Rangers continue to build momentum in blowout win

Published 12:12 am Saturday, October 8, 2022

By Jenny Jones

Star Correspondent

The Unaka Rangers continue to build momentum on the season, coming away with a 34-8 victory over the Region 1-3A Claiborne Bulldogs on Friday.

After a Claiborne turnover, the Rangers capitalized on a Landon Ramsey 10-yard touchdown run with 5:50 remaining in the first quarter. The quarter ended with Claiborne deep in Rangers territory trailing 6-0.

Claiborne scored early in the second quarter when Claiborne punched it in from the 1-yard line and added the 2-point conversion to take an 8-6 lead.

On the next drive, the Rangers Jamol Blamo punched it in from 24 yards out with 6:45 remaining to take the lead 12-8. The two-point conversion failed. Both defenses would tighten up to keep the score 12-8 going into the half with the Rangers on top.

Claiborne received the kickoff to start the third quarter. The drive stalled and on the punt, Ramsey broke through the line to tackle the punter at the 15-yard line. On the next play, Ramsey ran 15 yards for the touchdown and followed up with a run for the two-point conversion making the score 20-8, with 9:21 left in the quarter. After a fourth down stop by the Rangers at their 47-yard line, Ramsey had a 10-yard run, followed by a 40-yard run by Ryan Peters, to Claiborne’s seven-yard line.

Ramsey ran it in for a seven-yard touchdown with 5:39 left in the 3rd. The two-point conversion failed, leaving the score 26-8.

After Unaka forced a punt, Ramsey hit Balmo for a 40-yard touchdown reception with 2:11 left in the quarter. Peters completed the two-point conversion, making it 34-8. Isaiah White for the Rangers would intercept Claiborne on the next possession at the Rangers 20-yard line. The score at the end of the third is 34-8.

Defenses ruled the fourth quarter, with neither team scoring, keeping the final score 34-8.

Unaka will host Cosby in a conference showdown on Friday at 7:30 p.m.