PREP FOOTBALL PREVIEW: Greeneville visits Elizabethton in one of several matchups as regular season ends in Tennessee

ELIZABETHTON — Don't expect Elizabethton's surprising loss to Seymour last Friday to put a damper on what is the always one of the top rivalry games in the area. Just ask Greeneville (9-0, 6-0) head coach Eddie Spradlen, whose Greene Devils will visit Region 1-4A rival Elizabethton (6-3, 5-1) on Friday night. "There is not going to be any lack of luster in this game, you can throw out records any time these two teams get together on the football field," Spradlen said. "I expect a heavyweight fight for four quarters on Friday." Elizabethton's 21-16 loss to Seymour was the Cyclones' first loss to a school not called Greeneville since joining Region 1-4A in 2017. It snapped a six-game win streak for the Cylones, which will likely be on the road for a first round playoff game next week for the first time since 2014. "Much improved team, talented skill group. Credit to them for finding a way to win," Elizabethton head coach Shawn Witten said. "We forced three turnovers but also had three turnovers ourselves. We battled, faced tons of adversity, just got to pick ourselves up and respond." Meanwhile, Greeneville has been its usual self this season, scoring at least 36 points and winning by at least 23 points in all nine games. The combination of Kaine Ricker (2,215 yards, 26 TD passing) to ETSU commit Taren Claridy (1,265 yards, 21 TD receiving) has been lethal for opponents. Jude Dyer runs behind a big offensive line, while Zy Neal, Jack Lister IV and Cole Smith are leaders on defense. "Somewhere in life-football you have to bet on yourself, believe in the work you have put in," Witten said. "This game has to be won as a team complementary football. Their defense is what makes them so tough over the years! Their QB Ricker is the guy you want leading your team, his mentality is different." While all the gaudy stats and lopsided results are nice, Spradlin has been just as impressed with the work ethic the Greene Devils have displayed in the effort to improve each week. "Just the work this team is putting into the weight room and on the practice field," Spradlen said. Elizabethton will turn to senior quarterback Peyton Lingerfelt, who needs 76 yards to pass 1,000 yards through the air for the season. His favorite target is Braylon Britt, while William McDuffie is the leader on the ground. Calyx Daugherty is the top tackler for the Cyclones. "One of the biggest keys in this game is taking care of the football," Spradlen said. "They do a good job causing turnovers. Also, we have to get off the field on third down." Greeneville has won four straight against the Cyclones, but still trail the overall series, 43-38-1, with the first meeting in 1924. They will look to remain unbeaten heading into a home playoff opener next week. Elizabethton hopes to put a dent in those plans. "This game makes you better. You find out a lot about yourself as an individual and as a team," Witten said. "I admire them from a distance how hard they work and it shows. This is why you signed up to play, to have these opportunities. High school football is still about playing competition. Not many teams want to play the green team." *** THURSDAY GAMES CASTLEWOOD (0-8) at TRI-CITIES CHRISTIAN (6-6): These teams get a treat for Halloween, playing at ETSU's spacious Greene Stadium. Coen Kestner has thrown for 1,174 yards for the Eagles, while Josiah Williams and Ian Kelly will carry the pigskin. Darian Jackson and Williams are leaders on defense. Castlewood will try to snap an 18-game losing skid and avoid a possible second 0-10 season in a row. The Blue Devils face Cumberland District titan Eastside next week. CLOUDLAND (4-5, 4-2) at HAMPTON (6-3, 4-2): The first game in the program histories for both of these teams in 1950 was against each other, with Cloudland winning 32-6. Hampton has dominated in 91 meetings, posting a 62-29 record, including 21-2 since 2003. Brycen Blevins needs 136 yards to reach 2,000 passing yards, while Landon Buchanan has been a menace on defense. Grayson Cole's 1,375 rushing yards for Cloudland is the second most in the area. DANIEL BOONE (2-7, 1-3) at TENNESSEE HIGH (6-3, 2-2): It will be final game for Jeremy Jenkins, who is stepping down after 24 seasons as head coach of the Trailblazers. Elijah Plumbar, who leads the area with 1,696 rushing yards, had a school record 320 yards two weeks ago in a loss to Sevier County. Dru Fleming needs 40 yards on the ground to reach 1,000 for the Trailblazers. There could be a three-way tie for the second home playoff berth from Region 1-5A. DAVID CROCKETT (6-3, 2-2) at COCKE COUNTY (0-8, 0-4): AJ Wynn just keeps making winning plays for the Pioneers, who will look for a fifth