The Cloudland Highlanders evened the score with the Avery Vikings on Friday night in Roan Mountain, seizing control early in a 43-21 final score.
Cloudland scored on seven of its ten offensive possessions, setting the tone by scoring touchdowns on each of the team's first drives on offense. Cloudland got on the board after the opening kickoff with a 7-play, 67 yard drive, capped off by a run of five yards from QB Randall Johnson to give the Landers the early 6-0 lead.
Avery moved the football on its first drive inside the Landers 20 yard line, but a fumble on an exchange between Vikings QB Adam Pate and his running back was recovered by Cloudland. The Landers immediately capitalized on the mistake, as Johnson found speedy wide receiver Seth Houtsma for a 79-yard touchdown pass on its first play following the turnover. A conversion attempt failed, but Cloudland led 12-0.
The Vikings got on the board with its next series when Travis Thomas recovered a fumbled snap and galloped 36 yards for an Avery score. Colton Blackburn's PAT narrowed the score to 12-7.
Cloudland scored on its next possession on a 1-yard run by Johnson, giving the Landers an 18-7 advantage as the second period began. Following an Avery three-and-out, Cloudland committed its first error when Jordan English intercepted a Johnson pass. Avery turned the miscue into points five plays later when Pate found Keith McKinney on a 33-yard touchdown strike. A 2-point conversion failed, but Avery again drew to within five points at 18-13.
It seemed for every Viking score, the Cloudland club found an answer. After a kickoff return gave the Landers field position near midfield to open its next series, the offense drove 53 yards over seven plays, culminating with another run by Johnson, a two-yard plunge to account for the eventual halftime score of 24-13.
As the second half began, the Cloudland defense continued to stifle the Big Red. Avery had the first offensive series to start the second half, but had a three-and-out and punted the ball to Cloudland. An eight play, 65-yard scoring drive that took four minutes off the third quarter clock appeared to sap the energy from the weary visiting Vikings. Matthew Tipton found paydirt with a 15-yard scamper along the sideline to push the Landers ahead by a 30-13 margin.
The Vikings hurt their own cause on its next offensive series with an interception near midfield, but the defense held on a fourth and inches run to get the football back. Avery's offense continued to move the football downfield as the third period wound down, but failed to convert on a fourth down play in Cloudland territory to stifle their longest drive of the game.
Cloudland put an exclamation point on an impressive performance with a pair of fourth period touchdowns, a 11-yard run by Tipton for his second score of the night, and a 9-yard run by Johnson for a 42-13 advantage. Avery's offense managed a late touchdown as Thomas scored on a 25-yard scurry and the Vikings successfully picked up a two-point conversion with two minutes remaining. The teams ran out the remaining seconds as the Landers celebrated a victory and possession of the Border Battle Trophy.
Avery returns to action on Friday night with its home opener against Robbinsville, while Cloudland travels to West Greene next week.
Cloudland scored on seven of its ten offensive possessions, setting the tone by scoring touchdowns on each of the team's first drives on offense. Cloudland got on the board after the opening kickoff with a 7-play, 67 yard drive, capped off by a run of five yards from QB Randall Johnson to give the Landers the early 6-0 lead.
Avery moved the football on its first drive inside the Landers 20 yard line, but a fumble on an exchange between Vikings QB Adam Pate and his running back was recovered by Cloudland. The Landers immediately capitalized on the mistake, as Johnson found speedy wide receiver Seth Houtsma for a 79-yard touchdown pass on its first play following the turnover. A conversion attempt failed, but Cloudland led 12-0.
The Vikings got on the board with its next series when Travis Thomas recovered a fumbled snap and galloped 36 yards for an Avery score. Colton Blackburn's PAT narrowed the score to 12-7.
Cloudland scored on its next possession on a 1-yard run by Johnson, giving the Landers an 18-7 advantage as the second period began. Following an Avery three-and-out, Cloudland committed its first error when Jordan English intercepted a Johnson pass. Avery turned the miscue into points five plays later when Pate found Keith McKinney on a 33-yard touchdown strike. A 2-point conversion failed, but Avery again drew to within five points at 18-13.
It seemed for every Viking score, the Cloudland club found an answer. After a kickoff return gave the Landers field position near midfield to open its next series, the offense drove 53 yards over seven plays, culminating with another run by Johnson, a two-yard plunge to account for the eventual halftime score of 24-13.
As the second half began, the Cloudland defense continued to stifle the Big Red. Avery had the first offensive series to start the second half, but had a three-and-out and punted the ball to Cloudland. An eight play, 65-yard scoring drive that took four minutes off the third quarter clock appeared to sap the energy from the weary visiting Vikings. Matthew Tipton found paydirt with a 15-yard scamper along the sideline to push the Landers ahead by a 30-13 margin.
The Vikings hurt their own cause on its next offensive series with an interception near midfield, but the defense held on a fourth and inches run to get the football back. Avery's offense continued to move the football downfield as the third period wound down, but failed to convert on a fourth down play in Cloudland territory to stifle their longest drive of the game.
Cloudland put an exclamation point on an impressive performance with a pair of fourth period touchdowns, a 11-yard run by Tipton for his second score of the night, and a 9-yard run by Johnson for a 42-13 advantage. Avery's offense managed a late touchdown as Thomas scored on a 25-yard scurry and the Vikings successfully picked up a two-point conversion with two minutes remaining. The teams ran out the remaining seconds as the Landers celebrated a victory and possession of the Border Battle Trophy.
Avery returns to action on Friday night with its home opener against Robbinsville, while Cloudland travels to West Greene next week.
