The Huddle: Coach Demetris Royal's local football highlights - Seniors show the Gators how it should be done
On October 26th, the North Rowan Cavaliers traveled north on I-85 to take on the Lexington Yellow Jackets at the hive. The Cavaliers(6-2) coming off a 34-9 win over West Davidson faced a Jackets (5-3) team coming off a devastating loss to Salisbury. On a special senior night for the Jackets they looked to bounce back with the Lexington Gators AAU football team providing them a tunnel and running out on the field with them as well as the Gator cheerleaders joining the varsity cheer squad cheering them on all night..
The Jackets would start the game off by kicking to the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers would open the drive with a big run up the middle that saw senior Kiraman Small run down the running back and save a potential touchdown for the Cavaliers. Jackets would have their back against the wall early as the run put the Cavaliers around the 19 yard line. Small and senior Rahzel Ewart would end up with some big tackles on the drive. The Cavaliers would go to the pass game and score a touchdown and add an extra point that put them up 7-0 with 9 minutes left in the first quarter. Senior Qwazir Craven would start the Jackets next drive with a run that moved the chains. Junior Kamari McDonald had back to back catches on the drive helping the Jackets move the ball. Senior Naquel Woods would excite the crowd when he broke loose up the middle with a 50 plus yard touchdown run. The Jackets' extra point attempt would be unsuccessful and the game would be 7-6 in favor of the Cavaliers with 7 minutes left in the first quarter. On the Cavaliers next drive, the Jackets had them in a chokehold until a first down pass was completed. Senior Zakhi White, Ewart, and Senior Tyree Gibbs all came up with big tackles on the drive. The Cavaliers would fumble a snap on a crucial third down, but was able to pick the ball up and scramble for a crushing first down on the Jackets. With a new set of down Senior K’Brian and Junior Kaedyn Thomas-Hearst would make some big tackles for the Jackets. The Cavaliers would break for a first down run, and follow it up with a touchdown run. The added extra point would set the game at 14-7 in favor of the Cavaliers with around 1 minute left in the 1st quarter. On Jackets next drive Naquel would come up with a first down catch to end the quarter at 14-6, Jackets down.
Jackets would start the quarter close to the 50 yard line. Cavaliers received a pass interference call moving the jackets up. Naquel would move the chains further with a first down run. Craven would continue moving the chains as he added another Jackets first down run. The Jackets would then stall and attempt a 4th down field goal in which senior “Golden Toe” Hugo Martinez Rodriguez would nail. This made the game 14-9 and Jackets still down with 8:31 left to go in the half. On the Cavaliers next drive Woods, Ewart, Kayden, and K’Brian all added tackles leading to a Cavaliers punt. Jackets next drive Rahzel came up big for them with back to back catches. Craven moved the chains for the Jackets with a first down run. Craven on the next play bust open a touchdown run. The Jackets attempted a two point conversion that was unsuccessful leaving the game at 15-14 with 2:50 left in the half. The Cavaliers next drive would see them punting the ball back to the Jackets and ending the half with a score of 15-14 Jackets up.
The Jackets' Kaedyn would have a big kickoff return to start the half. Rahzel would link up with Senior Jaylen Henderson for a touchdown pass. The Jackets missed the extra point leaving the game at 21-14 with 10 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Cavaliers next drive Junior Zakari Plush would end up with a fumble recovery giving the ball back to the Jackets. Rahzel and Jaylen link up again for another touchdown pass. The Jackets failed a 2pt conversion attempt leaving the game at 27-14 with 9 minutes left in the 3rd. Kiraman had a big tackle for the Jackets on the Cavaliers next drive. The Cavaliers would shake it off and get a first down past on the next play. A double unsportsmanlike call on both teams was called as the intensity of the game started to pick up. Cavaliers with good field position would run a quarterback sneak to find the endzone and close the gap, making it 27-21 Jackets still up with 7 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. On the next Jackets drive, they would fumble and lose possession giving the Cavaliers control of the ball at the 40 yard line. Kaedyn would have a big tackle on the drive but it would be enough as the following play the Cavaliers saw the endzone with a touchdown pass. They would miss the extra point making the game dead even at 27-27 with 5:45 left in the 3rd quarter. Jackets next drive Naquel came through for them with a first down catch. Craven on the next play added a first down run. Kamari Would have a diving touchdown catch for the jackets. Golden toe Hugo added the extra point putting Jackets up 34-27 with 3 mins left in the 3rd. On the Cavaliers next drive Naquel would come up big for the Jackets with an amazing interception to end the 3rd quarter with the Jackets up 34-27.
Jackets got blindsided with an unsportsmanlike flag early in the drive setting them back. Jackets would end up having to punt after a dry offensive possession. The Jackets would have to punt the ball back to the Cavaliers. Kaedyn, Rahzel, and Small all had big tackles on the Cavaliers next drive. The Jackets, who struggled containing a scrambling quarterback, were on the bad end of play when the the Cavaliers quarterback scramble for a touchdown.
Luckily for the Jackets the extra point kick attempt was missed leaving the game 34-33 with 10:30 left in the game and Jackets being up. Woods broke another big run for the Jackets and got them on the other side of the 50 to start their next drive. Next play saw Rahzel make an amazing catch for a first down and move the chains for the jackets. The Jackets would be faced with a 4th down field goal from deep in which they would miss giving the ball back to the Cavaliers with 8 minutes left in the game. Jackets Defense would force a turnover on downs and regain possession of the ball with 4:25 left in the game. The Jackets offense wouldn't do much as they would have to punt the ball back to the Cavaliers with 3 minutes left in the game. White, Gilmore, and Kaedyn came up big for Jackets on the drive with tackles. Faced with 12 seconds left and no time out Rahzel sealed the deal for the Jackets with a game-ending sack leaving the game 34-33 in favor of the jackets.
My Takes:
This was a Big Victory for the Jackets as they have struggled to win against North Rowan. Offense and Defense showed up tonight. The Offensive line stepped it up tonight and came through from the Jackets. When the phone rang the Jackets picked up, in past year games like this would've ended in a Jackets loss but the team overcame and played with heart and maturity tonight. As a former coach to alot of these seniors and juniors I'm not surprised by tonight cause this was what they were destined to be since 3rd and 4th grade. Next week the Jackets finish the regular season against rival Thomasville can't wait to see if they can keep it up.
My MVP:
Rahzel Ewart, Naquel Wood, Jackets Defense, Offensive line
Offense:
Jaylen Henderson, Qwazir Craven, Kamari Mcdonald,
Defenese:
Kiraman Small, K’brian Robinson, Tyree Gibbs,Zakhi White, Ni’Jaylin Gilmore, Kaedyn Thomas-Hearst, ZaKari Plush
