11:35 PM - Cloudland scores one final touchdown in the final two minutes off Avery's reserves to provide for the final score of 43-24.9:50 PM - Avery puts in a number of reserves as both teams work to play out the final eight minutes of action. It's time to give away the Border Battle Trophy soon so it's time to head to the field for the presentation. Thanks for reading tonight as the Vikings move to 4-0 for the season heading into its bye week. Cloudland falls to 2-2 overall.
9:39 PM - Cloudland on the board with a five-yard run by quarterback Whitehead to cut the Avery lead to 43-14. A Tyler Shell two point conversion run makes the score 43-16 Avery with 9:56 remaining in the game.
9:35 PM - End of the third period and Avery leads it 43-8.
9:25 PM - Avery forces Cloudland to punt on its next offensive series, and the Vikings drive the football into Cloudland territory. Avery looked to score but a fumble inside the five yard line gave the ball back to Cloudland. The Vikings defense forced another Cloudland punt and Avery again moved the football inside the 10-yard line in the final two minutes of the third quarter. Potter scores on a 9-yard run to cap a two-play drive. The Clark PAT is good and Avery now leads 43-8 with 1:04 to play in the third period.
9:11 PM - Cloudland gets the first possession of the second half, but the Avery defense forces a fumble near midfield, recovered by Tyler Calvert. On the first play after the turnover, Villanueva airs it out to Andy Gonzalez for a 49-yard touchdown pass. The PAT is good and Avery leads it 36-8.
8:47 PM - 29-8 Avery leads Cloudland at halftime.
8:37 PM - A scary moment in the final minute of the first half, as Avery defensive back Trent Mitchell collided while making a tackle and collapsed to the turf. Medical personnel have been summoned onto the field to take the young man off the field with extra care and precaution. There are 48 seconds left in the first half and Avery leads 29-8, but those figures are secondary at the moment. Our hopes and prayers are with Trent and are hoping that everything is ok.
8:28 PM - After a Cole fumble, Avery scores on a 53-yard scramble and run by Alex Villanueva. After an encroachment penalty on the extra point kick, Avery chooses to go for two points. The conversion run by Taylor Potter is good, and the Vikings lead 29-8 with 1:55 left to play in the first half.
8:20 PM - After a fourth down defensive hold, Avery connects on a long TD pass from Villanueva to Gonzalez. The pair connect on the 2-point play to set Avery up with a 21-8 lead with 5:16 left in the half.
8:00 PM - at the end of the first quarter in the Border Battle Classic, Avery leads Cloudland 13-8 as a drizzle begins to fall at Orr Field.
7:55 PM Avery answers fast as well with a 65-yard drive, 60 of it coming on a pass connection from Villanueva to tight end Remington Austin. The two-point conversion failed, but Avery leads 13-8 with 1:49 to play in the first stanza.
7:50 PM - Cloudland answers with an 80-yard drive with all running plays, capped by a 9-yard touchdown tote from Matt Cole. The Luke Childress two point conversion run gives the Landers the 8-7 lead with 2:10 to play in the first quarter.
7:39 PM - Alex Villanueva scores on Avery's first drive of the game, capping a 72-yard drive. Avery leads it 7-0 with 8:30 left in the first half.
We are LIVE in Roan Mountain, Tennessee this evening for the 4th Annual Avery Journal-Times Border Battle Classic between the Avery Vikings and the Cloudland Highlanders.
A season ago the Vikings took advantage of numerous penalties and 'Landers mistakes to win 51-20 and take back the Border Battle Trophy. The Vikings enter tonight's game with a perfect 3-0 mark, while the 'Landers are riding in with a 2-1 record in 2010.
Avery hopes to remain unbeaten on the season, but will be missing a number of key cogs to the Viking engine. Absent from tonight's matchup will be both Colton and Spencer Blackburn, as well as linebacker Tyler Buchanan and Hunter Shields.
Cloudland is coming off a shutout of North Greene and has already beaten one North Carolina high school this season when they upended the Hayesville Yellow Jackets 20-12 in week one of the season.
We'll be here throughout tonight's game to bring score updates, as well as updates of scores from across the conference and area throughout this evening.
As a side not for informational purposes for blog readers who also follow along with the radio broadcasts on Saturday afternoons, there will be no radio rebroadcast of this evening's game due to a business decision made by Glory 1130's management team in Boone. There is hope to revive the broadcasts following the Avery bye week if sponsorships for the broadcasts can be found, but nothing is guaranteed at this time.
On a personal note, I would like to thank so many of the Avery fans, administration, and friends for their well-wishes as I continue to battle through my recent illness. It's good to FINALLY be back at high school football on a Friday night!
Best of luck to both Avery and Cloudland tonight!
