ELIZABETHTON — Happy Valley scored on all eight first-half possessions, also adding a defensive touchdown, to find paydirt nine times before the intermission for a 61-0 lead that held up as the final score over crosstown rival and host Unaka in Friday’s season-opening, non-class football contest.
The total was the Warriors’ highest scoring output since a 64-17 region win over Cumberland Gap on Oct. 13, 2023, and Happy Valley racked up 336 yards on just 18 offensive plays against the Rangers, good for 18.7 yards per snap.
The mercy-rule running clock started late in the first half and continued throughout the second half and both of the final two periods were shortened from 12 minutes to 10 as the Warriors took their third straight shutout victory over the Rangers following three straight losses in the span of two seasons from 2021-22. Happy Valley, which won 35-0 on the road in 2023 and 46-0 at home a season ago, now leads the all-time series 44-16.
Five of Happy Valley’s eight offensive touchdowns came in the first quarter as Keelin Releford bookended the opening period with scoring runs of 29 and 20 yards. Quarterback Gabe McDougald, a fellow senior, tossed touchdown passes of 35 yards to Ron Paul Parker and 19 yards to Artee Bahn, also cashing in on a QB-keeper on a 34-yard run in between his aerial assault.
The Warriors (1-0), who went 7-2 last fall to finish second in Region 1-2A but fell to Polk County, 14-13, in the opening round of the TSSAA state playoffs, scored four more times in the second period, including once on defense.
That touchdown came as junior Mason Norman scooped up a Unaka fumble at the hosts’ 24-yard line and lateraled it back to senior lineman Carlos Lopez about 12 yards away from the end zone as the Warriors made their lead 55-0.
Lane Keller had two touchdown runs in the frame, including a 47-yarder immediately after his midfield interception. His 22-yard TD run later on set the final score.
Happy Valley’s other touchdown was a 37-yard run by junior Landon Parker.
McDougald finished 3 of 4 for 67 yards, hitting Ron Paul Parker twice for 48 yards and Bahn on the second TD pass. Releford (4-74), Landon Parker (3-61), Keller (2-69), Ashton Guinn (2-14), Jayden Powell (2-13), Javier Carrillo (2-4) and McDougald (1-34) all contributed positive rushing yardage on light overall workloads.
Happy Valley running back Lane Parker (1) runs toward Unaka defensive lineman Gabe Coram (70) on Friday in Elizabethton.
MATT LAWS
The Warriors averaged a whopping 19.2 yards per carry across 14 attempts, finishing with 269 yards on the ground.
The Happy Valley defense forced five turnovers that led directly to touchdowns, including fumble recoveries by Norman (two), Andrew Ellis and Nic Primeau and Keller’s interception. Tyler Bailey also recovered a fumble for the Warriors, whose defense recorded a trio of fourth-down stops.
Placekicker Aalyiah Rangel converted on 7 of 8 extra point attempts.
Happy Valley now has 15 victories in its last 18 opportunities after winning just four games across two seasons from 2021-22.
The only sore spot of the night for the Warriors was in the penalty department, where they were bopped 11 times for 99 yards, including a penalty that gave Unaka one of just two first downs on the evening.
The Rangers (0-1), who are coming off a 1-9 campaign that saw them finish fifth in Region 1-1A, had just 20 players dressed and finished the night with negative-11 yards. Nick Britt, Ben Shutko, Asher Dunn and T.J. Parenteau finished on the positive side of the ledger for the hosts’ ground game.
Dunn and Ashton Fuller caught one pass apiece from Parenteau, but both lost yardage.
Happy Valley will play in its home-opener against non-class Cloudland next Thursday, one day before Unaka hosts J.I. Burton from across the Virginia border.
Johnson County 26, Sullivan East 21
MOUNTAIN CITY — In Friday’s season-opener, the Longhorns (1-0) held off the visiting Patriots (0-1) in non-class action, leading 12-0 after a quarter and 18-14 after both of the contest’s middle periods before the defense made a goal-line stand to seal the deal.
By halftime, Johnson County amassed more than 200 yards on the ground while Sullivan East eclipsed 150 yards through the air.
The Longhorns, who are looking to again finish near the top of the Region 1-3A standings, will visit Hampton in a game set to be played at Happy Valley High School in Week 2.
The Patriots are off on the wrong foot this fall following last year’s 1-9 mark and sixth-place finish in Region 1-4A. They will play their home-opener against Chuckey-Doak this Friday.
Hampton 60, Avery County 19
ELIZABETHTON — The Bulldogs (1-0) opened the season with a comfortable out-of-state victory over the Vikings of North Carolina, cruising in a game played at Happy Valley High School while hurricane repairs are ongoing at the Hampton campus.
Peyton Townsend opened the scoring with the first two touchdowns for the Bulldogs for a 14-0 lead. Isaiah Belcher made it 22-7 in Hampton’s favor, and the Bulldogs’ lead grew to 30-13 midway through the second quarter and 46-13 by halftime.
Avery County’s first touchdown was a kickoff return to cut the deficit to 14-7.
Hampton, which starts the season in fine fashion after a 3-7 finish last fall and a fourth-place finish in Region 1-2A, hosts Johnson County next Friday.
Cherokee 34, Pigeon Forge 13
PIGEON FORGE — The Chiefs (1-0) hit the road and grabbed a season-opening non-class win over the Tigers on Friday night, expanding on a 20-6 halftime lead.
Penalties slowed Pigeon Forge in the first half as Cherokee built its advantage.
The victory sets Cherokee on the right path as it seeks to build upon last season’s 7-3 mark and third place finish in Region 1-4A.
Midway 28, Cloudland 14
KINGSTON — The Highlanders (0-1) were dealt a season-opening road loss by the host Green Wave in non-class action on Friday night as the game was called with 3:27 left in the second quarter due to inclement weather.
Midway led 21-8 before an initial weather delay, then poor conditions ended the meeting before the intermission.
The loss was Cloudland’s fourth in its last five games following a 4-5 finish last season and a third-place finish in Region 1-1A.
GIRLS SOCCER
Dobyns-Bennett 1, Rhea County 1
GATLINBURG — The Lady Indians (1-0-1) settled for a tie in Friday’s opener at the Smoky Mountain Cup, being held over the weekend at Rocky Top Sports World.
Dobyns-Bennett scored first when Carlee Cradic scored a 48th-minute goal off an assist from Kora Houlihan. The Lady Golden Eagles salvaged a draw with a goal 11 minutes later.
Goalkeeper Kaylee Menya recorded two saves for D-B.
The Lady Indians outshot Rhea County 9-6, including a 4-3 advantage in shots on goal. The Lady Golden Eagles were tops in corner kicks, however, 6-2.
Dobyns-Bennett continues Smoky Mountain Cup action on Saturday with games against Centennial and Karns.
