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BY JESSE SMITHEY
For the second time this season, the Greeneville High School football had one of its games called off due to inclement weather.
The first happened in a Week 2 game (Aug. 25) that was tied in the third quarter against Dobyns-Bennett.
The Greene Devils’ game Thursday night against visiting Alcoa (3-0) didn’t get as far. It was halted at 7:56 p.m. because of lightning strikes in the area. Those strikes didn’t subside and heavy rains rolled in, as well.
The game was officially ruled a no contest at approximately 10 p.m., as teams had remained in a holding pattern for some two hours as they waited for weather to dissipate.
Alcoa and Greeneville (2-0) were knotted at 7-all with 2:36 remaining in the first half when officials halted the contest.
Greeneville rode a wave of early momentum in the first quarter, as quarterback Corbin Cannon connected on a deep pass to move Greeneville into scoring range in the opening minutes. A penalty slowed the drive, and Greeneville ultimately settled for a field-goal try.
That kick missed.
But Greeneville responded with an interception on Alcoa’s opening possession, and junior all-purpose back Carson Quillen cashed in on Greeneville’s second chance. He scored on a 1-yard touchdown run at the 3:35 mark of the first.
Alcoa couldn’t get going late in the first quarter either. But when Eli Graf converted a fake-punt run with roughly 40 seconds left in the first quarter, that gamble of a play breathed new life into the contest and reversed momentum.
Graf still wound up punting early in the second quarter, and he sent one down to the 1-yard line.
On the next play, Graf intercepted a Greeneville pass and returned it for a touchdown, tying the score at 7-7 with 9:56 remaining in the half.
Greeneville will resume its season next week at home against Morristown West.
Alcoa, which was playing Greeneville for the first time since 2012, will play at Austin-East on Sept. 15.
KOC 5STAR PHOTOS: Alcoa Tornadoes at Greeneville Greene Devils – Week 4 (2023)