Little went right for the Cherokees Friday night as they dropped their sixth game of the year on a cold, wet homecoming night against Tellico Plains at Cooper Field.
The 'Kees were in the game for much of the first half, but the Bears piled up 13 unanswered points in the second half to capture the 32-7 win.

Tellico's offense was most explosive early, as tailback Dieon Odell racked up 196 yards on 16 carries in just under a quarter and a half.  Odell accounted for all 19 of the Bears' points in the first half as he took in runs of four yards twice and one that went to one sideline and then the other before he darted 56 yards for the score.

Odell left the game midway through the second quarter with an apparent injury, however, and did not suit up in the second half.
The 'Kees failed to take advantage of the star tailback's absence, however, as they scored once early in the first quarter, but couldn't punch the ball in after that.

"We got physically beat up front.  They were more physical than us, their running backs ran hard and broke a lot of tackles," Greenback Head Coach Justin Ridge said after the game.  "Just bottom line - we weren't being physical and they were."

On the topic of Odell's big first half, Ridge said, "We knew he was good.  We made him look probably a bit better than he was because I think we missed about 10 tackles on one play.  We just gave them too much space."

Tellico took the ball first to open the game and, behind runs of 25 and 36 by Odell, scored in six plays.  The point after was no good, leaving the score at 6-0.
Greenback answered right back, however, as the 'Kees moved to the Tellico 29 in five plays.  The sixth play was a fly route from Travis Sellers to Tyler Burnette down the right sideline.  The accurate pass sent Burnette into the end zone and Jeremy Miller's point after put Greenback ahead 7-6.

That was it for Greenback's offense, however, as Tellico punched the ball in two more times in the opening half.  The first score came on the drive after Greenback's score, as Odell capped a 14-play, 65-yard drive with a four-yard run over right tackle.  The Bears attempted a two point conversion but failed, keeping the difference at 12-7.

The final score of the half for Tellico came on the second play after a Cherokee punt.  After a John Sloan rush up the middle gained nothing, the Bears turned back to Odell.  The tailback took the handoff to the left sideline and appeared to be about to be taken down by a troop of Greenback defenders.  Odell made them all miss, however, reversed field and found an opening down the far sideline.

He rushed 56 yards on the play and the PAT pushed Tellico's lead to 19-7 at halftime.
Greenback's offensive woes continued into the second half, as the Cherokees had as many turnovers (two) as first downs (two) in the third and fourth quarters.

The 'Kees took the ball first in the third period, but were forced into a three and out.  Tellico then took the ball and on the first play of the drive, Donovan McKenzie took the handoff 64 yards for a touchdown.  The PAT extended the visitors' lead to 26-7.
Each team turned the ball over on their next possession and both defenses stymied the opposing offense for much of the rest of the second half.

The Bears found the end zone one more time, however, with 5:08 left in the game.  
Capping off a five-play, 29-yard drive, Sloan punched in a two-yard TD run.  The conversion attempt failed, securing the final tally.

The Bears finished with 359 rushing yards on the night, and Greenback finished with 144 yards of total offense.

The 'Kees will take Friday night off and will close out the season Friday, Oct. 30 with Grace Christian on senior night at Cooper Field.