Trojans upend Strong
PARKERS CHAPEL Making something out of nothing has seemingly become a matter of routine for Parkers Chapel quarterback Caleb Jacobs.
A sophomore, Jacobs was at his best while being on the run Friday night, throwing four first-half touchdown passes and running for a critical score in the fourth quarter to lead the Trojans to a 30-22 win over Strong in an 8-2A showdown at Victor Nipper Stadium.
The win clinches a playoff spot for the Trojans (6-3, 3-3), while the Bulldogs (5-4, 2-4) will host Bearden next week with the league’s final playoff spot at stake.
“It was a great game by both teams,” said Parkers Chapel coach Jacob Midyett. “Coach (Greg) Anthony and his staff did a great job, especially having three weeks off. They came out very physical. They had a great game plan, and they really gave us fits. You have to take your hat off to them. Our boys did a great job and pulled it out.”
Jacobs went 9-of-14 passing for 255 yards in the opening half to give the Trojans a 24-8 lead at intermission, but like a sledgehammer, the Bulldogs’ running attack was relentless in wearing down the Trojans.
Desmond Newton, who finished with 180 yards on 33 carries, scored all three of Strong’s touchdowns in the contest, and the Bulldogs scored twice in a span of 93 seconds to get back into the game.
A senior, Newton plowed his way into the end zone on a 3-yard run to cap a 7-play, 58-yard march to make it 24-14.
Then the Bulldogs’ defense forced a turnover, as Ricky Correa picked off a pass that was deflected at the line of scrimmage to give Strong the ball at Parkers Chapel’s 21.
On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Newton scored again on a 3-yard run. The senior then pulled the Bulldogs within 24-22 after running in the two-point conversion.
After forcing a threeand-out, the Bulldogs got the ball back with 10:56 left aiming to take the lead for the first time, but Brendan Winchester
recovered a fumble on the drive’s first play at the 35.
Jacobs took matters over from there, scampering for 22 yards to pick up a key thirdand-2 from Strong’s 27 before scoring moments later on a 2-yard run with 8:17 to play.
On the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs drove to Parkers Chapel’s 13, but a false start penalty on third down pushed the Bulldogs back, and Strong later turned the ball over on downs after Newton’s fourthdown pass to the end zone to Lavonte Washington was broken up by Jacobs.
The Bulldogs’ inability to convert in the red zone came back to haunt them.
“Our problem is us,” said Strong coach Greg Anthony. “We get inside the 10 three times and don’t score because we get a holding penalty, a false start, then a miscommunication in the huddle led to a missed block. We just keep beating ourselves. Parkers Chapel did what they had to do to win, so you have to give them credit.”
The Trojans went to work on running out the clock, but after Ryan Simpson picked up a huge first down with a 10-yard run on third-and-6, Parkers Chapel was faced with a fourth-and-12 from their 28.
However, instead of punting, Canon Morgan found a seam along the right side and raced 23 yards to seal the victory.
“We run that for a reason,” Midyett said. “We tell him that if nobody sits on the edge, than it’s yours. If you think you can get it, then get it. It’s a player making a play.”
In the first half, it looked like there would be little in the way of drama thanks to Jacobs, who time and again found a way to elude Strong’s pass rush and find open receivers.
The Trojans needed all of 73 seconds to open the scoring with Jacobs improvising his way around Strong’s defense before finding a wide-open De’Qua Henderson on a 53-yard strike.
Jason Parker then came up with a big play for the Trojans’ defense by recovering a fumble, and the Trojans again needed just three plays to extend their lead, as Jacobs fired a 60-yard touchdown pass to Morgan.
The Trojans led 12-0 after the opening period, but the Bulldogs would draw closer.
After the Bulldogs were stopped in the red zone, the visitors got the ball right back when Chaundre White recovered a fumble at Parkers Chapel’s 8.
Newton then scored the first of his three touchdowns on a 7-yard run, and his two-point conversion made it 12-8.
But the Trojans answered, traversing 66 yards in just four plays.
Rolling out to his right, Jacobs found Morgan on a 30-yard touchdown for their second scoring collaboration of the half to make it 18-8.
After forcing a punt on the ensuing possession, the Trojans had only 43 seconds to work with before halftime to try and extend their lead.
It turned out they had plenty of time.
After finding Dawson Goodwin for 32 yards, Jacobs rolled out to his left and found Amari Bell in the back of the end zone on a 29-yard touchdown that made it 24-8.
The Trojans then recovered an onsides kick, but Newton intercepted a pass at the 1 to keep the Trojans from extending their lead further.
Jacobs finished 10-of-18 passing for 259 yards with two interceptions along with his four touchdowns. He also led the Trojans with 79 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in the win.
“He did a great job,” Midyett said of Jacobs. “He’s a tough kid to stop. We did a great job of getting out early, but we shot ourselves in the foot and let them climb back in it, which is going to be big if we want to keep going forward. We need to fix those mistakes and be able to finish drives and put points on the board.”
Morgan had three catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns, while Henderson also caught three passes for 75 yards with a touchdown in the win.
Overall, the Trojans had 386 yards of total offense.
“It’s a great feeling,” Midyett said of reaching the playoffs. “My hat’s off to these kids. They’re the ones that bought in. They’re the ones that do what we ask them to do, and they’re seeing the results. We’ve just got to continue to get better.”
LeAndrew Greer had 85 yards on 21 carries for the Bulldogs, who had 276 yards of total offense, and now will have their season come down to next week.
“The guys are upset in the dressing room,” Anthony said. “I think they expected more than what they gave in the first half. It is what it is, and that’s the hand we’re dealt. I just explained the scenario to them. We’ve just got to go back to work and get ready for Bearden and see what happens next week. If we win, we’re in, so it’s not over by any stretch.”