in the closing minutes of the first quarter. That score gave Cloudland a 14-0 advantage after a quarter of play.
The teams traded drives until CHS extended the lead as Gavyn Shell scored on an eight-yard run and Barnette added the two-point conversion as Cloudland took a 22-0 lead with 2:54 left in the second.
Unaka, however, battled back as Draedyn Freeman caught a 55-yard touchdown pass from Connor McKinney as the Rangers trimmed the lead to 22-6 at the half.
The Ranger passing attack struck early in the second half as Ashton Fuller caught a McKinney pass for a 70-yard touchdown. Unaka added the two-point conversion as McKinney connected with Micah Gray to pull the Rangers within 22-14 with 9:35 left in the third.
Neither team was able to get back on the scoreboard until Jacob Stinnett broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run for Cloudland in the opening minutes of the fourth.
The Blue and Gold added another Barnette touchdown – this one from nine yards out – and Bryce Birchfield hit Stinnett for the two-point conversion as CHS held a 36-14 advantage.
Unaka capped the scoring as Gray caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from McKinney in the closing minutes.
Barnette had 238 yards on 24 carries to power the way for the ‘Landers.
McKinney had 202 passing yards and seven carries for 61 yards to lead Unaka.
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