Without their head coach and an assistant, and without two key starters (one on each side), many wondered how Forestview would respond to the challenge as they faced an unbeaten Lake Norman Charter. Those questions were answered in a big way as they smashed the Knights 63-7. The win also breaks the previous record of points scored by the team. That was set in 2003 when they beat Berry Academy 61-0.
The Jaguars raced out to a 28-0 lead in the first quarter. In fact, the first time Forestview had the ball they scored on their first play. The play was a Logan Bradley 33-yard touchdown strike to Moe Neal. Bradley, on the next drive, found his other top target (Mykelti Armstrong) for a 47-yard touchdown reception.
A backwards pass of Lake Norman Charter that was recovered by Forestview’s C.J. Bumgardner at the one-yard line gave Forestview a chance to put another score up. This time it would be Montavis Rogers that punches it in from the one-yard line. He also ran it in for a two-point score. Special teams got in on the fun too as J.C. Crawford picked up a low punt and returned it 21 yards for another Jaguar touchdown.
Bradley would connect with Armstrong again early in the second quarter, this time from ten yards out. Colton Rouse’s kick made it 35-0. The Knights did have a few bright spots and they were able to avoid a shutout thanks to Michael Dorsainvil four-yard touchdown pass to Petey Fabian.
After that, the night belonged to Forestview. On the Jaguars first possession in the second half, they would score. This time it was Rogers taking it in from 58 yards for the score. Rogers scored on another two-point try. Lake Norman Charter looked like they were going to answer the score, but they fumbled in their red-zone and Storm Payne scooped up the loose ball and took it deep into Knights’ territory. Bradley would cap off the drive with an eight-yard pass to Moe Neal. Neal’s run for the two-point conversion gave the Jaguars a 51-7 lead.
Once again the Knights would get close but could not taste the end-zone as Forestview stopped them at the three-yard line. Backed-up near their own goal-line the Jaguars turn to their run game and it resulted in a Neal 97-yard touchdown run to put the score at 57-7.
That would be it for the starters. Josh Dawkins (normally a starting defensive-back) took over the runningback roll late in the game and ended up putting Forestview’s record-setting score on the board with a nine-yard run.
Rogers tallied up 101 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the night. Neal tallied up 193 all-purpose yards (105 yards rushing and 88 yards receiving) and three touchdowns. Logan Bradley passed for 173 yards and four touchdowns. Marcus McCluney, Wesley Heavner, Tate Payne, Davious Byrd, and Tramone Duncan each had tackles for losses. Payne, McCluney, Heavner, Xzavier Davis, and Nathan Whitaker each registered sacks.
“The team did a great job. They responded on what they needed to.” Jaguars interim head coach Dave Faquharson said “That’s what a team is supposed to do, to respond to adversity and take some ownership of the team. When you start tearing down the foundation, we got to reach down deep and see what they’re made of. It was a hard week for the kids.”
“It’s unfortunate.” Quarterback Logan Bradley said of the events that transpired during the week “Medlin not being there was scary, but our coached did well. (Coach) Farquharson did a good job leading the team. (Coach) Rayfield did a good job with the offense and (Coach) Hall did a good job with the defense. The seniors were a big help and they would not let the team get down on themselves. I think we showed everybody that we can pull together under adversity.”
The Jaguars will welcome back head coach Chris Medlin and assistant Jon Putnam back next week and they will take a break from conference play as they host Bessemer City. The Jaguars will resume conference play the following week as they travel to North Gaston. Lake Norman Charter will be home against East Gaston next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment