BY BRIAN HAMILTON<\/p>\n
KNOXVILLE – South-Doyle ended the season with a statement, defeating Gibbs 45-7 after dropping back-to-back games to rivals Central Knox and Carter.<\/p>\n
“We had a great meeting on Monday and talked about how this game was do or die,” South-Doyle head coach Carter Duncan said.”<\/p>\n
The Cherokees jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead after one quarter, behind three Shawn Gary touchdown runs of 5, 11, and 2 yards.<\/p>\n
Martin faked a handoff to Gary and went into the end zone untouched to put South-Doyle in front 28-0 with 5:16 remaining in the first half.<\/p>\n
South-Doyle held Gibbs to just 40 total yards on 24 plays in the first half, while amassing 287 yards on 34 plays offensively.<\/p>\n
Gary scored his fourth touchdown on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter from 74 yards out, extending the Cherokees’ lead to 35-0.<\/p>\n
With the clock ticking continuously now, Gibbs finally got on the board when Bryson Palmer found Bryson Walker for a 43-yard touchdown to cut the Eagles’ deficit to 35-7.<\/p>\n
The Cherokees would take a 45-7 lead with 9:54 left in the game, as Brandon Smith went into the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown run.<\/p>\n
The clock went back to running continuously after the score and that was the final tally, as South-Doyle wrapped up a playoff spot, although several weeks ago, it was not expected that the Cherokees would finish with the fourth seed in Region 2.<\/p>\n
“I think we have the best offensive line around,” Duncan said. “I see them practice every day. We’ve got a quarterback who can get it out and we’ve got a stud in there at tailback.”<\/p>\n
Gary finished the game with 217 yard and four touchdowns on 21 carries to lead South-Doyle.<\/p>\n
The Cherokees (6-4, 3-2 Class 4A Region 2) will have the daunting task of traveling to Greeneville to face the top-ranked Greene Devils (10-0) in the first round.<\/p>\n
The loss ended Gibbs’ season, as a win would have put Eagles (4-6, 1-4) in the playoffs as the 4-seed.<\/p>\n
“We had a tough season,” Gibbs head coach Brad Turner said. “We lost two games by three (points), one by six and one game by seven. We’ve gotta learn how to finish.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BY BRIAN HAMILTON KNOXVILLE – South-Doyle ended the season with a statement, defeating Gibbs 45-7 after dropping back-to-back games to rivals Central Knox and Carter. “We had a great meeting on Monday and talked about how this game was do or die,” South-Doyle head coach Carter Duncan said.” The Cherokees jumped out to a quick 21-0 lead after one quarter, behind three Shawn Gary touchdown runs of 5, 11, and 2 yards. Martin faked a handoff to Gary and went into the end zone untouched to put South-Doyle in front 28-0 with 5:16 remaining in the first half. South-Doyle held … <\/p>\n