Offensive explosion tops Fighting Cocks

September 21, 2008 · Filed Under Football · Comment

By SETH BUTLER NPT Sports Writer NEWPORT-Another game. More early miscues. Another installment in the Greeneville series. Another first quarter offensive explosion by the Greene Devils. It was that same song and verse for the Cocke County Fighting Cocks in the 2008 season and the series with Greeneville as the Devils raced out to a 34-0 halftime lead, en route to a 41-19 victory.

Cocke County scored their 19 points late in the fourth quarter against Greeneville’s reserves. A powerful offense for the Devils (2-2, 2-0) and the usual early mistakes that have become a tradition this year for the Fighting Cocks (0-4, 0-2) allowed Greeneville to strike early and often in the game’s first half. Greeneville’s offense detonated in the first quarter, tallying 205 yards and 20 points, putting the game out of reach early for the Fighting Cocks. Cocke County again made numerous miscues and mustered only 37 yards of offense.

“They did a phenomenal job of coming out and executing,” first-year Cocke County coach Casey Kelley said. “We did a poor job of coming out and executing. Again early turnovers and fumbles hurt us again. “There’s not much more than you can explain than that other than to have an opportunity to put something together and turn the ball back over to them,” Kelley said.

The Devils scored their first touchdown of the night before most fans had settled into their seats. A 61-yard pass from Jordan Greenway to Trevon Hall allowed Greeneville to claim an early 7-0 lead, the second straight year the Devils had scored on the first play of the game. The play was a screen play and the three Cocke County defenders in the area were soundly blocked allowing Hall to scamper into the end zone untouched. Hall scored the next Greeneville touchdown some five minutes later, racing 38-yards on the ground to cap off a six-play, 76-yard drive.

The drive came after a swap of turnovers, including a Barry Huffhines interception and return that moved the ball deep into Greeneville territory. However, Cocke County’s offense two yards and a fumble by quarterback Casey Ragan on fourth down to end the drive.

Cocke County could not stop that Greeneville drive after forcing the Devils into third-and-long. A third-and-12 was converted with a fade pass from Greenway to Ryan Fillers to continue the drive. A blocked punt led to Greeneville’s third and final score of the first quarter. Cocke County elected to use the Emory and Henry formation, and for the second straight week the result was negative.

The Devils scored two plays later on a 28-yard pass from Greenway to TJ Rollins, as Rollins blew past the Cocke County’s Chris James and was wide open on the post-route. A William Carmichael interception led to a short drive by Greeneville with 9:52 remaining in the second quarter. Hall scored his third touchdown of the game with a three-yard run to give the Devils a 27-0 lead. Hall finished 120 yards and two scores on 12 carries.

Another CCHS fumble led to another quick strike for the Devils. BJ Spradlin capped off a three-play, 44-yard drive with a four-yard run for a 34-0 lead. When the smoke from the offensive explosion had cleared, the Devils had out gained Cocke County 271-71 with a balanced offensive attack.

Greeneville had 144 yards on the ground and 132 through the air and if not for a pair of crucial turnovers could have made the damage significantly worse. Cocke County was unable to take advantage of a Greeneville muffed punt to start the second half on the scoreboard, but did pin the Devils inside their own five-yard line. That was little deterrent to Greeneville as they marched 97 yards with ease in only seven plays.

Greenway capped off the drive with his third touchdown pass, a 12-yard strike to Fillers with 2:52 remaining in the third quarter. Greenway’s night included three touchdowns on 8-of-14 passing for 216 yards and an interception.

Holding a 41-0 lead and a 339-113 advantage in total offense after three quarters, the Devils handed the game to their reserves for the fourth quarter. Cocke County, however, remained with their starters, and the result was a 19-point, 159-yard fourth quarter.

Ragan hit James for the first score on a 30-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-12 with 9:52 remaining in the game, before Carmichael took over.

On Cocke County’s next offensive snap, Carmichael scampered 74-yards with several broken tackles for a touchdown at the 6:39 mark to close the gap to 41-13. Carmichael then scored from two yards out with 1:31 to play to cap off a six-play, 70-yard drive.

Cocke County did not elect to use their reserves until Greeneville went to the victory formation. Carmichael’s performance was the first 100-yard performance this season by a Cocke County running back, totaling 119 yards on 15 carries.

The sophomore also saw time at quarterback throwing for 24 yards on 2-of-4 passing.

The shifting of personnel was a new look for Cocke County, which had resulted from an injury to starting quarterback Lee Adams.

Kelley said his team is still learning the offense and that everything is a building process week-by-week as they continue to implement new looks and personnel packages.

“Everything we are doing is new,” Kelley said. “Everything these kids have done since May is new. “We are still not there, fully implementing everything that we’re wanting in,” Kelley said. “As a coach you have to caution on the side of not overloading in practice. There’s a whole realm of things yet that we have to implement and put in, but we have to get to Step A before we get to Step B. We’re not to Step B right yet.”

The first-year coach also said that they have to focus on small successes in order to lead up to the big successes. “Tonight, we want to come out and win the football game, but we are winning the small battles on the practice field and winning the small battles every play on the field trying to get better,” Kelley said. “We’re trying to build a program and a team right here, small things if we continue to work on them are going to work up to big results. “That has to be our focus and we have to continue to work on that focus,” Kelley said.

Cocke County’s focus now centers on Jefferson County, the final non-conference opponent on the schedule. The Fighting Cocks face the Patriots next Friday in Dandridge. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (WLIK 1270-AM).

Newport Tennessee News