Mckinney leads Cloudland to playoff win
Published 12:12 am Saturday, November 5, 2022
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Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Cloudland QB Bryce Birchfield makes a handoff as the Highlanders hosted Oakdale in the opening round of the playoffs.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
The Cloudland Highlanders and Oakdale Eagles faced off Friday night in Roan Mtn.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
An Oakdale player harasses Cloudland's Austin Caraway after the whistle.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Highlanders Bryce Birchfield and Tanner Blevins converge on an Oakdale receiver.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
The Cloudland Highlanders try to make a goal-line stand late in the 2nd quarter against the Oakdale Eagles on Friday night.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Elijah Holtsclaw breaks tackles on a kickoff return before halftime Friday night for Cloudland.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
Cloudland QB Bryce Birchfield rolls out looking for an open Highlander receiver Friday night.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
It was the Gage McKinney show in the first half as Cloudland hosted Oakdale in the first round of the playoffs Friday night.
Star Photo / Brandon Hyde
A Cloudland coach holds Bryce Birchfield on the sideline as the Highlanders decide to let the clock run out before halftime.
Gage McKinney rushed for more than 370 yards and five touchdowns as Cloudland won its fourth straight game, defeating regional 1-2A opponent Oakdale 38-28 on Friday.
McKinney, a senior, runs out of the Wildcat offense and proved on Friday how effective that scheme is for him and for Cloudland.
“Gage picks things up so quickly that we can devise a new offense and in no time he can teach it to the young guys,” head coach Zac Benfield said earlier this week. “He is the type of kid you don’t have to motivate. You don’t have to pull him aside and explain things to him. He gets it.”
Oakdale, who came into the game 7-3 overall and 3-3 in the conference, got on the board first, scoring on a one-yard run by quarterback Elisha Davis. The PAT failed.
McKinney quickly answered for Cloudland with a 62-yard touchdown run and a three-yard run for the two-point conversion, giving the Highlanders an early 8-6 lead in the first quarter.
Oakdale scored a second time in the first on a 59-yard pass from Davis to Joseph Summers, who then successfully completed an eight-yard pass to Aaron Dunlap for the two-point conversion.
McKinney scored again on a four-yard run in the second quarter. His three-yard carry for the two-point conversion gave Cloudland a 16-14 lead.
Oakdale answered with a one-yard run by Dunlap and a successful two-point conversion pass from Summers to Davis, giving the Eagles a 22-16 lead going into halftime.
Cloudland scored twice in the third quarter: a two-yard run by McKinney with a three-yard conversation carry by Kyle Birchfield, followed by a one-yard run by McKinney, who also carried for the two-point conversion. Cloudland entered the fourth quarter with a 32-22 lead.
McKinney scored his final touchdown on a 13-yard run, but the extra-point effort failed.
Oakdale’s final score came on a two-yard run by Dunlap, ending the game at 38-28.
McKinney led the Highlanders’ offense with 372 yards on 58 carries, with five touchdowns. Birchfield rushed for 18 yards on four carries.
Dunlap led the Eagles with 13 carries for 51 yards and two touchdowns. Davis completed 10 of 21 attempts for 166 yards and one passing touchdown.
Nehemiah Cooney led Oakdales’ receivers with five receptions for 69 yards, followed by Summers with 67 yards on two receptions and one touchdown.
On defense, Cloudland’s Tanner Blevins had one interception.
Cloudland raises their record to 6-5 on the season and will host Oliver Springs on Friday night. Gametime is 7 pm.
