Greenback falls in state title game, 42-14

Chris Thomas knoxnews.com

COOKEVILLE — Six turnovers doomed Greenback School’s bid for its second football state championship.

The Cherokees couldn’t recover in a 42-14 loss to Nashville Christian in the Class 1A state title game on Friday at Tennessee Tech’s Tucker Stadium.

Nashville Christian rolled up 413 total yards in its championship debut. Mareio McGraw delivered 107 rushing yards and two TDs in the first half. Quarterback Kyle Tidwell accounted for 190 total yards and two touchdowns.

That was plenty for the Eagles’ defense, which used four first-half turnovers to build a 35-7 lead at halftime. Greenback (12-3), making its first state championship appearance since winning its only title in 1987, broke its scoring drought on Hunter Willis’ 11-yard TD pass to Tucker Brown with 28 seconds remaining in second quarter.

The Cherokees didn’t score again until Kayne Roberts broke a nine-yard TD run with 1:22 left in the fourth quarter. Roberts also caught four passes for 81 yards.

Tennessee linebacker commitment Daniel Bituli opened scoring for Nashville Christian (14-1) with a 41-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. McGraw had TD runs of 19 and 66 yards, and Tidwell had a 13-yard touchdown run before connecting with Jaylon Jackson on a 51-yard scoring pass with 7:52 left in the second quarter.

Blake Barfield added a 30-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for Nashville Christian.