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GREENBACK -- Once again, Greenback fell behind early at home, and this time it was a spark from a pair of relative newcomers that provided the response.

Tyler Burnette's two touchdowns and a pooch kick by Jeremy Miller in his first game back inspired the Cherokees to keep Class 3A Sweetwater winless, 48-14, on Friday at Cooper Field.

Burnette, who just picked up football after moving from Florida a year ago, returned an interception 62 yards in the final minute of the first quarter. As time wound down in the second, it was Burnette again who reeled in a 34-yard strike from Travis Sellers to give Greenback the lead.

"I saw the pass high in the air and just attacked it," Burnette said of his second first-quarter pick. "Once I caught it, I was like, 'I better just take off running.' I found a big hole, and Daniel McCloud laid a big block for me."

The touchdown was huge for a 'Kees offense that had stumbled through the first quarter without a single first down, falling behind on Shane Cox's 22-yard touchdown pass to Cody Topa. After Burnette's catch on a fade route gave Greenback the lead, Miller pooch-kicked a ball that was recovered by Ryan Seymour, setting up the Cherokees (2-2) at the 31 with 20 seconds left in the half.

Greenback coach Justin Ridge coaxed Miller, a student in Ridge's class, into returning to the team this week. Miller suited up following a unanimous team vote.

"They just weren't ready to catch it, man," Ridge said. "It just fell on the ground and we got it. It was a big play. He's a big weapon."

Miller showed that, knocking through six of seven extra points in addition to that kickoff, which set up a Sellers 1-yard touchdown rush.

The Wildcats (0-3) only threatened once more after giving up those two scores in a span of 20 seconds. Sweetwater pulled within a score when the ball slipped out of Sellers' hand on Greenback's second drive of the second half. Jordan Moore scooped up the fumble, returning it 14 yards for a touchdown.

But on the first play of the next drive, 'Kees freshman tailback Richard Seymour, who led the team with 116 yards on the ground, went 58 yards down the field to set up another Sellers 2-yard scoring rush.

"That was scary because we (just had) a one-score lead," Ridge said. "We still sputtered a little bit on offense, and that's when Richard made that big run. That put us back in control, and from there on I guess we didn't look back."

Ernie Stinnett, Seymour and Brandon Williams would tack on three more rushing scores to put the game away, capping Greenback's biggest offensive night of the season.

The 'Kees now must prepare to travel to Harriman on Thursday at 7 p.m.