Dobyns-Bennett, Greeneville Set For First Match-Up in 15 Years
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
August 17, 2017
Dobyns-Bennett travels to Burley Stadium for the 2017 season-opener and will find an ill bunch of Greene ‘Devils.
Greeneville is still reeling from a quarterfinal playoff loss last year to eventual state runner-up Knox Central that came on a last-second 4th-and-15 Hail Mary pass in a 16-14 Bobcat win.
The stunner came after Greeneville had rolled off five straight shutouts by a cumulative score of 347-0.
“They had only given up three field goals and lose on that last pass,” said Dobyns-Bennett coach Graham Clark. “They’ve been talking about the game for nine months now.”
The ‘Devils return 15 starters this season and still are a junior-oriented team. Four Greene ‘Devils have been named pre-season all-state including three on offense – junior quarterback Cade Ballard (5-9, 210), junior tight end Cameron Hite (6-4, 215) and sophomore offensive lineman Chris Everhart (6-3, 305).
Under the controls of Ballard, Greeneville racked up 640 points last season. Ballard complete 107 passes on just 149 attempts for 2005 yards and 34 touchdowns against only five interceptions. An adept runner, Ballard also tallied 378 yards on the ground and ten more scores.
Already, Ballard has offers from Carson-Newman and Austin-Peay with interest also coming from Army, Navy and Wofford.
“Ballard is so elusive,” added Clark. “I’d tear my rotator cuff trying to hit him playing dodgeball. He makes people miss and then does a great job of keeping his eyes down the field.”
With Ballard, the Greene Devils have strayed slightly from their traditional ground-oriented attack.
“It appears they really like to throw the ball down field,” noted Clark. “They have been a run-oriented football team. They like the way their receivers run and they like the way Ballard throws.”
Senior wide receiver Seth Crawford (5-10, 160) is the leading returning receiver. Crawford made 33 catches last season, 17 of which went for touchdowns. Junior Dorien Goddard (6-3, 215) had 29 receptions. Clark is particularly impressed with senior Jamian Thompson (5-10, 170). The 6-3, 215-pound Hite figures to be a match-up issue.
“Every other catch Crawford made was for a touchdown,” Clark said. He’s a guy they’ll throw it down the field to. I really like Thompson, but you don’t hear much about him, but he’s got some wheels and can go.
“Hite is listed as a tight end, but rarely lines up there. We’ll have to account for him every play.”
The ground attack could be by committee for Greeneville. Junior Garrin Shuffler (5-8, 160) ran for 320 yards and five touchdowns on 40 carries last year. Sophomore Ty Youngblood (5-11, 195) rambled for 270 yards on 33 carries and also had five scores as a freshman. Junior Jaevon Gillespie (5-9, 185) is another option.
Clark had adjust the Tribe defense this season in attempt to get more speed on the field.
“We just had to,” said Clark. “I said after last season that no matter what we had to we were going to get more speed on the field on defense. If that means rotating more on offense so guys can play more defense that’s what we’ll do.”
No doubt, the Greeneville offense will be a stern measuring stick in that regard.
“Big plays. We have to limit big plays,” added Clark. “Those plays of 25-30 yards, those are the killer plays. “You just can’t give them up. You have to be consistent and make them earn it.”
The Greeneville defense pitched seven shutouts and allowed only 59 points all season long. Clark says it all starts up front with junior defensive end Logan Shipley (6-2, 230), junior defensive tackle Trent Knight (5-9, 190), senior defensive tackle Nick Rideout (6-3, 300) and junior defensive end Jacques-Gillespie-Taylor (6-0, 225)
“They will play about six people at defensive tackle,” noted Clark. “To me their defensive ends are the key. Shipley is one of the better defensive ends we will see. They do such a great job of hat-reading, using their hands, sliding inside run, sliding outside run.”
Junior linebacker Kenny Kershaw led Greenville with 96 tackles last season. He’s flanked by Youngblood and Shuffler.
Crawford, a pre-season all-state selection, heads the defensive back field that includes Thompson, Hite and junior Dalton McClain (5-9, 175).
“They do everything possible they can do not to give up the deep ball and big play,” added Clark.
Clark expects a full house for Dobyns-Bennett’s first visit to Greeneville in 15 years.
“I know it’s always loud there and I hear it’s going to be a full house,” said Clark. “It’s a chance to play football, one of only ten we are guaranteed each season, so we’ll be ready.”
GAME NOTES … The game is the 36th meeting between the two schools with Dobyns-Bennett leading 31-5 … The Greene Devils won the most recent match-up, 19-10, on September 13, 2002 … Greeneville is 92-15 in eight years under Cane Ballard, including back-to-back state championships in 2010 and 2011 … Four of the last five Greene Devil playoff losses have come to teams that played for the state championship, including three that won the state championship … Including the two-year tenure of Steve McCurry, Greeneville is 113-21 the last ten years … Coach Graham Clark is celebrating his 25th year as head coach of the Indians and 36th overall at Dobyns-Bennett … Clark is 244-67 overall and 225-64 at Dobyns-Bennett … This is the 1052nd game in Dobyns-Bennett football history (774-239-28) … The game may be heard on ESPN Tri-Cities (94.3 FM, 1400 AM) and espntricities.com.