Middle Grades football kicks off

Story courtesy of The Press Sentinel

Wayne’s middle schools take to the gridiron in scrimmage

AWMS’s Tyler Jenkins, No. 3, ran the ball hard against Waycross Middle.

Published:

Friday, August 31, 2012 3:11 PM CDT

Wayne County’s middle school football teams were able to squeeze in most of their scrimmage games on Wednesday before poor weather rolled in.

Both Arthur Williams and Martha Puckett middle schools started the jamboree with ties against Waycross Middle School. The ties were a good sign for the Wayne County programs since Waycross has dominated the Southeast Georgia Middle School Conference the past two years with undefeated seasons.

MPMS and Waycross tied 0-0, and AWMS and Waycross tied 6-6. AWMS’s lone score in this game came from a quarterback sneak by Garrett Overholt.

The two Wayne schools then played each other. Both teams started with their second strings getting some playing time, and MPMS scored first on an 80-yard run by Jeffrey Chadwick. AWMS answered on the next play with its own 80-yard run by Elijah Johnson. Johnson also added the two-point conversion to give AWMS an early 8-6 lead.

Chadwick would score again to give MPMS a 12-8 lead when the game was called for poor weather.

“The boys competed well and got some good experience going against two talented teams in Waycross and Arthur Williams,” said MPMS coach Matthew Brookins. “We still have a ways to go and a lot to work on, but I was proud of the boys and their effort.

“Against Waycross, I was pleased with how our first group was able to pound the ball up the middle. Caelen Roberts ran extremely hard along with Isaiah Kincade and Terrence Bennett. On defense, we initially struggled with the speed of Waycross, but we adjusted and the boys shut them down.

“Against Arthur Williams, we were able to get some work in for all of the boys on the team. Jeffrey Chadwick ran the ball well at quarterback and scored on a couple of busted plays for us. Although we struggled more with our execution in the second game, our boys competed and will continue to improve.”

AWMS coach Paul Rothwell said he was please with the overall effort, but saw areas where the team needs to improve.

“Garrett Overholt and Elijah Johnson scored for us,” said Rothwell. “Willie Reynolds, Dylan Leach and Jamarion Hunter lead a great defensive effort. Lots of things to clean up in the next week, and we will go back and reinstall everything.”

AWMS will play Pierce Middle on the road on Wednesday, and MPMS will host Ware Middle at Jaycee Stadium. Both games will begin at 5 p.m.

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Story courtesy of The Press Sentinel

Penalties, turnovers lead to 14-14 Wayne-Appling tie

Chris Cohen led all rushers with 144 yards on 21 carries.

Published:

Tuesday, September 4, 2012 4:07 PM CDT

The Wayne County High Yellow Jacket football team drug the Appling Pirates up and down the field in Baxley Friday night, but untimely turnovers and a sea of yellow flags resulted in a 14-14 tie.

The Appling Pirates would not agree to play overtime, and the game ended in a tie.

The Jackets are off this Friday night and will host Glynn Academy on Sept. 14. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

“We have to put this one behind us and get ready for Glynn,” said coach Jody Grooms. “All of these games are leading up to region play, and we will be ready.”

In the game, the Jackets dominated in total yards 421-243; time of possession 30 minutes to 17 minutes; and first downs 21 to 15. But the Jackets also led in penalties 14 for 129 yards to Appling’s 8 for 74 yards. The teams tied in turnovers with four each.

“We wanted to play overtime, but Appling didn’t,” said Grooms. “It’s unfortunate for the kids. They have worked so hard and played so hard. We just like for the kids to play head to head. We had holding penalties called on receivers far away from the play. A fumble called when the runner was in the end zone. A chop block that the referee later said was a legal play. All of these killed drives. It’s just not fair to the kids.”

First quarter

The Jackets showed their dominance to start the game by holding Appling County to three plays and a punt. Taking over on their own 46-yard line, the Jackets quickly moved down the field. Strong blocking by offensive linemen Glenn Welch, Dishawn Ray, Dustyn Sloan, Jordan Padgett and Michael Parr opened up big holes for the running backs all night long.

