The Cherokees are almost there. But not quite.
In a game they needed to win to improve their own playoff chances, the Greenback players couldn't put together the one thing they needed to perfect: consistency.

Down 8-0 to open the second quarter, the Cherokees responded from their own 31 yard line putting together an impressive offensive drive down to the Lookout Valley 26 yard line. But before the Cherokee fans could consider a possible tying score, a holding call moved the ball back to the 49 yard line. Just like that, the Cherokees turned a 43-yard offensive drive and potential touchdown into 20 yards and a punt.

In the end, the Cherokees (3-5, 1-2) watched their playoff hopes dim a bit more late Friday night as they fell to the District 6(A) Lookout Valley Yellow Jackets (6-1, 1-1). After a surprising first half that featured a tough Cherokee defense and plenty of offensive potential, Greenback dropped the road contest 22-6.

Heavy thunderstorms delayed the opening kickoff for more than two hours, but the teams took the field at 9:45 p.m. on a Lookout Valley surface that was saturated with standing water. And the Cherokees immediately announced their presence, forcing two consecutive punts, and driving the potent Yellow Jacket offense backwards for a net minus five yards to open the game.
Throughout the first half, Greenback took advantage of sloppy conditions. Several shotgun snaps went through the hands of Lookout Valley's quarterback Tay Vaughn Wynn, where the senior quarterback fell on the ball losing chunks of yardage each time.

Only a broken play late in the first quarter spoiled what was otherwise a scoreless first half. Nearly sacked for the third time in the game, Wynn broke several tackles in the backfield, raced to the right sideline where he cut back to the center and rolled 57 yards to the Greenback nine yard line. Two plays later, Wynn punched it in from one yard out for the score. Running back Derrick Pullom added the two-point conversion.

The Cherokees started the second half with more offensive fireworks. After a Yellow Jacket opening kickoff pinned Greenback at its own 10 yard line, freshman running back Richard Seymour took a direct snap from center, swept right and gated down the sideline for a 90-yard strike. The 'Kees attempted a two-point conversion for the tie but failed.

Still, opportunity was plentiful for Greenback. Travis Sellers pounded a low skidder on the ensuing kickoff that bounced off a front-row player for the Jackets. Greenback fell on the ball at the 50 yard line. But in three plays, the Cherokees could manage only an off-sides penalty and a net of zero yards.

And the Jackets snatched the momentum back. Starting from its own 20 yard line, Lookout Valley gave the ball to Pullom on the second play, and the senior went 67 yards for the score. The PAT failed, but the lead stretched to 14-6.

Following a second Cherokee punt, the Jackets took control of the game on their next possession, adding a final touchdown on an 85-yard drive, and relentlessly chewing 10:21 off the clock. Wynn capped the effort with a 36-yard run to the end zone. Pullom added the two-point conversion.
Down 16 points with six minutes left to play, the Cherokees put together an 8-play drive that moved the ball to the Jacket 24-yard line. But the drive stalled there when the Cherokees could not convert on fourth and long.

Greenback had 208 total yards. Seymour led in rushing with 15 carries for 97 yards.
The Cherokees were 3 for 13 passing for 56 yards. Lookout Valley had 237 total yards, all of them on the ground. They averaged nearly six yards per carry on 41 attempts. Wynn was 0 for 1 passing.

The Cherokees welcome District 3(A) rival Tellico Plains to Cooper Field on Friday for homecoming. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.