East Lincoln downs Forestview, remains undefeated

                Well Friday the rains came and so did the lightning. The game went through a lightning delay at half-time. The game resumed and then more lightning came and the game was called and postponed with East Lincoln leading 26-20.

                Then the game was made up. Even in just 15 minutes of football action, there was plenty of action. Both the Mustangs and the Jaguars got scores in just before all 2:56 of the remaining third quarter ended. A Chazz Surratt 49-yard touchdown pass to Damarius Valentine extended East Lincoln’s lead to 32-20, but the two-point conversion failed.

                Then the Jaguars went to work. Moe Neal’s 70-yard touchdown run cut the Mustangs lead to 32-27. After stopping the Mustangs on their next drive which included an intentional grounding call, the Jaguars took the lead with a John Crawford 28-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Mills. The two-point conversion failed, however.

                The Mustang offense would be too much for the Jaguars though as Surratt led the offense down the field and with less than a minute left. Surratt punched it in from the one-yard line. His pass to Chris Cox for the two-point conversion made the score 40-33. The Jaguars would not be able to answer as Crawford threw an interception to Sam Krehnbrink.

                Neal, despite the loss, led Forestview with 229 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Chazz Surratt led the Mustang offense with 250 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also had three rushing touchdowns on the night.

“We played hard. The effort was there. We played a good team to a seven-point game.” Forestview head coach Chris Medlin said “They’ve won 22, now 23 straight on this field I think. We just have to move on. Conference is coming up.”

                “I was proud of our kids for fighting for this game.” Mustang head coach Mike Byus said.

                “They both challenged us and they responded.” Byus said about the Forestview and North Lincoln games (they won 28-27 against North Lincoln) “They’re well-coached and athletic everywhere.”

                Both teams have a bye week next week before beginning conference play. Forestview will travel to Lake Norman Charter to begin Big South action and East Lincoln will be home against Bandys to start Southern District 7 Athletic play.

                “It’s a heck of a league.” Byus said about his conference “Every night we have to be ready. Every team will be different. Some will be physical and some will be athletic.”