Oddities are nothing new during the Halloween season and Friday night's Greenback home loss to Grace Christian kept in the odd spirit of Halloween.  The 'Kees jumped to a 28-0 lead midway through the second quarter, but slowly watched that lead slip away until the Rams had ended the Greenback upset hopes with a 49-42 win.

The Cherokees (3-7, 1-4) threw a couple of curveballs at the Rams Friday night as numerous plays saw Trey Glenn line up at quarterback and offensive lineman Tyler Dailey lining up at fullback.  Greenback Head Coach Justin Ridge said he knew the likelihood of reaching the playoffs was very low win or lose entering the game, so he and the staff decided to "go out and have some fun," he said of the lineup changes.

The changes very nearly worked out for the 'Kees as Tyler Burnette intercepted Jordan Hopkins on the first play from scrimmage.  That gave the Cherokees the ball on the Grace 41 yard line and, two plays later, they were in the end zone on a 38 yard run by Glenn.  Jeremy Miller hit the point after and Greenback quickly jumped to a 7-0 lead.

The Greenback defense then forced a three and out and then freshman Richard Seymour took over.  After Glenn completed a six yard pass to Ernie Stinnett, Seymour burst forward for a 19-yard gain and then he rushed up the middle for a 53-yard touchdown run.  Miller again hit the PAT and Greenback led a stunned Grace Christian 14-0.

The Rams managed to run six plays on the next drive, but the result didn't change as they were forced to punt.  Three plays later, Seymour found another hole through the right side of the line and the freshman tailback raced 74 yards for the touchdown.  Miller hit his third point after and Greenback's lead extended to 21-0 with 3:05 left in the first quarter.

Grace was forced into yet another three and out, but this time Greenback had a bit of a long scoring drive.

It took the 'Kees four plays to score this time around, but the first play of the drive was a big one - a 55-yard completion from Glenn to Stinnett.  Shawn Petty and Glenn then combined for four yards before Glenn found Burnette on a fade route in the back of the end zone for the fourth score of the game.  Miller remained perfect on PATs, giving Greenback a dominating 28-0 lead early in the second quarter.

One more unsuccessful Grace drive ended on an interception by Miller.  The 'Kees appeared to be moving in for their fifth score of the game, but a goal-line stand by the Rams began to shift momentum.  "They got the momentum there," Ridge said, adding that he thought this goal-line stand was a turning point, of sorts, in the game.

The 'Kees moved to the Grace one yard line, but couldn't convert on fourth and goal, giving the ball back to the Rams.  On the first play, Hopkins connected with Jake Minga to the 16 and then Hopkins scrambled away from a pair of Greenback sack attempts and found Eric Williams running wide open down the right sideline.  Williams made the catch and rolled 79 yards for the touchdown.  Minga's point after was awry, however, leaving the score at 28-6.

The 'Kees experienced their first three and out of the night on the ensuing drive, setting up another score for Grace.

The Rams took the ball on their own 34 and, on the first play, Hopkins found Williams across the middle of the field.  The senior caught the pass just past the 50 and immediately lateraled it back to Trent Waters, who turned the corner on the right side and rushed 48 yards for the score.  The Rams went for two and got it as Hopkins found Harley Palmer across the middle.  The conversion cut the gap to 28-14.

The 'Kees went right back to work, however, as they moved 47 yards in five plays.  Travis Sellers capped off the drive as he found Glenn racing open down the left sideline for the 22-yard score.  Miller hit the PAT and the teams headed to the locker rooms with Greenback up 35-14.
"We thought we could run the ball right at them and we did," Ridge said of his team's success in the first half.

The 'Kees didn't show any signs of letting up in the second half, as Stinnett took the end around and broke an 82-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage.  Miller hit the PAT and Greenback's lead expanded to 42-14.

The Grace offense was in full groove at this point, though, as the Rams moved 68 yards in eight plays.  Chris Campbell punched in the score and, after a Minga PAT, the lead was cut to 42-21.
The Cherokee offensive struggles began on the ensuing drive as they were forced into a three and out.  Grace took the ball back and, in five plays, the Rams were back in the end zone.  Austin McReynolds scored on a four yard run and Minga closed the gap a bit more with a PAT that made it 42-28.

On the next drive, the 'Kees ran two plays before Minga pulled in an interception.  The teams traded out possessions for the remainder of the quarter before the Rams put together a scoring drive early in the fourth.

The Rams took advantage of a very short Greenback punt, taking control at the host 31.  It took them six plays, but once again the Rams were in the end zone on a one-yard run by Campbell.  Minga's PAT was good and the once plentiful Cherokee lead was cut to just seven at 42-35.
Needing a clock-chewing drive, the Cherokee offense got just the opposite as Seymour fumbled on Greenback's first play.  Grace took possession at the Greenback 44 and, one play later, Hopkins found Williams down the left sideline for a touchdown.  Minga's point after was good and Grace Christian tied the game at 42.

The 'Kees were forced into yet another three and out on the ensuing drive and the Rams went back to work.  A 10-play, 74-yard drive followed Greenback's punt and, with 2:08 left in the game, Palmer raced into the end zone.  Ming's PAT was good and Grace Christian had its first lead of the game at 49-42.

The Rams secured the win when they went for the onside kick and recovered it at the Greenback 41.  They ran out the clock from there.
"I'm proud of them, they played hard," Ridge said of his players.  "(The Rams) started making plays, we gave them too many chances and they took advantage of them," he added.
Despite the loss, Ridge said there is one important thing his team can take from this game.  "We know we can compete for a district championship," he said.  Grace Christian finished the season 9-1 and unbeated in district play.

The 'Kees aren't done with their season quite yet, as they'll play their 11th game Tuesday night at Sequoyah.  Game time is set for 7 p.m.