ONEIDA | Coalfield has spent all season under the radar. Despite amassing one of the most impressive resumes in all of Tennessee Class A football, the Yellow Jackets have barely managed to crack the state's Top 10 rankings.
On Friday, Coalfield made yet another statement in one of East Tennessee's premiere football rivalries, going on the road to defeat Oneida, 42-0.
Cole Hines threw for four touchdowns, intercepted two passes, and showed why some people consider him a Mr. Football candidate, as he guided the Yellow Jackets to a 35-0 halftime lead.
It was a 21-0 game after the first quarter, and Coalfield never looked back. It was the first time the Indians had been shut out in over two years.
Hines finished 11 of 16 through the air, for 175 yards and four scores. On the ground, he had 41 yards on eight attempts. On defense, he had a team-high seven tackles to accompany the two interceptions.
The Indians were led offensively by T.J. Meredith. The junior continues to battle back from an injury that caused him to miss much of the season. On Friday, he had 52 yards on eight carries. Caden Rector finished with 90 yards through the air on 10 of 20 passing.
Todd Derek Ryon, one of the many Oneida seniors who were honored on Senior Night, was Rector's top target. Finally back from injury, he had four catches for 35 yards. Another senior, Tait West, had two catches for 19 yards.
Oneida attempted to get on the board just before halftime, but a 48-yard field goal attempt by Luke Barna was just off the mark.
Defensively, the Indians were led by Elijah Phillips. The senior finished with seven tackles. John Selby, yet another senior, had five tackles.
Oneida managed 187 yards of offense and 14 first downs, but drives stalled at inopportune times to keep the Indians out of the end zone.
Coalfield rolled up 392 yards of offense, and was five of seven on third down tries.
For Oneida, the regular season ends with a record of 4-6 as the Indians prepare for a road trip to upper East Tennessee to face Hampton in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs. The Bulldogs, who advanced to the state championship game last year, are the state's top-ranked team in Class 2A. They're coming off a loss to Daniel Boone to close out the regular season.
