Pirates stun Tiger
GREENHILL — It was a statement game between the two top teams in Class 3A, region 8, and Rogers spoke loud and clear with its 23-0 win over Lauderdale County on Friday night. The game was best summarized by stunned Lauderdale County coach Bob Grisham.
“They gave us a good ole-fashioned whipping,” Grisham said.
That they did, as the Pirates held the Tigers to 145 total yards and forced four turnovers. Lauderdale County (1-1, 0-1) only advanced the ball past midfield on their own twice. The Tigers' deepest penetration was the Rogers 41-yard line before they recovered a fumble at the Pirates 30 with 1:17 remaining in the game. They promptly threw an interception two plays later, capping a miserable night for the offense.
“I'm shocked,” Grisham said, probably echoing the thoughts of the Tiger supporters who filled the visitors side of Pirates Stadium. “I thought our kids were ready to play tonight and they obviously weren't. We've got a lot of work to do if we want to be the team a lot of people expect us to be.”
But while the Tigers were left to lick their wounds after Friday's game, the Pirates (1-1, 1-0) were on cloud nine after taking an early lead in the region race.
“We didn't play well last week (in a 32-20 loss to Brooks), but we came out tonight and played harder and faster on defense,” Rogers coach Dan Beavers said. “They say you improve the most between your first and second week of the season and we did that. The kids really practiced well this week. I'm real proud of them.”
Rogers didn't need a lot of offense with the way the defense played, but what they got came all in the first half.
The Pirates caught an early break when they
recovered a bad punt snap at the Lauderdale County 25-yard line and it took them just six plays to cash it in for six points when Austin Kerr, who was making his season debut after sitting out last week due to an ankle injury, slammed in the end zone from three yards out. Jacob Duncan made the extra point to put Rogers up 7-0 with 5:48 left in the first quarter.
Rogers added to its lead two possessions later thanks a 34-yard strike from quarterback Tyler Grigsby to Cody Stephens that put the Pirates at the Lauderdale County 27-yard line.
Alex Woodard capped off the drive with a 10-yard touchdown scamper three plays later to put the Pirates up 13-0 midway through the second quarter.
Woodard, who finished the game with 94 yards on 10 carries, scampered 59 yards to set up Rogers' next touchdown. Woodard's huge run put Rogers at the 18, and Kerr scored his second touchdown of the night two plays later on a 13-yard run. Grisham found Dustin Blackburn for the two-point conversion.
Rogers' only score in the second half was a safety after Lauderdale County punter DJ Simmons fell on a bad snap in the end zone on the final play of the third quarter.
That was all the defense needed as they took it to the Tigers in a game that Beavers said could carry the Pirates through the rest of the season.
“If you can get the momentum going, it can definitely carry you into having a good year,” Beavers said. “Tonight was a real good start for us.”
source: Florence Times
source: Florence Times
Published: Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 3:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, September 3, 2011 at 12:43 a.m.
No comments:
Post a Comment