KAYNE ROBERTS CARRIES TD LOAD FOR GREENBACK

GREENBACK — Greenback School moved into the driver's seat in the race for a Region 2-1A championship on Thursday.

For that, it can thank Kayne Roberts.

The bruising senior running back rushed for 263 yards on 29 carries and had five total touchdowns as the third-ranked Cherokees outlasted No. 7 Coalfield 42-27 in a matchup of the past two Class 1A state runners-up at Cooper Field.

The win moves Greenback, state finalist in 2015, into sole possession of first in the region, with games against Midway, Harriman and Jellico separating it from 10-0.

Roberts' hard running could help the Cherokees (7-0, 3-0) get there.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound back rushed for 146 yards and touchdowns of 8 and 25 yards in the first half. Most of his production came after contact. He rushed for 117 yards on 13 carries and three total touchdowns the second half — scoring on runs of 19 and 18 yards and a 10-yard TD reception from Hunter Willis.

"If somebody's going to try and come and hit me up top, that's a bad decision," Roberts said. "But like Coalfield did, they hit me lower, my legs are completely destroyed tonight.

"My line did a good job making things happen."

Greenback led 21-7 at halftime before surviving a furious rally from Coalfield (7-1, 3-1).

McKinney was 23-for-44 passing with 197 yards and touchdowns to Jones from 8 and 6 yards. He also rushed for two TDs and had two interceptions.

"We started slow," Coalfield coach Keith Henry said, "but I was proud of the way we fought back."