The East Hamilton Hurricanes (right) line up against the Cleveland Blue Raiders (left) at East Hamilton High School on Friday.Friday, Nov. 29TSSAA semifinalsSouth Pittsburg (11-1) at Coalfield (9-3)Cleveland (10-3) at Knoxville Weset (12-1)Georgia quarterfinalsCentral of Carrollton (10-2) at Ringgold (10-2)Calhoun (11-1) at Benedictine (12-0)
Welcome back to the big stage, Cleveland.
In his second season of rebuilding a Blue Raiders program with a proud tradition, Ron Crawford has guided the team within one win of playing for a Class 5A state championship. Cleveland reached the semifinals for the first time since the last of its three consecutive state titles in 1995 by driving 98 yards for the winning touchdown late in Friday’s seven-point win at East Hamilton.
Cleveland held the Hurricanes to 67 rushing yards on 29 tough carries, and that thrilling win avenged one regular-season loss and earned the Blue Raiders the chance to pay back another team that beat them. Fifth-ranked Cleveland will travel this Friday to second-ranked Knoxville West, which claimed a 35-25 late September win, with a spot in the title game on the line.
“You always like being the team that has extra incentive,” said Crawford, who won a 5A state title at Brentwood High in 2002. “It just so happens we get a second chance at another team that beat us in the regular season, so I believe the kids will be ready. West is really good and we had a terrible first quarter the last time we played them, and that cost us.