straight win against the winless Fighting Cocks, who have been shut out six times and scored just 20 points all season. Wynn could reach 1,000 yards rushing (931) and passing (938), and has accounted for 22 touchdowns for the Pioneers. Jasiyah Antone leads all area tacklers with 113 for David Crockett. NORTH GREENE (3-6, 2-4) at UNAKA (0-9, 0-6): While Unaka looks to avoid a 25th straight loss, the Rangers do hold a 27-21 edge in the series with the Huskies. Unaka has been fun to watch to those who like the see the ball in the air, with Jacob Carrier passing for 1,649 yards, with Ashton Fuller (866) and Asher Dunn (614) combining for 1,480 of those yards. Expect plenty of points with both teams having allowed 60-plus points several times this season. UNICOI COUNTY (8-1, 4-0) at JOHNSON COUNTY (2-7, 1-3): The Region 1-3A champion Blue Devils have been ready for the postseason, having won eight straight on the season. Unicoi County has scored at least 34 points in all eight of those games, and at least 42 in its last five games. The Blue Devils are 38-22, including seven wins in row against the Longhorns in a series that started in 1928. Brayden Dickens has led Johnson County with 1,179 yards on the ground. *** FRIDAY GAMES GATE CITY (6-2, 4-0) at WISE CENTRAL (5-3, 2-3): Gate City sits on top of the Mountain 7 District, and will look to stay there with Ridgeview visiting Legion Field next week. Wise Central, which is under the direction of former JJ Kelly coach Kevin Saunders, were led last week against Abingdon by Colton Elkins, who ran for 369 yards and six touchdowns. Gate City is currently fourth in Region 2D power points used to determine playoff seedings, trailing Graham, Union and Ridgeview. JEFFERSON COUNTY (5-4, 1-2) at WEST RIDGE (3-6, 1-2): Both teams are playoff bound in the five-team Region 1-6A. West Ridge is 1-3 against the Patriots, who have won three straight after losing three in a row. Justice Hilton (1,090, 15) and Brody Fields (887, 11) have combined for 1,977 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground for the Wolves. Jace Arwood and Jax Brown lead the defense. West Ridge is one game above .500 (31-30) since the program began in 2021. NORTHVIEW ACADEMY (5-4, 3-3) at CHEROKEE (5-4, 3-3): The final Region 1-4A postseason berth will be decided in this one. Cherokee snapped a four-game losing streak last week by topping Volunteer, and will look to make it five behind the running of Jayden Weston and the throwing of Cade Putnal. Keaton Rimer, Eli Boyd and Ezra Garrett have led the Chiefs on defense. Cherokee is 1-2 against the Cougars, who are located in Kodak. PROVIDENCE ACADEMY (3-6) at ZION CHRISTIAN (2-6): Providence snapped a four-game losing streak with a 58-7 rout last week of Grace Baptist in Chattanooga in its final Division II-A, East Region game of the season. Zion Christian, located in Columbia, is 2-2 after starting the season at 0-4. Ford Bowman has been a bright spot on defense for Micah Hughes in his first season as head coach of the Knights. RYE COVE (6-2, 2-1) at J.I. BURTON (5-3, 2-1): Rye Cove will look to snap a two-losing skid, while the Raiders reached five wins for the first time since 2022 against teams with a combined four wins on the season. Rye Cove is currently second behind Chilhowie in the VHSL Region 1D power points used to determine playoff seedings. Burton, which is seventh, is 24-5 against Rye Cove, and four of those losses have come in the last four seasons. SOUTH GREENE (3-6, 0-2) at HAPPY VALLEY (8-1, 2-0): Happy Valley, which is looking to finish unbeaten in the four-team Region 1-2A, is 30-18 against the Rebels. The Warriors have scored at least 41 points in eight games, and allowed single digits in seven contests. Lane Parker is tied for the area lead with 22 touchdowns and leads everyone with seven interceptions on defense. Tyler Berry has 100 tackles and is second in the area in tackles for loss. THOMAS WALKER (2-6, 1-2) at TWIN SPRINGS (2-6, 1-2): Twin Springs holds a 28-16 advantage against the Cumberland District rival Pioneers, with the Titans winning six of the last seven meetings. These clubs have combined for four wins against teams with a combined one win on the season. Twin Springs kicker Bruno Danree has connected on three field goals for the Titans this year, tied for second most in the area. VOLUNTEER (4-5, 1-5) at SULLIVAN EAST (1-8, 0-6): Volunteer is looking to finish at the .500 mark while the Patriots are trying to avoid a nine-game losing skid heading into 2027. Volunteer will look to reach five wins for just the 13th time in a program history that began in 1980. Volunteer does hold a 24-18 against Sullivan East, another program that has historically struggled on the gridiron. The Patriots have won two their last 31 games.