Top-ranked Greeneville ends Pounders' season, 49-12

Football tile
Football tile

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Central High School from Harrison hung with the state's No. 1-ranked Class 4A team for a half Friday night, but a 21-point third quarter by Greeneville ended the Purple Pounders' season.

The Greene Devils scored a trio of touchdowns in a seven-minute span and pulled away for a 49-12 victory in the second round of the TSSAA state playoffs at Burley Stadium.

Central ended the season with a 7-5 record. Undefeated Greeneville advances to take on Anderson County in next week's quarterfinal round.

The Pounders scored twice in the second quarter to make it a 28-12 deficit at intermission. They had an extra point blocked and then failed on a two-point try after their second touchdown.

After Greeneville jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, Rashun Evans scored on a 4-yard run to get the visitors on the board.

That started what was a flurry of action over the final seven-plus minutes of the opening half.

The Devils scored twice in the three minutes that followed Evans' touchdown. The first came on a 99-yard drive that took just five plays and 83 seconds.

Central's final touchdown came with 12 seconds left before the break when Jaheim Jones completed a 6-yard pass to Andrew Bingham to cap an 11-play, 89-yard drive.

Greeneville outgained the Pounders 320-177 in the first half and 495-251 for the game. Central managed just four first downs after halftime.

The game showecase two of the five semifinalists for the TSSAA/Tennessee Titans Class 4A Mr. Football Award in Greeneville's Cade Ballard and Central's Michael McGhee. Ballard was 14-of-17 passing for 238 yards, while also rushing for 112 yards and four touchdowns. McGhee totaled 78 yards on 20 carries.

Greeneville also got 77 rushing yards and two scores from Ty Youngblood.

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