Unaka was unable to get a win on the road on Friday night.
The Rangers dropped a tough 30-16 decision to Jellico in Region 1-A play. With the loss, Unaka falls to 1-4 overall and 0-2 in region play.
The Rangers ended Jellico’s first drive of the game inside 20-yard line with a big fourth-down stop, but a safety on the ensuing possession gave the Blue Devils a 2-0 lead midway through the quarter.
Unaka recovered a Jellico fumble at midfield and moved inside the Jellico 20, but the Blue Devils recovered an Unaka fumble to end the drive.
The Blue Devils scored on the ensuing possession to take a 10-0 lead into the second quarter.
Unaka, however, wasn’t going to go quietly. Logan Benway put the Rangers not eh board as he broke free for a 12-yard touchdown, and Daniel Shearl hit Devin Ramsey for the two-point conversion to trim the Jellico lead to 10-8.
The Ranger defense held strong in the closing minutes of the half by holding on fourth down at the 10 to keep the margin 10-8 at the break.
In the second half, Jellico extended the lead with a 75-yard touchdown run as well as on a 64-yard pass to take a 24-8 lead midway through the stanza.
Benway, however, struck again as he scored on a 15-yard touchdown and added the conversion to cut the lead to eight points.
Unaka was unable to get a game-tying drive sustained in the final quarter.
The Rangers are set to host Happy Valley next Friday.
