Cleveland High School football coach Ron Crawford is looking forward to the Blue Raiders’ first home playoff game in years.The Cleveland High School football Blue Raiders woke up Saturday morning believing they had a 50-50 chance to host a playoff game for the first time in 11 seasons this week. Soddy-Daisy expected to have a quiet Saturday after losing 28-21 to Walker Valley, which the Trojans thought knocked them out of the playoffs.
But due to a situation that happened 175 miles away in Jonesborough, Tenn., both District 5-AAA teams had pleasant surprises.
A fight that broke out moments after David Crockett defeated rival Daniel Boone 23-16 in the annual “Musket Bowl” game led to a three-year postseason ban from the TSSAA. David Crockett’s expected playoff spot went to Soddy-Daisy and ensured Cleveland’s host status.
“We knew Friday night that we would either be a 5 seed and have to travel to Anderson County or a 4 seed and hosting Clinton,” Cleveland coach Ron Crawford said. “We knew there were some reports that we’d travel to Middle Tennessee, but we didn’t see that scenario.
“We haven’t hosted a game here since 2003, so I know the school community is excited that we’re able to host a game because it’s been such a long time. We went on road trips four weeks in a row last year, so it’s good that the student body and faculty will get to see us play here Friday night.”