The 2014 football season is right around the corner, and we are going to get you ready by taking a look at all five schedules. Tonight, we start by taking a game-by-game look at the Happy Valley schedule.
The Warriors are coming off a 4-6 2013 campaign. The 2014 schedule features two teams that went 10-2 last season as well as a squad that went 9-2. In all, Happy Valley will line up against seven TSSAA playoff teams from last season.
Thursday, August 21 – Volunteer
The 2014 season will kick off on a Thursday night for the Warriors as they welcome the Falcons of Volunteer to Warrior Hill. Volunteer went 1-9 last season, with their lone victory coming against a 3-7 Sullivan Central squad. Happy Valley won last season’s matchup 20-12 as they rushed for 282 yards on the ground.
Friday, August 29 – at Cloudland
Happy Valley takes to the road for the first of four games as they travel to Orr Field to take on the ‘Landers. Cloudland is the first 2013 playoff team to dot the Happy Valley schedule as they started the year 9-0 before losing the season finale to Hampton and Midway in the second round of the TSSAA Playoffs. The ‘Landers return a strong nucleus of position players from the team that edged the Warriors last season in the Carter County Sports Game of the Year.
Friday, September 5 – at Sullivan South
The second game of the four-game road trip sees Happy Valley travel to last season’s Three Rivers Conference runner-up team Sullivan South. The Rebels rolled through nine games last year, including a 41-0 victory at Warrior Hill, before falling to conference champion Elizabethton 28-27. After dispatching Carter 40-23 in the first round of the playoffs, the Rebels were knocked out by eventual state champion Fulton 41-19.
Friday, September 12 – at Hampton
The second county road trip sees the Warriors head to Hampton as they try to avenge last season’s 33-20 loss to the Bulldogs. Hampton went 7-4 last season after starting off 0-2. The Bulldogs rallied to win the Mountain East Conference title, but came up short in the second round of the playoff game in two overtimes to Silverdale Academy.
Friday, September 19 – at Johnson County
Happy Valley wraps up the four-game road trip with a trip to Johnson County. The Longhorns, who advanced to the second round of the Class 3A playoffs, went 5-7. The Warriors won last season’s meeting 6-0. However, there is a new leader at the helm of the Longhorn program as Don Kerley takes over.
Friday, September 26 – Abingdon (Va.)
Another squad of Falcons will invade Warrior Hill for Happy Valley’s second home of the year in Abingdon. Last season’s meeting was another thriller for the Warriors as they edged the homestanding Falcons 28-26. Abingdon went 4-6 last season.
Friday, October 3 – at Elizabethton
Happy Valley makes the short trip to Brown Childress Stadium to face defending Three Rivers Champion Elizabethton. The Cylcones, who defeated Happy Valley 50-8 last season, went 10-2 with their lone losses coming to Science Hill and Greeneville. Elizabethton will look to standout Ethan Thomas to lead the way in their title defense.
Friday, October 10 – Unicoi County
The Blue Devils will come to Happy Valley as the Warriors look to come out on the winning side of another thriller. Last season, Unicoi edged Happy Valley 33-30 in Erwin during a 4-7 season. The Blue Devils qualified for the TSSAA playoffs, but was defeated in the first round by eventual state champion Fulton. Unicoi will have a new coach this season as Bob McElwee has taken over the reins of the program.
Friday, October 24- at Sullivan East
The final road game of the regular season will see the Warriors travel to Sullivan East. The Patriots are coming off a dismal 1-9 season. Sullivan East’s lone victory was against Class A Unaka. Happy Valley used an 189 yard and five touchdown performance by then junior Phillip Garland to take a 54-21 victory on Senior Night.
Thursday, October 30 – Sullivan North
Happy Valley will wrap up the 2014 regular season on a Thursday night clash with Sullivan North. The Raiders picked up six wins last year to earn a playoff bid, where they fell 34-27 to Pigeon Forge in the first round. Happy Valley was on the wrong end of a thrilling game as they fell 34-27.
