The Happy Valley Warriors marked the opening of their new artificial turf field with a commanding victory over the Cloudland Highlanders, securing a decisive win of 55-20. This performance not only showcased the Warriors’ offensive prowess but also signaled a potentially strong season ahead under the guidance of Coach Jason Jarrett.
The match began at Happy Valley’s home ground, where the Warriors wasted no time establishing dominance. Lane Parker initiated the scoring with a remarkable 65-yard touchdown run, quickly putting his team ahead 6-0. The Highlanders responded, with Bryce Birchfield executing a play-action pass to Walker Gouge for a 58-yard touchdown, leveling the score momentarily.
However, the Warriors demonstrated their resilience, quickly regaining control of the game. They methodically advanced down the field, capped by a 20-yard scoring run from Keelin Releford, which put them back in the lead. Parker’s performance continued to shine as he intercepted a Highlanders pass and sprinted for another touchdown, extending the lead to 20-6.
Happy Valley was relentless, with Releford finding the end zone twice more before Parker returned another interception for a touchdown, bringing the score to 41-6 by halftime. The Warriors’ offensive statistics were impressive, amassing a total of nearly 400 yards, with Parker leading the charge with 120 yards on just three carries and Releford contributing 83 yards.
“I like the way this bunch is coming together,” Jarrett expressed after the game. “They do a lot of things together outside of football, and the more they do that, the closer they will get. I think it shows on the field.”
As the second half unfolded, the Highlanders, who were missing key players Grayson Cole and Landon Barnette, displayed some fight with Gavyn Shell scoring on a 10-yard run and Birchfield adding a 2-yard keeper. Despite their efforts, the margin was too great to overcome, and Happy Valley maintained their lead.
The Warriors concluded the game with a strong performance, demonstrating their capabilities on both offense and defense. Coach Jarrett also praised the new facility, stating, “Now, with the installation of our artificial turf, I truly believe we carry the distinction of the best and most beautiful artificial turf in the area. This facility is absolutely gorgeous, and we are beyond blessed by the Carter County School System for allowing all our stadiums to get these upgrades.”
Happy Valley now holds a record of 2-0 and will face Claiborne next week, while Cloudland will have a bye before going up against Hancock County on September 12.