On this drive, running back Chris Cohen carried the ball twice for 16 yards. But the big damage was done by quarterback Malique Jackson, who had runs of 12 yards and nine yards before scoring from 17 yards out.

The PAT by Hux Riddle was good and the Jackets led 7-0 just three minutes into the game.

Another three and out gave the Jackets the ball back on their own 37-yard line. However, this drive started with a holding penalty and the Jackets were forced to punt.

Again, the starting Jacket defense of Aaron Palmer, Clayton Coatney, Ean Allen, Levantae Larry, Hagan Harrell, Ben Hockensmith, Anfernee Jordan, Taylor Heflin, Gabe McCall, Jeremy Patterson, Randall Collins and Sam Denty held the Pirates to only three offensive plays.

On the punt, Jordan got a hand on the ball and it went only 11 yards.

Setting up shop on the Pirates’ 45-yard line, the Jackets threatened again. Cohen ran twice for 14 yards. Jackson then hit Sanders for 17 more to put the ball on Appling’s 14-yard line; however, a holding call brought this play back. The drive stalled and the Pirates took over on their own 26-yard line.

To wrap up the first quarter, the Pirates had their first drive of the night, but it was aided by two Jacket penalties. The most costly was a pass interference call that negated an interception by Palmer. With seconds left in the quarter, Vernon Dasher scored from 15 yards out.

Second quarter

With the score, Appling gained a little life in the second quarter. On the Jacket’s first drive, Jackson was driven back, held up and stripped of the ball before the whistle sounded. An Appling runner carried the ball down to the Jacket’s 11-yard line before he was run down by Sanders, saving a touchdown.

Again Wayne’s defense held with good tackles by Heflin and Palmer. Palmer also batted down a pass in the end zone. A 29-yard field goal attempt by Israel Jaramillo was no good.

Despite being outplayed, Appling took their first lead in the game on the next drive. The Pirates ran 11 plays and were aided by two 15-yard penalties to score with 3:48 seconds left in the half.

With a strong rushing attack, the Jackets answered with their own 60-yard drive to tie the game at the end of the half.

On this drive, Austin Bailey was the workhorse. He carried the ball five times for 23 yards. However, the big play was a 23-yard, fourth-down pass from Jackson to Cohen to take the ball down to Appling’s one-yard line. Jackson then hit Chase Donahue for the score. The PAT by Riddle was good.

To end the half, Hunter Roberson kicked an on-side kick which the Jackets recovered on Appling’s 36-yard line. However, on the next play Trey Newkirk intercepted a Jackson pass.

Third quarter

The third quarter was more of the same, with the Jackets moving the ball only to have penalties and turnovers end drives.

On the Jackets’ first drive of the second half, a holding penalty and a chop block call ended the drive. Also on this drive, Jackson ran out of bounds but was hit four yards out of bounds by two Pirate players and driven into Appling’s bench. Although an official was standing at the play, no penalty was called.

The Pirates’ next drive ended in a Quin Stovall interception.

This time the Jackets drove 85 yards behind the hard running of Cohen, Jackson and Bailey. However, the Jackets didn’t put points on the board as officials said Bailey coughed up the ball before crossing the goal line.

For the night, Cohen led all rushers with 144 yards on 21 carries. Jackson ran the ball 17 times for 99 yards, and Bailey had 63 yards off 17 carries.

Fourth quarter

The Jackets moved the ball at will in the fourth quarter as well. On the first drive, the Jackets converted a fourth-down fake punt by Roberson. However, this drive ended by another fumble. Jackson prevented a touchdown run off this fumble recovery.

“Both Sanders and Jackson stopped touchdowns by not giving up on those fumble recoveries,” said Grooms.

The Pirates then quickly turned the ball over on an interception by Palmer.

Again, the Jackets drove nearly the length of the field off hard runs by Cohen and a 61-yard reception by Ognilla. The Jackets moved the ball to the Pirates’ 2-yard line. After an officials’ timeout to measure for a first down, the Jackets were immediately penalized for delay of game. This moved the ball back five yards. The Jackets then appeared to score, but were penalized for holding. A 29-yard field goal attempt by Riddle went just wide left.

The Jackets had one more opportunity to score after Palmer intercepted another pass. However, a 40-yard field goal attempt also went wide left.

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