GATLINBURG - After defeating the Unicoi County Blue Devils 35-0 Friday night, the Gatlinburg-Pittman Highlanders remain the lone undefeated team in District 3-AA this year.

Austin-East, which is the team G-P will have to finish above in order to guarantee a Highlander playoff spot, is currently 2-0 in District 3-AA play but just 1-3 outside of the conference.

The Highlanders are 1-0 in District 3-AA and should improve to 2-0 after this coming Friday’s homecoming game against visiting district rival Union County, but the biggest challenge of the Highlander season is rapidly approaching with a three-game district stretch against Fulton, A-E and Carter before finishing the season with Hammonds Bowl III against Pigeon Forge.

The Highlanders, named the No.9 state-ranked team by the AP last week, aren’t about to get ahead of themselves, however. They refuse to look past the Union County game, even though the Patriots are currently just 1-4, 0-1 on the season.

“We’re just trying to get a little better every week,” said 38th-year G-P head football coach Benny Hammonds. “And we’re preparing for our homecoming game (this Friday), and our boys are looking forward to that.

“It’s a district game, it’s got implications on the playoffs and we’ve got to win this football game (against Union County). Hopefully we’ll be ready.”

On paper, there’s no doubt about it.

The G-P defense - the self-described bright spot of the Highlander team so far this season - is allowing just 8.2 points per game, including a triple-overtime affair against the then-No.8-ranked scoring offense in the state in the Gibbs Eagles.

The Union County offense managed 39 points in its lone win against a weak Grainger team this season, but the Patriots have scored just six points in its other four contests combined.

The Highlander offense has been steadily improving as the season progresses, averaging 26.4 points per game. Take away the first game of the season - a 7-6 G-P win over Oneida - and the Blue-and-Gold offense is hanging 32.2 points on the board every game.

Junior quarterback Tye Marshall is putting up solid, efficient and effective numbers each week, even though it seems as if G-P has yet to play a game in dry conditions this season.

Marshall and senior WR Colin Meier are developing some chemistry as of late, with the pair combining for 75 yards and three scores on three pass plays against Unicoi County.

The Highlanders also have several other receivers and running backs capable of turning in big plays, led by junior RB Dillon Reagan, who picked up another 126 yards rushing and two TDs on 16 attempts against the Blue Devils.

But even so, the Highlanders are taking nothing for granted in preparing for Union County this week.

“We can’t afford to overlook anybody,” said Hammonds.

chitchcock@themountainpress.com